He accompanied this restitution with a most severe reprimand, during which Colbert contented himself with examining, feeling, even smelling, as it were, the paper, the characters, and the signature, neither more nor less than if he had to deal with the greatest forger in the kingdom.

Mazarin behaved still more rudely to him, but Colbert, still impassible, having obtained a certainty that the letter was the true one, went off as if he had been deaf.

This conduct obtained for him afterwards the post of Joubert; for Mazarin, instead of bearing malice, admired him, and was desirous of attaching so much fidelity to himself.
It may be judged by this single anecdote, what the character of Colbert was.

Events, developing themselves, by degrees allowed all the powers of his mind to act freely.

Colbert was not long in insinuating himself to the good graces of the cardinal: he became even indispensable to him.
The clerk was acquainted with all his accounts without the cardinal's ever having spoken to him about them.