like the countenance of your young man who goes on so well.”
“Well, well, Bernouin! We don’t stand in need of your
advice. Place yourself there: take the pen and write.”
“I am ready, monseigneur; what am I to write?”
“There, that’s the place: after the two lines already
traced.”
“I am there.”
“Write seven hundred and sixty thousand livres.”
“That is written.”
“Upon Lyons —- ” The cardinal appeared to hesitate.
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“Upon Lyons,” repeated Bernouin.
“Three millions nine hundred thousand livres.”
“Well, monseigneur?”
“Upon Bordeaux seven millions.”
“Seven?” repeated Bernouin.
“Yes,” said the cardinal, pettishly, “seven.” Then,
recollecting himself, “You understand, Bernouin,” added he,
“that all this money is to be spent?”
“Eh! monseigneur; whether it be to be spent or put away is
of very little consequence to me, since none of these
millions are mine.”
“These millions are the king’s; it is the king’s money I am
reckoning. Well, what were we saying? You always interrupt
me!”
“Seven millions upon Bordeaux.”
“Ah! yes; that’s right. Upon Madrid four millions. I give
you to understand plainly to whom this money belongs,
Bernouin, seeing that everybody has the stupidity to believe
me rich in millions. I repel the silly idea. A minister,
besides, has nothing of his own. Come, go on. Rentrees
generales, seven millions; properties, nine millions. Have
you written that, Bernouin?”
“Yes, monseigneur.”
“Bourse, six hundred thousand livres; various property, two
millions. Ah! I forgot — the furniture of the different
chateaux —- ”
“Must I put of the crown?” asked Bernouin.
“No, no, it is of no use doing that — that is understood.
Have you written that, Bernouin?”
“Yes, monseigneur.”
“And the ciphers?”
“Stand straight under one another.”
“Cast them up, Bernouin.”
“Thirty-nine millions two hundred and sixty thousand livres,
monseigneur.”
“Ah!” cried the cardinal, in a tone of vexation; “there are
not yet forty millions!”
Bernouin recommenced the addition.
“No, monseigneur; there want seven hundred and forty
thousand livres.”
Mazarin asked for the account, and revised it carefully.
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“Yes, but,” said Bernouin, “thirty-nine millions two hundred
and sixty thousand livres make a good round sum.”
“Ah, Bernouin, I wish the king had it.”
“Your eminence told me that this money was his majesty’s.”
“Doubtless, as clear, as transparent as possible. These
thirty-nine millions are bespoken, and much more.”
Bernouin smiled after his own fashion — that is, like a man
who believes no more than he is willing to believe — whilst
preparing the cardinal’s night draught, and putting his
pillow to rights.
“Oh!” said Mazarin, when the valet had gone out; “not yet
forty millions! I must, however, attain that sum, which I
had set down for myself. But who knows whether I shall have
time? I sink, I am going, I shall never reach it! And yet,
who knows that I may not find two or three millions in the
pockets of my good friends the Spaniards? They discovered
Peru, those people did, and — what the devil! they must
have something left.”
As he was speaking thus, entirely occupied with his ciphers,
and thinking no more of his gout, repelled by a
preoccupation which, with the cardinal, was the most
powerful of all preoccupations, Bernouin rushed into the
chamber, quite in a fright.
“Well!” asked the cardinal, “what is the matter now?”
“The king, monseigneur, — the king!”
“How? — the king!” said Mazarin, quickly concealing his
paper. “The king here! the king at this hour! I thought he
was in bed long ago. What is the matter, then?”
The king could hear these last words, and see the terrified
gesture of the cardinal rising up in his bed, for he entered
the chamber at that moment.
“It is nothing, monsieur le cardinal, or at least nothing
which can alarm you. It is an important communication which
I wish to make to your eminence to-night — that is all.”
Mazarin immediately thought of that marked attention which
the king had given to his words concerning Mademoiselle de
Mancini, and the communication appeared to him probably to
refer to this source. He recovered his serenity then
instantly, and assumed his most agreeable air, a change of