It is really very unfortunate that you are not the Egeria of M.Fouquet; you might now show him the source whence he could obtain the millions which the king asked him for yesterday." "Millions!" said the marquise, in terror.
"Four--an even number." "Infamous!" murmured Madame de Belliere, tortured by her friend's merciless delight.
"M.

Fouquet, I should think, must certainly have four millions," she replied, courageously.
"If he has those which the king requires to-day," said Marguerite, "he will not, perhaps, possess those which the king will demand in a month or so." "The king will exact money from him again, then ?" "No doubt; and that is my reason for saying that the ruin of poor M.
Fouquet is inevitable.

Pride will induce him to furnish the money, and when he has no more, he will fall." "It is true," said the marquise, trembling; "the plan is a bold one; but tell me, does M.Colbert hate M.Fouquet so very much ?" "I think he does not like him.

M.Colbert is powerful; he improves on close acquaintance; he has gigantic ideas, a strong will, and discretion; he will rise." "He will be superintendent ?" "It is probable.

Such is the reason, my dear marquise, why I felt myself impressed in favor of that poor man, who once loved, and even adored me; and why, when I see him so unfortunate, I forgive his infidelity, which I have reason to believe he also regrets; and why, moreover, I should not have been disinclined to afford him some consolation, or some good advice; he would have understood the step I had taken, and would have thought kindly of me for it.