Chapter XLII. The Skin of the Bear.
Colbert handed the duchesse the letter, and gently drew aside the chairbehind which she was standing; Madame de Chevreuse, with a very slightbow, immediately left the room. Colbert, who had recognized Mazarin'shandwriting, and had counted the letters, rang to summon his secretary,whom he enjoined to go in immediate search of M. Vanel, a counselorof the parliament. The secretary replied that, according to his usualpractice, M. Vanel had just that moment entered the house, in order togive the intendant an account of the principal details of the businesswhich had been transacted during the day in parliament. Colbertapproached one of the lamps, read the letters of the deceased cardinalover again, smiled repeatedly as he recognized the great value of thepapers Madame de Chevreuse had just delivered--and burying his head inhis hands for a few minutes, reflected profoundly. In the meantime, atall, loosely-made man entered the room; his spare, thin face, steadylook, and hooked nose, as he entered Colbert's cabinet, with amodest assurance of manner, revealed a character at once supple anddecided,--supple towards the master who could throw him the prey,firm towards the dogs who might possibly be disposed to dispute itspossession. M. Vanel carried a voluminous bundle of papers under hisarm, and placed it on the desk on which Colbert was leaning both hiselbows, as he supported his head.
"Good day, M. Vanel," said the latter, rousing himself from hismeditation.
"Good day, monseigneur," said Vanel, naturally.
"You should say monsieur, and not monseigneur," replied Colbert, gently.
"We give the title of monseigneur to ministers," returned Vanel, withextreme self-possession, "and you are a minister."
"Not yet."
"You are so in point of fact, and I call you monseigneur accordingly;besides you are seigneur for _me_, and that is sufficient; if youdislike my calling you monseigneur before others, allow me, at least, tocall you so in private."
Colbert raised his head as if to read, or try to read, upon Vanel'sface how much or how little sincerity entered into this protestationof devotion. But the counselor knew perfectly well how to sustain theweight of such a look, even backed with the full authority of the titlehe had conferred. Colbert sighed; he could not read anything in Vanel'sface, and Vanel might possibly be honest in his professions, but Colbertrecollected that this man, inferior to himself in every other respect,was actually his master in virtue of the fact of his having a wife.As he was pitying this man's lot, Vanel coldly drew from his pocket aperfumed letter, sealed with Spanish wax, and held it towards Colbert,saying, "A letter from my wife, monseigneur."
Colbert coughed, took, opened and read the letter, and then put itcarefully away in his pocket, while Vanel turned over the leaves ofthe papers he had brought with him with an unmoved and unconcerned air."Vanel," he said suddenly to his _protege_, "you are a hard-working man,I know; would twelve hours' daily labor frighten you?"
"I work fifteen hours every day."
"Impossible. A counselor need not work more than three hours a day inparliament."
"Oh! I am working up some returns for a friend of mine in the departmentof accounts, and, as I still have spare time on my hands, I am studyingHebrew."
"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 tosatisfy."
"Small purses are the most difficult ones to fill, monseigneur."
"What post have you in view?" said Colbert.
"I see none--not one."
"There is one, certainly, but one need be almost the king himself to beable to buy it without inconvenience; and the king will not be inclined,I suppose, to purchase the post of procureur-general."
At these words, Vanel fixed his peculiar, humble, dull look uponColbert, who could hardly tell whether Vanel comprehended him or not."Why do you speak to me, monseigneur," said Vanel, "of the post ofprocureur-general to the parliament; I know no other post than the oneM. Fouquet fills."
"Exactly so, my dear counselor."
"You are not over fastidious, monseigneur; but before the post can bebought, it must be offered for sale."
"I believe, Monsieur Vanel, that it will be for sale before long."
"For sale! What! M. Fouquet's post of procureur-general?"
"So it is _said_."
"The post which renders him so perfectly invincible, for sale! Ha, ha!"said Vanel, beginning to laugh.
"Would you be afraid, then, of the post?" said Colbert, gravely.
"Afraid! no; but--"
"Are you desirous of obtaining it?"
"You are laughing at me, monseigneur," replied Vanel. "Is it likelythat a counselor of the parliament would not be desirous of becomingprocureur-general?"
"Well, Monsieur Vanel, since I tell you that the post, as report goes,will be shortly for sale--"
"I cannot help repeating, monseigneur, that it is impossible; a mannever throws away the buckler, behind which he maintains his honor, hisfortune, his very life."
"There are certain men mad enough, Vanel, to fancy themselves out of thereach of all mischances."
"Yes, monseigneur; but such men never commit their mad acts for theadvantage 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. Whatwould you bid for it, Monsieur Vanel?"
"Everything I am worth."
"Which means?"
"Three or four hundred thousand francs."
"And the post is worth--"
"A million and a half, at the very lowest. I know persons who haveoffered one million seven hundred thousand francs, without being able topersuade M. Fouquet to sell. Besides, supposing it were to happen thatM. Fouquet wished to sell, which I do not believe, in spite of what Ihave been told--"
"Ah! you have heard something about it, then; who told you?"
"M. de Gourville, M. Pelisson, and others."
"Very good; if, therefore, M. Fouquet did wish to sell--"
"I could not buy it just yet, since the superintendent will only sellfor ready money, and no one has a million and a half to put down atonce."
Colbert suddenly interrupted the counselor by an imperious gesture; hehad begun to meditate. Observing his superior's serious attitude, andhis perseverance in continuing the conversation on this subject, Vanelawaited the solution without venturing to precipitate it.
"Explain to me the privileges which this post confers."
"The right of impeaching every French subject who is not a prince ofthe blood; the right of quashing all proceedings taken against anyFrenchman, who is neither king nor prince. The procureur-general is theking's right hand to punish the guilty; the office is the means wherebyalso he can evade the administration of justice. M. Fouquet, therefore,would be able, by stirring up parliament, to maintain himself evenagainst the king; and the king could as easily, by humoring M. Fouquet,get his edicts registered in spite of every opposition and objection.The procureur-general can be made a very useful or a very dangerousinstrument."
"Vanel, would you like to be procureur-general?" said Colbert, suddenly,softening both his look and his voice.
"I!" exclaimed the latter; "I have already had the honor to representto you that I want about eleven hundred thousand francs to make up theamount."
"Borrow that sum from your friends."
"I have no friends richer than myself."
"You are an honest and honorable man, Vanel."
"Ah! monseigneur, if the world would only think as you do!"
"I think so, and that is quite enough; and if it should be needed, Iwill be your security."
"Do not forget the proverb, monseigneur."
"What is it?"
"That he who becomes responsible for another has to pay for his fancy."
"Let that make no difference."
Vanel rose, bewildered by this offer which had been so suddenly andunexpectedly made to him. "You are not trifling with me, monseigneur?"he said.
"Stay; you say that M. Gourville has spoken to you about M. Fouquet'spost?"
"Yes; and M. Pelisson, also."
"Officially so, or only through their own suggestion?"
"These were their very words: 'The parliament members are as proud asthey are wealthy; they ought to club together two or three millionsamong themselves, to present to their protector and leader, M.Fouquet.'"
"And what did you reply?"
"I said that, for my own part, I would give ten thousand francs ifnecessary."
"Ah! you like M. Fouquet, then!" exclaimed Colbert, with a look ofhatred.
"No; but M. Fouquet is our chief. He is in debt--is on the high roadto ruin; and we ought to save the honor of the body of which we aremembers."
"Exactly; and that explains why M. Fouquet will be always safe andsound, so long as he occupies his present post," replied Colbert.
"Thereupon," said Vanel, "M. Gourville added, 'If we were to do anythingout of charity to M. Fouquet, it could not be otherwise than mosthumiliating to him; and he would be sure to refuse it. Let theparliament subscribe among themselves to purchase, in a proper manner,the post of procureur-general; in that case, all would go well; thehonor 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. Do you know any other friend of M. Fouquet?"
"I know M. de la Fontaine very well."
"La Fontaine, the rhymester?"
"Yes; he used to write verses to my wife, when M. Fouquet was one of ourfriends."
"Go to him, then, and try and procure an interview with thesuperintendent."
"Willingly--but the sum itself?"
"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."
"Stay a moment--do not let us mistake each other: I do not make you apresent of fourteen hundred thousand francs, Monsieur Vanel; for I havechildren to provide for--but I will _lend_ you that sum."
"Ask whatever interest, whatever security you please, monseigneur; I amquite ready. And when all your requisitions are satisfied, I will stillrepeat, that you surpass kings and M. Fouquet in munificence. Whatconditions do you impose?"
"The repayment in eight years, and a mortgage upon the appointmentitself."
"Certainly. Is that all?"
"Wait a moment. I reserve to myself the right of purchasing the postfrom 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 lineof conduct in conformity with the interests of the king and with myprojects."
"Ah-h!" said Vanel, in an altered tone.
"Is there anything in that which can possibly be objectionable to you,Monsieur Vanel?" said Colbert, coldly.
"Oh! no, no," replied Vanel, nervously.
"Very good. We will sign an agreement to that effect whenever you like.And now go as quickly as you can to M. Fouquet's friend, obtain aninterview with the superintendent; do not be too difficult in makingwhatever concessions may be required of you; and when once thearrangements are all made--"
"I will press him to sign."
"Be most careful to do nothing of the kind; do not speak of signatureswith M. Fouquet, nor of deeds, nor even ask him to pass his word.Understand this: otherwise you will lose everything. All you have to dois to get M. Fouquet to give you his hand on the matter. Go, go."