"_Mordioux!_ my dear monsieur," said he, "there are sad lessons which you gentlemen of finance teach us; I come to M.Fouquet to receive a sum accorded by his majesty, and I am received like a mendicant who comes to ask charity, or a thief who comes to steal a piece of plate." "But you pronounced the name of M.Colbert, my dear M.d'Artagnan; you said you were going to M.Colbert's ?" "I certainly am going there, were it only to ask satisfaction of the people who try to burn houses, crying '_Vive Colbert!_'" Gourville pricked up his ears.

"Oh, oh!" said he, "you allude to what has just happened at the Greve ?" "Yes, certainly." "And in what did that which has taken place concern you ?" "What! do you ask me whether it concerns me or does not concern me, if M.Colbert pleases to make a funeral-pile of my house ?" "So, ho, _your_ house--was it your house they wanted to burn ?" "_Pardieu!_ was it!" "Is the _cabaret_ of the Image-de-Notre-Dame yours, then ?" "It has been this week." "Well, then, are you the brave captain, are you the valiant blade who dispersed those who wished to burn the condemned ?" "My dear Monsieur Gourville, put yourself in my place.

I was an agent of the public force and a landlord, too.

As a captain, it is my duty to have the orders of the king accomplished.

As a proprietor, it is to my interest my house should not be burnt.