“You astonish me, marquise; I will even say you almost frighten me. You, so serious, so collected; you who know the world we live in so well. Is it, then important?”
“Oh! very important.”
“In the first place, how did you come here?”
“You shall know that presently; but first to something of more consequence.”
“Speak, marquise, speak! I implore you, have pity on my impatience.”
“Do you know that Colbert is made intendant of the finances?”
“Bah! Colbert, little Colbert.”
“Yes, Colbert, little Colbert.”
“Mazarin’s factotum?”
“The same.”