Ten Years Later

  The night was already far advanced when the Abbe Fouquet joined hisbrother. Gourville had accompanied him. These three men, pale with dreadof future events, resembled less three powers of the day than threeconspirators, united by one single thought of violence. Fouquet walkedfor a long time, with his eyes fixed upon the floor, striking his handsone against the other. At length, taking courage, in the midst of a deepsigh: "Abbe," said he, "you were speaking to me only to-day of certainpeople you maintain."

  "Yes, monsieur," replied the abbe.

  "Tell me precisely who are these people." The abbe hesitated.

  "Come! no fear, I am not threatening; no romancing, for I am notjoking."

  "Since you demand the truth, monseigneur, here it is:--I have a hundredand twenty friends or companions of pleasure, who are sworn to me as thethief is to the gallows."

  "And you think you can depend upon them?"

  "Entirely."

  "And you will not compromise yourself?"

  "I will not even make my appearance."

  "And are they men of resolution?"

  "They would burn Paris, if I promised them they should not be burnt inturn."

  "The thing I ask of you, abbe," said Fouquet, wiping the sweat whichfell from his brow, "is to throw your hundred and twenty men uponthe people I will point out to you, at a certain moment given--is itpossible?"

  "It will not be the first time such a thing has happened to them,monseigneur."

  "That is well: but would these bandits attack an armed force?"

  "They are used to that."

  "Then get your hundred and twenty men together, abbe."

  "Directly. But where?"

  "On the road to Vincennes, to-morrow, at two o'clock precisely."

  "To carry off Lyodot and D'Eymeris? There will be blows to be got!"

  "A number, no doubt; are you afraid?"

  "Not for myself, but for you."

  "Your men will know, then, what they have to do?"

  "They are too intelligent not to guess it. Now, a minister who gets up ariot against his king--exposes himself----"

  "Of what importance is that to you, I pray? Besides, if I fall, you fallwith me."

  "It would then be more prudent, monsieur, not to stir in the affair, andleave the king to take this little satisfaction."

  "Think well of this, abbe, Lyodot and D'Eymeris at Vincennes are aprelude of ruin for my house. I repeat it--I arrested, you will beimprisoned--I imprisoned, you will be exiled."

  "Monsieur, I am at your orders; have you any to give me?"

  "What I told you--I wish that, to-morrow, the two financiers of whomthey mean to make victims, whilst there remain so many criminalsunpunished, should be snatched from the fury of my enemies. Take yourmeasures accordingly. Is it possible?"

  "It is possible."

  "Describe your plan."

  "It is of rich simplicity. The ordinary guard at executions consists oftwelve archers."

  "There will be a hundred to-morrow."

  "I reckon so. I even say more--there will be two hundred."

  "Then your hundred and twenty men will not be enough."

  "Pardon me. In every crowd composed of a hundred thousand spectators,there are ten thousand bandits or cut-purses--only they dare not takethe initiative."

  "Well?"

  "There will then be, to-morrow, on the Place de Greve, which I choose asmy battle-field, ten thousand auxiliaries to my hundred and twenty men.The attack commenced by the latter, the others will finish it."

  "That all appears feasible. But what will be done with regard to theprisoners upon the Place de Greve?"

  "This: they must be thrust into some house--that will make a siegenecessary to get them out again. And stop! here is another idea, moresublime still: certain houses have two issues--one upon the Place,and the other into the Rue de la Mortellerie, or la Vennerie, orla Texeranderie. The prisoners entering by one door will go out atanother."

  "Yes, but fix upon something positive."

  "I am seeking to do so."

  "And I," cried Fouquet, "I have found it. Listen to what has occurred tome at this moment."

  "I am listening."

  Fouquet made a sign to Gourville, who appeared to understand. "One ofmy friends lends me sometimes the keys of a house which he rents, RueBaudoyer, the spacious gardens of which extend behind a certain house onthe Place de Greve."

  "That is the place for us," said the abbe. "What house?"

  "A cabaret, pretty well frequented, whose sign represents the image ofNotre Dame."

  "I know it," said the abbe.

  "This cabaret has windows opening upon the Place, a place of exit intothe court, which must abut upon the gardens of my friend by a door ofcommunication."

  "Good!" said the abbe.

  "Enter by the cabaret, take the prisoners in; defend the door while youenable them to fly by the garden and the Place Baudoyer."

  "That is all plain. Monsieur, you would make an excellent general, likemonsieur le prince."

  "Have you understood me?"

  "Perfectly well."

  "How much will it amount to, to make your bandits all drunk with wine,and to satisfy them with gold?"

  "Oh, monsieur, what an expression! Oh! monsieur, if they heard you: someof them are very susceptible."

  "I mean to say they must be brought no longer to know the heavens fromthe earth; for I shall to-morrow contend with the king; and when I fightI mean to conquer--please to understand."

  "It shall be done, monsieur. Give me your other ideas."

  "That is your business."

  "Then give me your purse."

  "Gourville, count a hundred thousand livres for the abbe."

  "Good! and spare nothing, did you not say?"

  "Nothing."

  "That is well."

  "Monseigneur," objected Gourville, "if this should be known, we shouldlose our heads."

  "Eh! Gourville," replied Fouquet, purple with anger, "you excite mypity. Speak for yourself, if you please. My head does not shake in thatmanner upon my shoulders. Now, abbe, is everything arranged?"

  "Everything."

  "At two o'clock to-morrow."

  "At twelve, because it will be necessary to prepare our auxiliaries in asecret manner."

  "That is true; do not spare the wine of the cabaretier."

  "I will spare neither his wine nor his house," replied the abbe, witha sneering laugh. "I have my plan, I tell you; leave me to set it inoperation, and you shall see."

  "Where shall you be yourself?"

  "Everywhere; nowhere."

  "And how shall I receive information?"

  "By a courier whose horse shall be kept in the very garden of yourfriend. A propos, the name of your friend?"

  Fouquet looked again at Gourville. The latter came to the succor of hismaster, saying, "Accompanying monsieur l'abbe for several reasons, onlythe house is easily to be known, the 'Image-de-Notre-Dame' in the front,a garden, the only one in the quarter, behind."

  "Good, good! I will go and give notice to my soldiers."

  "Accompany him, Gourville," said Fouquet, "and count him down the money.One moment, abbe--one moment, Gourville--what name will be given to thiscarrying off?"

  "A very natural one, monsieur--the Riot."

  "The riot on account of what? For, if ever the people of Parisare disposed to pay their court to the king, it is when he hangsfinanciers."

  "I will manage that," said the abbe.

  "Yes; but you may manage it badly, and people will guess."

  "Not at all,--not at all. I have another idea."

  "What is that?"

  "My men shall cry out, 'Colbert, vive Colbert!' and shall throwthemselves upon the prisoners as if they would tear them in pieces, andshall force them from the gibbets, as too mild a punishment."

  "Ah! that is an idea," said Gourville. "Peste! monsieur l'abbe, what animagination you have!"

  "Monsieur, we are worthy of our family," replied the abbe, proudly.
r />   "Strange fellow," murmured Fouquet. Then he added, "That is ingenious.Carry it out, but shed no blood."

  Gourville and the abbe set off together, with their heads full of themeditated riot. The superintendent laid himself down upon some cushions,half valiant with respect to the sinister projects of the morrow, halfdreaming of love.

  CHAPTER 61. The Cabaret of the Image-de-Notre-Dame