“The projects of M. Fouquet, sire?”
“Yes.”
“They are called crimes of lese majeste.”
“And what is done to criminals guilty of lese majeste?”
“They are arrested, tried, and punished.”
“You are quite sure that M. Fouquet has conceived the idea of the crime you impute to him?”
“I can say more, sire, there is even a commencement of the execution of it.”
“Well, then, I return to that which I was saying, M. Colbert.”
“And you were saying, sire?”
“Give me counsel.”