"And so," said the viscount, after his companion had told what he had to tell, "Madame la Princesse is now at Chantilly?"
As is well known, both Duchesses de Condé were so called, but the additional title of Dowager was bestowed upon the elder of the two.
"Yes, and they look for you there at the earliest possible moment," said Richon.
"What is her situation?"
"She is practically in exile; her movements as well as her mother-in-law's are watched with the utmost care, for there is a shrewd suspicion at court that they do not mean to confine themselves to petitions to parliament, and that they are concocting something for the benefit of the princes more likely to prove efficacious. Unfortunately, as always, money—Speaking of money, have you received what was due you? That is a question I was strongly urged to ask you."
"I have succeeded with great difficulty in collecting about twenty thousand livres, and I have it with me in gold; that's all."
"All! Peste! viscount, it's easy to see that you are a millionnaire. To talk so contemptuously of such a sum at such a time! Twenty thousand francs! We shall be poorer than Monsieur de Mazarin, but richer than the king."
"Then you think that Madame la Princesse will accept my humble offering, Richon?"
"Most gratefully; it is enough to pay an army."