“Very well. Conclude, at present.”
“I conclude that your baggage is too heavy to allow you to pass through the gates of Paradise.”
“Shall I be damned?”
“If you do not make restitution, yes.”
Mazarin uttered a piteous cry. “Restitution!—but to whom, good God?”
“To the owner of that money,—to the king.”
“But the king did not give it all to me.”
“One moment,—does not the king sign the ordonnances?”
Mazarin passed from sighs to groans. “Absolution! absolution!” cried he.
“Impossible, my lord. Restitution! restitution!” replied the Theatin.