"Allow me to compose a chamber of justice."
"What would this chamber of justice do?"
"Try the farmers-general and contractors, who, during ten years, have been robbing the state."
"Well, but what would you do with them?"
"Hang two or three, and that would make the rest disgorge."
"I cannot commence my reign with executions, Monsieur Colbert."
"On the contrary, sire, you had better, in order not to have to end with them."
The king made no reply. "Does your majesty consent?" said Colbert.
"I will reflect upon it, monsieur."
"It will be too late when reflection may be made."
"Why?"
"Because you have to deal with people stronger than ourselves, if they are warned."
"Compose that chamber of justice, monsieur."
"I will, sire."
"Is that all?"
"No, sire; there is still another important affair. What rights does your majesty attach to this office of intendant?"
"Well - I do not know - the customary ones."
"Sire, I desire that this office be invested with the right of reading the correspondence with England."
"Impossible, monsieur, for that correspondence is kept from the council; monsieur le cardinal himself carried it on."
"I thought your majesty had this morning declared that there should no longer be a council?"
"Yes, I said so."
"Let your majesty then have the goodness to read all the letters yourself, particularly those from England; I hold strongly to this article."
"Monsieur, you shall have that correspondence, and render me an account of it."
"Now, sire, what shall I do with respect to the finances?"
"Everything M. Fouquet has _not_ done."
"That is all I ask of your majesty. Thanks, sire, I depart in peace;" and at these words he took his leave. Louis watched his departure.
Colbert was not yet a hundred paces from the Louvre when the king received a courier from England. After having looked at and examined the envelope, the king broke the seal precipitately, and found a letter from Charles II. The following is what the English prince wrote to his royal brother: -"Your majesty must be rendered very uneasy by the illness of M. le Cardinal Mazarin; but the excess of danger can only prove of service to you. The cardinal is given over by his physician. I thank you for the gracious reply you have made to my communication touching the Princess Henrietta, my sister, and, in a week, the princess and her court will set out for Paris. It is gratifying to me to acknowledge the fraternal friendship you have evinced towards me, and to call you, more justly than ever, my brother. It is gratifying to me, above everything, to prove to your majesty how much I am interested in all that may please you. You are wrong in having Belle-Isle-en-Mer secretly fortified. That is wrong. We shall never be at war against each other. That measure does not make me uneasy, it makes me sad. You are spending useless millions; tell your ministers so; and rest assured that I am well informed; render me the same service, my brother, if occasion offers."
The king rang his bell violently, and his _valet de chambre_ appeared.
"Monsieur Colbert is just gone; he cannot be far off. Let him be called back!" exclaimed he.
The valet was about to execute the order, when the king stopped him.
"No," said he, "no; I see the whole scheme of that man. Belle-Isle belongs to M. Fouquet; Belle-Isle is being fortified: that is a conspiracy on the part of M. Fouquet. The discovery of that conspiracy is the ruin of the superintendent, and that discovery is the result of the correspondence with England: this is why Colbert wished to have that correspondence. Oh! but I cannot place all my dependence upon that man; he has a good head, but I must have an arm!" Louis, all at once, uttered a joyful cry. "I had," said he, "a lieutenant of musketeers!"
"Yes, sire - Monsieur d'Artagnan."
"He quitted the service for a time."
"Yes, sire."
"Let him be found, and be here to-morrow the first thing in the morning."
The _valet de chambre_ bowed and went out.
"Thirteen millions in my cellar," said the king; "Colbert carrying my purse and D'Artagnan my sword - _I am king_."
