“I am happy to be approved of by your majesty.”
“Is that the only appointment you held about the cardinal?” asked the king.
“It was I who was appointed to examine the accounts of the superintendent, sire.”
“Ah!” said Louis, who was about to dismiss Colbert, but whom that word stopped; “ah! it was you whom his eminence had charged to control M. Fouquet, was it? And the result of the examination?”
“Is that there is a deficit, sire; but if your majesty will permit me——”
“Speak, M. Colbert.”
“I ought to give your majesty some explanations.”
“Not at all, monsieur, it is you who have controlled these accounts, give me the result.”
“That is very easily done, sire; emptiness everywhere, money nowhere.”
“Beware, monsieur; you are roughly attacking the administration of M. Fouquet, who, nevertheless, I have heard say, is an able man.”