Page:Louise de la Valliere text.djvu/285

"What is the subject, madame, which procures me the honor of a visit from you?" he inquired.

"The need I have of you, monsieur," returned the duchess, "as well as that which you have of me."

"I am delighted, madame, with the first portion of your sentence; but as far as the second portion is concerned "

Mme. de Chevreuse sat down in the armchair which M. Colbert advanced toward her.

"Monsieur Colbert, you are the intendant of finances, and are ambitious of becoming the surintendant?"

"Madame!"

"Nay, do not deny it; that would only unnecessarily prolong our conversation, and that is useless."

"And yet, madame, however well disposed and inclined to show politeness I may be toward a lady of your position and merit, nothing will make me confess that I have ever entertained the idea of supplanting my superior."

"I said nothing about supplanting. Monsieur Colbert. Could I accidentally have made use of that word? I hardly think that likely. The word 'replace' is less aggressive in its signification, and more grammatically suitable, as Monsieur de Voiture would say. I presume, therefore, that you are ambitious of replacing Monsieur Fouquet."

"Monsieur Fouquet's fortune, madame, enables him to withstand all attempts. The surintendant in this age plays the part of the Colossus of Ehodes; the vessels pass beneath him and do not overthrow him."

"I ought to have availed myself precisely of that very comparison. It is true. Monsieur Fouquet plays the part of the Colossus of Ehodes; but I remember to have heard it said by Monsieur Conrart, a member of the Academy, I believe, that when the Colossus of Ehodes fell from its lofty position, the merchant who had cast it down — a merchant, nothing more. Monsieur Colbert — loaded four hundred camels with the ruins. A merchant! and that is considerably less than an intendant of finances."

"Madame, I can assure you that I shall never overthrow Monsieur Fouquet."

"Very good, Monsieur Colbert, since you persist in showing so much sensitiveness with me, as if you were ignorant that I am Madame de Chevreuse, and also that I am somewhat advanced in years; in other words, that you have to do with a woman who has had political dealings with the Cardinal de Eichelieu, and who has no time to lose; as, I repeat, you do not hesitate to commit such an imprudence, I