Part 81 (1/2)
”Rest yourself, I beg you; that is all I have to say to you”
Fouquet bit his lips and hung his head He was evidently busy with so ”Are you angry at having to rest yourself, M Fouquet?” said he
”Yes, sire, I am not accustomed to take rest”
”But you are ill; you must take care of yourself”
”Your majesty spoke just now of a speech to be pronounced to-morrow”
His majesty made no reply; this unexpected stroke eht of this hesitation He thought he could read danger in the eyes of the young prince, which fear would but precipitate ”If I appear frightened, I a, on his part, was only uneasy at the alar?” ht Fouquet; ”if he becory for the sake of a pretext, how shall I extricate myself? Let us sht”
”Sire,” said he, suddenly, ”since the goodness of the king watches overwith my labor, may I not be allowed to be absent from the council of to-morrow? I could pass the day in bed, and will entreat the king to grant ainst this fearful fever”
”So be it, Monsieur Fouquet, it shall be as you desire; you shall have a holiday to-morrow, you shall have the physician, and shall be restored to health”
”Thanks!” said Fouquet, bowing Then, opening his ga your majesty to my residence of Belle-Isle?”
And he looked Louis full in the face, to judge of the effect of such a proposal The king blushed again
”Do you know,” replied he, endeavoring to smile, ”that you have just said, 'My residence of Belle-Isle'?”
”Yes, sire”
”Well! do you not re in the saave ain, sire Only, as you have not taken it, you will doubtless come with me and take possession of it”
”I mean to do so”
”That was, besides, your majesty's intention as well as mine; and I cannot express to your 's regi sta the musketeers for that alone
”Oh, I am convinced of that,” said Fouquet, war to do but to coround all the fortifications of Belle-Isle”
”_Peste!_” cried the king; ”I do not wish those fine fortifications, which cost so ainst the Dutch and English You would not guess what I want to see at Belle-Isle, Monsieur Fouquet; it is the pretty peasants and women of the lands on the sea-shore, who dance so well, and are so seducing with their scarlet petticoats! I have heard great boast of your pretty tenants, ht of them”
”Whenever your majesty pleases”
”Have you any means of transport? It shall be to-morrow, if you like”
The surintendant felt this stroke, which was not adroit, and replied, ”No, sire; I was ignorant of your norant of your haste to see Belle-Isle, and I a”