s for your glory."

"You will be my first minister of state."

"Not immediately, monseigneur; for that would give rise to too much
suspicion and astonishment."

"M. de Richelieu, the first minister of my grandmother, Marie de Medici,
was simply bishop of Lucon, as you are bishop of Vannes."

"I perceive that your royal highness has studied my notes to great
advantage; your amazing perspicacity overpowers me with delight."

"I am perfectly aware that M. de Richelieu, by means of the queen's
protection, soon became cardinal."

"It would be better," said Aramis, bowing, "that I should not be
appointed first minister until after your royal highness had procured my
nomination as cardinal."

"You shall be nominated before two months are past, Monsieur d'Herblay.
But that is a matter of very trifling moment; you would not offend me if
you were to ask more than that, and you would cause me serious regret if
you were to limit yourself to that."

"In that case I have something still further to hope for, monseigneur."

"Speak! speak!"

"M. Fouquet will not keep long at the head of affairs, he will soon get
old. He is fond of pleasure, consistently so with his labors, thanks to
that amount of youthfulness which he still retains; but this
youthfulness will disappear at the approach of the first serious
annoyance, or at the first illness he may experience. We will spare him
the annoyance, because he is an agreeable and noble-hearted man; but we
cannot save him from ill-health. So it is determined. When you shall
have paid all M. Fouquet's debts, and restored the finances to a sound
condition, M. Fouquet will be able to remain the sovereign ruler in his
little court of poets and painters, but we shall have made him rich.
When that has been done, and I shall have become your royal highness's
prime minister, I shall be able to think of my own interests and yours."

The young man looked at his interrogator.

"M. de Richelieu, of whom we were speaking just now, was very blamable
in the fixed idea he had of governing France alone, unaided. He allowed
two kings, the King Louis XIII. and himself, to be seated upon the same
throne, while he might have installed them more conveniently upon two
separate and distinct thrones."

"Upon two thrones?" said the young man, thoughtfully.

"In fact," pursued Aramis, quietly, "a cardinal, prime minister of
France, assisted by the favor and by the countenance of his Most
Christian Majesty