Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask

Chapter 39: How the King, Louis XIV., Played His Little Part. (continued)

Fouquet looked at the king with astonishment. "I have not, sire," replied he; "but I will improvise one. I am too well acquainted with affairs to feel any embarrassment. I have only one question to ask; will your majesty permit me?"

"Certainly. Ask it."

"Why did not your majesty do his first minister the honor of giving him notice of this in Paris?"

"You were ill; I was not willing to fatigue you."

"Never did a labor - never did an explanation fatigue me, sire; and since the moment is come for me to demand an explanation of my king - "

"Oh, Monsieur Fouquet! an explanation? An explanation, pray, of what?"

"Of your majesty's intentions with respect to myself."

The king blushed. "I have been calumniated," continued Fouquet, warmly, "and I feel called upon to adjure the justice of the king to make inquiries."

"You say all this to me very uselessly, Monsieur Fouquet; I know what I know."

"Your majesty can only know the things that have been told to you; and I, on my part, have said nothing to you, whilst others have spoken many, many times - "

"What do you wish to say?" said the king, impatient to put an end to this embarrassing conversation.

"I will go straight to the facts, sire; and I accuse a certain man of having injured me in your majesty's opinion."

"Nobody has injured you, Monsieur Fouquet."

"That reply proves to me, sire, that I am right."

"Monsieur Fouquet, I do not like people to be accused."

"Not when one is accused?"