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

against him."
"Why not?"
"Because he is procureur-general of the parliament; because, too, in
France, the government, the army, the courts of law, and commerce
are intimately connected by ties of good-will, which people call
esprit de corps. So, Madame, the parliament will never permit its
chief to be dragged before a public tribunal; and never, even if he be
dragged there by royal authority, never will he be condemned."
"Ah! ma foi! M. Colbert, that doesn't concern me."
"I am aware of that, Madame; but it concerns me, and it consequently
diminishes the value of what you have brought to me. Of what use to
bring me a proof of crime, without the possibility of condemnation?"
"Even if he be only suspected, M. Fouquet will lose his post of
superintendent."
"That would be a great achievement!" exclaimed Colbert, whose
dark, gloomy features were momentarily lighted up by an expression
of hate and vengeance.
"Ah, ah! M. Colbert," said the duchess, "forgive me, but I did not
think you were so impressionable. Very good; in that case, since you
need more than I have to give you, there is no occasion to speak of
the matter further."
"Yes, Madame, we will go on talking of it; only, as the value of
your commodities has decreased, you must lower your price."
"You are bargaining, then?"
"Every man who wishes to deal loyally is obliged to do so."
"How much will you offer me?"
"Two hundred thousand livres," said Colbert.
The duchess laughed in his face, and then said suddenly, "Wait a
moment, I have another arrangement to propose; will you give me
three hundred thousand livres?"
"No, no."
"Oh, you can either accept or refuse my terms; besides, that is
not all."
"More still? You are becoming too impracticable to deal with,
Madame."
"Less so than you think, perhaps, for it is not money I am going
to ask you for."
"What is it, then?"
"A service. You know that I have always been most affectionately
attached to the Queen, and I am desirous of having an interview with
her Majesty."
"With the Queen?"
"Yes, M. Colbert, with the Queen, who is, I admit, no longer my
friend, and who has ceased to be so for a long time past, but who
may again become so if the opportunity be only given her."
"Her Majesty has ceased to receive any one, Madame. She is a great
sufferer, and you may be aware that the paroxysms of her disease occur
with greater frequency than ever."
"That is the very reason why I wish to have an interview with her
Majesty. In Flanders we have many diseases of that kind."