* [The text in the print copy is corrupt at this point. The suggested reading, in brackets, is by John Bursey.]
“Good, good! I will go and give notice to my soldiers.”
“Accompany him, Gourville,” said Fouquet, “and count him down the money. One moment, abbe—one moment, Gourville—what name will be given to this carrying off?”
“A very natural one, monsieur—the Riot.”
“The riot on account of what? For, if ever the people of Paris are disposed to pay their court to the king, it is when he hangs financiers.”
“I will manage that,” said the abbe.
“Yes; but you may manage it badly, and people will guess.”
“Not at all,—not at all. I have another idea.”
“What is that?”
“My men shall cry out, ‘Colbert, vive Colbert!’ and shall throw themselves upon the prisoners as if they would tear them in pieces, and shall force them from the gibbets, as too mild a punishment.”