Why does the king set me at liberty ?" "You ought rather to ask me what his reason was for having you arrested." "Since my arrest, I have had time to think over it, and my idea is that it arises out of some slight feeling of jealousy.

My _fete_ put M.
Colbert out of temper, and M.Colbert discovered some cause of complaint against me; Belle-Isle, for instance." "No; there is no question at all just now of Belle-Isle." "What is it, then ?" "Do you remember those receipts for thirteen millions which M.de Mazarin contrived to steal from you ?" "Yes, of course!" "Well, you are pronounced a public robber." "Good heavens!" "Oh! that is not all.

Do you also remember that letter you wrote to La Valliere ?" "Alas! yes." "And that proclaims you a traitor and a suborner." "Why should he have pardoned me, then ?" "We have not yet arrived at that part of our argument.

I wish you to be quite convinced of the fact itself.

Observe this well: the king knows you to be guilty of an appropriation of public funds.