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Updated: September 29, 2025
Aramis bit his lips, and something like a cloud seemed to pass over his face. The thunder behind this cloud could easily be imagined. He still kept his hold on Vanel. "You have purchased the appointment for fifteen hundred thousand francs, I think.
"Monsieur le surintendant," cried the marquise, advancing, very pale, to meet him; "what an honor! what an unexpected pleasure!" said she. Then, in a low voice, "Take care!" added the marquise, "Marguerite Vanel is here!" "Madame," replied Fouquet, rather agitated, "I came on business. One single word, and quickly, if you please!" And he entered the salon.
"We must offer M. Vanel a hundred thousand crowns at once," said Fouquet, carried away by his generous feelings. The sum was a good one. A prince, even, would have been satisfied with such a bonus. A hundred thousand crowns at that period was the dowry of a king's daughter. Vanel, however, did not move.
The marquise rose, pale and almost lifeless, without thinking of the envelope, which had occupied her attention so greatly at the commencement of the conversation, and which was revealed at the first step she took. She then opened the door of her oratory, and without even turning her head towards Marguerite Vanel, entered it, closing the door after her.
When the servants announced Madame Vanel to Madame de Belliere, the latter was engaged, or rather was absorbed, in reading, a letter, which she hurriedly concealed. She had hardly finished her morning toilette, her maid being still in the next room. At the name -at the footsteps of Marguerite Vanel Madame de Belliere ran to meet her.
"No, no!" replied Fouquet; "I will sign under M. Colbert's own handwriting even; and I write, 'The handwriting is approved of." He then signed, and said, "Here it is, Monsieur Vanel." And the latter seized the paper, dashed down the money, and was about to make his escape. "One moment," said Aramis. "Are you quite sure the exact amount is there?
I am less loving, perhaps; when my heart has been once wounded, it remains so always." "But M. Fouquet has not wounded you," said Marguerite Vanel, with the most perfect simplicity. "You perfectly understand what I mean. M. Fouquet has not wounded me; I do not know of either obligation or injury received at his hands, but you have reason to complain of him.
I know that offers of purchase have already been made to you for it." "Madame Vanel, I have been told, values it at fourteen hundred thousand livres." "That is all we have." "Can you give me the money immediately?"
Fouquet pressed Aramis's hand; but, instead of the deed which Vanel handed to him, he took the rough draft of it. "No, not that paper," said Aramis, hastily; "this is the one. The other is too precious a document for you to part with."
"Madame Vanel has taken Colbert's notes and sent them to me?" "No, but by a chance which resembles a miracle, she has a duplicate of those notes." "How could she get that?" "Listen; I told you that Colbert found paper on the table." "Yes." "That he took a pencil from his pocket." "Yes." "And wrote upon that paper." "Yes."
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