Therefore, on the day when this plan slowly and solitarily ripened, shall break forth, it will break forthwith all the conditions of success which always accompany an unforeseen event.

That is Monk, sire, of whom perhaps, you have never heard--of whom, perhaps, you did not even know the name before your brother Charles II., who knows what he is, pronounced it before you.
He is a marvel of depth and tenacity, the two only things against which intelligence and ardor are blunted.

Sire, I had ardor when I was young, I always was intelligent.

I may safely boast of it, because I am reproached with it.

I have done very well with these two qualities, since, from the son of a fisherman of Piscina, I have become prime minister to the king of France; and in that position your majesty will perhaps acknowledge I have rendered some service to the throne of your majesty.