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Updated: September 29, 2025
"Does the fellow presume to speak?" said Aramis, with the tone of an emperor. "Fellow!" repeated Vanel. "The scoundrel, I meant to say," added Aramis, who had now resumed his usual self-possession. "Come, monsieur, produce your deed of sale, you have it about you, I suppose, in one of your pockets, already prepared, as an assassin holds his pistol or his dagger concealed under his cloak."
Let the parliament subscribe among themselves to purchase, in a proper manner, the post of procureur-general; in that case, all would go well; the honor of our body would be saved, and M. Fouquet's pride spared." "That is an opening." "I considered it so, monseigneur." "Well, Monsieur Vanel, you will go at once, and find out either M. Gourville or M. Pelisson.
"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.
"That some one had spoken to him about a post in parliament; that M. Fouquet's name had been mentioned; that ever since, Madame Vanel dreams of nothing else than being called madame la procureur-generale, and that it makes her ill and kills her every night she does not dream about it." "The deuce!" "Poor woman!" said Fouquet. "Wait a moment.
And then Vanel ran hastily to the door, hurried along the vestibule, and fled as quickly as he could. Fouquet had no sooner dismissed Vanel than he began to reflect for a few moments "A man never can do too much for the woman he has once loved. Marguerite wishes to be the wife of a procureur-general and why not confer this pleasure upon her?
"On the day and hour you arrange to settle the matter, Monsieur Vanel, you shall be supplied with the money, so do not make yourself uneasy on that account." "Monseigneur, such munificence! You eclipse kings even you surpass M. Fouquet himself."
"So important, indeed," said Fouquet, "that I have reflected " "You have been reflecting, do you say, monseigneur?" exclaimed Vanel, anxiously. "Yes; that you might not yet be in a position to purchase." "Oh, monseigneur!" "Do not make yourself uneasy on that score, Monsieur Vanel; I shall not blame you for a failure in your word, which evidently may arise from inability on your part."
"Your reputation stands high in the parliament, Vanel." "I believe so, monseigneur." "You must not grow rusty in your post of counselor." "What must I do to avoid it?" "Purchase a high place. Mean and low ambitions are very difficult to satisfy." "Small purses are the most difficult ones to fill, monseigneur." "What post have you in view?" said Colbert. "I see none not one."
Vanel began to mutter something. "Enough!" cried Fouquet. "Where is this deed?" Vanel tremblingly searched in his pockets, and as he drew out his pocket-book, a paper fell out of it, while Vanel offered the other to Fouquet. Aramis pounced upon the paper which had fallen out, as soon as he recognized the handwriting. "I beg your pardon," said Vanel, "that is a rough draft of the deed."
"I am quite aware of that, since he made it a point to succeed me with Madame Vanel." "And obtained his end; look at that." "Do you mean to say he has the presumption to hope to pass from intendant to superintendent?" "Have you not yourself already had the same fear?" "Oh! oh!" said Fouquet, "to succeed with Madame Vanel is one thing, to succeed me with the king is another.
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