Part 112 (1/2)
D'Artagnan wiped from the hilt of his sword a last bloody trace, which had escaped his notice, and returned He then found himself face to face with these three men, whose countenances wore very different expressions With the abbe it was anger, with Gourville stupor, with Fouquet it was dejection
”I beg your pardon, nan, ”but o to the office of the intendant, to have an explanation with Monsieur Colbert, and to receive my quarter's pension”
”But, nan looked at the superintendent with astonishment ”You have been answered inconsiderately, monsieur, I know, because I heard it,” said the ht to be known by everybody”
D'Artagnan bowed ”Have you an order?” added Fouquet
”Yes, monsieur”
”Give it n to Gourville and the abbe, who renan into his cabinet As soon as the door was shut,--”howlike five thousand livres, neur”
”For arrears of pay?”
”For a quarter's pay”
”A quarter consisting of five thousand livres!” said Fouquet, fixing upon the ive you twenty thousand livres a year?”
”Yes, neur, twenty thousand livres a year Do you think it is too much?”
”I?” cried Fouquet, and he se ofa frivolous, inconsequent, and vain spirit--of a prudent and reflective spirit; if, in a word, I had, as certain persons have kno, regulated my life, you would not receive twenty thousand livres a year, but a hundred thousand, and you would belong not to the king but to htly There is soiven, in the voice, in the affectionate tone, a poison so sweet, that the strongest mind is intoxicated by it The superintendent ter fronan The Gascon opened one
”Gold!” said he
”It will be less burdensome, monsieur”
”But, then, monsieur, these make twenty thousand livres”
”No doubt they do”
”But only five are due tofour times to my office”
”You overwhelht to do, monsieur le chevalier; and I hope you will not bear ave you He is of a sour, capricious disposition”
”Monsieur,” said D'Artagnan, ”believe rieve me more than an excuse from you”
”Therefore I willyou a favor”
”Oh,worth about three thousand pistoles
”Monsieur,” said he, ”this stone was given me by a friend of reat service”