destroy, must make a breach in the advanced works, and I am devilishly well fortified, marquise."
"What you call your advanced works are your creatures, are they not — our friends?"
"Exactly so."
"And is Monsieur d'Eymeris one of your creatures?"
"Yes, he is."
"Is Monsieur Lyodot one of your friends?"
"Certainly."
"Monsieur de Vanin?"
"Monsieur de Vanin! Ah! they may do what they like with him, but "
"But "
"But they must not touch the others?"
"Well, if you are anxious they should not touch Messieurs d'Eymeris and Lyodot, it is time to look about you."
"Who threatens them?"
"Will you listen to me now?"
"Attentively, marquise."
"Without interrupting me?"
"Speak."
"Well, this morning Marguerite sent for me."
"And what did she want with you?"
"'I dare not see Monsieur Fouquet myself,' said she."
"Bah! why should she think I would reproach her? Poor woman, she vastly deceives herself."
"'See him yourself,' said she, 'and tell him to beware of Monsieur Colbert.' "
"What! she warned me to beware of her lover?"
"I have told you she still loves you."
"Go on, marquise."
"'Monsieur Colbert,' she added, 'came to me two hours ago, to inform me he was appointed intendant.'"
"I have already told you, marquise, that Monsieur Colbert would only be the more in my power for that."
"Yes, but that is not all; Marguerite is intimate, as you know, with Madame d'Eymeris and Madame Lyodot."
"I know she is."
"Well, Monsieur Colbert put many questions to her relative to the fortunes of those two gentlemen, and as to the devotion they had for you."
"Oh, as to those two, I can answer for them; they must be killed before they can cease to be mine."
"Then, as Madame Vanel was obliged to quit Monsieur Colbert for an instant to receive a visitor, and as Monsieur
