Part 73 (1/2)
”And to your health, nan
He boith these words of evil omen, to all the company, who rose as soon as they heard the sound of his spurs and boots at the bottoht it was I and not h
”You!” cried his friends; ”and what for, in the name of Heaven!”
”Oh! do not deceive yourselves, my dear brothers in Epicurus,” said the superintendent; ”I do not wish to make a comparison between the most humble sinner on the earth, and the God we adore, but reave one day to his friends a repast which is called the Last Supper, and which was nothing but a farewell dinner, like that which we areat this moment”
A painful cry of denial arose from all parts of the table ”Shut the doors,” said Fouquet, and the servants disappeared ”My friends,”
continued Fouquet, lowering his voice, ”as I for yourselves and reply A man like me sinks when he does not continue to rise What shall we say, then, when he really sinks? I have nobut powerful enemies, and powerless friends”
”Quick!” cried Pelisson ”Since you explain yourself with such frankness, it is our duty to be frank, likewise Yes, you are ruined--yes, you are hastening to your ruin--stop And, in the first place, what money have we left?”
”Seven hundred thousand livres,” said the intendant
”Bread,” murmured Madame Fouquet
”Relays,” said Pelisson, ”relays, and fly!”
”Whither?”
”To Switzerland--to Savoy--but fly!”
”If neur flies,” said Madauilty--was afraid”
”More than that, it will be said that I have carried aenty millions with me”
”We will draw up memoirs to justify you,” said La Fontaine ”Fly!”
”I will re serve me?”
”You have Belle-Isle,” cried the Abbe Fouquet
”And I a to Nantes,” replied the superintendent ”Patience, then, patience!”
”Before arriving at Nantes, what a distance!” said Madame Fouquet
”Yes, I know that well,” replied Fouquet ”But what is to be done there?
The king summonso would be to evince uneasiness”
”Well, I have discovered the oing to set out for Nantes”
Fouquet looked at him with an air of surprise
”But with friends; but in your own carriage as far as Orleans; in your own barge as far as Nantes; always ready to defend yourself, if you are attacked; to escape, if you are threatened In fact, you will carry your , you will only have obeyed the king; then, reaching the sea, when you like, you will embark for Belle-Isle, and from Belle-Isle you will shoot out wherever it le that leaps into space when it has been driven froeneral assent followed Pelisson's words ”Yes, do so,” said Madame Fouquet to her husband