ontainebleau, and, as a good financier, he returned it
with the best possible interest. Having once disposed the king's mind in
that way, Colbert had nothing of much importance to detain him. He felt
that such was the case, for the king too had again sunk into a dull and
gloomy state. Colbert awaited the first word from the king's lips with
as much impatience as Philippe and Aramis did from their place of
observation.

"Are you aware what is the natural consequence of all this, Monsieur
Colbert?" said the king, after a few moments' reflection.

"No, sire, I do not know."

"Well, then, the fact of the appropriation of the thirteen millions, if
it can be proved--"

"But it is so already."

"I mean if it were to be declared and certified, M. Colbert."

"I think it will be to-morrow, if your majesty--"

"Were we not under M. Fouquet's roof, you were going to say, perhaps,"
replied the king, with something of nobleness in his manner.

"The king is in his own palace where-ever he may be, and especially in
houses which his own money has paid for."

"I think," said Philippe, in a low tone to Aramis, "that the architect
who constructed this dome ought, anticipating what use could be made of
it, so to have contrived that it might easily be made to fall on the
heads of scoundrels such as that M. Colbert."

"I thought so too," replied Aramis; "but M. Colbert is so very near the
king at this moment."

"That is true, and that would open the succession."

"Of which your younger brother would reap all the advantage,
monseigneur. But stay, let us keep quiet, and go on listening."

"We shall not have long to listen," said the young prince.

"Why not, monseigneur?"

"Because, if I were the king, I should not reply anything further."

"And what would you do?"

"I should wait until to-morrow morning to give myself time for
reflection."

Louis XIV. at last raised his eyes, and finding Colbert attentively
waiting for his next remark, said, hastily changing the conversation,
"M. Colbert, I perceive it is getting very late, and I shall now retire
to bed. By to-morrow morning I shall have made up my mind."

"Very good, sire," returned Colbert, greatly incensed, although he
restrained himself in the presence of the king.

The king made a gesture of adieu, and Colbert withdrew with a respectful
bow. "My attendants," cried the king; and, as they entered the
apartment, Philippe was about to quit his post of observation.

"