Having once disposed the king's mind in this artful way, Colbert had nothing of much importance to detain him.

He felt that such was the case, for the king, too, had again sunk into a dull and gloomy state.

Colbert awaited the first words from the king's lips with as much impatience as Philippe and Aramis did from their place of observation.
"Are you aware what is the usual and natural consequence of all this, Monsieur Colbert ?" said the king, after a few moments' reflection.
"No, sire, I do not know." "Well, then, the fact of the appropriation of the thirteen millions, if it can be proved--" "But it is so already." "I mean if it were to be declared and certified, M.Colbert." "I think it will be to-morrow, if your majesty--" "Were we not under M.Fouquet's roof, you were going to say, perhaps," replied the king, with something of nobility in his demeanor.
"The king is in his own palace wherever he may be--especially in houses which the royal money has constructed." "I think," said Philippe in a low tone to Aramis, "that the architect who planned this dome ought, anticipating the use it could be put to at a future opportunity, so to have contrived that it might be made to fall upon the heads of scoundrels such as M.Colbert." "I think so too," replied Aramis; "but M.Colbert is so very _near the king_ at this moment." "That is true, and that would open the succession." "Of which your younger brother would reap all the advantage, monseigneur.

But stay, let us keep quiet, and go on listening." "We shall not have long to listen," said the young prince.
"Why not, monseigneur ?" "Because, if I were king, I should make no further reply." "And what would you do ?" "I should wait until to-morrow morning to give myself time for reflection." Louis XIV.

at last raised his eyes, and finding Colbert attentively waiting for his next remarks, said, hastily, changing the conversation, "M.