fall, you fall with me.”
“It would then be more prudent, monsieur, not to stir in the
affair, and leave the king to take this little
satisfaction.”
“Think well of this, abbe, Lyodot and D’Eymeris at Vincennes
are a prelude of ruin for my house. I repeat it — I
arrested, you will be imprisoned — I imprisoned, you will
be exiled.”
“Monsieur, I am at your orders; have you any to give me?”
“What I told you — I wish that, to-morrow, the two
financiers of whom they mean to make victims, whilst there
remain so many criminals unpunished, should be snatched from
the fury of my enemies. Take your measures accordingly. Is
it possible?”
“It is possible.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Describe your plan.”
“It is of rich simplicity. The ordinary guard at executions
consists of twelve archers.”
“There will be a hundred to-morrow.”
“I reckon so. I even say more — there will be two hundred.”
“Then your hundred and twenty men will not be enough.”
“Pardon me. In every crowd composed of a hundred thousand
spectators, there are ten thousand bandits or cut-purses —
only they dare not take the initiative.”
“Well?”
“There will then be, to-morrow, on the Place de Greve, which
I choose as my battle-field, ten thousand auxiliaries to my
hundred and twenty men. The attack commenced by the latter,
the others will finish it.”
“That all appears feasible. But what will be done with
regard to the prisoners upon the Place de Greve?”
“This: they must be thrust into some house — that will make
a siege necessary to get them out again. And stop! here is
another idea, more sublime still: certain houses have two
issues — one upon the Place, and the other into the Rue de
la Mortellerie, or la Vennerie, or la Texeranderie. The
prisoners entering by one door will go out at another.”
“Yes, but fix upon something positive.”
“I am seeking to do so.”
“And I,” cried Fouquet, “I have found it. Listen to what has
occurred to me at this moment.”
“I am listening.”
Fouquet made a sign to Gourville, who appeared to
understand. “One of my friends lends me sometimes the keys
of a house which he rents, Rue Baudoyer, the spacious
gardens of which extend behind a certain house on the Place
de Greve.”
“That is the place for us,” said the abbe. “What house?”
“A cabaret, pretty well frequented, whose sign represents
the image of Notre Dame.”
“I know it,” said the abbe.
“This cabaret has windows opening upon the Place, a place of
exit into the court, which must abut upon the gardens of my
friend by a door of communication.”
“Good!” said the abbe.
“Enter by the cabaret, take the prisoners in; defend the
door while you enable them to fly by the garden and the
Place Baudoyer.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“That is all plain. Monsieur, you would make an excellent
general, like monsieur le prince.”
“Have you understood me?”
“Perfectly well.”
“How much will it amount to, to make your bandits all drunk
with wine, and to satisfy them with gold?”
“Oh, monsieur, what an expression! Oh! monsieur, if they
heard you: some of them are very susceptible.”
“I mean to say they must be brought no longer to know the
heavens from the earth; for I shall to-morrow contend with
the king; and when I fight I mean to conquer — please to
understand.”
“It shall be done, monsieur. Give me your other ideas.”
“That is your business.”
“Then give me your purse.”
“Gourville, count a hundred thousand livres for the abbe.”
“Good! and spare nothing, did you not say?”
“Nothing.”
“That is well.”
“Monseigneur,” objected Gourville, “if this should be known,
we should lose our heads.”
“Eh! Gourville,” replied Fouquet, purple with anger, “you
excite my pity. Speak for yourself, if you please. My head
does not shake in that manner upon my shoulders. Now, abbe,
is everything arranged?”
“Everything.”
“At two o’clock to-morrow.”
“At twelve, because it will be necessary to prepare our
auxiliaries in a secret manner.”
“That is true; do not spare the wine of the cabaretier.”