“That is not the way,” said Pelisson, gravely, “that I translate lepores.”
“How do you translate it?” said La Fontaine.
“Thus: The hares run away as soon as they see M. Fouquet.” A burst of laughter, in which the superintendent joined, followed this sally.
“But why hares?” objected Conrart, vexed.
“Because the hare will be the very one who will not be over pleased to see M. Fouquet surrounded by all the attributes which his parliamentary strength and power confer on him.”
“Oh! oh!” murmured the poets.
“Quo non ascendam,” said Conrart, “seems impossible to me, when one is fortunate enough to wear the gown of the procureur-general.” [9]
“On the contrary, it seems so to me without that gown,” said the obstinate Pelisson; “what is your opinion, Gourville?”
“I think the gown in question is a very good thing,” replied the latter; “but I equally think that a million and a half is far better than the gown.”
“And I am of Gourville’s opinion,” exclaimed Fouquet, stopping the discussion by the expression of his own opinion, which would necessarily bear down all the others.