speak.”

“And do you ask me that?” cried the Abbe Fouquet; “ah! how can you put such a question, — why I maintain a hundred men? Ah!”

“Why, yes, I do put that question to you. What have you to do with a hundred men? — answer.”

“Ingrate!” continued the abbe, more and more affected.

“Explain yourself.”

“Why, monsieur the superintendent, I only want one valet de chambre, for my part, and even if I were alone, could help myself very well; but you, you who have so many enemies — a hundred men are not enough for me to defend you with. A hundred men! — you ought to have ten thousand.