them was a powerful tie, and this was why, when about to
appear before the Master of another world, Mazarin was
desirous of taking good counsel in disposing of the wealth
he was so unwillingly obliged to leave in this world. After
the visit of Guenaud, he therefore sent for Colbert, desired
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him to sit down. and said to him: “Let us converse, Monsieur
Colbert, and seriously, for I am very ill, and I may chance
to die.”
“Man is mortal,” replied Colbert.
“I have always remembered that, M. Colbert, and I have
worked with that end in view. You know that I have amassed a
little wealth.”
“I know you have, monseigneur.”
“At how much do you estimate, as near as you can, the amount
of this wealth, M. Colbert?”
“At forty millions, five hundred and sixty thousand, two
hundred livres, nine cents, eight farthings,” replied
Colbert.
The cardinal heaved a deep sigh, and looked at Colbert with
wonder, but he allowed a smile to steal across his lips.
“Known money,” added Colbert, in reply to that smile.
The cardinal gave quite a start in bed. “What do you mean by
that?” said he.
“I mean,” said Colbert, “that besides those forty millions,
five hundred and sixty thousand, two hundred livres, nine
cents, eight farthings, there are thirteen millions that are
not known.”
“Ouf!” sighed Mazarin, “what a man!”
At this moment the head of Bernouin appeared through the
embrasure of the door.
“What is it?” asked Mazarin, “and why do you disturb me?”
“The Theatin father, your eminence’s director, was sent for
this evening; and he cannot come again to my lord till after
to-morrow.”
Mazarin looked at Colbert, who rose and took his hat saying:
“I shall come again, my lord.”
Mazarin hesitated. “No, no,” said he; “I have as much
business to transact with you as with him. Besides, you are
my other confessor — and what I have to say to one the
other may hear. Remain where you are, Colbert.”
“But, my lord, if there be no secret of penitence, will the
director consent to my being here?”
“Do not trouble yourself about that; come into the ruelle.”
“I can wait outside, monseigneur.”
“No, no, it will do you good to hear the confession of a
rich man.”
Colbert bowed and went into the ruelle.
“Introduce the Theatin father,” said Mazarin, closing the
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curtains.
CHAPTER 45
Confession of a Man of Wealth
The Theatin entered deliberately, without being too much
astonished at the noise and agitation which anxiety for the
cardinal’s health had raised in his household. “Come in, my
reverend father,” said Mazarin, after a last look at the
ruelle, “come in and console me.”
“That is my duty, my lord,” replied the Theatin.
“Begin by sitting down, and making yourself comfortable, for
I am going to begin with a general confession, you will
afterwards give me a good absolution, and I shall believe
myself more tranquil.”
“My lord,” said the father, “you are not so ill as to make a
general confession urgent — and it will be very fatiguing
— take care.”
“You suspect then, that it may be long, father”
“How can I think it otherwise, when a man has lived so
completely as your eminence has done?”
“Ah! that is true! — yes — the recital may be long.”
“The mercy of God is great,” snuffled the Theatin.
“Stop,” said Mazarin; “there I begin to terrify myself with
having allowed so many things to pass which the Lord might
reprove.”
“Is not that always so?” said the Theatin naively, removing
further from the lamp his thin pointed face, like that of a
mole. “Sinners are so forgetful beforehand, and scrupulous
when it is too late.”
“Sinners?” replied Mazarin. “Do you use that word
ironically, and to reproach me with all the genealogies I
have allowed to be made on my account — I — the son of a
fisherman, in fact?”*
*This is quite untranslatable — it being a play upon the
words pecheur, a sinner, and pecheur, a fisherman. It is in
very bad taste. — TRANS.