A man was cheapening a fowl." "Well, how could that injure me, abbe ?" "This way.

The fowl was not fat.

The purchaser refused to give eighteen sous for it, saying that he could not afford eighteen sous for the skin of a fowl from which M.Fouquet had sucked all the fat." "Go on." "The joke caused a deal of laughter," continued the abbe; "laughter at your expense, death to the devils! and the _canaille_ were delighted.
The joker added, 'Give me a fowl fed by M.Colbert, if you like! and I will pay all you ask.' And immediately there was a clapping of hands.

A frightful scandal! you understand; a scandal which forces a brother to hide his face." Fouquet colored.

"And you veiled it ?" said the superintendent.
"No, for so it happened I had one of my men in the crowd; a new recruit from the provinces, one M.Menneville, whom I like very much.