“Sire,” said Henrietta, “I, on my part, have always liked M. Fouquet. He is a man of good taste, — a superior man.”

“A superintendent who is never sordid or niggardly,” added Monsieur; “and who pays in gold all the orders I have on him.”

“Every one in this thinks too much of himself, and nobody for the state,” said the old queen. “M. Fouquet, it is a fact, M. Fouquet is ruining the state.”

“Well, mother!” replied Philippe, in rather a lower key, “do you likewise constitute yourself the buckler of M.

Colbert?”

“How is that?” replied the old queen, rather surprised.