“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.”