"I came here to save you, Monsieur Fouquet, and not to ruin myself," said the marquise, rising--"therefore, beware!--"
"Marquise, in truth you terrify yourself too much at least, unless this terror is but a pretext--"
"He is very deep, very deep; this M. Colbert: beware!"
Fouquet, in his turn, drew himself up. "And I?" asked he.
"And you, you have only a noble heart. Beware! beware!"
"So?"
"I have done what was right, my friend, at the risk of my reputation. Adieu!"
"Not adieu, au revoir!"
"Perhaps," said the marquise, giving her hand to Fouquet to kiss, and walking towards the door with so firm a step, that he did not dare to bar her passage. As to Fouquet, he retook, with his head hanging down and a fixed cloud on his brow, the path of the subterranean passage along which ran the metal wires that communicated from one house to the other, transmitting, through two glasses, the wishes and signals of hidden correspondents.