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Updated: September 29, 2025
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."
I reserve to myself the right of purchasing the post from you at one hundred and fifty thousand francs profit for yourself, if, in your mode of filling the office, you do not follow out a line of conduct in conformity with the interests of the king and with my projects." "Ah-h!" said Vanel, in an altered tone.
The secretary replied that, according to his usual practice, M. Vanel had just that moment entered the house, in order to give the intendant an account of the principal details of the business which had been transacted during the day in parliament.
Aramis, who was delighted to find the superintendent carry on the debate with such clearness and precision, stood leaning his arm upon the marble top of a console table and began to play with a small gold knife, with a malachite handle. Fouquet did not hasten to reply; but after a moment's pause, "Come, my dear Monsieur Vanel," he said, "I will explain to you how I am situated."
"There are certain men mad enough, Vanel, to fancy themselves out of the reach of all mischances." "Yes, monseigneur; but such men never commit their mad acts for the advantage of the poor Vanels of the world." "Why not?" "For the very reason that those Vanels are poor." "It is true that M. Fouquet's post might cost a good round sum. What would you bid for it, Monsieur Vanel?"
"Are you surprised, then, that I am still thinking of Saint-Mande?" "Of Saint-Mande?" exclaimed Madame de Belliere; and the looks of both women met each other like two resistless swords. "You, so proud!" said the marquise, disdainfully. "I, so proud!" replied Madame Vanel. "Such is my nature. I do not forgive neglect I cannot endure infidelity.
"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."
Observing his superior's serious attitude, and his perseverance in continuing the conversation on this subject, Vanel awaited the solution without venturing to precipitate it. "Explain to me the privileges which this post confers."
"If it were not for the trouble you would have in returning to Paris, I would say at once; but we will arrange that the payment and the signature shall take place at six o'clock to-morrow morning." "Very good," said Vanel, as cold as ice, and feeling quite bewildered.
"Oh!" resumed Madame Vanel, stretching out her foot towards a paper which was lying on the carpet near the window; "it is not necessary for people to see each other, since they can write." The marquise trembled, for this paper was the envelope of the letter she was reading as her friend had entered, and was sealed with the superintendent's arms.
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