Part 22 (1/2)
Aramis, who did not expect such an amount, dropped his pen ”Four millions,” he said; ”you have lost four millions,-impossible!”
”Monsieur Colbert held my cards for h
”Ah, now I understand; so, so, a new application for funds?”
”Yes, and fro's own lips It was i smile What do you think of it?”
”It is clear that your destruction is the object in view”
”That is your opinion?”
”Still Besides, there is nothing in it which should astonish you, for we have foreseen it all along”
”Yes; but I did not expect four millions”
”No doubt the amount is serious, but, after all, four millions are not quite the death of a man, especially when the man in question is Monsieur Fouquet”
”My dear D'Herblay, if you knew the contents of my coffers, you would be less easy”
”And you promised?”
”What could I do?”
”That's true”
”The very day I refuse, Colbert will procure the money; whence I know not, but he will procure it: and I shall be lost”
”There is no doubt of that In how many days did you pro seely pressed”
”In three days?”
”When I think,” resu the streets, the people cried out, 'There is the rich Monsieur Fouquet,' it is enough to turn my brain”
”Stay, monsieur, the matter is not worth sosoest a remedy, then, for this evil without a remedy”
”There is only one remedy for you,-pay”
”But it is very uncertain whether I have themust be exhausted; Belle-Isle is paid for; the pension has been paid; and ation of the accounts of those who far that I pay this tis have tasted ers who have tasted flesh, they devour everything The day will arrive-must arrive-when I shall have to say, 'Impossible, sire,' and on that very day I ahtly, saying: ”A man in your position, my lord, is only lost when he wishes to be so”
”A ainst a king”
”Nonsense; when I was young I wrestled successfully with the Cardinal Richelieu, as king of France,-nay more-cardinal”
”Where are my armies, my troops, my treasures? I have not even Belle-Isle”
”Bah! necessity is thewill be discovered which will retrieve everything”
”Who will discover this wonderful son my office of inventor”
”Then I will”
”Be it so But set to ithout delay”
”Oh! we have tih!”
”You kill me, D'Herblay, with your cal his handkerchief over his face
”Do you not remember that I one day told you not to e? Have you any?”
”I believe so”
”Then don't make yourself uneasy”
”It is decided then, that, at the last moment, you will come to my assistance”
”It will only be the repayment of a debt I owe you”
”It is the vocation of financiers to anticipate the wants of ness is the vocation of financiers, charity is the virtue of the clergy Only, on this occasion, do you act, monsieur You are not yet sufficiently reduced, and at the last moment ill see what is to be done”
”We shall see, then, in a very short time”
”Very well However, perly that you are at present so short of money, because I myself was about to ask you for some”
”For yourself?”
”For myself, or some of my people, for mine or for ours”