Part 46 (2/2)
”No; for I no longer remember to whom I intended to refer; indeed, I only remember very indistinctly, that one of the maids of honor was to marry-the name, however, has escaped oing to nan
”Very likely,” said the king
”In that case, the intended was M de Montespan; but Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente did not speak of it, it seehten suitors away”
”At all events,” said the king, ”I know nothing, or alnan, I rely upon you to procure me every information about her”
”Yes, sire, and when shall I have the honor of seeing your ive you the latest news?”
”Whenever you have procured it”
”I shall obtain it speedily, then, if the information can be as quickly obtained as ain”
”Well said, count! By the by, has Madairl?”
”None, sire”
”Madary, then?”
”I do not know; I only know that she laughed continually”
”That's well; but I think I hear voices in the ante-roonan” The count ran to the door and exchanged a feords with the usher; he returned to the king, saying, ”Sire, it is M Fouquet who has this moment arrived, by your majesty's orders, he says He presented himself, but, because of the lateness of the hour, he does not press for an audience this evening, and is satisfied to have his presence here formally announced”
”M Fouquet! I wrote to hi hi day, and he arrives at Fontainebleau at two o'clock in the hted to see himself so promptly obeyed ”On the contrary, M Fouquet shall have his audience I summoned him, and will receive him Let him be introduced As for you, count, pursue your inquiries, and be here to-er on his lips; and Saint-Aignan, his heart bri the usher to introduce M Fouquet, who, thereupon, entered the king's apart, M Fouquet,” he said, sratulate you on your punctuality; and yet e , sire”
”You have been working very hard lately, M Fouquet, for I have been infor the last three or four days”
”It is perfectly true, your majesty, that I have kept myself shut up for the past three days,” replied Fouquet
”Do you know, M Fouquet, that I had a great racious air
”Your raciously disposed towards rant an audience?”
”Ah, yes! sonitary, who thinks he has to thank , is it not?”
”Precisely so, sire The hour is, perhaps, badly chosen; but the tiht with me is valuable, and as Fontainebleau is on the way to his diocese-”
”Who is it, then?”
”The bishop of Vannes, whose appointned, three n”
”That is very possible,” said the king, who had signed without reading; ”and he is here?”
”Yes, sire; Vannes is an i to this pastor needed his religious consolation; they are savages, whom it is necessary to polish, at the same time that he instructs them, and M d'Herblay is unequalled in such kind of ly, as if his na since, was not, however, unknown to him
”Oh!” said Fouquet, promptly, ”your majesty is not acquainted with the obscure name of one of your most faithful and valuable servants?”
”No, I confess I aain?”
”He has this very day received letters which will, perhaps, co off for that unknown region called Bretagne, he is desirous of paying his respects to your ?”
”He is here, sire”
”Let hin to the usher in attendance, aiting behind the tapestry The door opened, and Ara allowed him to finish the co look upon a countenance which no one could forget, after having once beheld it
”Vannes!” he said: ”you are bishop of Vannes, I believe?”
”Yes, sire”
”Vannes is in Bretagne, I think?” Araain bowed
”A few leagues from Bell-Isle, is it not?”
”Yes, sire,” replied Araues; a mere step, then,” said Louis XIV
”Not for us poor Bretons, sire,” replied Arareat distance, if it be six leagues on land; and an iues on the sea Besides, I have the honor to ues of sea from the river to Belle-Isle”
”It is said that M Fouquet has a very beautiful house there?” inquired the king
”Yes, it is said so,” replied Ara quietly at Fouquet
”What do you
”He has, sire”
”Really, M Fouquet, I must confess that one circumstance surprises me”