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332 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERB. he is on the point of entering into a conflict with an enemy armed from head to foot, thirsting for his life, presents himself for the contest quite defenseless, throws down his arms, and smiles and kisses his hands to his adversary in the most gracious manner? Good faith. Monsieur Fou- quet, is a weapon which scoundrels very frequently make nse of against men of honor, and it answers their purpose. Men of honor ought, in their turn, also, to make use of dishonest means against such scoundrels. You would soon see how strong they would become, without ceasing to be men of honor."' "What they did would be termed the acts of a scoundrel,'* replied Fouquet. "Far from that; it would be merely coquetting or playing with the truth. At all events, since you have finished with this Vanel; since you have deprived yourself of the happi- ness of confounding him by repudiating your word, and since you have given up, for the purpose of being used against yourself, the only weapon which can ruin you " "My dear friend," said Fouquet mournfully, "you are like the teacher of philosophy whom La Fontaine was tell- ing us about the other day; he saw a child drowning, and began to read him a lecture divided into three heads." Aramis smiled as he said: "Philosophy — yes; teacher — yes; a drowning child — yes; but a child that can be saved — you shall see. But, first of all, let us talk about business. Did you not some time ago," he continued, as Fouquet looked at him with a be- wildered air, "speak to me about an idea you had of giving Si,fete at Vaux?" "Oh," said Fouquet, "that was when affairs were flourishing." '^Kfete, I believe, to which the king invited himself of his own accord?" "No, no, my dear prelate; Q,fete to which Monsieur Col- bert advised the king to invite himself." "Ah— exactly; as it would be a. fete of so costly a char- acter that you would be ruined in giving it." "Precisely so. In other times, as I said just now, I had a kind of pride in showing my enemies how inexhaustible my resources were; I felt it a point of honor to strike them with amazement, in creating millions under circumstances where they imagined nothing but bankruptcies and failures would follow. But at the present day I am arranging my accounts with the state, with the king, with myself; and I