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M.de la Fontaine's Wine.
Carriages were already bringing the guests of Fouquet to Saint-Mande; already the whole house was getting warm with the preparations for supper, when the superintendent launched his fleet horses upon the roads to Paris, and going by the quays, in order to meet fewer people on the way, soon reached the Hotel de Ville.

It wanted a quarter to eight.
Fouquet alighted at the corner of the Rue de Long-Pont, and, on foot, directed his course towards the Place de Greve, accompanied by Gourville.

At the turning of the Place they saw a man dressed in black and violet, of dignified mien, who was preparing to stop at Vincennes.
He had before him a large hamper filled with bottles, which he had just purchased at the _cabaret_ with the sign of "L'Image-de-Notre-Dame." "Eh, but! that is Vatel! my _maitre d'hotel!_" said Fouquet to Gourville.
"Yes, monseigneur," replied the latter.
"What can he have been doing at the sign of L'Image-de-Notre-Dame ?" "Buying wine, no doubt." "What! buy wine for me, at a _cabaret ?_" said Fouquet.

"My cellar, then, must be in a miserable condition!" and he advanced towards the _maitre d'hotel_, who was arranging his bottles in the carriage with the most minute care.
"_Hola!_ Vatel," said he, in the voice of a master.
"Take care, monseigneur!" said Gourville, "you will be recognized." "Very well! Of what consequence ?--Vatel!" The man dressed in black and violet turned round.