“Yes, I am,” replied Vanel, astonished at the extremely haughty tone in which Aramis had put the question; “but in what way am I to address you, who do me the honor—”
“Call me monseigneur,” replied Aramis, dryly. Vanel bowed.
“Come, gentlemen, a truce to these ceremonies; let us proceed to the matter itself.”
“Monseigneur sees,” said Vanel, “that I am waiting your pleasure.”
“On the contrary, I am waiting,” replied Fouquet.
“What for, may I be permitted to ask, monseigneur?”
“I thought that you had perhaps something to say.”
“Oh,” said Vanel to himself, “he has reflected on the matter and I am lost.” But resuming his courage, he continued, “No, monseigneur, nothing, absolutely nothing more than what I said to you yesterday, and which I am again ready to repeat to you now.”
“Come, now, tell me frankly, Monsieur Vanel, is not the affair rather a burdensome one for you?”
“Certainly, monseigneur; fourteen hundred thousand francs is an important sum.”