Part 34 (1/2)
”No, sire; I will only ask whether you are well informed Your majesty has more than once learned the value of accusations n for Colbert to approach ”Speak, Monsieur Colbert,” said the young prince, ”for I almost believe that Mademoiselle de la Valliere has need of your assistance before she can put any faith in the king's word Tell mademoiselle what M Fouquet has done; and you, mademoiselle, will perhaps have the kindness to listen It will not be long”
Why did Louis XIV insist upon it in such a manner? A very simple reason--his heart was not at rest, his ined there lay soue behind these thirteen millions of francs; and he wished that the pure heart of La Valliere, which had revolted at the idea of theft or robbery, should approve--even were it only by a single word--the resolution he had taken, and which, nevertheless, he hesitated before carrying into execution
”Speak, monsieur,” said La Valliere to Colbert, who had advanced; ”speak, since the king wishes me to listen to you Tell ed?”
”Oh! not very heinous, mademoiselle,” he returned, ”a mere abuse of confidence”
”Speak, speak, Colbert; and when you have related it, leave us, and go and inforive hinan, sire!” exclainan? I entreat you to tell ant titan who, true to his menace, threatens to scale my heaven”
”Arrest M Fouquet, do you say?”
”Ah! does that surprise you?”
”In his own house!”
”Why not? If he be guilty, he is as guilty in his own house as anywhere else”
”M Fouquet, who at this n”
”In plain truth,this traitor”
Colbert began to chuckle silently The king turned round at the sound of this suppressed mirth
”Sire,” said La Valliere, ”it is not M Fouquet I a ive such an order”
”Dishonor er ”In plain truth, e persistence in what you say”
”If I do, sire,your irl: ”for that I would risk, I would sacrifice my very life, without the least reserve”
Colbert seeruentle la i acts well, whether, in doing so, he does eitherto say; but were the king to confer a benefit either upon me or mine, and if he acted badly, I should tell him so”
”But it appears to me, made”
”Yes, neur, we both love him, but each in a different manner,”
replied La Valliere, with such an accent that the heart of the young king was powerfully affected by it ”I love him so deeply, that the whole world is aware of it; so purely, that the king hi and my master; I am the least of all his servants But whoso touches his honor assailswho advise hi down his head, for he felt that the king had abandoned him
However, as he bent his head, he murmured, ”Mademoiselle, I have only one word to say”
”Do not say it, then, monsieur; for I would not listen to it Besides, what could you have to tell uilty of certain cri has said so; and, fro said, 'I think so,' I have no occasion for other lips to say, 'I affirm it' But, were M Fouquet the vilest of men, I should say aloud, 'M Fouquet's person is sacred to the king because he is the guest of M Fouquet Were his house a den of thieves, were Vaux a cave of coiners or robbers, his home is sacred, his palace is inviolable, since his wife is living in it; and that is an asylum which even executioners would not dare to violate'”