lost.”
“There is no doubt of that. In how many days did you promise
these four millions?”
“In three days. The king seemed exceedingly pressed.”
“In three days?”
“When I think,” resumed Fouquet, “that just now as I passed
along the streets, the people cried out, `There is the rich
Monsieur Fouquet,’ it is enough to turn my brain.”
“Stay, monsieur, the matter is not worth so much trouble,”
said Aramis, calmly, sprinkling some sand over the letter he
had just written.
“Suggest a remedy, then, for this evil without a remedy.”
“There is only one remedy for you, — pay.”
“But it is very uncertain whether I have the money.
Everything must be exhausted; Belle-Isle is paid for; the
pension has been paid; and money, since the investigation of
the accounts of those who farm the revenue, is scarce.
Besides, admitting that I pay this time, how can I do so on
another occasion? When kings have tasted money, they are
like tigers who have tasted flesh, they devour everything.
The day will arrive — must arrive — when I shall have to
say, `Impossible, sire,’ and on that very day I am a lost
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man.”
Aramis raised his shoulders slightly, saying:
“A man in your position, my lord, is only lost when he
wishes to be so.”
“A man, whatever his position may be, cannot hope to
struggle against a king.”
“Nonsense; when I was young I wrestled successfully with the
Cardinal Richelieu, who was king of France, — nay more —
cardinal.”
“Where are my armies, my troops, my treasures? I have not
even Belle-Isle.”
“Bah! necessity is the mother of invention, and when you
think all is lost, something will be discovered which will
retrieve everything.”
“Who will discover this wonderful something?”
“Yourself.”
“I! I resign my office of inventor.”
“Then I will.”
“Be it so. But set to work without delay.”
“Oh! we have time enough!”
“You kill me, D’Herblay, with your calmness,” said the
superintendent, passing his handkerchief over his face.
“Do you not remember that I one day told you not to make
yourself uneasy, if you possessed courage? Have you any?”
“I believe so.”
“Then don’t make yourself uneasy.”
“It is decided, then, that, at the last moment, you will
come to my assistance.”
“It will only be the repayment of a debt I owe you.”
“It is the vocation of financiers to anticipate the wants of
men such as yourself, D’Herblay.”
“If obligingness is the vocation of financiers, charity is
the virtue of the clergy. Only, on this occasion, do you
act, monsieur. You are not yet sufficiently reduced, and at
the last moment we will see what is to be done.”
“We shall see, then, in a very short time.”
“Very well. However, permit me to tell you that, personally,
I regret exceedingly that you are at present so short of
money, because I was myself about to ask you for some.”
“For yourself?”
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“For myself, or some of my people, for mine or for ours.”
“How much do you want?”
“Be easy on that score; a roundish sum, it is true, but not
too exorbitant.”
“Tell me the amount.”
“Fifty thousand francs.”
“Oh! a mere nothing. Of course one has always fifty thousand
francs. Why the deuce cannot that knave Colbert be as easily
satisfied as you are — and I should give myself far less
trouble than I do. When do you need this sum?”
“To-morrow morning; but you wish to know its destination.”
“Nay, nay, chevalier, I need no explanation.”
“To-morrow is the first of June.”
“Well?”
“One of our bonds becomes due.”
“I did not know we had any bond.”
“Certainly, to-morrow we pay our last third instalment.”
“What third?”
“Of the one hundred and fifty thousand francs to
Baisemeaux.”
“Baisemeaux? Who is he?”
“The governor of the Bastile.”
“Yes, I remember. On what grounds am I to pay one hundred
and fifty thousand francs for that man?”
“On account of the appointment which he, or rather we,
purchased from Louviere and Tremblay.”
“I have a very vague recollection of the matter.”