Colbert darted a glance at the duchesse, which plainly said: "If M. Fouquet be only disgraced, you will not be the cause of it."
"Your place, M. Colbert," the duchesse hastened to say, "must be quite a marked place. Do you perceive any one between the king and yourself, after the fall of M. Fouquet?"
"I do not understand," said he.
"You will understand. To what does your ambition aspire?"
"I have none."
"It was useless then to overthrow the surintendant, Monsieur Colbert. That is idle."
"I had the honor to tell you, Madame—"
"Oh! yes, I know, all about the interest of the king—but, if you please, we will speak of your own."
"Mine! that is to say the affairs of his majesty."
"In short, are you, or are you not ruining M. Fouquet? Answer without evasion."