"Dumas, Alexandre - The Man In The Iron Mask" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dumas Alexandre)

have heard it said by M. Conrart (a member of the Academy, I believe),
that when the Colossus of Rhodes fell from its lofty position, the
merchant who had cast it down- a merchant, nothing more, M. Colbert-
loaded four hundred camels with the ruins. A merchant!- that is
considerably less than an intendant of finances."
"Madame, I can assure you that I shall never overthrow M. Fouquet."
"Very good, M. 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 Richelieu, and who has no time to lose,- since, I
say, you commit that imprudence, I shall go and find others who are
more intelligent and more desirous of making their fortunes."
"How, Madame, how?"
"You give me a very poor idea of the negotiations of the present
day, Monsieur. I assure you that if in my time a woman had gone to
M. de Cinq-Mars, who was not moreover a man of a very high order of
intellect, and had said to him about the cardinal what I have just now
said to you of M. Fouquet, M. de Cinq-Mars would by this time have put
his irons in the fire."
"Nay, Madame, show a little indulgence."
"Well, then, you do really consent to replace M. Fouquet?"
"Certainly, I do, if the King dismisses M. Fouquet."
"Again a word too much; it is quite evident that if you have not yet
succeeded in driving M. Fouquet from his post, it is because you
have not been able to do so. Therefore I should be a simpleton if in
coming to you I did not bring you the very thing you require."
"I am distressed to be obliged to persist, Madame," said Colbert,
after a silence which enabled the duchess to sound the depth of his
dissimulation; "but I must warn you that for the last six years
denunciation after denunciation has been made against M. Fouquet,
and he has remained unshaken and unaffected by them."
"There is a time for everything, M. Colbert; those who were the
authors of such denunciations were not called Madame de Chevreuse, and
they had no proofs equal to the six letters from M. de Mazarin which
establish the offence in question."
"The offence!"
"The crime, if you like it better."
"The crime- committed by M. Fouquet!"
"Nothing less. It is rather strange, M. Colbert; but your face,
which just now was cold and indifferent, is now all lighted up."
"A crime!"
"I am delighted to see it makes an impression upon you."
"Oh, that is a word, Madame, which embraces so many things!"
"It embraces the post of superintendent of finance for yourself, and
a letter of exile or the Bastille for M. Fouquet."
"Forgive me, Madame the Duchess, but it is almost impossible that M.
Fouquet can be exiled; to be imprisoned or disgraced, that alone is
much."
"Oh, I am perfectly aware of what I am saying!" returned Madame de