"I do."
"To the man who, during your minority, transformed a distracted country into a powerful and peaceful empire, you promised friendship and protection for his kindred. But how has this promise been fulfilled? The family of Mazarin have, one and all, been given over to persecution and injustice, and that by a sovereign who—"
"Prince," cried Louis, "you forget that you address your king!"
"My king! when has your conduct ever been to me that of a king, and therefore of a father? I know that my uncle was once king of the King of France; and by the God above us! he was a gracious monarch, for he left to his successor a prosperous kingdom and an overflowing treasury!"
"Which was not fuller than his own private purse," retorted Louis.
"The cardinal named you his heir, sire—why did you not accept the heritage?"
"Because I would not enrich myself at the expense of his family," replied Louis, haughtily.
"Because you knew very well that what you affected to relinquish, that the world might admire your magnanimity, you intended to take back by piecemeal. And to do this, you have persecuted the unhappy family of your best friend with au ingenuity of malice that is beneath the dignity not only of your station, but of your manhood!"
"Sire," cried Madame de Maintenon, hastening to the king, "I beseech you, drive from your presence this insolent madman."
"Let him speak," said Louis, in a voice of suppressed rage. "I wish to see how far he will carry his presumption."