CHAPTER II.
THE NEW GENERAL OF THE JESUITS.
While La Valliere and the king were mingling together, in their firstconfession of love, all the bitterness of the past, all the happiness ofthe present, and all the hopes of the future, Fouquet had retired to theapartments which had been assigned to him in the chateau, and wasconversing with Aramis precisely upon the very subjects which the kingat that moment was forgetting.
"Now tell me," began Fouquet, after having installed his guest in anarmchair, and seated himself by his side, "tell me, Monsieur d'Herblay,what is our position with regard to the Belle-Isle affair, and whetheryou have received any news about it."
"Everything is going on in that direction as we wish," replied Aramis;"the expenses have been paid, and nothing has transpired of ourdesigns."
"But what about the soldiers whom the king wished to send there?"
"I have received news this morning that they had arrived there fifteendays ago."
"And how have they been treated?"
"In the best manner possible."
"What has become of the former garrison?"
"The soldiers were landed at Sarzeau, and were sent off at once towardQuimper."
"And the new garrison?"
"Belongs to us from this very moment."
"Are you sure of what you say, my dear Monsieur de Vannes?"
"Quite sure, and, moreover, you will see by-and-by how matters haveturned out."
"Still you are very well aware that, of all the garrison towns,Belle-Isle is precisely the very worst."
"I know it, and have acted accordingly; no space to move about, nocommunications, no cheerful society, no gambling permitted; well, it isa great pity," added Aramis, with one of those smiles so peculiar tohim, "to see how much young people at the present day seek amusement,and how much, consequently, they incline toward the man who procures andpays for such amusements for them."
"But if they amuse themselves at Belle-Isle?"
"If they amuse themselves through the king's means, they will attachthemselves to the king; but if they get bored to death through theking's means, and amuse themselves through M. Fouquet, they will attachthemselves to M. Fouquet."
"And you informed my intendant, of course, so that immediately on theirarrival--"
"By no means; they were left alone a whole week, to weary themselves attheir ease; but, at the end of the week, they cried out, saying that thelast officers amused themselves more than they did. Whereupon they weretold that the old officers had been able to make a friend of M. Fouquet,and that M. Fouquet, knowing them to be friends of his, had from thatmoment done all he possibly could to prevent their getting wearied orbored upon his estates. Upon this they began to reflect. Immediatelyafterward, however, the intendant added, that without anticipating M.Fouquet's orders, he knew his master sufficiently well to be aware thathe took an interest in every gentleman in the king's service, and that,although he did not know the new comers, he would do as much for them ashe had done for the others."
"Excellent! and I trust that the promises were followed up; I desire, asyou know, that no promise should ever be made in my name without beingkept."
"Without a moment's loss of time, our two privateers, and your ownhorses, were placed at the disposal of the officers; the keys of theprincipal mansion were handed over to them, so that they made uphunting-parties, and walking-excursions with such ladies as are to befound in Belle-Isle; and such others as they are enabled to enlist fromthe neighborhood, who have no fear of sea-sickness."
"And there is a fair sprinkling to be met with at Sarzeau and Vannes, Ibelieve, your eminence?"
"Yes; all along the coast," said Aramis, quietly.
"And now, for the soldiers?"
"Everything is precisely the same, in a relative degree, you understand;the soldiers have plenty of wine, excellent provisions, and good pay."
"Very good; so that?--"
"So that this garrison can be depended upon, and it is a better one thanthe last."
"Good."
"The result is, if Fortune favors us, so that the garrisons are changedin this manner, only every two months, that at the end of every threeyears, the whole army will, in its turn, have been there; and,therefore, instead of having one regiment in our favor, we shall havefifty thousand men."
"Yes, yes; I knew perfectly well," said Fouquet, "that no friend couldbe more incomparable and invaluable than yourself, my dear Monsieurd'Herblay; but," he added, laughing, "all this time we are forgettingour friend De Vallon; what has become of him? During the three days Ihave spent at Saint-Mande, I confess I have forgotten him completely."
"I do not forget him, however," returned Aramis. "Porthos is atSaint-Mande; all his joints are kept well greased, the greatest care isbeing taken of him with regard to the food he eats, and to the wines hedrinks; I advise him to take daily airings in the small park, which youhave kept for your own use, and he makes use of it accordingly. Hebegins to walk again, he exercises his muscular powers by bending downyoung elm trees, or making the old oaks fly into splinters, as Milo ofCrotona used to do; and, as there are no lions in the park, it is notunlikely we shall find him alive. Porthos is a brave fellow."
"Yes, but in the meantime he will get wearied to death."
"He never does that."
"He will be asking questions?"
"He sees no one."
"At all events, he is looking or hoping for something or another?"
"I have inspired in him a hope which we will realize some fine morning,and he subsists on that."
"What is it?"
"That of being presented to the king."
"Oh! oh! in what character?"
"As the engineer of Belle-Isle, of course."
"Is it possible?"
"Quite true."
"Shall we not be obliged, then, to send him back to Belle-Isle?"
"Most certainly; I am even thinking of sending him back as soon aspossible. Porthos is very fond of display; he is a man whose weaknessesD'Artagnan, Athos and myself are alone acquainted with; he never commitshimself in any way; he is dignity itself; to the officers there, hewould seem like a Paladin of the time of the Crusades. He would make thewhole staff drunk, without getting so himself, and every one will regardhim as an object of admiration and sympathy; if, therefore, it shouldhappen that we should have any orders requiring to be carried out,Porthos is an incarnation of the order itself, and whatever he chose todo, others would find themselves obliged to submit to."
"Send him back then."
"That is what I intend to do; but in a few days only, for I must notomit to tell you one thing."
"What is it?"
"I begin to suspect D'Artagnan. He is not at Fontainebleau, as you mayhave noticed, and D'Artagnan is never absent, or apparently idle,without some object in view. And now that my own affairs are settled, Iam going to try and ascertain what the affairs are in which D'Artagnanis engaged."
"Your own affairs are settled, you say?"
"Yes."
"You are very fortunate, in that case, then, and I should like to beable to say the same."
"I hope you do not make yourself uneasy."
"Hum!"
"Nothing could be better than the king's reception of you."
"True."
"And Colbert lets you be quiet."
"Almost so."
"In that case," said Aramis, with that connection of ideas which markedhim, "in that, case, then, we can bestow a thought upon the young girl Iwas speaking to you about yesterday."
"Whom do you mean?"
"What, have you forgotten already? I mean La Valliere."
"Ah! of course, of course."
"Do you object, then, to try and make a conquest of her?"
"In one respect only, my heart is engaged in another direction; and Ipositively do not care about the girl in the least."
"Oh! oh!" said Aramis, "your heart is engaged, you say. The deuce! wemust take care of that!"
"Wh
y?"
"Because it is terrible to have the heart occupied, when others, besideyourself, have so much need of the head."
"You are right. So, you see, at your first summons, I left everything.But to return to this girl. What good do you see in my troubling myselfabout her?"
"This.--The king, it is said, has taken a fancy to her; at least, so itis supposed."
"But you, who know everything, know very differently."
"I know that the king has changed with great rapidity; that the daybefore yesterday, he was mad about Madame; that a few days ago, Monsieurcomplained of it, even to the queen-mother; and that some conjugalmisunderstandings and maternal scoldings were the consequence."
"How do you know all that?"
"I do know it; at all events, since these misunderstandings andscoldings the king has not addressed a word, has not paid the slightestattention, to her royal highness."
"Well, what next?"
"Since then, he has been taken up with Mademoiselle de la Valliere. Now,Mademoiselle de la Valliere is one of Madame's maids of honor. Youhappen to know, I suppose, what is called a _chaperon_ in matters oflove. Well, then, Mademoiselle de la Valliere is Madame's _chaperon_. Itis for you, therefore, to take advantage of this state of things. Youhave no occasion for me to tell you that. But, at all events, woundedvanity will render the conquest an easier one; the girl will get hold ofthe king, and Madame's secret, and you can hardly tell what a man ofintelligence can do with a secret."
"But how to get at her?"
"Nay, you, of all men, to ask me such a question?" said Aramis.
"Very true. I shall not have any time to take any notice of her."
"She is poor and unassuming, you will create a position for her, and,whether she becomes the king's master, or his mistress, or whether sheonly becomes his confidant, you will only have made a new proficient."
"Very good," said Fouquet. "What is to be done, then, with regard tothis girl?"
"Whenever you have taken a fancy to any lady, Monsieur Fouquet, whatsteps have you taken?"
"I have written to her, protesting my devotion to her. I have added, howhappy I should be to render her any service in my power, and have signed'Fouquet' at the end of the letter."
"And has any one offered any resistance?"
"One person only," replied Fouquet. "But, four days ago, she yielded, asthe others had done."
"Will you take the trouble to write?" said Aramis, holding a pen towardhim, which Fouquet took, saying:
"I will write at your dictation. My head is so taken up in anotherdirection that I should not be able to write a couple of lines."
"Very well," said Aramis, "write."
And he dictated as follows: "I have seen, and you will not be surprisedto learn, how beautiful I have found you. But, for want of the positionyou merit at the court, your presence there is a waste of time. Thedevotion of a man of honor, should ambition of any kind inspire you,might possibly serve as a means of display for your talents and beauty.I place my devotion at your feet; but, as an affection, however reservedand unpresuming it may be, might possibly compromise the object of itsworship, it would ill-become a person of your merit running the risk ofbeing compromised, without her future being insured. If you would deignto accept and reply to my affection, my affection shall prove itsgratitude to you in making you free and independent forever." Havingfinished writing, Fouquet looked at Aramis.
"Sign it," said the latter.
"Is it absolutely necessary?"
"Your signature at the foot of that letter is worth a million; youforget that." Fouquet signed.
"Now, by whom do you intend to send the letter?" asked Aramis.
"By an excellent servant of mine."
"Can you rely on him?"
"He is a man who has been with me all my life."
"Very well. Besides, in this case, we are not playing for very heavystakes."
"How so? For if what you say be true of the accommodating disposition ofthis girl for the king and Madame, the king will give her all the moneyshe can ask for."
"The king has money, then?" asked Aramis.
"I suppose so, for he has not asked me for any more."
"Be easy; he will ask for some soon."
"Nay, more than that, I had thought he would have spoken to me about the_fete_ at Vaux, but he never said a word about it."
"He will be sure to do so, though."
"You must think the king's disposition a very cruel one, Monsieurd'Herblay."
"It is not he who is so."
"He is young, and therefore his disposition is a kind one."
"He is young, and either he is weak, or his passions are strong; andMonsieur Colbert holds his weaknesses and his passions in his villainousgrasp."
"You admit that you fear him?--"
"I do not deny it."
"In that case I am lost."
"Why so?"
"My only influence with the king has been through the money I commanded,and now I am a ruined man."
"Not so."
"What do you mean by 'not so?' Do you know my affairs better thanmyself?"
"That is not unlikely."
"If he were to request this _fete_ to be given?"
"You will give it, of course."
"But where is the money to come from?"
"Have you ever been in want of any?"
"Oh, if you only knew at what a cost I procured the last supply!"
"The next shall cost you nothing."
"But who will give it me?"
"I will."
"What! give me six millions?"
"Ten, if necessary."
"Upon my word, D'Herblay," said Fouquet, "your confidence alarms me morethan the king's displeasure. Who can you possibly be, after all?"
"You know me well enough, I should think."
"Of course; but what is it you are aiming at?"
"I wish to see upon the throne of France a king devoted to MonsieurFouquet, and I wish Monsieur Fouquet to be devoted to me."
"Oh!" exclaimed Fouquet, pressing his hand, "as for belonging to you. Iam yours entirely: but believe me, my dear D'Herblay, you are deceivingyourself."
"In what respect?"
"The king will never become devoted to me."
"I do not remember to have said that the king would be devoted to you."
"Why, on the contrary, you have this moment said so."
"I did not say the king: I said a king."
"Is it not all the same?"
"No, on the contrary, it is quite different."
"I do not understand you."
"You will do so shortly then. Suppose, for instance, the king inquestion were to be a very different person to Louis XIV."
"Another person?"
"Yes, who is indebted for everything to you."
"Impossible!"
"His very throne even."
"You are mad, D'Herblay! There is no man living besides Louis XIV. whocan sit on the throne of France. I see none, not one."
"Unless it be Monsieur," said Fouquet, looking at Aramis uneasily, "yetMonsieur--"
"It is not Monsieur."
"But how can it be that a prince not of the royal line, that a princewithout any right--"
"My king, or rather your king, will be everything that is necessary, beassured of that."
"Be careful, Monsieur d'Herblay; you make my blood run cold, and my headswim."
Aramis smiled. "There is but little occasion for that," he replied.
"Again, I repeat, you terrify me!" said Fouquet.
Aramis smiled.
"You laugh," said Fouquet.
"The day will come when you will laugh too; only at the present moment Imust laugh alone."
"But explain yourself."
"When the proper day shall have arrived, I will explain all. Fearnothing; have faith in me, and doubt nothing."
"The fact is, I cannot but doubt, because I do not see clearly, or atall even."
"That is because of your blin
dness: but a day will come when you will beenlightened."
"Oh," said Fouquet, "how willingly would I believe!"
"You without belief! You who, through my means, have ten times crossedthe abyss yawning at your feet, and in which, had you been alone, youwould have been irretrievably swallowed up! You without belief! you who,from procureur-general, attained the rank of intendant, from the rank ofintendant that of first minister of the crown, and who, from the rank offirst minister, will pass to that of mayor of the palace! But no," hesaid, with the same unaltered smile, "no, no, you cannot see, andconsequently cannot believe that." And Aramis rose to withdraw.
"One word more," said Fouquet. "You have never yet spoken to me in thismanner, you have never yet shown yourself so confident--I should rathersay so daring."
"Because it is necessary, in order to speak confidently, to have thelips unfettered."
"And that is now your case?"
"Yes."
"Since a very short time, then?"
"Since yesterday only."
"Oh, Monsieur d'Herblay, take care; your confidence is becomingaudacity."
"One can well be audacious when one is powerful."
"And you are powerful?"
"I have already offered you ten millions: I offer them again to you."
Fouquet rose, much agitated and disturbed.
"Come," he said, "come; you spoke of overthrowing kings and replacingthem by others. If, indeed, I am not really out of my senses, is or isnot that what you said just now?"
"You are by no means out of your senses, for it is perfectly true I didsay all that just now."
"And why did you say so?"
"Because it is easy to speak in this manner of thrones being cast down,and kings being raised up, when one is, one's self, far above all king'sand thrones, of this world at least."
"Your power is infinite, then?" cried Fouquet.
"I have told you so already, and I repeat it," replied Aramis, withglistening eyes and trembling lips.
Fouquet threw himself back in his chair and buried his face in hishands. Aramis looked at him for a moment, as the angel of humandestinies might have looked upon a simple mortal being.
"Adieu," he said to him, "sleep undisturbed, and send your letter to LaValliere. To-morrow we shall see each other again."
"Yes, to-morrow," said Fouquet, shaking his hand like a man returning tohis senses. "But where shall we see each other?"
"At the king's promenade, if you like."
"Agreed." And they separated.