very large even for its age. The accompanying
_Pieces_ were unusually voluminous. The accused had not been idle. His
_Defenses_ may be seen in fourteen closely printed Elzevir 18mos.

The unabated rigor of Fouquet's prison had convinced his friends that it
was useless to hope for clemency, and that it might be difficult to save
his life. The King was as malignant as at first; Colbert and Le Tellier
as venomous, as if it had been a question of Fouquet's head or their
own. They talked about justice, affected moderation, and deceived
nobody. Marshal Turenne, speaking of their respective feelings in the
matter, said a thing which was considered good by the _bel-esprits_:--"I
think that Colbert is the more anxious to have him hanged, and Le
Tellier the more afraid he will not be."

But meantime the Parisians had changed their minds about the
Surintendant. Now, they were all for him. His friends had done much to
bring this about; time, and the usual reaction of feeling, had done
more. His haughtiness and his pomp were gone and forgotten; there
remained only an unfortunate gentleman, crushed, imprisoned, threatened
with death, attacked by his enemies with a bitterness which showed they
were seeking to destroy the man rather than to punish the criminal,--yet
bearing up against his unexampled afflictions with unshaken courage. The
great Public has strong levelling propensities, both upward and
downward. If it delights to see the prosperous humbled, it is always
ready to pity the unfortunate; and even in 1664 the popular feeling in
Paris was powerful enough to check the ministers of an absolute king,
and to save Fouquet's life. His persecutors were so eager to run down
their prey that they overran it "In their anxiety to hang him," some one
said, "they have made their rope so thick that they cannot tighten it
about his neck."

In November, 1664, Fouquet was brought before a commission of twenty-two
judges, selected from the different Parliaments of the kingdom. After
protesting against the jurisdiction of the court, he took his seat upon
the _sellette_, although a chair had been prepared for him beside it.
The interrogatories commenced. There were two principal charges against
him. First, diversion of the public funds to his own use,--embezzlement
or defalcation we should call it. Proof: his great expenditure, too
large for any private fortune. Answer: that his expenses were within the
income he derived from his salaries, pens