"Absolutely nothing, sire."
"How! nothing? Not even an opportunity of serving me?"
"If your majesty were not to furnish me with that opportunity, I should not the less serve you. It is impossible for me not to be the best servant of the king."
"You shall be intendant of the finances, M. Colbert."
"But there is already a superintendent, sire."
"I know that."
"Sire, the superintendent of the finances is the most powerful man in the kingdom."
"Ah!" cried Louis, coloring, "do you think so?"
"He will crush me in a week, sire. Your majesty gives me a controle for which strength is indispensable. An intendant under a superintendent,--that is inferiority."
"You want support--you do not reckon upon me?"
"I had the honor of telling your majesty, that during the lifetime of M. de Mazarin, M. Fouquet was the second man in the kingdom; now M. de Mazarin is dead, M. Fouquet is become the first."
"Monsieur, I agree to what you told me of all things up to to-day; but to-morrow, please to remember, I shall no longer suffer it."
"Then I shall be of no use to your majesty?"
"You are already, since you fear to compromise yourself in serving me."
"I only fear to be placed so that I cannot serve your majesty."
"What do you wish, then?"
"I wish your majesty to allow me assistance in the labors of the office of intendant."
"That post would lose its value."
"It would gain in security."
"Choose your colleagues."
"Messieurs Breteuil, Marin, Hervart."
"To-morrow the ordonnance shall appear."
"Sire, I thank you."
"Is that all you ask?"
"No, sire, one thing more."
"What is that?"
"Allow me to compose a chamber of justice."
"What would this chamber of justice do?"
"Try the farmers-general and contractors, who, during ten years, have been robbing the state."
"Well, but what would you do with them?"
"Hang two or three, and that would make the rest disgorge."
"I cannot commence my reign with executions, Monsieur Colbert."
"On the contrary, sire, you had better, in order not to have to end with them."
The king made no reply. "Does your majesty consent?" said Colbert.
"I will reflect upon it, monsieur."