Mazarin lifted his cold hand to his brow, which was beaded with perspiration. "How so?" stammered he.
"This way. Your excellency had gained much wealth--in the service of the king."
"Hum! much--that is, not too much."
"Whatever it may be, whence came that wealth?"
"From the state."
"The state; that is the king."
"But what do you conclude from that, father?" said Mazarin, who began to tremble.
"I cannot conclude without seeing a list of the riches you possess. Let us reckon a little, if you please. You have the bishopric of Metz?"
"Yes."
"The abbeys of St. Clement, St. Arnould, and St. Vincent, all at Metz?"
"Yes."
"You have the abbey of St. Denis, in France, magnificent property?"
"Yes, father."
"You have the abbey of Cluny, which is rich?"
"I have."
"That of St. Medard at Soissons, with a revenue of one hundred thousand livres?"
"I cannot deny it."
"That of St. Victor, at Marseilles,--one of the best in the south?"
"Yes father."
"A good million a year. With the emoluments of the cardinalship and the ministry, I say too little when I say two millions a year."
"Eh!"
"In ten years that is twenty millions--and twenty millions put out at fifty per cent. give, by progression, twenty-three millions in ten years."
"How well you reckon for a Theatin!"
"Since your eminence placed our order in the convent we occupy, near St. Germain des Pres, in 1644, I have kept the accounts of the society."
"And mine likewise, apparently, father."
"One ought to know a little of everything, my lord."
"Very well. Conclude, at present."
"I conclude that your baggage is too heavy to allow you to pass through the gates of Paradise."
"Shall I be damned?"
"If you do not make restitution, yes."
Mazarin uttered a piteous cry. "Restitution!--but to whom, good God?"
"To the owner of that money,--to the king."
"But the king did not give it all to me."
"One moment,--does not the king sign the ordonances?"
Mazarin passed from sighs to groans. "Absolution! absolution!" cried he.
"Impossible, my lord. Restitution! restitution!" replied the Theatin.
"But you absolve me from all other sins, why not from that?"
"Because," replied the father, "to absolve you for that motive would be a sin for which the king would never absolve me, my lord."