“What! before the angel’s door?”
“Why, yes.”
“This is the hotel of Madame de Belliere!”
“Hush!”
“Ah! Good Lord!” exclaimed Pelisson.
“What have you to say against her?”
“Nothing, alas! and it is that which causes my despair. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Why can I not, on the contrary, say ill enough of her to prevent your going to her?”
But Fouquet had already given orders to stop, and the carriage was motionless. “Prevent me!” cried Fouquet; “why, no power on earth should prevent my going to pay my compliments to Madame de Plessis-Belliere; besides, who knows that we shall not stand in need of her!”
“No, monseigneur, no!”
“But I do not wish you to wait for me, Pelisson,” replied Fouquet, sincerely courteous.