Chapter 36 - Page 2

of her hatred for the superintendent, “Why do you yourself hate him?” said she.

“Madame, in politics,” replied he, “the differences of system may bring about divisions between men. M. Fouquet always appeared to me to practise a system opposed to the true interests of the King.”

She interrupted him. “I will say no more to you about M. Fouquet. The journey the King is about to take to Nantes will give a good account of him. M. Fouquet, for me, is a man quite gone by,- and for you also.”

Colbert made no reply. “On his return from Nantes,” continued the duchess, “the King, who is only anxious for a pretext, will find that the States have not behaved well- that they have made too few sacrifices. The States will say that the imposts are too heavy, and that the superintendent has ruined them. The King will lay all the blame on M. Fouquet, and then-”

“And then?” said Colbert.

“Oh, he will be disgraced. Is not that your opinion?”

Colbert darted a glance at the duchess, which plainly said, “If M. Fouquet be only disgraced, you will not be the cause of it.”

“Your place, M. Colbert,” the duchess hastened to say, “should be very prominent. Do you perceive any one between the King and yourself after the fall of M. Fouquet?”

“I do not understand,” said he.

“You will understand. To what does your ambition aspire?”

“I have none.”

“It was useless then to overthrow the superintendent, M. Colbert. That is idle.”

“I had the honor to tell you, Madame-”

“Oh, yes, I know, the interest of the King; but if you please we will speak of your own.”

“Mine! that is to say, the affairs of his Majesty.”

“In short, are you, or are you not ruining M. Fouquet? Answer without evasion.”

“Madame, I ruin nobody.”

“I cannot then comprehend why you should purchase of me the letters of M. Mazarin concerning M. Fouquet. Neither can I conceive why you have laid those letters before the King.”

Colbert, half stupefied, looked at the duchess, and with an air of constraint, “Madame,” said he, “I can less easily conceive how you, who received the money, can reproach me on that head.”

“It is,” said the old duchess, “because we must choose what we can have when we can’t have what we choose.”

“You have hit it,” said Colbert, unhorsed by that plain speaking.

“You are not able, eh? Speak.”

“I am not able, I allow, to destroy certain influences near the King.”