“A man in your position, my lord, is only lost when he wishes to be so.”
“A man, whatever his position may be, cannot hope to struggle against a king.”
“Nonsense; when I was young I wrestled successfully with the Cardinal Richelieu, who was king of France,—nay more—cardinal.”
“Where are my armies, my troops, my treasures? I have not even Belle-Isle.”
“Bah! necessity is the mother of invention, and when you think all is lost, something will be discovered which will retrieve everything.”
“Who will discover this wonderful something?”
“Yourself.”
“I! I resign my office of inventor.”
“Then I will.”
“Be it so. But set to work without delay.”