If they concealed a smile it was with a great effort, for they knew that the prince, brought up in absolute ignorance of business, by this took upon himself a burden much too heavy for his strength.

Fouquet took leave of his colleagues upon the stairs, saying:--"Messieurs! there will be so much the less labor for us." And he gayly climbed into his carriage.

The others, a little uneasy at the turn things had taken, went back to Paris together.

Towards ten o'clock the king repaired to the apartment of his mother, with whom he had a long and private conversation.

After dinner, he got into his carriage, and went straight to the Louvre.