“Well! what do you see so terrific in that, dear marquise? little Colbert is intendant; that is astonishing, I confess, but is not terrific.”
“Do you think the king has given, without a pressing motive, such a place to one you call a little cuistre?”
“In the first place, is it positively true that the king has given it to him?”
“It is so said.”
“Ay, but who says so?”
“Everybody.”
“Everybody, that’s nobody; mention some one likely to be well informed who says so.”
“Madame Vanel.”
“Ah! now you begin to frighten me in earnest,” said Fouquet, laughing; “if any one is well informed, or ought to be well informed, it is the person you name.”
“Do not speak ill of poor Marguerite, Monsieur Fouquet, for she still loves you.”