"Heaven bless the idea, if it only brings us one or two millions," said Fouquet, gayly.
"Exactly," replied La Fontaine.
"Quick, quick!" cried the assembly.
"Take care," said Pellisson in La Fontaine's ear; "you have had a most brilliant success up to the present moment, so do not go too far."
"Not at all, Monsieur Pellisson; and you, who are a man of decided taste, will be the first to approve of what I have done."
"We are talking of millions, remember," said Gourville.
"I have fifteen hundred thousand francs here, Monsieur Gourville," he replied, striking himself on the chest.
"The deuce take this Gascon from Chateau-Thierry!" cried Loret.
"It is not the pocket you should touch, but the brain," said Fouquet.
"Stay a moment, Monsieur le Surintendant," added La Fontaine; "you are not procureur-general—you are a poet."