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He learned that M. Colbert was radiant; that M. Fouquet consulted a fresh physician every day, who still did not cure him, and that his principal complaint was one which physicians do not usually cure, unless they are political physicians.
La Fontaine forgot his Gorgny wine, and allowed Vatel to reconcile him to the wines of the Rhone, and those from the shores of Spain. The Abbe Fouquet became so kind and good-natured, that Gourville said to him, "Take care, monsieur l'abbe; if you are so tender, you will be carved and eaten."
"My denouement," cried La Fontaine, "is that Vanel, that determined blackbird, knowing that I was coming to Saint-Mande, implored me to bring him with me, and, if possible, to present him to M. Fouquet." "So that " "So that he is here; I left him in that part of the ground called Bel-Air. Well, M. Fouquet, what is your reply?"
"Messieurs," said he, "in truth we are abusing a man whom no one knows: it is neither charitable nor reasonable; and here is monsieur le surintendant, who, I am sure, agrees with me." "Entirely," replied Fouquet. "Let the fat fowls of M. Colbert alone; our business to-day is with the faisans truffes of M. Vatel."
In the meantime Fouquet was hastening to the Louvre, at the best speed of his English horses. The king was at work with Colbert. All at once the king became thoughtful. The two sentences of death he had signed on mounting his throne sometimes recurred to his memory; they were two black spots which he saw with his eyes open; two spots of blood which he saw when his eyes were closed.
Alfred Lallier, "Les Noyades de Nantes," p.20. "Damn," exclaims Carrier, "I kept that execution for Lamberty. Cf. Moniteur, XXII., 331. Other agents of Carrier, Fouquet and Lamberty, were condemned specially, "for having saved from national vengeance Madame de Martilly and her maid... They shared the woman Martilly and the maid between them."
Vanel hesitated, trembled all over, and at last finished by hesitatingly holding out his hand. Fouquet opened and nobly extended his own; this loyal hand lay for a moment in Vanel's most hypocritical palm, and he pressed it in his own, in order the better to convince himself of the compact. The superintendent gently disengaged his hand, as he again said, "Adieu."
"Say what?" "An evident, palpable, material proof of treason." "And what is that?" "I have just learnt that M. Fouquet is fortifying Belle-Isle." "Ah, indeed!" "Yes, sire." "Are you sure?" "Perfectly. Do you know, sire, what soldiers there are in Belle-Isle?" "No, ma foi! Do you?" "I am ignorant, likewise, sire; I should therefore propose to your majesty to send somebody to Belle-Isle?" "Who?"
Oh! let M. Colbert look to it well, for his lighter is as much exposed as yours to being upset. Both go quickly, his faster than yours, it is true; we shall see which will be wrecked first." Fouquet, taking Gourville's hand "My friend," said he, "everything considered, remember the proverb, 'First come, first served! Well! M. Colbert takes care not to pass me. He is a prudent man is M. Colbert."
Her perfidious friend's voice had assumed the most affectionate tone; she spoke as a woman, but concealed the instincts of a wolf. "Well," said Madame de Belliere, who had a vague hope that Marguerite would cease to overwhelm a vanquished enemy, "why do you not go and see M. Fouquet?" "Decidedly, marquise, you have made me reflect. No, it would be unbecoming for me to make the first advance.
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