Memoirs of Aramis, Book 5

Memoirs of Aramis, Book 5

Annotation

The fifth book of the fan fiction “Memoirs of Aramis” tells about the events that occurred between the end of the novel “Twenty Years Later” by Alexandre Dumas and the beginning of the novel “The Vicomte de Bragelonne or Ten Years Later.”
But the genre of memoirs has its own laws. Aramis is familiar with the trilogy "The Three Musketeers", "Twenty Years After", and "The Vicomte de Bragelonne or Ten Years Later". Dumas himself, in the preface to the first novel of the trilogy, indicates that these are simply slightly edited memoirs of the Count de La F;re, that is, Athos.
Having accepted the version that this trilogy (according to Dumas) already existed during the life of Athos, we should be surprised that it even describes the death of Athos and some of what happened later. We still do not undertake to argue with the great novelist and agree with his assumption that such a book existed already at that time, but in this case, after analyzing many places in the book, we, like our hero Aramis, came to the conclusion that it is This could only happen if such a trilogy was written by someone who was closely acquainted with all the heroes and was at the center of events, but it could not be any of the musketeers.
Aramis suggests that Athos's servant, Grimaud, wrote this trilogy, since Athos forbade him to speak, but in his old age, Grimaud was not burdened with great responsibilities; he lived in the castle of Bragelon, where there was an extensive library. He read contemporary books and eventually decided to write his own book, describing the adventures of the musketeers, but decorating it with some fantastic episodes to make it more attractive.
So, Aramis, having a trilogy and calling it Grimaud's memoirs, decided to write his own memoirs. On this basis, he did not begin to set out those events that were already quite accurately described in this trilogy by Grimaud, however, noticing obvious errors and contradictions, he did not fail to point out them and present his own version of what happened.

The first book described the events that took place before d'Artagnan arrived in Paris. The second book is connected in time with the events of the novel “The Three Musketeers”. The third book recounts the events between those described in this novel and those described in the novel "Twenty Years Later". The fourth book provides a parallel vision, differing in many details from the book Twenty Years Later. Finally, the fifth book begins from the point where the heroes, having received the desired rewards, leave for their homes. Porthos became Baron du Valon, Athos received the Order of the Holy Spirit from the hands of King Charles, and then its French counterpart from Queen Anne on the proposal of Cardinal Mazarin, d'Artagnan received a patent as a captain of the royal musketeers, and only Aramis did not ask for anything for himself, but negotiated benefits for his beloved woman, the Duchess de Longueville, and also for her son, Charles-Paris, who had just been born. Isn't Aramis the father of this child of royal blood?
The book begins with chapter 175. The first wave of the Fronde has subsided, but Mazarin has not yet established himself in power. But d'Artagnan chose the cardinal as his lord, master, boss, employer and benefactor.
You will find chapters 1 – 44 in the first book, and chapters 45 – 92 in the second book, chapters 93 – 133 in the third book, and 134 – 174 in the fourth book.
Enjoy reading!

Chapter 175

The agreement that Mazarin concluded with the leaders of the Fronde was not strong.
Not all the promises he made could be fulfilled in practice.
Perhaps, in this case, one should not promise the unattainable?
Nonsense!
How often the fate of states depends on the choice of certain sovereigns or human communities, and this choice does not depend at all on what this or that applicant can actually give, but only on what each of the applicants promises! And it doesn’t matter whether he subsequently kept his promise or not. When a choice is made, promises are important. And when it becomes clear that promises are broken, no one can cancel their choice. Everyone who wins knows this and no one who loses knows this. Therefore, those who make only those promises that they can fulfill in reality lose. Honest people have no place in politics. Mazarin was a true politician, so he had enough courage, wisdom or impudence - call it what you want - to promise not only what was in his power, but also what did not depend on him. And having started to break his promises, he could at the same time disown those that he could have kept, but did not want to, and changed his mind.
If Mazarin could have calculated in advance the damage from the fact that, as a result of breaking promises, such commanders as the Prince de Cond; and the Viscount de Turenne would become frondeurs, perhaps he would have strained himself and done a little more than he allowed himself to do. You may ask, what does Prince Cond; have to do with this? Of course he had something to do with it! After all, if you bestow generosity on those who fought against you, you cannot bypass with your mercy those who fought on your side! Otherwise, the injustice will be too obvious! Mazarin could not bribe the leaders of the Fronde without offering anything to those victors who made this bribery possible! After all, if the defeat at Charenton had not occurred, the leaders of the Fronde would not have been so accommodating!
So, no one expected the betrayal of Prince Cond; and Viscount de Turenne; it was another blow not only to Mazarin, but also, of course, to the Queen.
Turenne sided with his brother Bouillon not only out of solidarity with him, but also because it seemed to him that the irregular supply of money to the army was solely a consequence of the fact that Mazarin was appropriating all the money for himself. This legend, launched by Spanish agents, of course, had some basis, but the cardinal’s commercialism in the Mazarinade was inflated to completely exorbitant proportions, which had nothing to do with reality. However, these poetic satirical pamphlets did their job. In addition, Mazarin promised him the governorship of Alsace, but did not keep his promise. The Queen would like such an important key position to be occupied by a Catholic, while Turenne adhered to the Protestant faith. Remembering that the Queen's father-in-law, Henry IV, converted to Catholicism in order to conquer Paris, because, as he said: “Paris is worth a mass,” Anne of Austria was convinced that the Viscount de Turenne could take a similar step. But Turenne was a man of a completely different type. Unlike Henry, who had to switch from one religion to another many times, and who did not bind himself to any attachments at all, including attachments to women, Turenne was more likely to be able to cheat on the Queen than on his God. He did not recognize that the Lord is one, and it is not so important in what way you serve him, on what road you take to him. But what was important and dangerous was that Turenne was the official military leader of the royal army, that is, in fact, he tried to turn her own army against the Queen. Perhaps his decision was influenced by the mood of his officers, who consisted mainly of German mercenaries. Turenne joined the Spanish forces that left the Spanish Netherlands and intended to invade France.
Spain intended to regain Catalonia, Arras, Dunkirk, and only then begin negotiations.
The Queen's formerly beloved brother, His Catholic Majesty Philip IV, was convinced of his victory and even expected that his beloved sister would be overthrown. He wrote: “If the Queen, my august sister, is forced to leave France with her son, I demand that she not be given asylum in my states.”
After this, all the evil tongues that still believed that Anna of Austria could have relations with Spain against the interests of France would have to be silenced once and for all. The Queen became so truly the Queen of France that she sacrificed her family affections to her second fatherland, and the family did not fail to respond in kind.
Mazarin set himself the task of separating Turenne from the army he led, and he managed to solve this task. He sent Ruvigny to Turenne, accompanied by d'Artagnan and Porthos. While Ruvigny was negotiating with Turenne, d'Artagnan communicated with the generals and officers of the Viscount de Turenne, offering them exactly what was due on behalf of the Queen. At the same time, he acted in exactly the same way as before, convincing Porthos to serve Mazarin in order to receive the baronial title. Porthos, with all his appearance, showed that d'Artagnan was right, simply because d'Artagnan is always right, this is one of his properties, and demonstrated a charter for obtaining a barony, thus breaking up any allegations that Mazarin does not fulfill of your promises.
“If Monsignor His Eminence, our glorious cardinal, did not fulfill some promises in relation to some gentlemen, then, consequently, these gentlemen themselves are to blame, since they, apparently, did not fulfill everything they promised on their part,” Porthos spoke, and he said it with such conviction that no one wanted to argue with him.
It must be said that very few people argued with Porthos, probably for the reason that everyone saw in him not so much the persuasiveness of his argument, but rather the simple-minded expression of the kind face of a giant who did not even admit the thought that one could argue with him, remembering that he inadvertently crushed some heels or a little more idiots who did not understand this so much that they no longer thought of having an opinion different from that of Porthos.
By this time, Mazarin had found himself a sponsor in the person of Barthelemy Erwart, who loaned the cardinal one and a half million livres, which allowed him to bribe the people he needed and keep something for himself. Reasonable "economy" has always been second nature to the cardinal. Turenne was forced to realize that his betrayal turned into the betrayal of just one person; the army did not follow him. Left without troops, he was forced to flee to Heilbronn. It seems that the local ruler suggested that he start training military recruits. A good deed for a former military leader, to say the least!
This news plunged the frondeurs into despondency.
In addition, Mazarin, feeling the full power of the pamphlets, in the writing of which the coadjutor de Gondi and the Duke de La Rochefoucauld, as well as Spanish agents sent to Paris to sow trouble, had a hand in writing, he himself also decided to fight against the Parisians with their own weapons. He opened his own printing house in Saint-Germain, entrusted it to the newspaperman Renaudot and began to look out among the nobles for talented writers with the gift of wit and a command of a living literary language. This initiative of his laid the foundation for the circle of witty writers who later gathered around himself Nicolas Fouquet, the man whom Mazarin created, of course, not disinterestedly.
Against this background, peace was signed in Rueil, but the peace was concluded with the Parisian parliament, and not with the noblest nobles who considered themselves the leaders of the Fronde.
Feeling that the true peace was not with them, but with the parliament, and they seemed to have nothing to do with it, they tried to overtake the parliament in their “peace initiatives,” as it is called - “they tried to become even greater Catholics than the Pope.” Conti, Bouillon, Beaufort, La Rochefoucauld, and others - they all wanted to put their signature on the peace agreement, selling this signature at a higher price, not realizing that these signatures of theirs were no longer needed by Mazarin.
They would like to get all of France piece by piece, piece by piece, and the Prince of Cond;, of course, joined them. He had a certain right to this, since most of the time in this ridiculous civil war, Cond; took the side of the Queen and even allowed most of his family jewels to be pledged to the banker Erwart as collateral, guarantees for the future return of the millions he was providing to Mazarin.
He tried to curry favor with the Queen even more by bringing the Queen herself, as well as the King and Little Monsieur, back to Paris, providing them not only with protection and a guarantee of safety, but also with a triumphal entry, since the people always applaud the brilliant army that enters the city in fully armed. And the more these weapons and the size of the army, the louder the applause. Of course, only if the army is not engaged in robbery. But by this time there was nothing left to rob in Paris. It’s amazing how quickly the richest and most beautiful city in the hands of the rebellious mob turns into a slum!
Mazarin made sure that he also got his share of the cheers of the crowd, although it cost him a lot, but the hungry Parisians would applaud anyone who organized the supply of food.
In the afternoon, a ball was held at the town hall, which was opened by the King, dancing with his cousin Mademoiselle, who was two heads taller than him. The king was annoyed by this, but he resigned himself for a while to the need to give her this honor.
At this time, an episode occurred that finally undermined the relationship of the Queen and Mazarin with the Prince of Cond;. His prot;g;, a certain captain Jorze, showed for some time such pronounced devotion to the Queen that she included him in her inner circle along with Mortemart, Guiteau and other trusted persons. This upstart apparently remembered the behavior of his father, who, under Henry IV, showed unacceptable ardor and agility in relation to Marie de Medici, for which Henry IV publicly ridiculed him, or rather, that he never forgot this paternal example, so that he decided to conquer the Queen. Starting with an open display of devotion and statements about his readiness to die at the threshold of his Queen, he gradually began to speak out more boldly, praising her beauty, femininity, and looking for more and more new words for compliments. The Queen, by no means spoiled by compliments, treated this condescendingly, so Jorze persuaded Madame de Beauvais to allow him to place a letter declaring his love on the Queen’s dressing table. Of course, the Queen took this with humor.
- Looks like I have a lover! - she exclaimed in the presence of a large number of court ladies, pointing at him.
Jorze did not understand all the sarcasm and irony that was in these words, so, apparently, he took these words as encouragement for further actions. However, when he, instead of hiding out of sight from the Queen, reappeared before her the next day as if nothing had happened, she decided to publicly reprimand him.
- And here is my dear boyfriend! - she exclaimed with even greater irony. - Listen, you make me feel sorry for you. You should have been sent to Petit Maisons! Really, your madness does not surprise me at all, since it was obviously passed on to you from your father, it runs in your family! Go away so I don't see you again.
Mazarin advised the Queen to also expel Madame de Beauvais, but Her Majesty limited herself to a reprimand, since she was accustomed to Crooked Kato, and tolerated her because she combed her hair superbly.
Oddly enough, Prince Cond; saw Beauvais’s exile as an insult to himself and tried to intercede on his behalf. By this he exposed his own plans, which were to influence the Queen through his protege. He tried to find out from the Queen what exactly his prot;g;’s offense was and why she removed him.
“The race of people to which we belong,” replied the Queen, “has no need to justify its actions in order to refuse honor to someone who offends our reputation.” I tried my best to warn him and warn him not to go beyond the bounds of decency, but it turned out to be useless. Since he didn't want to understand me, I had to delete him.
Cond; took these events too seriously, interpreting them as a personal insult, and spread rumors everywhere that Jorze was removed for political reasons, saying that the Queen was removing those who were close to him. The Queen could no longer tolerate this.
When she expressed her indignation at the prince to the cardinal, he sadly informed her that only to protect her peace of mind, he did not tell her everything that the Prince of Cond;, his brother Conti and his son-in-law Longueville said about her behind her back.
“Why haven’t you arrested these daring troublemakers yet?” - the Queen was indignant. “Or does the Queen’s honor mean nothing anymore?” They failed to take the throne from me, now they are attacking my good name?
“Your Majesty, the order for their arrest has long been ready,” Mazarin replied, taking out the relevant papers. “The only thing missing here is your signature and date.”
So, on January 18, 1650, Conde, Conti and Longueville were arrested. The Duchess de Longueville took refuge with me, after which I organized her escape to Normandy along with her son Charles-Paris.
These events had short-term and long-term consequences. The short-term consequences were that they were perceived as an act of the greatest lawlessness by all the remaining grandees, who rallied in hatred of the cardinal. The gentlemen, who had no basis for friendship, began to be friends against Mazarin. This greatly undermined his power and even led to his temporary overthrow. But the long-term consequence was the establishment and consolidation in practice of the supreme right of the monarch to punish for treason any grandee, no matter how close he stood to the throne, this separated the King or reigning Queen from all other subjects and elevated them to an unprecedented and unattainable height. When Louis XIV came of age, Anne of Austria called herself his subject, so he no longer had to spend so much effort to strengthen his power, creating an absolute monarchy, since most of this work was done by the Queen before him, continuing the work of her father-in-law and the great Cardinal Richelieu.
But more about this later and in due time.

Chapter 176

It’s time, finally, to talk about the reasons for my cooling towards Marie de Chevreuse. Indeed, just like me, she participated in the Fronde, and, it would seem, I should have maintained friendly relations with her, or even closer ones, which we had in my and her youth.
Maria inherited the cheerful disposition of her father, to this were added the lessons of frivolous behavior that were given to her by her first husband, the Duke de Luigne, and then by her second, the Duke de Chevreuse. Maria's father, the Duke de Montbazon, was married for the second time to Maria d'Avogur de Bretagne, who was ten years younger than her stepdaughter. The two Marys were friendly and intriguing together. Marie de Montbazon, stepmother of Marie de Chevreuse, was one of the most beautiful women at Queen Anne's court. This brilliant brunette could only be rivaled by the charming blonde, Anne-Genevieve Duchess de Longueville, daughter of the Prince of Cond;, sister of the winner at Rocroi, the Duke of Enghien, who by that time had already inherited the name of Prince of Cond; and even began to be called the Grand Cond;. These two ladies were constantly at odds. Before the Duke de Longueville’s marriage, Maria de Montbazon was his mistress, but after his marriage she switched to the Duke de Beaufort, whom Anna-Genevieve had once refused. Anna-Genevieve did not have much love for her husband, so Marie de Montbazon took him too. Then Anna-Genevieve started an affair with Coligny. The incident with the letter led to a duel, which I already wrote about. Having lost Coligny, Anna-Janevieve turned her attention to me, as well as to La Rochefoucauld. In this rivalry I initially gained the upper hand, but later La Rochefoucauld's persistence bore fruit. It was even rumored that the son of the Duchess de Longueville, Charles-Paris, was actually from La Rochefoucauld. But I knew whose it really was. The Duchess forced the Duke de Longueville to recognize Charles-Paris as her son, pinning him against the wall with some letters from his mistresses to him, after which they entered into a non-aggression pact and stopped interfering in each other’s personal lives.
Marie de Montbazon and her stepdaughter Marie de Chevreuse formed a circle of friends and admirers, and the same circle formed around the Duchess de Longueville. But the problem for both of them was that they lured each other's most noble princes and dukes, and the most gallant lovers. So they had a battle for La Rochefoucauld, and for Beaufort, and for others. Anna-Zhanevieva, not interested in the love fervor of her elderly husband, was still hurt that he joined her rival’s circle.
Finally, during the Fronde, these ladies began to fight for a coadjutor. Marie de Chevreuse was ahead of Anne-Genevieve, because although she was older, the Duchess de Longueville could not enter into this fight, since she was in the last months of pregnancy. Chevreuse celebrated her victory. Although Longueville was younger and more beautiful than all the noble frondeurs, Chevreuse was more accessible, and this played a role. Chevreuse, of course, included her young stepmother, the Duchess de Montbazon, in her squadron of seductresses, but during the Fronde she remained surrounded by the Queen. Therefore, Maria brought in the heavy artillery - she brought her daughter into the gallant circle! It was too much!
I'll make a confession. Maria's children from her first marriage were dear to me. Yes, the Duke de Luynes spent all his time mainly in the bedroom of King Louis XIII, Marie was then passionately in love with me, and I have every reason to believe that Louis-Charles d'Albert de Luynes, born in 1620, was my son, and Anne-Marie, born two years later after the death of de Luynes, was my daughter. Maria forbade me to think of them as her children, forbade me so categorically that she declared that if I ever even hinted at such a possibility even in private with her, she would break with me forever. I loved them from afar. But when Anne-Marie died in 1646 at the age of twenty-four, Marie forbade me even to attend her funeral. I will not hide that I violated this prohibition, I appeared under the guise of a Franciscan monk, with a hood pulled down over my face. But it seemed to me that Maria recognized me and was extremely unhappy. Could I not have come?
In her second marriage, Marie de Chevreuse had three children. Anna Maria was born in 1625, she was only three years younger than her sister, who had almost the same exact name. Charlotte Maria was born in 1627, and Henrietta in 1631. I don’t know exactly who Henrietta’s father was, maybe me too. In any case, I treat her like a father. But I have no doubts about the younger two. I have the right to be concerned about their fate. As for Anne-Marie, I made efforts to ensure that she dedicated herself to God, so that she became Abbess of Pont-au-Dame. I am proud of her, my girl, although fate did not allow her to live such a long life; in 1652, at the age of twenty-seven, the Lord took her away too. I also introduced Henrietta to the Lord, and she became the abbess of Jouard, and subsequently the abbess of the Palais Royal. But I missed Charlotte Maria. She was young and charming. In relation to poor thing, Marie de Chevreuse did the unthinkable. She introduced her daughter Charlotte-Marie, our daughter, to the coadjutor Jean-Fran;ois Pierre de Gondi, and through her she became close friends with him. In 1648, the coadjutor, at the age of thirty-five, set his sights on twenty-year-old Charlotte Maria, and at the same time tried to gain the favor of her mother, forty-eight-year-old Mary. I used all my influence, I was sure that my Charlotte Marie would marry the Prince de Conti. I supported the Cond;-Lognville-Conti family for this reason! I already saw this girl in my dreams, my angel, the happy Princess de Conti! So what's the end result? Chevrette became Gondi's mistress, and arranged for her daughter to do the same! Until the end of her life she remained just Gondi’s mistress, she did not marry! So what if Gondi got the cardinal's cap and became Cardinal de Retz? It’s better to be the wife of a simple nobleman than the mistress of a cardinal! That's what I think. And the fate of the wife of the worthy Prince de Conti should have been strikingly different from the fate of just the mistress of Cardinal de Retz!
I have not forgiven Marie de Chevreuse for this. She did not care about the fate of her daughters, and all her daughters, except those I took care of, were unhappy. She treated only her son, Louis-Charles, with due maternal tenderness; she gave him the de Luynes mansion, which, in addition to the title of Duke de Luynes, amounted to a very worthy inheritance, which allowed him to live a serene life, free from intrigues and conspiracies, not hiding from the court, but also not exposing herself. He is still alive, my boy, and I pray to God that he will give him a long and happy life. But Charlotte Maria is no longer alive. She died in 1652, the same time as Anna Maria, but she was only twenty-five years old! Marie de Chevreuse's three daughters did not live to see thirty! These three daughters were mine too! I cannot forgive her for such neglect of her maternal duty, no matter how charming, sweet, smart, cheerful, charming she is... God, it seems that I continue to love her even now when I write these lines! No, the thought of this breaks my heart! Why give birth to such beauties, and neglect their upbringing, not take care of them, and allow them to die at such a young and flourishing age? We all walk under God, we have no control over our lives, and we don’t know how much the Lord will allow us. This is all true. But to make your own daughter the mistress of one of your lovers!.. This is too much.
No, I haven't forgiven Maria.
Can I, who corrupted musketeers and abbots, condemn her? My mistresses were various ladies, among whom were Chevrette herself, and Chevrette’s cousin, Messrs. de Bois-Tracy, and her daughter Marie de Bois-Tracy, and the Duchess de Longueville... Well, I myself, as you see, courted my mother, and to my daughter. If a mother allows her daughter to be her lover's mistress, then the lover will not object. Therefore, I do not blame Pierre de Gondi. I myself am like him. But I wouldn't want my daughter to be the mistress of her mother's lover. If I were my husband de Bois-Tracy, I would challenge Monsieur d'Herblay to a duel and kill him. But by this time her husband had already died in God. I, Monsieur d'Herblay, should have challenged Pierre de Gondi to a duel and killed him. This is exactly what I intended to do. But she begged me not to do it.
When I say “she,” I mean my daughter, Charlotte Marie of Lorraine. She was Gondi's lover and she loved him. I was unable to kill her lover. I hated and despised him, but I could no longer kill him with my own hands, knowing that this would not bring happiness to Charlotte Maria. She begged me to forgive them all - him, Gondi, and her, my daughter, and her mother, Maria de Chevreuse.
I only forgave Charlotte Maria. I did not forgive Gondi, but I spared him. I did not forgive Maria, I did not take revenge on her, but from that hour Maria de Chevreuse became a stranger to me.
However, she punished herself. Her former lover Gondi wrote about her in his memoirs that she did with her lovers the same way as she did with her skirts: “As long as she liked them, she took them to her bed, and two days later she burned them in the oven with disgust " This is the slap in the face she received from her former lover, from her daughter’s lover. What can you expect from her? Her father, in his seventh decade, kept a small harem in Dampierre, where on Easter the same carriage brought to him both a confessor and at least five cuties with whom he had fun until new ones were brought. This carriage carried only the confessor, who freed old Hercule de Rohan-Montbazon from past sins, but could not turn him away from future sins. Meanwhile, his young wife was intriguing at the court of Queen Anne.

Chapter 177

The King and Queen Mother returned to Paris, but it was a completely different Paris. They left the rebellious but decent capital and returned to the conquered den. While they were away, affairs in the Fronde spiraled out of the control of the nobility. The mob completely relaxed, feeling complete freedom away from their King.
Public morality has sunk to pavement level. Violence and debauchery gripped all levels of society, no one worked, everyone robbed, and whoever did not rob was debauched, squandered his fortune, and lived as if he had a week or two to live. Freedom of morals gave rise to freethinking. These freethinkers, who began by condemning Mazarin, switched to the Queen, then even to the King, and also went so far as to take up arms against the Lord God himself. Fasts were not observed, religious rituals were almost not performed. The mob began to attack the priests, declaring them supporters of the cardinal. Church utensils were looted in some places. Parliament did not dare to punish for such actions, since each member of parliament began to tremble for his own life, because in Paris, abandoned by the King, there was no police, army, guard, and therefore there was no order.
It was a camp of troublemakers, in which the remaining nobility tried in vain to convince themselves that she was still in charge of something and someone, although her power extended only over her own troops and guards, her own servants and lackeys.
Mazarinades, pasted on the walls and sung in the streets, even accused the Queen of the fact that her first-born was born from Cardinal Mazarin! But at the time when Louis XIV was conceived, Mazarin not only was not among the Queen’s trusted friends, but he was simply absent from France. But who cared? Slander, as we know, achieves its goal the more easily the more incredible it is.
The Cardinal was portrayed as a molester of the entire royal family, the Queen as an accessible woman, and the King as a young fool. Only the tongue-tied, handsome Duke de Beaufort, the king of the markets, was dear to the mob; they didn’t write caustic poems about him; they idolized him because they saw him as an intercessor. Why on earth would he stand up for the mob? Just because he had a reason to hate Mazarin, who put him in the fortress?
Before me lies a mazzarinade against the Queen, consisting of twenty-six stanzas. It's called "The Queen's Keeper Who Tells Everything." This vile thing is written in verse in the name of the Queen's bed. She talks about the vulgar ways of intimacy between the Queen and Mazarin, which she allegedly witnessed. The most disgusting poems! It was this little thing that finally turned me away from frondeurs. I will not claim that La Rochefoucauld wrote it, but when I assumed this, my desire to challenge him to a duel doubled and even tripled.
I could forgive him for harassing Chevreuse and Longueville, but this was too much. If the vile Gondi wrote this!.. Perhaps it was in vain that I did not challenge him to a duel. Athos stopped me. If he had not done this, there would have been neither the Fronde nor these lampoons!
Even parliament was horrified by this libel. A certain Morlot, who was just a publisher, was accused of authorship, he was sentenced to death by hanging, but some people fought him off while he was being taken to the place of execution on the Conciergerie, after which he disappeared without a trace. All this happened just at the time when parliament and the court were making peace and almost disrupted the plans of both sides. That's why I don't think it's a coincidence. Parliament sent an extremely flowery apology to the Queen, knowing her temper when it came to her honor. Mazarin persuaded her to show restraint for an hour. As a result, the Queen managed not to lose her dignity; she answered without a shadow of anger that she regretted that the slanderers did not take pity on the royal person, who should be sacred to every true Frenchman. These words, spoken with calm dignity, worked better than any angry speech. Parliament representatives once again humbly asked for forgiveness for their mistake. At this moment, each of them would be ready to quarter poor Morlot, whom I continue to consider only the publisher, but not the author of this lampoon.
In 1649, the Queen ordered order to be restored in Paris, and she herself went to Compiegne and further to the northern border of the kingdom. These areas were ruled by the Spaniards, who attracted the Viscount de Turenne to their side. D'Artagnan accompanied the Queen on this trip and ensured her protection through the company of musketeers entrusted to his leadership, where he was now the sovereign master as her captain.
In 1650, the Queen, after the arrest of the princes, went with the young King and Mazarin to Normandy to pacify the province, which had fallen into rebellion thanks to the efforts of the Duchess de Longueville. It would be better if Anna Genevieve was involved in raising our son. But this was not in her character. The queen and cardinal managed Normandy in twenty days. The prosecutor of Normandy was removed and Pierre Corneille was appointed in his place. This poet was paid for by Mazarin, and therefore they were confident in him, since the frondeurs hated him.
Having settled matters in Normandy and returned to Paris, the Queen, after just over two weeks, went to Boulogne, and then to Guienne via Fontainebleau, Pithiviers, and Orleans. She acted as a peacemaker and unifier of French lands, and these trips undermined her health. She had to return to Paris lying in a carriage, making short journeys. The Frondeurs of Boulogne, as one of the conditions for peace, demanded the removal of the Duke d' Epernon, one of the most loyal military leaders to the Queen. She had to do it, although I think it was a mistake. Meanwhile, Monsieur, who remained in Paris, felt his complete power in it, and Spanish agents, as well as all kinds of flatterers and scoundrels, surrounded him and began to tempt him. The relatives of the princes promised him full support if he freed Cond;, Conti and Longueville. What did this support mean if not the overthrow of the King and Queen in order to take the throne? Gaston constantly dreamed of this almost achievable and constantly eluding throne of the King of France. This henchwoman knew what to lure him with. He was surrounded by Gondi, Chevreuse, old Chateauneuf, the clergy and the relatives of the princes. Parliament also joined this camarilla. Since the princes of the blood were not subject to trial by law, Parliament believed that they were arrested illegally. They were transported from one prison to another without judicial investigation, trial or sentence. First they were placed in Vincennes, then in Marcoussis, and then in Le Havre, away from their Parisian friends and from the rebellious de Turenne.
On January thirtieth, 1651, the old Fronde made a deal with the young Fronde in order to achieve the release of the princes. In this deal, a special role was played by the Princess of the Palatinate, n;e Anna de Gonzago, the sister of the same Maria de Gonzago, whom the unfortunate Saint-Mars wooed, hoping to become related to the Kings of France.
At one time, Mazarin expressed his opinion on this matter to the Spanish mediator Don Luis de Haro at the conclusion of the Iberian Peace.
“It’s easy for you Spaniards to rule your country, since your women only interfere in love affairs!” - said the cardinal. — Here in France this is far from the case. I can name at least three, each of which could easily crush an entire state under itself. These are the Duchess de Chevreuse, the Duchess de Longueville and the Princess of the Palatinate.
“You forgot to mention Queen Anne,” Don Luis objected gently. “Isn’t she the woman who not only can rule the country, but actually does it?”
- She doesn’t count, she’s the Queen! - Mazarin objected. “She takes her place and does it with wisdom and dignity that cannot be found better.” I'm talking about those ladies who are able to take what does not belong to them and have enough determination to do so.
- It’s difficult for you to prevent them from gaining the power that they, as you say, can easily take away! - Don Louis said out of politeness, since he himself doubted the similar abilities of these ladies.
“And you know, I think it might be better to let them give what they want!” - Mazarin suddenly answered with a smile. “They can only take, but they could not hold.” Any of them would transfer the resulting power to the first handsome man who came along, even one who could not be trusted to manage even a chicken coop with a dozen chickens!
After these words, Mazarin smugly stroked his mustache. Queen Anne knew who should be trusted to rule France. And this also distinguished her favorably from all these Chevreuse, Longueville and Gonzago.
The unification of the old and young Fronde took place against the backdrop of the brilliant victories of Mazarin. He defeated the Spaniards at Retel despite the fact that he did not have such brilliant commanders as the Prince de Cond; and the Viscount de Turenne. D'Artagnan was with him. And Turenne fought on the side of the Spaniards.
Peace reigned in Paris, but not for long. The Frondeurs demanded more and more concessions, the Queen fell ill again, Mazarin, fearing the worst, did not leave her bed, took truly remarkable care of her, and slightly abandoned political affairs. The pressure from Parliament and the nobility on the King and the First Minister intensified as soon as they felt the weakness. Then Mazarin, contrary to his always calm and balanced behavior, flared up and accused the Parisian parliament of behaving in the same way as the English parliament, which overthrew and executed its rightful monarch, King Charles.
This accusation was unfair, as everyone thought at the time. But I believe that by throwing this unfair accusation, Mazarin forestalled all Parisians, showing them where the roads of constant disobedience of subjects, constant opposition of parliament to the monarch lead. He was right in his suspicions, and that was what infuriated everyone. Monsieur left the Palais Royal in anger, expressing with all his appearance that the accusation had insulted him to the depths of his soul. But I believe that he was frightened, because the cardinal looked into the soul of Gaston d'Orleans as deeply as he himself had never looked before. Others were equally outraged. Gondi was simply shaking with anger.
Monsieur went over to the side of the Fronde. But Mazarin’s words were only a pretext, a pretext that he had been waiting for a long time, and the real reason was his constant resentment against fate, because if the Queen had not given birth to two sons, he would already have been the King of France! There was a lot to hate the Queen for! For twenty-one years he considered himself the first heir to the throne, and now, after twenty-one years of agonizing anticipation, his dreams became ephemeral. He still had hope in the poor health of the Dauphin, but when the King's brother, Philippe, was born, Monsieur's chances became insignificant. He could never forgive the Queen for this, and this is precisely the reason for his going over to the side of the Fronde, and not at all some words of Mazarin. And indeed, if Monsieur were a supporter of the Queen, then could the words of her first minister make him her enemy? What kind of ally is this? With such friends, there is no need for any enemies!
But Monsieur pulled out his unbroken cards from his sleeve. He solemnly refused to be present in parliament while Mazarin was sitting in it. He refused to meet the Queen either at the Palais Royal, or at the Luxembourg Palace, where he lived, or anywhere else. He ignored the fact that he was her subject, and it was not proper for him to dictate the terms of the meeting and negotiations with her. The Dowager Queen, the Queen Mother, the head of the Royal Council stood immeasurably higher than the Uncle King! Mazarin should have simply arrested Gaston or sent him abroad again, as Richelieu would have done. But Mazarin was not Richelieu. His power was based on the fact that it was given to him by the Queen, and the Queen was exhausted by these many years of rebellion. The Cardinal lacked the resolve to stop Gaston's rebellion. Meanwhile, Gaston summoned all the marshals of France as if they were his personal majordomos, and announced to them that from now on they would only have to carry out his orders. It was a rebellion, a coup d'etat, it was high treason. After this, the Queen could not only arrest Monsieur, but even execute him! Cardinal Richelieu, with the support of Louis XIII, would, of course, find justice for him. No, he would not have executed Gaston, it would have been enough for him to simply talk with him face to face and Gaston, this nonentity, would have given up all his positions. And if he hadn’t passed, then a week or two of reflection in the Bastille would have made him pliable forever and finally.
But Mazarin is not Richelieu, as I have already said.
He had a choice of two options. Either defeat Gaston or save your life, because if Gaston was not arrested, then it would be extremely dangerous for Mazarin himself to remain in Paris! Gaston declared him an outlaw. Therefore, on the night of February 6-7, 1651, Mazarin secretly left Paris, wrapped in Millet de Jarre's cloak, with the hat of the captain of the musketeers pulled down over his eyes. He stayed in Saint-Germain, hoping that the Queen would soon realize that she could not cope with the task of government alone and would call him back.

Chapter 178

-You called me, Your Majesty? - d'Artagnan said this phrase in such a way that it simultaneously contained both a question and a statement, and at the same time neither one nor the other.
“Listen, Captain d'Artagnan,” said the Queen with embarrassment. “I know that you have just received the position of captain of the royal musketeers and would like to fulfill it to the best of your ability. But there is much more important work for you.
“Order, Your Majesty,” answered the captain. “Command me to die for you, and my only regret will be that I can only do it once!”
- Oh, these Gascons! - said the Queen with a smile. - No, you don’t need to die yet. I'm asking you to do something that I know you won't like, but do it for me.
— Doing something for you is my profession, but doing something special is also an immeasurable honor and great pleasure! - exclaimed d'Artagnan with such fervor, which, it would seem, was no longer characteristic of his age. - I'm awaiting orders.
“I know that the musketeers should form the King’s guard, and that the captain of the musketeers should be next to the King, but I ask you to go into exile together with another person who, believe me, is also very important for the state, although, as I see it, no one understands and no one appreciates,” said the Queen.
“I must accompany Mazarin,” d’Artagnan guessed, and no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to hide his disappointment.
- Understand, Monsieur d'Artagnan, I am no less worried about the King than about the First Minister, because I am, after all, a mother! - the Queen said hastily, not giving the captain the opportunity to object. “Don’t think that your Queen is more concerned about the fate of some Italian than about the fate of her own children!” But there is someone to protect the King and Little Monsieur! All the nobles are ready to draw their swords and lead their troops in order to protect them from anyone. And the man I’m talking about will hardly find even two or three defenders, while all of France is overrun with people who hate him and want his death, and these people are strong and influential! I alone cannot protect him from them. But believe me, you trust your Queen, Mister Captain? Believe me, I know what I'm saying. My children are threatened by a thousand dangers that only a man like the cardinal can recognize and prevent, and if my enemies deal with him, with this wisest statesman, then neither I nor anyone else will be able to protect my children. And now, when the King reaches adulthood in less than a year, the danger threatening him could not be greater! I pray to the Lord for only one thing. I want to pass on the throne of my husband to my son so that he can enjoy his birthright. So that no one and nothing would interfere with him in this matter. Princes and dukes will protect my children from the mob, but who will protect them from themselves? Only he, the cardinal, could do this.
“I do not dare doubt your words, Your Majesty,” answered d’Artagnan. “And recognizing your words as true, I am forced to love the cardinal and make every effort to ensure that he returns to his duties as first minister.”
- Do it, Mister Captain! - said the Queen with unusual ardor. “I know that you have the right to count on my gratitude for what you have already done for me in the past, but do what I ask of you!” I do not promise you rewards, but I promise you that all my influence on the King will be aimed at instilling in him respect and gratitude for you.
“I beg Your Majesty not to devalue my efforts by promising a reward for them!” - D'Artagnan answered just as passionately. “You ordered, and that’s enough!” I will do everything that is possible, and I also swear to do everything that is impossible so that the cardinal returns to you alive, healthy and cheerful, ready for further work for the good of the state.
- Look at this diamond ring, captain! - said the Queen. “Twice I handed it to you, and you sold it twice in order to get money for the work that you thought needed to be done.”
“Only extreme necessity forced me to do this,” d’Artagnan answered sadly. “If it were up to me, I would never part with your gift.”
“I know about the causes for which the proceeds were used, and I approve of your action,” answered the Queen. “Take this diamond and do not sell it a third time, unless your life or the salvation of the person to whom I am sending you depends on it.” And so that you don’t need money, take this.
With these words, the Queen handed d'Artagnan a ring with a diamond and a warrant to receive two thousand pistoles from the royal treasurer.
“Lieutenant-Captain d’Hervieux of the Guard will replace you during your absence,” said Queen Anne. “He will be notified that his position will have to be immediately vacated for you upon your return.” Take with you as many musketeers as you deem necessary. Select the best. Promise me that you will not leave Mazarin until he returns to Paris victorious.
“I swear to return him or die for him!” - D'Artagnan exclaimed passionately.
“I’ll have to pretend to be indifferent to the decision to remove the cardinal,” said Anna. “Explain to him that this is just a mask, just a game for those around me.” And with the departure of the cardinal, and with your departure, I will be surrounded only by traitors. I know this, and I go for it with all the determination I can muster. Perhaps it is not enough, but there is no other way.
- Your Majesty, call the Comte de La F;re to you! - exclaimed d'Artagnan. “In this case, you will have next to you, in any case, one person who is so devoted to you that at any moment, at your request, he will give his life for you, shed all his blood drop by drop, protecting you.
“Oh, no, Comte de La F;re is a very bad courtier,” the Queen objected. “His nobility and decency are so perfect that they look like hypocrisy.” The court will not accept him. But I won’t be able to protect him from the court; I’ll have a lot of worries without it. The court will simply eat this person, or ruin him.
“The Comte de La F;re cannot be spoiled, and he cannot be eaten, he himself will eat anyone,” d’Artagnan dared to object.
“Your noble count cannot see the slightest manifestation of meanness, betrayal, slander, deceit,” the Queen insisted. “If he serves at court, within the first 24 hours he will challenge half of the court to a duel, and either kill them all, or he will eventually be killed by a shot from around the corner. No, enough scandals at court! This letter, which, as you know, quarreled the Chevreuse-Longueville clan with the Bourbon-Cond; clan, this duel that claimed the life of Coligny, is already too much! If the Count causes another duel, he will be doing a disservice to the state. Besides, are you sure that the count would like to be at court?
“I’m convinced that he wouldn’t want this, but as soon as he orders you, he…” answered d’Artagnan.
“I will not order anyone to be near me against their will,” the Queen answered firmly, and d’Artagnan realized that the issue had been finally resolved. - How many musketeers will you take with you?
“No more than a dozen,” answered d’Artagnan. “A convoy that is too large will attract too much attention.” If the cardinal left as an exile, his escort should be little more than a prisoner's escort, but much less than an honor guard.
“Do as you see fit, I trust you completely,” said the Queen, whose heart trembled at the word “prisoner.” - Go today. You will find the cardinal in Saint Germain. Tell him that I will continue to write to him. With those people who will deliver my letters to him, he will be able to send his answers.
D'Artagnan bowed and kissed the Queen's hand and left.
A day later, at midnight, the Queen summoned the Marquis de Navaya.
“Marquis, go immediately to Mazarin in Saint-Germain and tell him that I will be forced to release the princes,” she said. “I couldn’t do anything.” Monsieur insisted on this, the entire royal council supported him, and parliament too. Give him these documents. After that, return to the Louvre, I need you here.
Having received the news, Mazarin rushed to Le Havre, which was under the command of the young Duke of Richelieu, nephew of the great cardinal, who, nevertheless, sympathized with the frondeurs. The cardinal was allowed into the fortress, but was forced to leave his escort outside its walls. Mazarin tried to present the matter as if the release of the princes was the result of his efforts. But they didn’t believe him. Conti and Longueville hurried to get into the carriage and leave the hated fortress, in a hurry to appear before the Parisians free and ready for further struggle against the absolutism of the Queen. But Prince Cond; knew that he was seriously guilty, because at first he was devoted to the Queen, and only then went over to the side of the Fronde. Betrayal does not decorate anyone; traitors are respected less than outright enemies. And therefore Conde was glad to have the opportunity to secure, if not friendship with Mazarin, then at least level out the enmity.
- Your arrest, Your Highness, was initiated solely by the machinations of Monsieur and the support of the malicious Gondi! - said Mazarin after he and the prince drank a glass of delicious wine at a common meal for the release of the three princes. “I resisted this with all my might, and, as you can see, my efforts were crowned with success!” You are free and any charges against you have been dropped!
- Well, to your health, Your Eminence! - Conde replied, raising the second cup.
“Lie as much as you want, old fox,” Conde thought at the same time. - I won’t believe a single word you say! Probably, he himself worked hard to get us arrested, and now, when he realized that he would have to free us, he galloped here to take credit for this decision about our release!”
“It seems he doesn’t really believe me,” thought Mazarin. “To hell with him, even if he doesn’t believe it, but at least he doesn’t mind, that’s already something!”
“You know how much I have always respected you and appreciated your talent as a commander!” — the cardinal continued to pour his oil. - All of France calls you nothing less than “Victor of Rocroi, Great Cond;”! And, as you remember, it was I who first called you that.
“ We had a hot time at Rocroi,” Conde answered, putting a spoonful of amazing foie gras into his mouth. - Do you know what kind of battle there was? Real carnage!
“I am more of a peacemaker than a commander,” answered Mazarin.
- Well, well, don't be modest! - Conde objected. “I’ve heard a lot about your victories, because you even defeated Turenne, didn’t you?”
- What are my modest talents worth in comparison with yours! - Mazarin fawned.
“It looks like you’re feeling bad in Paris right now, you’re uncomfortable,” Conde guessed. “You probably won’t go back there now?”
“I will go where Her Majesty directs me, where I will be more useful to His Majesty and France,” Mazarin answered modestly.
- So you were expelled! Conde laughed and happily downed the next glass of wine.
“I’ll make a short trip to the north of the country to restore order there,” Mazarin answered evasively.
“Well, good luck,” Conde replied indifferently.
From that moment on, Prince Cond; began to behave as if Mazarin was not in the room at all, and devoted all his attention to the meal and wine.
“Let me take my leave, since I am already full,” said Mazarin and, bowing, left the refectory.
He might as well have said goodbye to the wine bottle or the suckling pig that stood on the table, since Conde did not answer anything, as if everything that was said did not concern him at all. However, he made a vague gesture with his hand, which could equally be interpreted as a farewell to Mazarin or as a greeting to the suckling pig.
Leaving Le Havre, Mazarin headed to Peronne, where he was joined by his three nieces, as well as his nephew and no more than three dozen pages, footmen, cooks and coachmen, which, together with d'Artagnan and a dozen of his musketeers, barely approached fifty. Soon Mazarin was forced to fire half of even these remaining servants, since he was forced to save in everything. Fortunately for the cardinal, the maintenance of d'Artagnan and his musketeers did not cost him a sou, since the Queen provided d'Artagnan with funds for this campaign. When Mazarin learned from him that this escort would not cost him anything, he was filled with gratitude and respect for the captain, which, in addition to the admiration and confidence previously felt in him, significantly distinguished Captain d'Artagnan in the eyes of the cardinal from all other nobles.

Chapter 179

Paris rejoiced that it had gotten rid of Mazarin. Parliament declared him persona non grata and promised a reward to anyone who, having met him within France, would hand him over to the authorities or assist in his removal from the kingdom.
Mazarin was forced to leave France and find shelter with the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, who provided him with his castle in Br;hl. In order to get there, Mazarin had to cross the Netherlands and ask for a pass from his former enemies the Spaniards.
D'Artagnan and his small detachment accompanied the cardinal to the borders of the kingdom, where he ordered his detachment to head to Paris for further service under the leadership of d'Hervieu. He himself considered it necessary to accompany Mazarin, since he was bound by the promise he made to the Queen. Mazarin highly appreciated this devotion, not fully realizing that its source was not his personal qualities, but the promise made by the captain to the Queen.
Mazarin understood that if he acted according to Richelieu's methods, he could nip the second wave of the Fronde in the bud and prevent his expulsion. But his main character trait was devotion to the Queen and condescension towards others, especially towards the misdeeds of those who were higher than him by birth.
The Spaniards not only gave Mazarin a pass, but also gave him an escort who accompanied him to Juliers. At the same time, very tempting offers were made to him if he agreed to come over to their side. But what seduced the Viscount de Turenne and subsequently the Prince of Cond; did not seduce the far less noble Mazarin, who did not even allow the thought of betraying his Queen. Even while in another state, far from his beloved Anna of Austria, he continued to think only about her good, closely followed events in France and regularly wrote her tender letters, in which there were equal parts assurances of devotion, fidelity and love, and, moreover, very practical and clear advice on government. It can be argued that he did not cease to participate in the government of the country, only this time not personally, but remotely and through his recommendations, to which the Queen always listened, with the exception of his only recommendation, which was to prevent his removal from the country. In this matter, the Queen simply could not do as the cardinal begged her to do.
Of course, Mazarin would have been calmer if he had remained with the Queen and the King, or if the Queen had left Paris with him again, taking also the young King and little Monsieur. But Anna of Austria understood perfectly well that both of these options were fraught with even greater indignation, a rebellion, which would be much more difficult, or even completely impossible, to suppress. Therefore, the Queen went against her heart, allowing Mazarin to be exiled for a time.
Many argue that at that time the Queen and the cardinal were already involved in a secret marriage. My information on this topic is accurate and reliable. I can report that until the time of this exile they were connected only by platonic relationships, feelings to which they did not dare to give themselves. Only the removal of Mazarin made the Queen feel how dear he was to her. Only his passionate letters, in which he, using conventional symbols, as well as using an intricate system of agreements on which person to call with which names of various literary characters from the dramatic works of modernity or antiquity known to both of them, made her believe in his love, understand, how selfless and unchanging she is, to allow herself to respond to this feeling in a way that not a Queen, but a woman can afford. Only after transferring power to her adult son, making him King, and herself becoming his subject, did Anna of Austria decide on a secret marriage with Mazarin, but this will be discussed later. In the meantime, Mazarin was simply a private person without a position, without position, without income, only having behind him the experience of leading one of the greatest countries in Europe in one of its most difficult periods of time, just a gallant gentleman who loved the Queen of France madly and achieved this feeling a certain reciprocity, even if only platonic. In their letters, Mazarin and the Queen used an asterisk to indicate a phrase stating that “Mazarin loves the Queen,” and a cross with three horizontal bars meant that “The Queen also favors Mazarin.” These signs are replete with their correspondence, in every letter from the cardinal to the Queen and in every letter in response, but it seemed to them that this was not enough. They, resorting to allegory, expressed this idea in another way, and the cardinal was especially successful in this. The queen, who did not give in to Richelieu, who also did not give in to the Duke of Buckingham, who did not give in to her first minister, who was constantly near her, gave up all of herself in her response letters to the private person Giulio Mazarin, who, although he was a cardinal, was not a clergyman, there was no the vow of celibacy was extended, so that he had the right before the Lord to enter into a legal marriage with the object of his love. The queen considered such a marriage possible for herself only after transferring all power in France to her son, and for this it was necessary to preserve and strengthen it for the remaining period, for this difficult period of the last year before the formal coming of age of Louis XIV.
Captain d'Artagnan, seeing that Mazarin spent all his days in front of a map of France and Europe, studying the news and composing regular messages to the Queen, was imbued with respect for him and decided that, perhaps, the Queen had the right to fall in love with such a devoted, hardworking, selfless and far from being a stupid person like Cardinal Mazarin.
In one of the letters, the cardinal recommended Nicolas Fouquet to the Queen as intendant of finance, and also recommended his brother, Abbot Fouquet, as a completely devoted and reliable person.

Chapter 180

The Parisians feared that the Queen would again secretly leave Paris and take out the King and little Monsieur. The trick that was played on Paris in 1649 was not to be repeated. People created pickets, and masks were torn off from women trying to leave the city to make sure that it was not the Queen. The ladies were forcibly deprived of their inalienable right to travel incognito and protect their faces from the color of the sun, from dust and wind, to hide it from prying prying eyes; in fact, they were deprived of a privilege that they had enjoyed for a long time.
The palace was watched by patrols commanded by Monsieur. It was at these very times that the event occurred that Grimaud in his memoirs mistakenly attributes to the time of the first Fronde. The delegation of frondeurs demanded to see the King, and when it was announced to them that the King was sleeping, they insisted on looking at him sleeping. The Queen was forced to receive in her chambers a fairly large delegation led by a militia captain, while the young King was sleeping or, most likely, just pretending to be asleep.
The Queen of the Night did not close the night in fear of the townspeople gathered around the palace. In the morning, she pulled herself together, left the chapel and called to her two townspeople from among the guards who were guarding her so that she would not escape.
“Thank you for your faithful service,” she said in such a tone that it was very difficult to suspect her of insincerity. “I have never felt as safe as I do now, thanks to such reliable protection that you provided for me.” Tell your officers that I greatly appreciate such touching concern for our safety.
For a whole month, the Queen was under the supervision of militias subordinate to Monsieur. She recalled Mazarin’s words that the Palais Royal was a completely unreliable place that in no way ensured the safety of the King and his family. When Marshal du Plessis-Pralin proposed moving to Arsenal, Mazarin preferred to feign confidence in the Parisians rather than arouse their excitement by such a move. Indeed, if the mob had rebelled, then the walls of the Arsenal would not have stopped it; I even believe that with proper excitement, the citizens of Paris would even be able to demolish not only the Palais Royal or the Arsenal, but they would not even leave the Bastille unturned. However, perhaps I am exaggerating. One way or another, the Queen was still in the Palais Royal.
In the Luxembourg Palace, Gondi, who incited Monsieur to revolt, persuaded him to exile the Queen to a monastery, kidnap the King and declare Monsieur regent. No matter how pleasant this thought was to Gaston d'Orl;ans, he was still far-sighted enough not to agree to this adventure. Indeed, only the enormous reverence of the French for the sacred persons of the King and Queen was the basis of any significance for Gaston himself, as the uncle of the King and brother of the late Louis XIII. As soon as one took a swing at these important persons, the wave of popular anarchy raised by this storm would not have spared Gaston himself. The example of England convinces me of the validity of my thinking. It is much easier to awaken popular indignation than to calm it down, and all those representatives of the nobility who flirted with the people walked on the edge of a knife, balanced on the thin wire of popular popularity, this wire could be cut by any event, perhaps just a witty and timely written lampoon and propagated in sufficient quantity. Gondi did not understand this, using the power of popular anger for his own purposes, but Monsieur more subtly felt the line beyond which he should not cross.
The arrival of the Grand Cond; in Paris on February 16 caused rejoicing among the Parisians. Festive lights were lit in the city, innkeepers treated Parisians, giving a good discount to those who wanted to drink to the Prince's health. The princes regained their estates, palaces, servants, the Queen was rapidly losing power. If all these conspirators had united, they really could have imprisoned the Queen in one of the monasteries, kidnapped the King, declared him sick or insane, and then made Monsieur first the regent, and then the new King. This plan existed in the head of the desperate Gondi, who dreamed of becoming a cardinal, or even something more.
All this was explained to me by the coadjutor of the Order, whom I ask not to be confused with the Parisian coadjutor Pierre de Gondi, about whom I wrote above. This time it was a person whose name I would not like to mention even in these notes. I will conventionally call him Messire Inconnu, since he himself ordered me to be called by this name.
“I will call you Monsieur Sabre, and you will call me Monsieur Inconnu,” he said. “We need to help the Queen of France, Mr. Sabre.”
“I’m listening,” I replied.
“You don’t want to ask why the Order previously offered you to help the Duchess de Longueville and facilitate the release of the Duke de Beaufort, and now you are being offered assistance to Queen Anne?” - Sabre asked, surprised by my dispassion.
“I believe that the Order is guided by higher goals, and that the leaders of the Order can judge better than I what is desirable for the establishment of the true faith of Christ, and what is contrary to this goal,” I answered.
“This is commendable, Monsieur Sabray,” replied Monsieur Inconnu. — In general, you understand the situation correctly. You may later be able to obtain detailed explanations of the reasons, but a person who joins the Order is obliged to obey without attempting to find out the reasons for a particular decision.
I nodded obediently, considering it unnecessary to repeat my words, and even indelicate.
“You must develop and implement a plan to separate the princes and dukes in order to strengthen the position of the Queen, who currently has one foot in the monastery,” continued Sir Inconnu. “The Order wants Louis XIV, who has very little time left before he comes of age, to reign. The queen must transfer her power to her son after he comes of age, but to do this, she must return this power to herself in full. The intrigues and conspiracies of Cond;, Conti, Longueville, Gondi, Chevreuse, and, of course, first of all Gaston d'Orleans, should be put to an end. They need to quarrel among themselves, giving rise to doubts and suspicions against the others in each. The Fouquet brothers will help you with this.
“They...” I tried to ask.
“No, they are not members of the Order,” Sir Inconnu objected, anticipating my question. - Tomorrow a person will come to you who will help you make acquaintance with them. These people were loyal to Mazarin, and they are interested in his return. Also in this matter you can rely on a certain Pierre Corneille. Also attract two more young people to your camp, one is called Jean de La Fontaine, the other is Jean Baptiste Poquelin. Your main weapon will be pamphlets. History has already shown that pamphlets have great power. In England they forced the King to betray his first minister, in France they helped Richelieu become a cardinal and disavow some of his enemies, in modern times they incited the Parisians first against Mazarin, and then against the Queen and even against the King. You yourself are quite good at using a pen, but you will need something more. You simply must win these three over to your side. That's all I wanted to say. Go and do it.
I bowed, kissed the hand of Messire Inconnus and left.
It was not so difficult to separate the clan of Rogans, Chevreuses, Lorraine and Guises from the clan of Bourbons, Cond;s, and Contis. History itself constantly separated them from each other. Individual marriages between representatives of these clans did not eliminate rivalry and did not create an active alliance between them that could last for any long time. But they could unite to overthrow the Queen, and they have already done so. True, Monsieur hesitated. But Gondi had a great influence on him after he convinced him that it was he who was able to pacify the Fronde, and it was also he who managed to once again stir up this force of popular indignation. I must say that it was only in his own dreams that he had the influence that he attributed to himself, but on Monsieur this conviction had an almost magical effect. All he had to do was pretend once that he was able to pacify the anger of the crowd, and Gaston was convinced that Gondi was the true leader of the Parisians.
I must admit that one of the reasons for the quarrel between these clans was a circumstance in which I was not only not involved, but which I would have opposed if it had been my will. I'm talking about the daughter of the Duchess de Chevreuse, my daughter, Mademoiselle de Chevreuse. She was predicted to be the wife of the Prince de Conti, and it would have been a brilliant match. Unfortunately, Marie de Chevreuse, having fallen in love, as was her way, madly, without memory, but very briefly in Gondi, made her daughter his mistress. Monstrous! Of course, there were “good people” who informed the prince about this. He broke off the engagement, which contributed to a serious separation between the Bourbons and the families of the Guises, Luines and Rogans. Marie de Chevreuse, stung by this break, for which she herself was to blame, openly opposed Cond; and attracted all her supporters to her side. Sir Inconnu decided that this was the work of my hands, which raised me in his opinion, but, God knows, I am not guilty of this. But I directed my efforts elsewhere. Through the Duchess de Longueville, I convinced the Bourbons that the removal of the Queen from the regency would mean the unlimited power of Monsieur, who would betray all the Bourbons, which he had done more than once. Conde, Conti and Longueville thought about this seriously. Their friendship based on hatred of Mazarin lost its strength as soon as the source of this hatred disappeared from sight. My other action was that I explained to Pierre de Gondi that the decree on the removal of cardinals from power in France, which the princes pushed through the Estates General, further limits him personally, the coadjutor, and taking into account the fact that the Queen promised him assistance in obtaining the cardinal's cap, he should have sided with the Queen in order to get what he wanted, to finally become Cardinal de Retz, and make every effort to ensure that this title of cardinal does not turn into an empty phrase, so that by becoming a cardinal, Gondi can fully grounds for applying for membership in the Royal Council. Of course, this affected Gondi exactly as I intended. Messrs. Corneille, Lafontaine and Poquelin really had writing talent, and meeting the Fouquet brothers was very useful for me. Thus, I gradually became a secret agent of the Order's influence on affairs at the very top of power, my efforts to disunite the highest clans of the country were crowned with success, each of them ceased to trust their former comrades in the fight against Mazarin, and they all turned their hopes to the Queen. Very soon, Queen Anne felt that the idea of imprisoning her in a monastery had lost popularity, that princes and dukes again began to seek her favor.
“What do they know about me that I don’t know? - the Queen must have thought. “Perhaps this is the result of the active efforts of my friend Giulio?”
Well, I do not rule out that Mazarin, with his advice, greatly strengthened the position of the Queen on the eve of the celebration of the King’s coming of age.

Chapter 181

D'Artagnan said: “When the impossible is demanded of you, do your best, it will be enough, sometimes even too much.”
Indeed, I did everything in my power to split the camp of the Queen’s ill-wishers, and this crack, which I started, began to grow with the effect of an avalanche. Each felt his own weakness and with great fear began to suspect the strength of his opponents, and they all began to seek protection from the Queen.
It must be said that Mazarin left the Queen four skilled advisers: Colbert, Lyonne, Servien and Letelier. All of them helped her hold out until September 5, 1651, when the King came of age. They helped her with their advice when Mazarin's saving letters were delayed. Indeed, even the smartest advice that comes late becomes useless, and can even turn out to be harmful if the situation changes too quickly, and it sometimes changed rapidly.
The split that I managed to sow in the camp of the second Fronde reached such a stage that Gondi, in the hope of gaining the favor of the Queen, even went so far as to persuade her to send assassins to the Prince of Cond;! But the Queen rejected this cruelty, she did not even want his re-arrest, although, God knows, Cond; deserved it.
At that time, I learned that my adored Anne-Genevieve Duchess de Longueville had contributed to the dissolution of Prince Conti’s engagement to my dear Mademoiselle Charlotte-Marie de Chevreuse, my adored daughter! She dissuaded her younger brother from this marriage in order to maintain her influence over him, in order to prevent him from moving to the camp of the Chevreuse-Roganov and Guise-Lorraine. Truly, it was a very simple matter to quarrel between the grandees when they themselves were constantly looking for reasons for quarrels!
Meanwhile, Anna-Genevieve herself became more and more like Marie, Duchess of Chevreuse in her behavior. They began to say about her that she did not like innocent entertainment. After me and after Duke Fran;ois de La Rochefoucauld, she flatly refused to return to the marital embrace, pretending that she had not forgiven him for his intimacy with Chevrette, when in fact she was only glad that an excuse had been found to resign her elderly husband, who performed all the functions of a noble and a rich husband, but was not allowed to take on the duties of a passionate spouse. The cheerful Longueville, having barely recovered from her pregnancy, began to have fun with Turenne, then with the Duke of Nemours and, it seems, with two or three more noblemen who could no longer be considered grandees, but it was still quite acceptable to be allowed into her hospitable bedroom. In order to have another extra excuse not to move in with her elderly husband, the Duchess de Longueville encouraged her older brother, the Prince of Cond;, to join the civil war. This led to Cond; going over to the side of Spain and for the next eight years he devoted his talent as a commander to the enemies of France. Did the Queen regret not agreeing to Cond;'s murder when she found out about it? Hardly. But I suppose she regretted not having him arrested. It would be better for him to rest in the castle of Vincennes under the supervision of guards loyal to the Queen than to lead enemy troops. Betrayal will never find sympathy in my soul, even from me, who during my life was not only a citizen of my homeland, France, but also managed to be a citizen of Spain, even perform some functions as an adviser in Turkey and, finally, end my years in Italy, in Rome, because after this I will not move to any other country and intend to die here in the post that the Lord was vouchsafed to entrust to me. Truly, if I were Cond;, I would prefer to be killed by the dagger of some new Ravaillac or Clement, rather than fight against my homeland. He was very successful in devastating the northern provinces of France, until Mazarin, who had returned from exile, made peace with him, forgiving him of all his faults, preferring to have him as a subject rather than as a troubled neighbor, since Spain had already offered him separate provinces in the north of France, and he was thinking about accepting this gift. While Mazarin's heart was bleeding from double grief - separation from the Queen and the loss of France fortresses, which he had won with such difficulty, they lived in Paris as if Paris were all of France. There they continued to divide power, not paying attention to the territorial losses France was suffering. The Queen was outraged by Conde's behavior, she brought the case of Conde's treason to the jury, and Monsieur was forced to support her, although he, apparently, really did not want this. At the same time, Gaston put forward a counter condition; he demanded that the recognition of the King as an adult be delayed, and, accordingly, the time of the regency was extended. However, the day before, the King, who was soon to turn fourteen years old, the official age of majority, bluntly asked Gaston whether he was his friend or enemy.
“My dear uncle, you have said so often that you love me!” - he said. “Today you, dear uncle, have an excellent opportunity to prove it.” Tell me, whose party do you belong to? Is it the Prince's party or mine?
“Your Majesty, I was slandered, slandered in your eyes by envious people and enemies,” Gaston embarrassedly justified himself. “I have always been Your Majesty’s most devoted subject, and, of course, a loving uncle!”
“Should you pay attention to what others say about you when you have such a great opportunity to shut their mouths by showing true love for your nephew?” - objected the King. “Make them silent by openly demonstrating that you are in my party, and not in the Prince’s party, and that you support me, your King!”
Meanwhile, the head of parliament, Mathieu Molay, tried to convince the Queen that the Prince of Cond; was not as bad as he seemed, and that his disobedience was provoked by an unfair attitude towards him.
“Remove all the charges against him, and he will become obedient again,” Mol; lied shamelessly.
- What prevents the Prince from first becoming obedient, so that, seeing his obedience, I will drop all charges against him? - asked the Queen. “And how is it that you, Monsieur Molay, undertake to vouch for Cond;’s behavior when even I cannot vouch for him?” But I am both his relative and his mistress!
Molet launched into lengthy discussions about forgiveness and other virtues to which the Lord called.
“It seems to me that I have enough virtues, such as forbearance and kindness and the like,” the Queen objected. - Who else but you could verify this many times? Meanwhile, why shouldn’t Conde show at least a small fraction of such virtues as repentance and obedience?
Gaston, for his part, also began to persuade the Queen to publicly declare Cond;’s forgiveness. Strange people! Why on earth? Oh, yes, the princes of the blood were considered beyond jurisdiction! So they have already served their time in the Chateau de Vincennes! Few?
The Queen promised to send a letter of forgiveness to Cond; to Parliament, but said the monarch should not be inconsistent. Forgiveness after condemnation without any reason will not be understood by the subjects. You should wait for the right opportunity. The proclamation of the King as an adult is just such a holiday in honor of which forgiveness can be announced. Monsieur was forced to reconcile, but demanded a new, even stricter declaration against Mazarin. The Queen gave in so as not to delay the proclamation of Louis as an adult King.
So, on September 7, with a delay of only two days, Louis XIV was solemnly declared of age. All the grandees were present at the ceremony. Only Cond; was absent, but his younger brother Prince Conti solemnly presented a congratulatory letter from him to the King.
The king, without dismounting from his horse, took this letter with a contemptuous expression on his face and immediately handed it over, without opening it, to his tutor Villeroy, demonstrating how little such congratulations from a traitor meant to him.
A solemn cavalcade drove along the main street, Louis, holding his hat in his hand, greeted his subjects, who showed wild delight with joyful exclamations that merged into a single roar. The Queen followed her son in a carriage with Monsieur and little Monsieur, the brother of Louis XIV.
At the Palace of Justice, the Queen made a short but heartfelt speech, in which she thanked God for blessing her labors and crowning them with this joyful event, preserving his precious life until the moment when he should take over the administration of the kingdom. She recognized herself from now on as his subject and expressed confidence that his reign would be happy with God's help.
The king, in his response, thanked his mother for her care and management of the state until he reached the proper age.
- I ask you to continue to give me good advice and wish you. So that after me you will be the head of my council,” he said at the end of his speech.
The accession of the King, of course, did not solve all the problems of the monarchy at once, but it greatly strengthened the state of affairs. Soon after Louis XIV came of age, Cond; opposed the inclusion of Chateauneuf, Molay and Lavieville in the Royal Council. Monsieur supported this demand and even threatened that if it was not fulfilled, then he would not appear at the Palais Royal. Hearing this, Louis XIV immediately demanded the royal seals to Seguier and handed them over to de Molay, after which he invited de Chateauneuf and de Lavieville to the council scheduled for September 8. Monsieur had to pretend that he had forgotten his threats, so the next day he showed up to all events, including getting the King out of bed, as if nothing had happened. Three years later, when Parliament intended to discuss the edicts on stamp paper, the King came to Parliament from a hunt, without even changing his clothes, and put everyone in their place with one simple phrase: “I am the State!”
Almost immediately after the accession of the King, Anne of Austria began preparing the return of Mazarin. Even the cardinal’s supporters begged her not to rush into this, having first achieved a complete reconciliation with Cond;, but the Queen objected, saying that the cardinal would come only to answer the accusations and justify himself, after which he would simply live the life of an ordinary person, since he did not pretend to ha state power. Even Chateauneuf did not believe in such a prospect, but what difference does it really make what he believed? The main thing is that the decision was made. Mazarin did not want to delay any longer; the box of diamonds was useful to him in order to hire decent guards, which formed the basis of the future army. The return of the cardinal was carefully and well thought out, and his most reliable supporters participated in this matter. Participating in this case were Marshal du Plessis-Pralin, Marquis de Navay, Prince Thomas de Carignano of the House of Savoy, Duke de Mercoeur, and, of course, d' Artagnan. Also involved in this case were Ondedei, Brachet, Berthe and Millet de Gers.
The Queen handed Bartha an order, written in the King's hand, commanding Mazarin to return to France. But Barthes deliberately told Chateauneuf, Monsieur and Retz about this order, who vied with each other to advise the Queen to delay Mazarin’s return.
The queen met Mazarin in Poitiers, and despite the fact that parliament became so insolent that it again issued a decree for the arrest of Mazarin, no one dared to carry out this order. Mazarin was accompanied by d'Artagnan with his musketeers, a significant part of whom he called for these purposes.

Chapter 182

The king showed the highest honor to the Cardinal by going out to meet him and escorting him to the chambers allotted to him. This event instantly returned Mazarin to the very top of the hierarchy among the courtiers. The queen retired for a long time with the cardinal to talk about all issues that needed to be resolved and, possibly, for other important matters. Chateauneuf resigned, preferring not to wait until he was offered it.
Turenne suddenly remembered his duty and helped Mazarin defeat Cond;, just as Cond; had previously helped Mazarin defeat Turenne.
Cond; hoped to capture Paris with a swift push from the banks of the Loire, but Turenne and his army caught up with it and began to threaten his rear, and as a result, the army of Cond; and the princes found themselves in a pincer movement under the threat of attack from two sides. In order not to be destroyed by Turenne or Haquincourt, the Prince of Cond; took refuge in Etampes, planning to wait for the Spanish army of Archduke Leopold from Flanders.
Turenne besieged Etampes, but there were not enough forces for the assault, and the marshal organized a siege, as a result of which he would have defeated Cond; with the help of a starvation blockade, or would have forced Cond; to leave the city and take battle, where Turenne would have had a better chance of victory than during the assault. His plans were thwarted by the invasion of France by Duke Charles IV of Lorraine with an army of ten thousand. At this time, Charles of Lorraine, who had lost his possessions due to the fact that they had already been occupied by our troops, behaved like a hired robber, differing from a land pirate only in the size of his army and his noble title. He assured Mazarin that he was not going to help the army of the princes, but all this was just a deception; in fact, Charles of Lorraine was steadily moving towards Paris, threatening to unite with Cond; and demanding the lifting of the siege of Etampes.
The critical moment of the campaign had arrived, when its outcome could have been decided in a matter of hours. If Cond; and Charles of Lorraine had united, they could have taken Paris. Therefore, Turenne lifted the siege of Etampes and hastily moved through Corbeil to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where Charles of Lorraine took up the position.
Cond; also moved there, but Turenne got ahead of him, passing through Novye along the right bank of the Seine and capturing a strategically important bridge, which Charles of Lorraine ordered to be built to connect with Cond;.
Mazarin, for a large sum of money, persuaded Charles of Lorraine to leave the side of the princes. Charles, having signed the agreement, left France, which put Cond;'s army in a critical situation. Turenne occupied the Lorraine camp, Conde marched on Paris and on June 17, 1651 he arrived at Bourg-la-Reine and set up camp between Saint-Cloud and Suresnes. The Parisians did not let him into the city.
In Paris itself, riots and bloody clashes between frondeurs and royalists continued.
Having crossed with part of the troops to the right bank of the Seine, La Ferte created a threat of encirclement of the prince’s army, and Cond; was forced to secretly cross the river at night and retreat east beyond Charenton in order to again cover himself with a water barrier on the ledge formed by the confluence of the Seine and Marne.
Conde did not dare to go through Paris, fearing that the Parisians would refuse him this, which would undermine discipline in his army.
Having received news from Paris that the army of the princes was bypassing the city beyond Montmartre, moving between it and the suburb of Saint-Martin, Mazarin ordered Turenne to march. Turenne, without waiting for artillery, deployed his troops into battle formation on the plain between Saint-Denis and Paris, pushing forward several squadrons that knocked down Cond;'s rearguard from the heights of Saint-Denis.
Cond; decided to defend himself in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, taking advantage of the barricades erected by the townspeople, but luck finally changed him.
The Saint-Antoine suburb is divided by three main streets, Charenton, Saint-Antoine and Charonne, diverging in different directions. These streets converge on a large square in front of the very gates of the capital, where the Bastille fortress with powerful artillery is located
At the battle of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Cond; risked being captured or killed. His daughter, Mademoiselle de Bourbon, seeing this danger, took charge of the defense and ordered the gates of the city to be opened, allowing Conde and his almost defeated squad in. After this, she ordered the commandant of the Bastille to fire a volley at Turenne's army.
At first Mazarin decided that these volleys were directed against Cond;.
- Yeah! - he exclaimed. “Our glorious Parisians, it seems, have decided to fry the ass of that scoundrel Cond;!”
“Monsignor, they are shooting at us, and the first salvo was simply a sighting salvo,” objected d’Artagnan. - Order the troops to be immediately withdrawn to within shooting distance of the fortress walls.
- Move away from the walls! - Mazarin ordered.
- Fulfill! Quicker! - D'Artagnan shouted decisively and the King's troops hastened to retreat, thereby saving many lives.
- But who dared to give the order for artillery salvoes? - Mazarin was surprised. “Conde simply physically could not have time to climb the towers so quickly!” Did the commandant of the Bastille, at his own peril and risk, himself order this?
“Cond;’s daughter, Mademoiselle de Bourbon, is now in the Bastille,” suggested d’Artagnan. “Who else, if not she, could have ordered the gates of the city to be opened and Cond; admitted?” She also gave the order to fire all guns.
“With this salvo she shot down all her hopes of marriage with His Majesty,” said Mazarin, shrugging his shoulders.
“It seems that she loves her father more than the King,” answered d’Artagnan.
“Yes, unfortunately, such strange things still happen,” Mazarin agreed. “But what’s even stranger is that she seems to love her father even more than herself.”
- But this is truly an out-of-the-ordinary phenomenon! - D'Artagnan grinned. - But in this case, she did him a disservice, because he was already saved, these salvos only complicated his future reconciliation with the King and Queen.
“Do you think he should be thinking about reconciliation now?” - Mazarin was surprised.
“He should have thought about it constantly, even before he became a rebel,” answered d’Artagnan. “Be that as it may, we will win in the end.”
- Why are you so convinced of this? - the cardinal asked with interest.
- How could it be otherwise? - D'Artagnan was surprised. “It’s only a matter of time and the price of this victory over one’s own fellow citizens, damn them!” They want to shed blood for the ambitions of these damned princes of the blood! If it were my will, I would completely destroy these privileges and equate them with ordinary nobles. They mess around with them too much.
Mazarin once again looked at d'Artagnan with respect and undisguised surprise.
The cardinal's comment regarding Mademoiselle's marriage was prophetic. Indeed, the marriage of Mademoiselle de Bourbon with Louis XIV, despite the difference in age, was discussed earlier, but after this salvo it became impossible. After this, Mademoiselle had to be content with a dubious marriage with Lauzen, who, among other things, she had to wait quite a long time for from prison, where the King had placed him.
La Rochefoucauld was wounded in the eye in this battle and lost his sight for a long time, so poor Katie’s joke that the Duke de La Rochefoucauld was wounded in the eye turned out to be prophetic. Mazarin's fifteen-year-old nephew, Paolo Mancini, died in this battle.
In this terrible battle, the French died on both sides. The Queen prayed for hours, kneeling in the Carmelite chapel of Saint-Denis, asking God to bring peace to France. She personally cared for the wounded.
Conde, thanks to his daughter, became the master of Paris, but this did not save him, but, on the contrary, undermined his already precarious position. The city was ruined, and the army had to be maintained. Conde imposed exorbitant taxes on the townspeople, his soldiers looted and committed outrages, fires, violence, and robberies became commonplace for Parisians.
Mazarin made a wise decision, voluntarily retiring into a second exile in order to prove to the citizens of France that it was not his presence that was the cause of civil wars. But his removal was only territorial; in fact, the cardinal continued to rule France from Sedan through Faber. He introduced his supporters and friends into the Royal Council, dictated a declaration to the King, which absolved him of all previously brought charges; this declaration was registered by Parliament, and it was posted in Pontoise. Now the enemies of Mazarin were outlawed. The seven months that Mazarin spent with the Queen showed everyone that he was an integral part of the royal family, that the Queen would never give up Mazarin, and that the King respected and loved the cardinal to the fullest and followed his advice. Now no one doubted that a secret marriage had been concluded between the Queen and the Cardinal.
In the end, the Parisians began to create all sorts of obstacles to Conde, he became so weakened that a week later the King and Turenne’s troops solemnly entered Paris.
The cardinal returned with another triumph and returned to the affairs of governing the state.
Mazarin could not help but note d'Artagnan's unwavering loyalty, which he observed during the cardinal's two exiles, the first forced, and the second temporary and on the initiative of the cardinal himself. D'Artagnan was simply fulfilling his promise to the Queen. But Mazarin regarded this as a tribute of deep respect, a consequence of ideological convictions or something else, equally strong and reliable. I cannot deny that perhaps d’Artagnan already experienced some of these feelings in relation to his new sovereign, but the main thing for him was loyalty to the Queen. Realizing that the Queen expected this form of devotion from him, he asked no more questions and guarded the Cardinal as carefully as if it were the Queen herself.

Chapter 183

At the end of 1652, Conde and Conti were accused of lese majeste, and Pierre de Gondi was completely arrested. The following year the following events occurred:
The triumphant return of Mazarin, the capture of Rethel by Turenne, the condemnation of Claude Joly by the Maxim parliament, the appointment of Nicolas Fouquet as superintendent of finance, the capture of Rocroi by the Spaniards under the command of Cond;. Meanwhile, in England, Cromwell became Lord Protector and created a single parliament for England, Scotland and Ireland. According to the decree of the King, Bordeaux received an amnesty. Also notable events of this year include the siege of Landrecy.
Parliament urged Louis XIV to be like his grandfather, Henry IV. A very ambiguous calling! After all, it turns out that parliament condemned King Louis XIII in some ways, while in some ways preferring not the father of the current King, but his grandfather? Well, the most noticeable difference lay on the surface. If Louis XIII was strangely captivated by handsome young men and did not like women at all, including even his own wife, and only admired very young ladies from time to time while they remained innocent, and did not want to personally remove them from this dubious state for the entire court, then Henry IV saw in women, first of all, a source of carnal pleasures and did not miss the opportunity to take from communication with them everything that they deigned to offer their monarch, and they, as a rule, were very pliable to his pressure. Parliament, of course, had in mind the active work of Henry IV in the field of strengthening personal power, belittling the power of princes, and in strengthening the borders of the state, the unity of subordination of territorial lords to the King, then in this case it is not clear how Henry IV could have been a better example compared to Louis XIII. Perhaps it was meant that Henry IV ruled personally, while Louis XIII relied more on Cardinal Richelieu, giving him the post of first minister? To this it can be argued that Henry IV also had Sully, whom he trusted in everything, and who precisely determined state policy. Moreover, the reign of Louis XIII was such that he died peacefully in his bed from illness and old age, while Henry IV was stabbed to death by a fanatic, behind whom, undoubtedly, were forces wishing to turn the policy from cooperation with England against Spain to cooperation with Spain against England. It is not without reason that Maria de Medici and Concino Concini are blamed for this. So the example of the King, who allowed a conspiracy against himself among the people closest to him, should hardly be considered worthy of imitation, while Louis XIII, who trusted Richelieu in everything, had every reason for this, since the cardinal revealed no less than six conspiracies, any of which could cost the King his life.
So, I do not blame Louis XIV, who interpreted the wish of Parliament to be like his grandfather in everything, and became so like his grandfather that he even almost surpassed him in gallant adventures. However, he was not as lustful as his grandfather, and did not establish relationships with as many ladies, but his connections were long-lasting and almost open. He took mistresses, almost without any embarrassment for his wife, although, of course, at first he hid his feelings and his intimacy, which happened to him only at the stage of intimacy with Mademoiselle de La Valli;re. Probably, it was she who persuaded him not to advertise this connection, but life showed, and quite quickly, that the personal life of the King cannot be a secret, that there will always be those who find out what is hidden and pass it on to others, for among the thousands of eyes that cannot be taken off the King, there will always be two or three couples who see something they shouldn't have seen.
At that time, the King was still quite young, and thanks to Madame de Beauvais, he was already familiar with the science that taught how women differ from men, and how these differences should be used for mutual pleasure. The charming nieces of Mazarin appeared at court, who were well-educated, beautiful, intelligent, knew how to behave with dignity, and, at the same time, they understood who the ruler of France was, and realized that the ruler should not be denied that little, which a woman gives in no way does not become poorer, while the man feels that he has become hundreds of times happier and richer. They were also smart enough to understand that it is the first presentation of the gift so desired by men that is of the greatest value, which over time, with frequent repetition of this favor, becomes less and less valuable, therefore they were clearly aware of the need to withhold the distribution of these favors until such a situation when the heat passions will give them the highest value, so that the recipient of this benefit does not seek to buy off gifts or handouts, and is ready to give all of himself, no other than on the altar before the Lord. Thus, the traps were scattered, the baits were loaded, and the hunt began.
Mademoiselle de Bourbon, who by birthright had sufficient nobility to qualify for marriage with the King, shot her hopes for this marriage with cannons from the walls of the Bastille, in the figurative expression of Mazarin. The nieces were only glad that there was one less hunter, especially since their age and beauty gave them significant advantages over the short-sighted princess. One of Mazarin's nieces, Laura Mancini, had already married Duke Merceur. But Mazarin still had eight nieces. Together with three nephews, they all arrived in France from Italy in two batches, the first arrived in 1647, the rest moved in 1653. All the nieces began to be called Mazarinettes en masse.
Here is their complete list.
Laura Mancini was born in 1636, so she was somewhat older than the King.
Olympia Mancini was born in 1638, that is, she was the same age as the King. She subsequently married Eugene Moritz of Savoy.
Maria Mancini, a year younger than the King, 1639, the first ardent love of Louis, who later became the wife of Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna, Duke of Tagliacoli, Prince of Paliano and Castiglione.
Margherita Mancini, born in 1643, at one time also aroused the King’s imagination, but soon entered a monastery, devoting herself to the Lord. Reasoning that she could not become the only chosen one of the King on earth, she decided to become the bride of the Lord, although if you believe that all nuns will be the brides of the Lord, then you should sympathize with him, how can the Lord cope with such a crowd of brides?
Hortense Mancini, born in 1646, was rightly considered the most beautiful of the Mazarinettes, and, of course, she also conquered the King, and he conquered her, but much later. Her husband was Armand Charles de la Porte, Duke of La Meiere. However, she later ran away from her husband and became the favorite of Charles II of England.
Anna Mancini, born in 1647, was not ignored by the King, but she was not able to conquer him enough to become his wife. However, it was Mazarin himself who did not agree to the King’s marriage with any of his nieces, considering each of them unworthy of this honor, and seeing in the King’s marriage only a political tool for better governance of France. So it is completely in vain to accuse him of dreaming of becoming related to the King through one of his nieces. He had already become related to the grandees, but he perfectly understood the boundaries beyond which he should not cross. So the marriage of Laura Mancini and Louis de Vendome, Duke of Merceur, was a sufficient step to bring Mazarin closer to the royal family, not to mention the secret marriage of Mazarin himself with Queen Anne.
Finally, we should mention Anna Maria Mancini, born in 1649, who was thus eleven years younger than the King, which did not prevent her from becoming his mistress at one time, after which Maurice Jodefroy de la Tour d'Auvergne became her husband, Duke of Bouillon. This lady at one time was a philanthropist, supporting La Fontaine and Racine.
So, I listed the children of Mazarin's sister, Girolama, but he had another sister, Laura. She had two daughters, also Mazarin's nieces.
Laura Martinozzi, who was only a little older than the King, but looked like his age and even a little younger. This Mazarinette also left her mark in the heart of the King; Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena, later became her husband.
Her other daughter was Anna Maria Martinozzi, born two years later than the King, in 1637, her husband was Armand de Bourbon, Prince de Conti. His Majesty also managed to get acquainted with her, but they tried to hide this close acquaintance from Armand de Bourbon. Damn it, if it weren’t for the overly cheerful disposition of the Duchess de Chevreuse, the wife of the Prince de Conti could not have been this mazarinette, but a girl worthy in all respects! However, it’s all nonsense; I shouldn’t deviate from the sequence of presentation.
So, in 1655, the gaze of the ardent and young King settled on Olympia.
The marriage alliances that Mazarin managed to conclude for the daughters of his sister Laura speak not only of the foresight of Mazarin himself, but also of the perseverance of his sister, who understood which way the wind was blowing. Unlike Chevrette, she did not allow the idea that her daughters would simply be someone’s mistresses, even if their lover was the King himself. She cared about their happiness, which she saw in maintaining decency and morality. The nieces managed to conclude a spiritual and not only alliance with their King, which did not prevent them from taking advantage of the opportunity to make a profitable match for the Princes of the Blood. Cond; seized the opportunity of marriage with Anna Maria, since at the same time his elder brother, the Great Cond;, was sentenced to death for treason, so such a marriage was necessary in order to protect himself from the just accusations of treason that he deserved. This very marriage also elevated Mazarin to the rank of grandee quite officially, strengthened both the position of Mazarin and the position of the Princes, but only on condition of submission to the King and even Mazarin, and also strengthened peace in France.
In 1655, at a ball in the Louvre, the King was expected to invite Princess Henrietta, daughter of the Queen of England, to the first dance, but he preferred Madame de Mercer, that is, the Mazarinette Laura.
Queen Anne rose from her throne and separated the dancing couple, reminding her son that he should ask Henrietta to dance.
“I don’t like little girls,” the King objected.
Henrietta was only eleven years old, while the King was already sixteen and a half, he looked like he was twenty, and he had the ardor of an eighteen-year-old. Of course, the King did not intend to do what he wanted with Madame de Mercoeur, since Louis de Vend;me belonged to the royal family, and this marriage should have been respected, at least outwardly.
If only the Queen knew then that very soon she would have to reproach the King for being too attentive to Henrietta, who would become the wife of his brother, Philippe of Orleans, and thus would be called Madame! I believe that at that very moment Henrietta was offended by the King's reluctance to dance with her, and perhaps even that she promised herself to become beautiful, flirtatious and desirable for the King, to make him want to have her, and then deny him this. In any case, she kept the first part of this promise to herself; she, indeed, became desirable to Louis XIV and obtained from him confessions that would have flattered any French woman, regardless of her status and position.

Chapter 184

The Duchess de Mercoeur was already married and did not intend to forget her marital duty. Louis XIV 's gaze turned to the younger Olympia and lingered on her for a long time. For about a year, the lovers enjoyed each other’s company, believing that nothing could interfere with their happiness, however, when at court they began to talk about the possibility of such a marriage and, of course, began to accuse Mazarin himself of harboring hopes for such an outcome, the cardinal was the first to put an end to this ambiguous situation. Having made sure that no persuasion, orders or threats had any effect on Olympia, he married her to the son of Prince Tom, Eugene of Savoy, for whose sake the title of Count of Soissons was restored, which should have been interrupted, since his mother was the last representative of this branch of the Bourbons.
Mazarin's elder nieces, which include the Duchess de Merceur, the Princess of Conti and the Princess of Modena, survived the times of the Fronde, they had to experience the hardships of exile and the humiliation of popular contempt. They with dignity took places befitting their rank and did not aim higher. The younger nieces, Olympia, Hortense, Maria and Maria Anna, who arrived in Paris after the Fronde, were spoiled and did not understand the danger that lurked in popular indignation, initially imperceptible, and later insurmountable. For this reason, these Mazarinettes lost their sense of reality from time to time, which made them the cause of another scandal.
Hortense, who married Lameyer, who became Duke of Mazarin, was forced to leave her husband. Because she could not come to terms with his incestuous relationship with her brother Philippe Mancini, Duke of Nevers. In desperation, she became addicted to wine, drowning her freshness, beauty and prudence in it.
Olympia de Soissons continued to host the King from time to time as if she were still Olympia Mancini, and Louis XIV continued to visit her even when he had already switched to Mademoiselle d'Argencourt.
The Queen Mother could still look condescendingly at her son’s youthful hobbies, but she, as a true Catholic and Spaniard, resolutely condemned his obvious inclination towards gallant polygamy, apparently inherited from his grandfather, so the King was forced to listen to impartial moral teachings from his mother, and Mademoiselle d'Argencourt was removed from the court.
Olympia's marriage caused Louis XIV to turn his attention to her younger sister, Maria Mancini. Maria was dark, thin, sassy and playful. Of course, with such a character, the Queen did not like her, but Louis XIV liked her. He understood that the audacity of her character stems from her liveliness of mind, education and understanding. In her innovative moral aspirations, she was ahead of Madame de Rambouillet and Madame de Sable, because she tried to prove that a woman has the right to her own opinion. Just think, what audacity! It was from her that Moliere subsequently copied his affectations.
Indeed, the protracted civil war has brutalized men and tamed women. Men who were at war for six months longed for quick victories, not having time for courtship, flowers and affectionate words, while women, yearning for male affection, were also ready for an accelerated version of the period of courtship and mutual languor, so those preludes to soulful friendships that took weeks and months for their grandmothers, they would probably like to condense into half an hour, and therefore, in the spirit of contradiction, some of them prescribed trials for their lovers for many years. That’s why they were called prissy girls, because the way they set the date of courtship looked too much like setting a price for their favors.
As for the time of courtship that their grandmothers appointed, who knows whether they were really as intractable as they claimed, or whether they just made up these fables for their granddaughters? It seems to me that I did not find in Chevrette a shadow of such slowness in establishing relationships when I first appeared in Paris.
The Queen tried to instill in Louis a love of high literature, but Maria Mancini, who has a passion for reading of a different kind, taught the King gallant behavior with the ladies, which made him a skillful tempter, although it is very possible that his best means of temptation was the fact that he was the King state in which he spread his networks of seduction.
The gallant adventures of the King with Mary did not bother the Queen, who called the Mazarinettes nieces, which further supports the general suspicion that the Queen entered into a secret marriage with Mazarin, so she had every reason to address them that way.
Well, I don’t need proof of this marriage, since I know this fact for sure and can indicate the day and time of this marriage, as well as the name of the priest who performed this sacrament.
The queen dreamed of marrying her son to the Spanish Infanta, her niece, and thereby establishing and firmly consolidating peace with Spain. Of course, she remained Queen of France, so she wanted peace on her own terms, with all the conquered territories secured, which should be called liberated. Philip IV, our Queen's brother, was angry that his sister had severely desecrated his possessions. The idea of Louis XIV marrying the daughter of Philip IV was discussed even before the Fronde, and was favorably received by both sides, but since Spain supported the Fronde, as well as the rebellious princes, which aggravated the military confrontation between France and Spain, Philip IV pretended that he had lost interest in it marriage.
Mazarin was especially gloomy and, instead of his usual greeting to d'Artagnan, he only waved his hand.
The captain bowed emphatically politely to the cardinal, without bending even a millimeter below what he considered sufficient.
Mazarin came to his senses and tried to make up for his unkindness with an emphatically polite greeting.
- Monsieur d'Artagnan, good afternoon! - he said. — Wonderful weather outside, isn’t it?
— Is the monsignor concerned about some complex political problem? - asked d'Artagnan.
- Why did you decide so? — the cardinal perked up.
“Your Eminence is not in the habit of having small talk with his subordinates, therefore, you simply wanted to gloss over some disdain shown towards me, which I attribute to the fact that the monsignor is busy thinking about serious topics,” the captain replied. - And for Your Eminence there are only three serious topics - politics, the Queen and the King. Since the Queen and King are healthy and well disposed towards you, therefore, only politics remains.
“You are observant, Monsieur d’Artagnan,” answered Mazarin. “I’m worried about the King’s marriage.”
“His Majesty has become very attentive to your niece,” said d’Artagnan. - Are you worried that he will deceive her and not marry?
“On the contrary, I’m worried that, what the hell, he’ll think that he’s seriously in love with her and plans to marry her!” - Mazarin objected.
“But this marriage will be happiness for your whole family,” said d’Artagnan.
“This marriage would be a misfortune for France,” the cardinal answered with a sigh. “And the Mazarin family will never build personal happiness on what is a misfortune for France.”
— Would you like to arrange the marriage of the King with the Spanish Infanta? - asked d'Artagnan.
“ It’s practically impossible,” the cardinal sighed. — Philip IV abandoned this idea.
“Or he pretends to refuse,” answered d’Artagnan.
- What did you say? - Mazarin was surprised.
“It’s simple trade,” answered the captain. “Whoever shows an active desire in this matter will have to make great concessions to the other side.”
“Do you think Philip is still interested in Maria Theresa’s marriage to His Majesty?” - asked the cardinal.
“If Monsignor names more attractive options for the Infanta, then I will perhaps doubt the correctness of my assumption,” answered d’Artagnan.
- And you, Gascons, are almost as cunning as the Italians! - Mazarin admired.
“Cunning,” objected d’Artagnan.
- Why? - asked the cardinal.
“Because we don’t show it,” answered the captain.
Mazarin bit his lower lip thoughtfully.
“So he also wants this marriage, but he pretends that he has lost interest in this idea, yes, yes,” said Mazarin and began drumming his fingers on the table. - How to push him?
“There are at least two options,” answered d’Artagnan. — The first option is obvious, but undesirable. Significant victories on the French-Spanish fronts.
- Why is it undesirable? - asked Mazarin.
“Every extra day of war means great sacrifices,” said d’Artagnan.
“Well, that’s understandable,” the cardinal, who considered himself a peacemaker, agreed weakly.
“And a lot of extra expenses,” added the captain.
- And this is very, very sad! - the cardinal exclaimed with feeling. - What is the second way?
“Make it clear to the King of Spain that this opportunity is about to cease to be an opportunity for him,” said d'Artagnan. - Start making tentative steps towards another option for the King's marriage, and make sure that these steps become known to Philip IV.
- What other marriage is this? - Mazarin asked thoughtfully. — With Princess Margaret of Savoy?
- Excellent choice, Your Eminence! - said Louis. “Although if I were the King, I would tell you: “Let me see everyone first!”
- “Let me see everyone!” Funny! - Mazarin laughed. - Do Kings really marry for love? Does the appearance of the future wife of the King matter?
“Charles the First of England was of precisely this opinion,” said the captain. - And he’s not the only one.
“So, we begin negotiations on the marriage of the King with the Princess of Savoy, Philip IV will be worried that the opportunity to marry Maria Theresa to our King will soon disappear, he will become more active, offer his daughter as a wife to our King and we will agree,” Mazarin concluded. - Not bad, but then how can you explain the refusal of the Duke of Savoy and his sister, whom he treats tenderly, like his own daughter?
“The monsignor will certainly find suitable arguments and put them into even more suitable words,” answered d’Artagnan. “But if a certain amount of money is added to these words, then the apology will be accepted.”
- But the amount must be quite hefty! - exclaimed Mazarin.
“Still, no more than you will spend on the first option, that is, on continuing the war and achieving new territorial conquests in order to make the King of Spain more flexible,” noted d’Artagnan.
“Hmm, hmm,” Mazarin said thoughtfully. “If this business succeeds, I should make you my political adviser.”
“It’s really not worth a word,” objected d’Artagnan. - Make me a field marshal instead.
“The path to becoming a marshal lies through military victories as a general, and you, as I see, stand up for peace,” Mazarin answered with a fair amount of malice.
“If peace is established in France, I am ready to remain the captain of the royal musketeers until the end of my days, that’s enough for me,” answered d’Artagnan. “Would it please the monsignor to assign a password for today?”
“Today’s password will be Theresa,” Mazarin answered cheerfully. - In honor of the idea that you gave me.
“Thank you, monsignor,” the captain replied, bowed and left.

Chapter 185

- Your Majesty! - Mazarin said to the Queen. “A wonderful idea came to my mind.”
“Your wonderful head constantly spews out wonderful thoughts,” the Queen answered sincerely. “But judging by what you tell me about this, you needed my help to realize your idea.”
“As always, you are extremely insightful, and you are right, I need your help,” the cardinal agreed. “The fact is that the marriage of His Majesty with the Infanta of Spain would, of course, be very desirable, but your august brother does not seem to want to marry his daughter, and your niece, to our King.”
“Unfortunately, this marriage seems unrealistic to me, although it would be a great step in order to establish and consolidate peace between our states for a long time,” agreed the Queen.
“I propose to turn our attention to Princess Margaret of Savoy,” said the cardinal.
“I’m afraid you’re right, and this option is the best one left,” the Queen answered with a sigh.
“ We will go to Lyon to first very carefully raise this issue,” said Mazarin.
- Why be careful here? - the Queen was surprised. “You just have to inform the Duke of Savoy about this, and he himself will rush to Paris along with his younger sister, Margarita Violanta!”
“We will take a very careful step to begin with, and I ask you to think about how to make sure that your august brother Philip IV learns about this trip long before we arrive there, and of course, so that he does not know about it.” from you.
- God! - exclaimed the Queen. - This is truly a wonderful idea, Giulio! Do you think that my brother will immediately send a delegation to dissuade us from this marriage and propose Maria Theresa?!
“I only hope so,” Mazarin will answer in his insinuating voice and lowered his eyes. “In any case, if I were him, I would think a thousand times before missing this last opportunity.” That is, I would not hesitate, but hastened to upset this engagement and achieve an engagement with the Infanta of Spain.
- Giulio, I have already said that your mind will give birth to thousands of brilliant ideas, but this is one of the most brilliant! - answered the Queen.
“You are too kind, Your Majesty,” answered the flattered Mazarin, kissing both hands of the Queen in turn. - So what about useful information leakage?
- Oh, don't worry about that! - answered the Queen. “I will tell Gaston about this, La Rochefoucauld will learn about it from him, and this means that Chevrette will immediately find out about it, and, therefore, Philippe will also be notified.”
“Won’t he feel there’s a catch in all this?” - Mazarin asked worriedly.
- Gaston?! - asked the Queen. - Are you joking! When would Gaston d'Orl;ans ever sense something was wrong? He is manipulated by all and sundry! In addition, I will tell him about the preparations for the trip to Lyon and tell him the supposed purpose of this trip in secret, so that he will spill it not only to La Rochefoucauld, but also to everyone else. Of course, also in secret! They will all think that I don't know, that they know what I know.
- Magnificent, Your Majesty! — the cardinal was sincerely delighted. “We will prepare for the trip especially carefully, so that the Spanish envoy has enough time to get ahead of us and appear in Lyon when we arrive there.”
- Of course, I will need a new wardrobe for this trip! - answered the Queen.
The Cardinal bit his lip, but overcame himself and, overcoming his own nature, added.
“A new wardrobe and a new necklace, as well as a wardrobe for the King and Little Monsieur,” he said, saddened by the thought of how much it would cost.

The very next day, the Duchess de Chevreuse wrote the following letter in her personal code to the King of Spain, Philip IV:

“Your Catholic Majesty!
I am addressing you as your most faithful friend that can only be found in all of France.
You should know that the Queen and the Cardinal have planned the marriage of the King with the Princess of Savoy. I am outraged at how they could forget about the duty of closest kinship and friendship of your two royal houses! How? To forget that Your Majesty deigned to marry the sister of our King Louis XIII on the very day when your August father, Philip III, made our King Louis XIII happy by marrying your ungrateful sister, Anne of Austria!? Forget that our King is your nephew through two lines of kinship, just as your august daughter, Infanta Maria Theresa, is also exactly the niece of Queen Anne through two lines of kinship? This marriage would be the crowning achievement of the development of the policies of the two greatest states of Europe, would contribute to the establishment of a lasting and much-desired peace, the people of our two countries dream about this! And suddenly such a misalliance, which is an insult inflicted on Your Catholic Majesty, on your entire state, if it takes place!
I beg you to save my country from dishonor! Don't let this engagement happen!
Only a timely ambassador to Lyon on behalf of Your Catholic Majesty will be able to stop attempts to arrange this marriage, offensive to both our countries, in addition to the undoubted rights of Her Highness the Infanta Maria Theresa.
I beg you to put aside grievances and do the noblest act, to extend the hand of your sire, consent and mercy, for this marriage can now take place only if you show mercy towards your unreasonable sister, who, contrary to all common sense, previously showed unreasonableness and shortsightedness in to wage war against your state, which, among other things, is also her homeland, and now also has the intention of depriving your august daughter and her niece of the privilege of being the first to listen to the marriage proposal of His Majesty King Louis XIV of France.
I remain devoted to you with soul and heart, keeping in my heart those unforgettable days when I had the good fortune to experience all the advantages of being in your wonderful state, close to Your Majesty, being your friend and, I dare to hope, something more than this.
I kiss your hands and pray for your well-being.
Marie, Duchess of Chevreuse."

Chapter 186

The royal family, indeed, was in no hurry with the trip; upon arrival in Lyon, the cardinal received a notification that Don Antonio Pimantel was heading there and would soon arrive, charged with the right on behalf of the King of Spain to discuss the possibilities of the King’s marriage with the Infanta. The young King was already pleased that he was traveling in the company of Maria Mancini, who preferred to be on horseback side by side with His Majesty, rather than travel in a comfortable carriage, but at a distance from him. Quite recently, Louis suffered a terrible illness, such that the court seriously feared the worst outcome. At this time, Maria Mancini shed sincere tears of sorrow for him, almost the same as those shed by his mother, Queen Anne. To everyone’s happiness, the King recovered; they did not fail to tell him what grief Maria was in, and he was imbued with even greater attention, sympathy and affection for her, which could even be called sincere love. The Queen did not want to upset her recently recovered son by being married to an unloved woman, she, as a mother, would not want to break her son’s heart, but she was, first of all, the Queen, and therefore hoped that the Infanta, her niece, would be able to marry her son proper impression, so that he could finally make the right choice from the standpoint of the political needs of the state.
However, contrary to the calculations of the cardinal, the Spanish ambassador nevertheless arrived late for the royal family, so that it was necessary to fully depict what, as it was announced, the court had come to Lyon for. The king talked with the Princess of Savoy and stated that he liked her quite well, so he was ready to marry her. However, even then he was gradually becoming the Louis XIV as he went down in history, that is, a man who, without much moral torment, abandoned one party for another, more profitable or more pleasant. Knowing full well that the Infanta of Spain was a much more profitable marriage, he calmly accepted the fact that marriage with a more noble cousin could become real, so this choice should be preferred.
Thus, the cardinal’s cunning led to the desired result, but he had to request from the superintendent of finance Nicolas Fouquet half a million livres for the House of Savoy in order to appease the Duke of Savoy and the rejected Princess of Savoy with appropriate gifts. True, Mazarin managed to leave part of this amount to compensate for travel expenses and the updated wardrobe of the royal family, but he would not have been Mazarin if he had not done this.
The king, who had previously looked very kindly at Margarita Violanta of Savoy, the next day spoke to her emphatically politely, but coldly. The Princess of Savoy, Christine of France, who was the sister of Louis XIII, probably counted on the sympathy and even, apparently, on the Queen’s participation in arranging the marriage of her husband’s younger sister, Marguerite Violante, with some other prince, in order to smooth out the dubiousness of the situation, however, as usual, there was no emotional relationship between the Queen and her sister-in-law, so Anna of Austria only spoke contemptuously about the experiences of Christina of France.
- So that I can still sympathize with this one?! - she was indignant, and this pronoun contained her entire attitude towards her sister-in-law.
However, the rejected bride was soon consoled; almost immediately she married Ranuccio II Farnese, the son of Duke Odoardo Farnese and Margherita de Medici. As Duchess of Parma, she gave birth to two children - a stillborn girl, and then a boy who died at the age of two days. She herself died in second childbirth, so if such a fate befell her in her marriage to Louis XIV, such a marriage could hardly be called happy.
Since the marriage with the Infanta was not to take place soon, Louis returned to courting Maria Mancini, with whom he spent a lot of time. During the day he played ball with the musketeers, and spent the evenings with Maria Mancini, and at first accompanied her carriage on horseback, then sitting on the box next to the coachman, and finally migrated to the carriage and took a place next to her. What they were doing in the carriage with the curtains drawn, one can only guess.
It is curious that this attention to Maria Mancini upset the Count of Soissons, who wondered why the King stopped paying so much attention to his wife, Olympia Mancini. It’s amazing how some courtiers strive to acquire a head decoration that suits only Actaeon and, probably, the ancient Vikings!
Maria Mancini, meanwhile, reached such a close relationship with the King that, tired of physical communication, she decided to provide him with spiritual entertainment, telling him the details of her uncle’s relationship with the Queen, which probably embarrassed the King, although, however, it may have convinced it is in the absence of the need to show excessive scrupulousness in the matter of non-spiritual closeness between people who are equally disposed to know each other.
Louis XIV became so much closer to Maria Mancini and gradually began to move away from his mother more and more that this caused justified concern for the Queen Mother, and she decided to remove her insolent niece from the King as soon as possible.
The King’s close relationship with this Mazarinette worried Philip IV, who, through his envoy Pimentel, asked Mazarin whether this overly tender friendship would interfere with the King’s marriage, but Mazarin replied that this was just childish pranks and advised him not to pay any attention to it. Nevertheless, it was decided that Maria Mancini should leave the court.
Having said goodbye to Maria Mancini, Louis XIV went to be sad and look for new entertainment in Chantilly, which was again taken from Cond;.
Meanwhile, d'Artagnan served Mazarin faithfully all these years, convincing himself that he served not the cardinal, but the King. He did not hide this position from the cardinal himself, who might have been offended if he had heard this from someone else, but during this time he became convinced that d'Artagnan was showing true loyalty, realizing that he himself Mazarin also sees his true calling and sole purpose in serving the King and Queen. The captain of the musketeers managed to do the impossible.
So, for example, when the flood destroyed all the bridges across the Aisne, d'Artagnan heard Mazarin exclaim: “We need a bridge!”
The captain of the musketeers took this as an order and ordered the quartermaster to build a bridge. The quartermaster was horrified, then d'Artagnan personally examined the banks and, finding that only supports remained from the previous bridge, pointed them out to the quartermaster.
“Mr. Chamfort, the Lord has preserved the supports from the previous bridge for you,” he said. “Besides, the Lord has grown magnificent pine trees for you nearby.” Be kind enough to send intelligent sappers to supervise the work, and for simple work use as many soldiers as necessary, but tomorrow the bridge must be restored, since Mr. Cardinal needs it.
The next day the bridge was restored, and Mazarin could only be surprised that his complaints were perceived as an order, which was immediately executed.
For six years in the service of Mazarin, d'Artagnan managed to save six thousand livres. When he learned that the post of head of the aviary at the Flora Pavilion would probably soon become vacant, and when someone mistakenly told him that this position was worth exactly six thousand livres, he wanted to buy this position with all the money he had accumulated, because, as he knew, it brought a small but stable income and, most importantly, a nobleman in this position was entitled to a service apartment near the Louvre. There were no actual responsibilities in connection with this position. During these six years, D'Artagnan was forced to rent an apartment very far from the Louvre, which was inconvenient and sometimes interfered with his duties, since arriving at the palace took considerable time. Sometimes he even had to refuse to spend the night at home and spend the night where and how he had to, if his duty fell in the late evening or early morning of the next day.
He turned to the cardinal with a request to allow him to purchase this position and innocently offered to immediately pay for it all six thousand livres. The cardinal graciously agreed, so d'Artagnan left him inspired.
Meanwhile, his cousin, Etienne Lecamus, head of the accounting services and superintendent of construction, came to Colbert. He asked him to intercede on his behalf so that he could be given this position of twenty thousand. Colbert promised to work hard and studied all the duties and all the benefits accruing to a nobleman in this position, after which he decided that he himself would be happy to buy it. Therefore, he came to Mazarin and asked for this position for himself, offering twenty thousand livres for it.
- Twenty thousand? — the cardinal asked, trying to look impassive.
“That’s the price of this position,” Colbert replied.
“I’m very sorry,” Mazarin replied. “I have already promised this position to another person.”
- Did you just promise? Colbert asked. - Is it possible, under some plausible pretext...
“This position has been promised to M. d’Artagnan,” Mazarin clarified. — Do you want the First Minister to take back his word? If I had two positions like this, I bet the second one would be yours. I will do something similar for you as soon as the opportunity arises. But I am bound by my word, and although Monsieur d' Artagnan named a different price, I did not have time to clarify its true price, but the word was given, so nothing can be done about it.
- ABOUT! I didn’t know that M. d’Artagnan was applying for this position! Colbert exclaimed. “If I had known this, I would never have applied for this position for myself.” I am extremely glad that this position went to such a distinguished officer as M. d'Artagnan! You did the right thing in granting it to him!
Colbert placed emphasis on the word "granted", from which it was clear that he was hinting that this distribution of this attractive sinecure was more a gift than a purchase, having calculated in his mind that the captain of the musketeers had bought it for less than a third of the true amount. prices.
I don’t know what exactly Colbert was more offended by, whether it was the fact that d’Artagnan beat him to the punch with this purchase, or the fact that he managed to save so much, or the fact that Mazarin let Colbert know that he valued d’Artagnan somewhat higher than Colbert, and most likely, all these three considerations united in his heart and sowed the seeds of deep hostility towards the Gascon who had bypassed him in the favors of the cardinal.
Having received the coveted patent for the position of captain-concierge of the royal enclosure in the Tuileries, d'Artagnan immediately moved to his service apartment, which was much more luxurious than the bachelor's apartment he rented. In the new pavilion a stone's throw from the Louvre, d'Artagnan said to himself that his service to the cardinal had finally begun to bear fruit. The new apartment was so comfortable that he even thought for a minute that it would not be a bad thing if all the wars were finally over, and that his duties as captain of the musketeers were reduced only to the honor guard and the fulfillment of other assignments, which there was always a great supply for the musketeers and their captain. However, the very next minute he told himself that this was nonsense, and that only in the military field would he make a decent career for himself, become at least a count like Athos, and maybe even a marshal like de Grammont.

Chapter 187

At that time, d'Artagnan became close friends with a comrade of our former musketeer exploits, Bemo, as it is pronounced, and spelled Besmo, or Bezmo, as you like. This former musketeer also worked in the service of Mazarin in the same field as d'Artagnan, so they were more than colleagues to each other. And comrades, and competitors, and everything else. Each of them tried to arrange their affairs as best they could, that is, if possible, get a warm place, also save money to acquire a good position that would bring in sufficient regular income, or even better, also a company apartment, as happened with d'Artagnan.
Bemo was brave, although not to the point of recklessness, so Mazarin appointed him captain of the guard, which, of course, is not the same as captain of the musketeers, but also a completely worthy position. I note that Bemo subsequently rose to the rank of general and became marquis and commandant of the Bastille, but this was much later. I, too, subsequently had the opportunity to do some business with him, which makes it all the more interesting to describe his fate as well.
The cardinal helped him acquire large estates, including the fief Les;re near Castres. In addition, Bemo managed to warm his hands considerably by acquiring confiscated property at a low price, that is, property requisitioned from nobles for participating in a duel or other crimes, as well as from those who illegally inherited them due to illegitimacy or other reasons. All such property was sold to its people at a price lower by a quarter or a third of its true value, or even half the price, and the proceeds from the sale went to the treasury. The sale, of course, was open, no auctions.
D'Artagnan did not participate in such purchases, considering this business ignoble, unbecoming of a true nobleman, but did not condemn others for such commercialism. In general, by that time d'Artagnan had already become the person who does not condemn anyone, at least out loud.
Several times Bemo, while carrying out instructions from Mazarin, wentoftless. He was a good soldier and officer, but a worthless diplomat. Mazarin in vain entrusted him with negotiations with Henry of Lorraine, Count d'Harcourt, who was nicknamed the Cadet-Pearl because he wore a pearl earring in his ear, as the minions of Henry III did, which gave reason to suspect him of similar inclinations, and, perhaps, not intentionally. Mazarin instructed Bemo to persuade the count to be loyal to the cardinal, but he did not instruct him to make any specific commitments. D'Artagnan would have done an excellent job with this matter. He knew how to promise anything in words that could always be interpreted in two ways - both as a specific promise and as a figurative literary turn. Bemo, even in the case when he tried to formulate only meaningless promises, pronounced it in such a tone and chose such unsuccessful formulations that it could be taken for concrete proposals, which would later be difficult to refuse. If d'Artagnan could promise something insignificant in such a way that it was perceived as something extremely valuable, then Bemo, on the contrary, could promise very hefty sums in such words that the listener got the impression that more should be asked for. If d'Artagnan could promise that the person being seduced would receive a white rose from the hands of the Queen herself, that sounded like the Order of the Holy Spirit. If Bemo had promised that his interlocutor would receive the palace of the Queen herself, it sounded as if they would give him something that had become useless to anyone, some trifle, a trifle. In other words, diplomacy was not the task that should have been given to poor Bemo. However, if Bemo had been smarter, perhaps he would have entered the circle of our four friends, which I with a pure heart would call inseparable, despite even the fact that we separated first for twenty years, and then for ten, and even during those periods When they met, they did not always act together. But the main thing about us was devoted and sincere friendship. Bemo was not to d' Artagnan what any of us were. Friend, ally, colleague.
Mazarin was dissatisfied with Bemo's diplomatic efforts.
“It would be better if you did nothing at all than to do what you did!” - he lamented. “The Count did not become my friend, but began to consider me his debtor.” And I expected the opposite result from you. I would like him to completely come over to my side, but I would not be obliged to pay him any amounts, or, worse, give him any lands. You should have simply explained to him the benefits of coming to my side, and not made promises that I did not authorize you to make on my behalf!
“I’m a bad diplomat,” Bemo agreed with a sigh. - Order me to lead troops into battle for you and die under bullets, I will do it, but I can’t talk to dukes and counts, persuade them to change their views.
“You idiot! - Mazarin probably thought. “I didn’t need Henry of Lorraine to change his views!” He had to be convinced that his views, which consisted in grabbing more, should lead him to the conclusion that serving me was more profitable than fighting me, that’s all! It was necessary to entrust this matter to d’Artagnan!”
But he did not say this out loud, because he did not want to arouse the jealousy of one of his guarantors towards another. The principle of “divide and conquer” works well when dealing with the powerful above you or with enemies. It is not useful to divide those who are subordinate to you. Nobody wants the dogs harnessed to your sleigh to gnaw each other's throats.
D'Artagnan helped Bemo settle this issue, and he also drew up an explanatory letter for him for Mazarin, in which the matter was stated so cleverly that the cardinal, who had previously declared that Bemo was good for nothing, calmed down and even forgave him for mistakes made.
D'Artagnan's two other companions were Mile de Geroux and Toussaint de Roses.
Our friend d'Artagnan, disinterested in some cases, took Bemo's misfortune to heart. He taught him how to fix the matter. As a result, Bemo concluded an extremely favorable agreement with the Count d'Harcourt, guaranteeing the fulfillment of the conditions with his life. The agreement was indeed good and Mazarin liked it. The Cardinal signed it and sent a copy back to d'Harcourt through the same Bemo, he was pleased.
Mazarin’s secretary, Toussaint de Rose, wrote to him the following: “I carefully studied your letters and read to the cardinal only an abbreviated version of them, since I had to blur out in advance your phrases like “damn it”, or “the devil would take them all”, or “so that I should go to Hell in this very place.” I left only the essence, and it is good. M. de Saveillan said that he was dying of envy of your talents as a negotiator and could already imagine how you would curl your mustache and puff out your cheeks when talking about state affairs. You are now at the zenith of your fame. I can see how you will appear before His Eminence, covered with road dust, straight from your horse, and give him personally a report on your negotiations to his applause. And may God help and all the saints who were called upon during the storm.”
It was a pun. Bemo appealed to Toussaint Rose himself for help. The name Toussaint was interpreted by Toussaint himself in this case as “all saints,” which allowed him to interpret these calls not as a specific request for help, but as a prayer addressed to heaven.
We can only be glad for Bemo that d'Artagnan is not called Toussaint!
D'Artagnan helped Bemo completely disinterestedly, giving the cardinal the opportunity to believe that not only d'Artagnan is a talented diplomat, and that Bemo himself is also capable of something. So in the future career of this poor fellow, our friend’s fellow countryman, there is a fair share of his personal contribution. But our d'Artagnan, who always remembered that he owed something to someone, easily forgot that someone owed him something.

Chapter 188

In June 1654, d'Artagnan was present at the magnificent coronation ceremony of Louis XIV, where we met briefly with him, but since he had too many responsibilities in this ceremony, we could only exchange friendly handshakes and went our separate ways with great regret. The ceremony ended with a grand military parade on the decorated streets of the city.
In the battles against Cond;, d'Artagnan and his men distinguished themselves during the storming of the Sparrow's Nest bastion. Mazarin wrote to Letelier:
“Yesterday the king returned again from the camp at Stenay after all the outer fortifications were captured before his eyes. There were only two small fortifications left: one at the ravelin and one at the small bastion. One captain and seven guard officers were wounded at the bastion. Among them are Hervillet, d'Artagnan, Lahaille and the Chevalier de Montagu; however, only one or two of them have serious injuries.” By the way, this Chevalier de Montagu was one of d'Artagnan's nephews, who showed great care for his younger relatives, lending them money for an unlimited period, in fact giving them away, saying that he was lending them only so that they would not be so were embarrassed to take advantage of his modest resources.
Unfortunately, Captain Hervillet died from numerous wounds, but fortunately d'Artagnan recovered quickly, thanks to the care of the chief regimental surgeon. Together with his comrade Bemo, he also took part in the liberation of Arras - this was another resounding victory that marked the beginning of the revival of French power in Europe.
D'Artagnan's military career during this period is well known, so I will not dwell on its details. He took part in the siege of Landrecy, then began to command a separate company. In fact, being a captain, he still did not have this patent, since Mazarin delayed issuing this patent to him, citing the fact that formally the commander of the musketeers was the King himself, while d'Artagnan was listed as a captain-lieutenant. At this very time, the very elderly Lieutenant Colonel de Vennes decided to retire and sell his position for 80 thousand livres. Mazarin chose Captain de Fouril from many applicants. Thus, his captaincy became vacant. However, Furil demanded an incredibly high sum for her: the same 80 thousand livres for which he bought the position of lieutenant colonel.
D'Artagnan had long dreamed of becoming a real captain with the appropriate patent; he was promised this position more than once, was almost given a patent, after which he was gently refused under one pretext or another, the main one of which was that in fact he had already been a captain for a long time. In order to gain the required amount, he had to cede his position as captain-lieutenant to the guards ensign Frassy, and also sell the very profitable position of captain-concierge of the royal enclosure, which the governor of Mezi;res bought from him to M. d'Estrade, stipulating that he would receive the right to succeed to this position for my son. And yet he still lacked 4 thousand livres. This amount was lent to him by order of Mazarin, Colbert.
D'Artagnan and his musketeers took part in many battles and contributed to the victorious advance of our army. Under the leadership of the Viscount de Turenne, our army liberated Ardre, took La Motte-au-Bois, Bourbourg and reached the walls of Mardik, which it captured as a result of fierce hand-to-hand combat.
In between battles, d'Artagnan's company provided security for the Louvre. Together with the wife of his friend Bemo, Marquise de Peiro, he participated in the baptism of the daughter of our former comrade-in-arms and musketeer Pierre de Lalor, who by this time had taken up commerce. Bemo, who had become the Marquis by this time, already possessed millions of livres, he managed, for only 150 thousand livres, to acquire the large seigneurial estate of Piffone, Sane district, he became a landowner and the owner of a magnificent estate and expected to receive the lifelong position of captain-commandant of the Bastille, which the cardinal had long ago promised him. It must be said that Bemo dreamed of moving to the Bastille, because he was very jealous of his wife of all his neighbors, so he would like her to live with him in the Bastille, where no admirers can penetrate, and if they go there at their own peril and risk if they got there illegally, Bemo could have left them there forever.
In May, guardsmen from Calais and Paris united at Vieux-Eden and, under the leadership of the Comte de Guiche, the young son of Marshal de Gramont, headed towards Dunkirk. After a fierce battle, Dunkirk was taken, and the King entered it to the sound of fanfare. Unfortunately, it had to be handed over to the British according to a previously concluded agreement with them. Spain was defeated. The guardsmen fought in the front ranks and were the first to break into the small northern cities, which, one after another, laid down their arms. Berge, Furne, Gravelines, Dismued, and Oudenaarde were taken. It was these victories that forced the King of Spain to seek peace with France.
In September 1659, Mazarin and the Spanish minister Don Luis de Haro signed a peace treaty on Pheasant Island on the Bidassoa River, ending the hostility between our two great nations.
All this time, d'Artagnan persuaded to restore the company of musketeers, which had previously been disbanded, to restore it in the same form as it was under de Treville. Finally, he decided to make this request directly to the King, and Louis XIV re-formed this company, appointing Joseph-Henri de Treville, the son of the former captain de Treville and his old playmate, to the post of standard-bearer; his nephew was appointed to the post of captain-lieutenant Mazarin Philippe Mancini, who also bore the title of Duke of Nevers and was a spoiled and lazy child, barely 18 years old, and his only desire was to return to Rome. The actual commander of this company was d'Artagnan.
I must say that in the battles with the Spaniards, the troops of Oliver Cromwell helped us, but, however, this help was not as significant as we would like, moreover, in this very year 1658, General Cromwell died.
During that very trip of the royal family to Lyon, when Mazarin, on the advice of d'Artagnan, pretended that the King's engagement to the Duchess of Savoy was being prepared, while in fact this farce was intended for the King of Spain, d'Artagnan himself met his future wife, Anne-Charlotte-Christine de Chanl;cy. She was the daughter of Charles Boyer de Chanl;cy, Baron de Sainte-Croix, who came from an ancient Charolais family, whose coat of arms depicted “on a golden background an azure column dotted with silver drops,” and had the motto “Virtus mini numen et ensis,” that is, “My name and essence are virtue.”
He should not have taken this extremely virtuous lady as his wife, for if a lady is voluntarily ready to torment herself with all the virtues existing in the world, one can only guess how she will torment her husband with these same virtues! After all, if she has no leniency towards herself, if she is extremely strict with her actions, then in relation to her husband this severity and this lack of leniency will increase tenfold!
D'Artagnan's betrothed was the still young widow of the noble lord Jean-Leonor de Dame, Baron de La Clyette, Clessie, Benn and Tremont, whose family, one of the oldest in Burgundy, dates back to the 11th century. Her husband was immediately called up to the battlefields, and there he died during the siege of Arras, where he was a cavalry captain in the Yuksell regiment. A childless, young and noble widow seemed to our Gascon to be quite a decent match. She inherited numerous estates in the province, notably the baronial estates of Sainte-Croix on Saulmans near Louens in the district of Chalons, which she increased by purchasing land during her first marriage. This significant estate, located in the Bresse region, first belonged to the house of Atigny de Vienne, the Hochbergs, the princes of Neufchatel, then at the beginning of the 16th century - the princes and princesses of Orleans, Longueville and the Bourbon-Cond;s. Charles de Chanl;cy acquired these lands in 1626 and inherited them to his daughter Anne-Charlotte. In addition, she had a promissory note for 60 thousand livres, for which the principal amount of the debt was to be paid in the form of an annuity assigned by the Duke d'Elbeuf, and 18 thousand livres received from her uncle. To these riches should be added the beautiful furnishings of the castle, valued at 6 thousand livres. But d'Artagnan did not have the chance to enjoy this wealth, since the rich widow took the trouble to draw up a marriage contract, according to which everything that belonged to her before entering into a new marriage remained only her property. The prudent widow also took the trouble to agree that the debts incurred by her husband could not be repaid from her property, while in the event of the death of the master of her future husband, she would have to receive the widow's share of the estate in the amount of four thousand livres of rent secured by his real estate, and this obligation remained force regardless of what property her future husband will have. Everything else acquired jointly was subject to division in equal shares. So d'Artagnan invested all of himself into this new family of his, receiving absolutely nothing in return.
Having familiarized himself with the terms of the contract, d'Artagnan silently signed it, but did not invite any of his dear relatives to the celebration, thereby showing his dissatisfaction. On his part, only his old friend Bemo was present at the ceremony. On the bride's side, all her relatives were present. This new relative of d'Artagnan used their relationship with him to get closer to the court, so the Marquis de Plevo soon became the keeper of the wardrobe of Monsieur, the eldest of the king's brothers, however, not for long, since Gaston d'Orl;ans died in 1660. In this marriage, d'Artagnan had two sons, in 1660 and 1661. D'Artagnan himself hoped that the King and his wife, and little Monsieur and his wife, would become the godparents of his sons. For this reason, he delayed the baptism of his children, but nothing came of it. And the reason for this is not a refusal on the part of the royal family, but the hot-tempered disposition of d'Artagnan, who did not want to tolerate those character traits of his wife, which he discovered in her, to his regret, only after the sacrament of marriage. His quarrels with his wife lasted much longer than the periods of use, which were barely enough to conceive children. Therefore, as soon as d'Artagnan was ready to take care of the ceremony of baptism of children, his wife brought him to white heat, after which the captain of the musketeers, remembering the names of all the devils he knew, moved to his small apartment, which he was again forced to rent, since he had sold his position of head of the poultry pavilion.
I remember that in one of his letters he wrote to me about this.
"My dear friend! - he wrote. “How bad it is that I didn’t get wise and didn’t learn how to behave with women from you!” My modest experience of falling in love with Constance, as well as a few episodes of love that, by mutual agreement of the parties, had nothing to do with matrimonial plans, turned out to be completely unsuitable in matters of choosing a spouse. How do we, who carefully plan tomorrow's battle, where, in the worst case, we are only threatened with death, make such terrible mistakes that we do not plan our future family life at all, as we should, and enter into it without caring at all? about the fact that, perhaps, we are acquiring for ourselves lifelong slavery, from which only one bullet or blow of a saber can free us, taking away our own life! It would have been better for me to lose a leg, arm or eye in battle than to deprive myself of freedom with a single stroke of a pen! And at that very moment when my future wife presented me with a marriage contract to sign, instead of tearing it up, which was my first instinct, I should have signed it with contempt, hoping, thus, to prove to my bride, and, probably, to myself to myself that monetary calculations mean nothing where love reigns, and yet I, naive, believed that a slender figure and a pretty face were enough for me to eventually fall in love with my future wife, and I thought, moreover, that I myself I’m still very good, and therefore I didn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t fall in love with me. All these are vain and crazy hopes that crumbled already in the second week of our marital happiness! We have two children, and I am ready to give all my money just to stay away from this fury that she has become, mainly by suspecting me of sins of which I am innocent, and accusing me of all vices, starting with lack of understanding her gentle feminine nature, and ending with infidelity, inattention, rudeness and other qualities unbearable for her. Just think, she doesn’t like the fact that in the evening, when I return from work, he smells like a horse to me! What else should I smell like if I spent the whole day in the saddle? Yes, if she had just stood next to the horse for ten minutes, then she would have smelled no better! However, it’s not for you to explain this, dear friend! In a word, I decided to consider myself free from obligations to this lady, except for those that are written down in the marriage contract, and only monetary matters are written there. So I intend to live in Paris in the attic I rent at the Kozochka Hotel, where the hostess, it seems to me, is ten times smarter and forty times kinder than Madame d'Artagnan! I'll be damned if I don't make her my sweetheart, and may the devils drag me alive to Hell if I ever touch Madame d'Artagnan again! This is my life, dear Aramis, and I would not wish on my enemy such a state of mind that overcomes me when I think about all this. I remember you once invited me to be a second in a duel. I beg you, for the love of all that is holy, if such an opportunity arises again, do not fail to invite me again, and, damn it, this time I will pierce your opponent’s second, even if he is Satan himself! I myself have not challenged anyone to a duel for a long time, since I am always in sight, and such a duel would harm me in the eyes of His Eminence, and besides, all those who would like to insult me are probably well aware of the features of my sword, which is always was ahead of my opponent’s sword by exactly the time necessary to prevent him from ever again having the opportunity to insult its owner. In a word, bullies and scoffers avoid me, and if they are forced to approach me, they bite their sharp tongues, and only Madame d'Artagnan allows herself what no man, including the King himself, would allow in relation to me. Don't marry, my friend Aramis! Take the example of Athos, and do not follow the example of Porthos! Here is my instruction for you! I firmly shake your hand and hug you, always your Charles d’Artagnan.”
I followed my friend's wise advice and never got married.

Chapter 189

For obvious reasons, d'Artagnan was not often at home, and was not too concerned about accumulating family valuables. He met more love and understanding from his Gascon relatives - nephews and cousins, some of whom were also old enough to be his nephews. He lent them money without demanding repayment, and even tried to forget about the debts they had made. It must be said that they did not abuse this too much, but still used it as needed, and even sometimes without urgent need. Madame d'Artagnan believed that her husband was thus throwing money away.
After several years of such a “happy” marriage, this lady left the family hearth and retired to her family estate of Sainte-Croix, where d'Artagnan made only short visits. In 1665, Anne-Charlotte d'Artagnan, fearing that her entire dowry would be wasted, in the presence of Chatelet's court secretaries, finally annulled the joint ownership of the property, on the basis of a marriage contract, and retained for herself everything that had been acquired and received by her after her accession. into marriage, in addition to what was already considered hers, since it was acquired or inherited before marriage. She sued not only her husband, but also most of her neighbors, relatives, including her own brother, and those who had the misfortune of ever having any dealings with her. She was very often seen accompanied by her attorney, Messire Jean-Charles Th;venet, and people said that she was connected with him by something more than a business partnership. D'Artagnan told her that since she had made him free from all joint family property, he further considered himself free from the obligation to see her and consider her his wife.
“From now on, madam, I give you complete freedom in your actions, passions and affections, I free you and myself from any obligations towards each other,” he said. “I am very sorry that I was so stupid that I got the Church involved in our relationship with you, I will not do such stupidity again.”
- You and I are married before the Lord! - Anna-Charlotte objected. - Only divorce with the consent of the Holy Catholic Church can separate us!
“We have already been separated forever by your character, your behavior, and the shame that because of you I have to endure when meeting neighbors, relatives and any mutual acquaintances,” answered d’Artagnan. “If we ever appear together in church, it will only be when one of us is carried there in a coffin.”
After these words, d'Artagnan turned around and left the house, which he had long ceased to consider as his own.
At the end of 1659, the court headed south to meet the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa, who was to become Queen of France, wife of Louis XIV. Of course, d'Artagnan and his company accompanied His Majesty. Mazarin hoped that this marriage would help establish a lasting peace, which became known as the Peace of the Pyrenees. On the Spanish side, the Spanish envoy Don Luis de Haro was extremely concerned about this marriage. I knew this very worthy Spanish grandee well.
I remember that when, during a meeting with the Spanish delegation on pheasant island, Mazarin handed him a sword, the hilt of which was decorated with diamonds, he silently pulled out his delightful Toledo blade, which was probably worth no less than the sword given to him, from its scabbard, and threw it away out the window. With a reverent look, he placed the cardinal's gift into the freed scabbard. Outside the window, over this Toledo blade, a fight took place between two soldiers, a Spanish and a French one. This was extremely dangerous for further negotiations, since their compatriots could come to the aid of each of the soldiers, which would lead to a serious skirmish. And this was when both sides were seeking peace! Fortunately, d'Artagnan was nearby, who in an unquestioning tone demanded that the dispute stop and said that he would be the arbitrator. After that, he took the blade in his hands, carefully examined it and praised it.
- This blade is worthy of a Spanish grandee! - he said. “If it were a military trophy, I would congratulate the one who acquired it, but we are hosting the Spanish delegation on our soil.”
He emphasized the word “his” in such a way that he made all the French present there who heard his words feel proud.
“I give this blade to the Spanish soldier,” he said. “Keep in mind, young man, the possession of such a blade imposes on you the obligation to fight bravely.” And may this blade not be turned against the French!
With these words, he gave the precious sword to the young Spanish soldier.
“To you, my friend, I will give the sword of the captain of the musketeers, in exchange for yours,” he said, taking his sword out of its sheath and handing it to the young guardsman. “Perhaps this sword has less value in the eyes of a jeweler, but for a soldier who knows who its owner was, it is much more valuable, so do not disgrace the honor of owning it.”
After this, d'Artagnan kissed the blade of his sword and solemnly handed it to the French guardsman. He did not lie, the hilt of this sword was decorated with rubies and emeralds, it was one of the many trophies of this kind. In d'Artagnan's apartment there were at least two dozen swords, no less valuable. He rightly judged that a small donation was worth preventing a clash between the French and the Spaniards at a time when the cardinal was trying with all his might to please the Spanish ambassador.
However, our captain was not so disinterested. In the evening he told about this episode to Mazarin, who gave him three hundred pistoles - the price he named for this sword with rubies and emeralds.
Success in the negotiations came in waves. It suddenly seemed that agreements had been reached and there were no more obstacles, then suddenly some obstacle arose. In accordance with this situation, the movement of the court to the south either accelerated or slowed down. Therefore, only in the spring of 1660, after spending several months in Languedoc and Provence, the cortege moved in the direction of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
There, our and Spanish envoys competed in zeal, wanting to bring the delicate and difficult negotiations to the signing of the marriage contract. At this very time, d'Artagnan, driving through his native old Gascony, was probably glad that the trip was so leisurely, and sometimes just stopped. After all, since he left his father's house, he was only able to visit there a couple of times. One of these visits had some influence on his future fate, since he met there with a certain Vivienne Fezansac. This meeting was more than pleasant for both parties and did not pass without a trace for the Gascon beauty. During this trip, d'Artagnan did not even remember little Vivienne, but if he had found and visited her, he would have been very surprised that the consequences of their tender friendship increased the population of Gascony by one handsome young man, who by this time had already learned quite well wield a sword, pistol and spurs.
At the end of April, in the late afternoon, Louis XIV arrived in Vic-Fezenzac. D'Artagnan, with his company, provided a guard of honor. D'Artagnan found himself near his home. He would have been glad to drop by home, hug his brother Arnaud, look into the small church of Notre-Dame de Bobest, kneel before the graves of his parents, whose remains rested nearby. But he understood that the commander of the honorary escort should not be absent from the King during the ceremonial trip, either day or night. Therefore, he only mentally visited his father’s house and mentally hugged his loved ones.
The royal wedding ceremony in Saint-Jean-de-Luz was amazing and cost taxpayers a pretty penny.
In addition to the musketeer company, two detachments of royal guards took part in the procession, one of which was commanded by d'Humieres, and the other by de Puyguilhem, who later became de Lauzun. The procession was completed by the Life Guards.
During the Queen's meeting with her brother, Philip of Spain, she told him: “I trust Your Majesty does not blame me for being a true Frenchwoman. My position as the wife and mother of the French King, as well as the country at the head of which God placed me, obliged me to do this.”
On the morning of June 9, Louis XIV, together with his blonde bride, dressed in a dress strewn with lilies, took a place under a canopy of purple velvet in the Basque church of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. After the wedding ceremony performed by the Bishop of Bayonne, the young couple toured the festive city. Then the entire summer of 1660 was spent returning to Paris.
The royal cortege solemnly crossed France. Musketeers in brand new blue capes with gold braid rode ahead on white horses. The cortege was greeted with triumph in Bordeaux, Poitiers, Amboise and Orleans, and Paris frantically shouted toasts in honor of the King and Queen. Nobody shouted out greetings in honor of Mazarin.
It was impossible not to notice and not to appreciate the excellent uniforms of the musketeers, galloping in four groups led by d'Artagnan, who proudly sat on his horse, which had nothing in common with the yellow nag on which he first arrived in Paris. This time it was a thoroughbred white horse, whose tail and mane were braided into neat braids, under the saddle there was a white saddle cloth embroidered with gold, and even the bridle was decorated with gold thread. A troop of drummers marched ahead of the regiment. Another similar one brought up the rear of the procession. The first brigade of 76 people was distinguished by hats with fluffy white feathers. On the heads of 72 people of the second brigade were hats with white, yellow and black feathers. The next 52 people had white, blue and black feathers, and the last 60 had white and green feathers. Each brigadier marched at the head of his detachment, and the standard bearer was in the middle.
Mazarin especially had the right to enjoy this triumphal entry of the young King, but at that moment he especially acutely felt that he had spent all his health on creating a strong state and only urgent matters made him forget about illness and weakness. Now, when it was possible to rest a little, the disease fell on him with renewed vigor.
He was not yet 60 years old, but due to the fatigue accumulated during the Civil War, he looked twenty years older than his age. He still tried to cheer up, but the illness inevitably set in.
In Paris, Mazarin again settled in the Louvre and gave himself modest but luxuriously furnished apartments. From them there was a long official passage to the Queen’s rooms, and there was also a secret passage to her chambers, which was so necessary for both of them.
In the Royal Gallery, during a rehearsal for a ballet in which the King himself was supposed to dance, due to the negligence of a worker, the scenery caught fire. The Cardinal was barely saved, and his chambers were so damaged that he had to move to a mansion on the Rue Richelieu, the former Chevry mansion, which henceforth became known as the Mazarin Palace.
Mazarin's political position and wealth were very prosperous and strengthened day by day, which could not be said about his health. Feeling very bad, Mazarin moved to Vincennes Castle, which he acquired for himself. There he kept considerable treasures and a decent amount of money, which, to his credit, he bequeathed to the King, and not to his nieces. The Queen visited the sick Mazarin every day, bringing the King with her.
I suppose that towards the end of his life Mazarin felt ashamed that he possessed sums exceeding the funds of the state treasury. He recommended that the King rely on Colbert in everything, but under no circumstances should he appoint a prime minister after Mazarin himself was gone. Thus, he admitted that any prime minister acquires more power than he should, and the same also applies to the treasury, where the prime minister reaches too deeply, absent-mindedly forgetting the difference between the state treasury and the personal treasury.
Probably, trying to be like the great Cardinal Richelieu in this way, Mazarin decided on his deathbed to express his political testament to the King. Young Louis XIV trusted the cardinal so much and valued his opinion that he ordered his secretary to write down all Mazarin’s advice word for word and promised himself to always follow them. Nevertheless, Mazarin managed to bequeath his personal savings to the King in such words, after which Louis vehemently refused them and “persuaded” the cardinal to leave them in the family, dividing them at his discretion among his nieces and nephew (since the second nephew had already died).
The Queen ordered endless prayers for the cardinal’s recovery, and she herself prayed tirelessly.

Chapter 190

The time has come to talk about the man whom I quite sincerely called my friend for some time, and who repaid me in kind.
We are talking about Nicola Fouquet, Superintendent of Finance. Nicolas Fouquet was not the eldest brother in a family of six brothers and six sisters, but he was in fact the head of this family. At first, his older brother Francois was intended by his parents for a secular career, while Nikola was destined for a spiritual career.
I just gave some lectures at this college, so to speak, in my free time from other classes. I noticed that Nicolas Fouquet's mind was that of a financier and a lawyer, and I told him so directly.
- Listen, Nikola! - I told him. —Why don’t you give up your career as a clergyman and devote yourself to public service? I see in you the makings of a financier and lawyer; out of simple curiosity, you have mastered such complex books in this area, which everyone else sits in vain for months without any success!
“That’s right, Mr. Teacher,” Fouquet replied. - But it was determined by fate. My brother Francois went to pursue a career in finance and judging, and I am destined for a career as a clergyman.
- Drop it! - I objected. - After all, I see that you will not make a good priest! When you listen to confession, instead of condemning sinners, you will feel envy towards them! Why expose yourself to the schema when you can live a happy social life?
- But how do you yourself, Mr. Teacher, having chosen the career of a priest, dissuade your students from it? - Fouquet was surprised.
“I don’t dissuade everyone, but only those who I like and who clearly will not lose anything by refusing this choice,” I answered. “And don’t call me a teacher, I’m only thirteen years older than you, and I’m ready to be your friend.” Do you want me to talk to your brother? If he himself tells your parents that he prefers the path of a clergyman, will you agree to exchange your choice of life path with him?
“You’ll hardly be able to convince him,” Fouquet answered sadly.
- You don’t know me well! - I exclaimed. “If I get down to business, I can persuade Satan himself to become a priest!” And I won’t have any problems with your brother! Plus, it will suit him better! You'll see, he will become at least a bishop!
As I said, so it happened. After Francois told his father that he had more inclinations towards a career as a clergyman, Nicola admitted that he had more inclinations towards a secular career. With this arrangement of the matter, the father had nothing to object to; he gave his consent for the brothers Francois and Nikola to exchange destinies.
If we talk about Father Nikola, then being called Francois the Fourth was, of course, impudence on his part. After all, the Fouquets were not grandees - neither dukes, nor princes, nor even marquises. The Fouquet family comes from the merchant class that lived in the lower reaches of the Laura. In local language "fouquet" or "foucque" means "squirrel". The ancestors of Nicolas Fouquet slowly but surely made their ascent, first gaining wealth in maritime trade and other enterprises that required a fair amount of intelligence, audacity, and enterprise; they invested their savings very successfully, which allowed them to gradually rise and move closer to the King’s entourage. This was greatly facilitated by the favor of the Valois dynasty towards people from the area where Fouquet came from, where the Valois had hereditary estates. For this area the name Fouquet, with slight variations, was quite common, which allowed the grandfather of our superintendent to claim kinship with an extinct noble family with a surname that sounded the same. Having entered into power, Nikolas Fouquet openly called himself a descendant of the youngest son of this extinct family, for which the corresponding documents were fabricated. Fouquet even bought the Moulin-Neuve estate on Laura, which once belonged to this family, declaring that he had simply bought the property that had belonged to his family since ancient times, which no one dared to dispute. And who could dispute this? The true descendants of the ancient Fouquet family no longer existed, and in Paris Fouquet was the most respected nobleman from this area, which automatically made him the most authoritative expert on the genealogy of the surrounding area of Laura. No genealogist, no heraldic expert, would dare to dispute the statements of the Attorney General, the Superintendent of Finance. Fouquet chose the coat of arms of his noble family, which depicted a squirrel, and his motto was “Wherever I can climb!”
In case one of these experts would find the true roots of the origin of the family's wealth, Fouquet spread the myth that his noble ancestor went bankrupt as a result of his indescribable generosity, as a result of which he was forced to turn to commerce in order to restore the family's well-being. The information I have was provided to me by the coadjutor of the Jesuit Order, who had it in his possession, since Nicolas Fouquet himself studied, as I have already said, at the Jesuit college in Clermont and, apparently, for some time he was seriously thinking of throwing in his lot with the Order, however, Perhaps, believing that this organization was not influential enough, or succumbing to my persuasion to quit his career as a clergyman, he decided to decisively break with the Jesuits, which I did not recommend to him, but one way or another he retained only mutual respect with the Order, without obligations. Therefore, the Order reacted favorably to his rise, but did not place bets on him, and Fouquet himself did not share his plans, influence, or information with the Order. However, this whole story with false ancestors doesn’t bother me at all. I myself cannot boast of the antiquity of my family. What's the point? Athos, who repeatedly spoke about his nobility, comparing his ancient family with Montmorency and the Rogans, either did not know something about the true state of affairs, or exaggerated something. The family of the Count de La F;re was, indeed, quite high, but the count was neither a prince, nor a duke, nor a peer, nor a marquis. In his family there were no constables, no cardinals, no marshals of France, or even just field marshals. In this case, it would hardly be considered that the family of Athos could be compared with the family of Montmorency or the Rogans, who could be compared with the Dukes of Lorraine, and the Chevreuses and some others. The Count de La F;re could not have been arrogant in front of such well-born nobles as Coligny, Schomberg, d'Eperonne, d'Arcourt, Bouillon, Chavigny. However, Athos personally receiving the English Order of the Holy Spirit from the hands of King Charles must be recognized as a very high award, which not every head of these noble families was awarded. As for receiving the Order of the Holy Spirit from the hands of Mazarin, Grimaud simply made this up in his memoirs. Mazarin did not have the right to issue such awards, and Queen Anne herself also did nothing of the kind, and King Louis XIV during Mazarin’s life did not award anyone with such an order. What has been said does not in any way diminish my respect for Athos. And who at that time did not strive to occupy a position higher than fate had in store for him? Our dear d'Artagnan also slightly exaggerated his nobility by taking his name from his mother's side. The valor of his sword proved his right to this name. It is worth saying that the Segurs claimed to be related to the oldest noble clan from Languedoc, which bore the same name. Monsieur Colbert, wishing to appear nobler than he was, also managed to find a family connection with the Scottish royal house, while in fact he came from a merchant family that received noble privileges on the basis of the benefits granted by decree of Richelieu to those merchants who, for They have been maintaining a merchant ship at their own expense for several years.
So, Fouquet was extremely noble in his own imagination and nothing more, but his wealth and influence silenced everyone who might doubt his nobility.
Fouquet's father, Francois IV Fouquet, was not only rich, but also smart and pious. He became close to Richelieu back when he was a young bishop of Luzon. When Richelieu came to power, Fran;ois Fouquet joined the colonial council, which also included the then superintendent of finance, Antoine d'Effiat. When the case of the ill-fated Henri de Talleyrand-P;rigord, Count of Chalet, was investigated, Richelieu appointed Francois a member of the special court. Christophe Fouquet de Chalen, one of Fran;ois's Breton cousins, was appointed as the prosecutor for de Chalet. The guilty verdict sent Chalet to the scaffold. The Fouquet clan thus convinced Richelieu of its loyalty, so that Fran;ois Fouquet was soon appointed a member of the Council of State.
Until his death in 1640, Fran;ois was involved in government affairs in close alliance with Richelieu.
Nicolas Fouquet was born in January 1615. I'm thirteen years older than him. Therefore, Fouquet initially treated my advice with due attention, and after making sure that my advice was accurate and effective, he was the first to call himself my friend. I could not help but answer him in kind, although, I must admit in all honesty, I rather considered him my comrade-in-arms. A person cannot have many friends. I already had Athos, Porthos and d'Artagnan. I could name many people with whom I was on friendly terms, but only about these three could I say that I would not hesitate to give my life for any of them. Would I give my life for Nicolas Fouquet? There is no need to doubt this. No, I wouldn't give it away. I would help him with everyone and everything, in any of his business, in any of his adventures, but I would not sacrifice my life for him, this is beyond doubt. If I had to choose between Fouquet and Porthos, or Fouquet and Athos, or Fouquet and d'Artagnan, I would tell Fouquet to hell. I looked upon him as a purse, as a rung on a ladder which I intended to climb, and as a partner in this undertaking, for I knew full well that the higher this ambitious nobleman, who imagined himself equal to the King, climbed, the more useful he would be to me, but I never for a moment forgot that the higher one climbs, the deeper the fall will be and the stronger the blow at the end of the fall. And if Fouquet is destined to fall, then I would let him fall on his own. And the likelihood of his fall could be predicted by the audacity with which he climbed to the very top of power, sometimes scattering those who seemed to him in the future powerless, useless and harmless. Although, I must admit that in general Fouquet was very attentive to people, and to those whom he considered his friends, in particular. His every act showed nobility, every gesture, every word, every look always demonstrated his deepest respect for his interlocutor, which elevated not only and not so much his interlocutors, but himself, for respectful people are respected. In the presence of Fouquet it was impossible to show irritability, anger, or envy, since he himself exuded gentleness, complaisance, kindness, attentiveness and caring. The fact is that in every person with whom he considered it necessary to talk, he saw an instrument of his further ascent, and even if he did not yet know how this person could be useful to him, he preferred to make friends out of any of his interlocutors rather than leave them around him. enemies because of a carelessly spoken word or not the most successful deed. But, however, it is impossible to be kind and sweet to everyone, since people tend to quarrel with each other over the most insignificant reasons. And if you are equally courteous to representatives of two hostile camps, then instead of making friends with each, you risk incurring the enmity of both sides. In such cases, Fouquet was able to clearly determine which of the warring parties belonged to the side to which he himself joined and whose side, therefore, his entire large clan held.
What was impossible in the Fouquet family was what happened in the royal family, where Gaston was plotting against his brother King Louis XIII, then against his widow Queen Anne, and even against his nephew Louis XIV, where the King's cousin, the Prince of Cond;, led the army leading fierce battles with troops led by his brother the Prince of Conti with the support of their common sister, the Duchess de Longueville and her husband. No, this was impossible in the Fouquet family. All the Fouquets stood by each other like a mountain. If Nicola Fouquet chose to serve Cardinal Mazarin as his career, then all his brothers were faithful to the cardinal.
Nicolas Fouquet's first wife was Louise Fourche. This marriage brought Nikola into the circle of judges, since his father-in-law served in the Breton Parliament, and many representatives of his relatives had weight in the local administration and in the judges. From this marriage, Fouquet soon had a daughter, Marie, but in the same year, Fouquet’s father, Francois, passed away, followed by his maternal grandfather Gilles de Maupeu. Fouquet's first marriage was short-lived; the next year after the wedding, his wife died, probably due to a difficult pregnancy. By this time, the elder brother Fran;ois was already a bishop, but the four younger brothers and sisters still needed the help of Nicolas Fouquet, who now became the de facto head of their family.
After the death of Cardinal Richelieu, and then Louis XIII, Queen Anne left many of Richelieu's associates in power, heeding the advice of Cardinal Mazarin. Nicolas Fouquet was among them, since, in addition, his father served on the Queen’s personal council, and his mother was known to her through the community of pious aristocrats, with whom the Queen maintained a close spiritual connection.
Throughout the following years, during the two surges of the Fronde movement, first the Fronde of Parliament, and then the Fronde of the Princes and Monsieurs, Nicolas Fouquet remained loyal to the Queen, the Cardinal and the young King. Of course, this loyalty was manifested primarily in his closeness to Mazarin and in his almost unquestioning obedience to him. Only at the time when the Queen persuaded Mazarin to submit and go into second exile, Fouquet was not on the side of Mazarin, who opposed this order of the Queen, but took the side of the Queen, trying, nevertheless, to convince Mazarin that he should submit, and assuring him that this exile will be temporary, and it will be as short-lived as it is currently inevitable. Since this is exactly what happened, this disagreement between Fouquet and Mazarin did not leave a shadow of dissatisfaction with the cardinal towards Fouquet. He turned out to be right, and therefore avoided accusations and insults.
This devotion and loyalty to Fouquet could not go unnoticed all the time. Fouquet rendered Mazarin's greatest service by skillfully managing tax collections, making loans and raising funds for the cardinal's needs in all possible ways. It cannot be denied that some of these paths caused discontent among various layers of citizens, which ultimately led to the Fronde, but who in those days was engaged in such a deep analysis of the causes of political events?
In November 1650, the post of prosecutor general became vacant in the Parisian parliament. Blaise Mullan, who previously held this post, decided to retire and sell his position for 450 thousand livres. The purchase of this position could only take place with royal approval, but besides, Fouquet did not have that kind of money. However, Mazarin, aware of Fouquet's loyalty, decided that it would not be a bad idea for him to borrow her, so he lent his faithful assistant the missing amount. In addition, 150 thousand livres were covered by the sale of the position of racketeer held by Fouquet.
Since Fouquet’s position after acquiring this position became very stable, and also promised to become profitable, Nicolas Fouquet thought about remarrying. As the first time, he chose a wife who connected him with an influential family and, in addition, this marriage promised other benefits.
Fouquet's choice fell on Marie Madeleine Castille, from a family with a strong financial position. Marie Madeleine was more than twenty years younger than her fianc;, but Nicola was considered handsome. He knew how to be charming, he was slender, attractive in appearance, and, moreover, he was already the prosecutor general, so the Castius family considered him quite worthy of this marriage. This family had strong ties with the family of Pierre Janin, under whose command Nicolas Fouquet's maternal grandfather, Gilles de Maupeu, served. Among the relatives of the new wife Nicola Fouquet was the royal treasurer Nicola Janin de Castille. In addition, her uncle served as senior housekeeper for Gaston d'Orl;ans, the king's uncle, and her cousin, Marshal de Villeroy, was the young king's tutor. It should be remembered that Marie Madeleine Castille's cousin, Charlotte de Castille, was previously married to the same Comte de Chalet, whom Fouquet's father sentenced to death in 1626. The profitability of this marriage for both families made them forget ancient grievances, since profit is always more important than principles.
The wedding took place in February 1651, Fouquet's new wife's dowry was more modest than that of his first wife, but she was the only child in the family and it was expected that she would inherit the entire parental fortune, which happened just a few years after this marriage. This brought Fouquet one and a half million livres, which was twice the inheritance Nicolas Fouquet left to him by his father.

Chapter 191

During the Second Fronde, when Mazarin again had to leave France, Fouquet, who was one of the few who believed in the triumphal return of the cardinal, defended the interests of his benefactor with a zeal that could not go unnoticed. Without in any way interfering with the quarrel of the grandees among themselves, he tried to hint to each of them on occasion that only Mazarin could again achieve peace, and, moreover, reward according to the merits of all who deserve it. Not every such effort of his achieved the goal, but those of his correspondence services to the cardinal on account of future remuneration, which contributed to the cause of restoration to the cardinal as first minister, became Fouquet’s effective investment in his personal future, bright, although, as it turned out, not long.
Fouquet put together in the ranks of the high court a local circle of those who, although not loyal to Mazarin, were more inclined to the idea of protecting royal power from the princes. His attempts to save the cardinal’s collection of works of art from ruin did not lead to complete success, but something was saved, and this did not go unnoticed by Mazarin.
Fouquet brought his younger brother Basil into the service of the cardinal, who received income from several abbeys, as a result of which he became known as Abbot Fouquet, although he was not a clergyman. Basil was seven years younger than Nikola. In the service of the cardinal, he served as an unofficial representative and courier. Approximately the same functions were performed for Mazarin by d'Artagnan and Bezmo, but they were military men, while Abbot Fouquet was a secular man, rather far from military service. He negotiated on behalf of Mazarin and helped his brother Nicolas form a network of spies, informants, clients and agents of the former first minister. Through their joint efforts, the Fouquet brothers attracted the Viscount de Turenne, as well as some high-ranking members of the Paris Parliament, to Mazarin’s side.
It was thanks to the timely delivery of spy information that Turenne was promptly warned about Conde's maneuvers and blocked him near Paris, so that if the daughter of Gaston of Orleans, the Duchess of Montpensier, had not saved him by convincing her father to open the gates for Conde's army, the Prince would have had a bad time. As I already said, the cannons of the Bastille, firing shots at the King's army, shot down her hopes of becoming Queen by marrying Louis XIV.
- Fate! - Athos said his short but meaningful phrase to this.
Did he mean the fate of the Duchess, or the fate of Cond;, or the fate of Mazarin, or perhaps all of them together? However, it seems to me that Athos was only interested in the fate of two people - the Viscount de Bragelonne and Louis XIV. The first - because he was his son, the second - because he was his King. Of course, Athos would have easily sacrificed his life for any of us, but this shows not only how much he valued us, but also how little he valued his own life.
Since Paris was again under the rule of Cond; and Mazarin had to go into this second exile, it was then that the Queen signed an order to remove Mazarin from France. Fouquet supported this order, but immediately came to Mazarin with assurances that he considered this measure necessary, but temporary. Mazarin did not really believe Fouquet. At that moment he thought that it was in vain to trust Nicolas Fouquet so much, and that, apparently, Fouquet had betrayed him. However, Fouquet conscientiously served as Mazarin's agent and was his eyes and ears, allowing him to follow events in Pontoise, Paris and Campagne. Together with Basil, they reported everything that was happening to the Minister of War Michel Letellier, as well as Mazarin himself. Each of them thought that only he received these detailed reports.
As I have already noted, soon after coming of age, Louis XIV solemnly entered Paris, where he took power under his own hand. He expelled his uncle, Gaston d'Orl;ans, along with his daughter, the Duchesse de Montpensier, whom he especially hated because in his youth he was forced to dance with her when he wanted to waltz with Olympia Mazarin, and because she was older him, and especially because the previous plans of his marriage with her were not hidden from him, which he instinctively feared to the point of disgust. Gondi was arrested. By this time I was completely filled with contempt for this hypocrite, this intriguer. Perhaps I found in him too many traits that I myself possessed, as a result of which Paul de Gondi irritated me almost as much as Francois de La Rochefoucauld, or even more. I missed the opportunity to deal with both of them in a duel, then both of them became one of my temporary allies when I got involved with the Fronda, but, making sure that this whole camarilla consisted of people, each of whom was only trying to snag more benefits for themselves and benefits, not stinging to shed the blood of fellow citizens for this, I was filled with contempt for the Fronde movement and turned my attention to the Fouquet brothers. These people seemed to me more intelligent, purposeful and, most importantly, firmly on their feet.
By this time, I was completely disgusted with the musketeers, as well as the abbey. What is good in youth is sometimes simply funny in adulthood. Military career? Sacrificing your life for pennies? No, sorry! In the alcove of some duchess, marquise or countess, I sometimes received as a gift a trinket that was worth more than a musketeer's annual salary. I was not going to live off my mistresses; such a life would offend me. I wanted to be able to give my beloved gifts myself, if not the kind that Buckingham or Richelieu scattered around them, but, in any case, such as the Duke of Lorraine or the Duke de Chevreuse could afford. Not to receive from women, but to give to them, that’s what I wanted, and for this I had to have even more, because who gives the latter? A gift to a mistress should not ruin the giver, otherwise it is not a gift, but a sacrifice, and then it is no longer a mistress, but an icon, a deity, an idol, and I did not intend to fall in love so much as to consider my mistress a deity, I simply never was capable, because I think it's stupid. At one time I believed that the Duchesse de Longueville could be the love of my life, but I soon became convinced that she was not worthy of such a sacrifice on my part. She, as it turned out, like Chevrette, was too amorous, and although I did not consider it shameful to share the caresses of a mistress with her husband, knowing that besides me she also had another lover, or even several, was painful for me. And it would be good if the passion of such a lady were the young, handsome and noble Duke de Beaufort, or, let’s say, the Comte de Guiche, the son of Marshal de Gramont. But losing in competition to the arrogant Pierre de Gondi or the arrogant Francois de La Rochefoucauld was beyond my strength. I tried to transform my passionate relationship with the Duchess de Longueville into a calm friendship based on tender memories, mutual respect, common political interests and a common son, but man proposes, but God disposes. Sometimes I broke down and our meetings took place again with all the passion, like a meeting between young lovers who had only recently become close to each other.
And yet we disagreed with her on matters of policy. I chose Fouquet's side. This decision was all the easier to make because Nikola himself considered himself indebted to me in some ways, first of all - with advice to quit the career of a clergyman and pursue public service in judicial and financial affairs. This career made him a superintendent and attorney general, what more could you want? His older brother Fran;ois, who switched careers with him, became just a Bishop! Fouquet considered himself obligated to repay me by using his money and connections of the bishop, his brother, and also by signing some letters of recommendation from Mazarin to Rome, Fouquet achieved episcopal rank for me. I still don’t understand how the cardinal agreed to take care of me without really knowing me? And the episode in which he happened to encounter me and get to know me better hardly contributed to his strong affection for me. I probably underestimated Mazarin, the cunning Italian calculated me and realized that a person whose aspirations are clear and close to him can be useful as a friend, but dangerous as an enemy. So our relationship with Mazarin moved to the stage of respect and recognition of merit in the complete absence of communication, so to speak, respect from afar. I think that Mazarin guessed that I occupied a fairly high position in the Order. I can’t explain his condescension and even, in a way, beneficence in any other way. This can hardly be explained by the influence of Nicolas Fouquet. Mazarin was not the kind of person who supports the advancement of a person in whom he is not sure, who is not his man. It is obvious that Mazarin had plans for me, and only fate did not allow him to bring these plans to completion, fate, which controls not only the career ups and downs of people, but also their life and death.
So, when at the beginning of 1653 the superintendent of finance, Charles de la Vieuville, died and his position became vacant, Nicolas Fouquet, without a shadow of a doubt, came to the cardinal and offered himself for this vacancy. This position was not so much acquired for money as it depended solely on the decision of the King. And the King’s decision at this time still greatly depended on Mazarin’s recommendations. Therefore, Fouquet told the cardinal that this post required a man of strong principles, crystal honest, enjoying the deepest public confidence and possessing a remarkable mind.
- You are right, Mister Fouquet! - answered the cardinal. “These are the qualities a candidate for the position of Prosecutor General should have.” And I know only one person in France who has all these qualities.
Fouquet bowed respectfully, thinking that the cardinal was talking about him.
- But what to do? After all, I already hold a position that is even more important! - exclaimed Mazarin. - I can’t tear myself apart!
At that moment, Fouquet realized that the cardinal was referring to himself.
“ In that case, we should find a person who possesses the same qualities, undoubtedly to a lesser extent than Your Eminence, but who has another quality that is very necessary for a person in this position, and which Your Eminence does not possess,” said Fouquet.
- Has a quality that I don’t have? - Mazarin was surprised. - What quality is this?
“I would call this quality as follows,” answered Fouquet. “I would call his unshakable loyalty to Your Eminence.”
Mazarin looked carefully at Fouquet and thought for a minute.
“You are right, Monsieur Fouquet,” he answered with a sigh. “I do not have unwavering loyalty to myself, for many times I have sacrificed my own interests for the sake of my King and for the sake of my Queen.
“That’s right, monsignor,” Fouquet agreed and bowed even lower.
“You called your loyalty to me indestructible,” Mazarin thought.
“Even at the risk of incurring your disfavor, at the risk of forever losing the favor of Your Eminence, I, if you remember, recommended that you obey the Queen, being completely confident that you would return very soon with even greater triumph.”
“It’s true,” Mazarin agreed. “I admit, I didn’t believe your prediction then.” But why were you so confident in my triumphant return?
“Because, as you just rightly said, there is only one person in France who adequately possesses those qualities that we just recalled: strong principles, crystal honesty, the deepest public trust and a remarkable mind.”
“Hmm, I can’t say that at that time I enjoyed the deepest public trust,” said Mazarin doubtfully, who, of course, expected a refutation of this argument.
“There are times when the opinion of ordinary citizens is wrong, and at this time one should be guided by the opinion of those whom God placed at the head of the kingdom,” Fouquet answered. “The deepest trust of the Queen and King is worth the trust of all other citizens combined, and even easily outweighs it.
“In the very near future, we should carefully discuss all your further steps as Prosecutor General of France,” Mazarin said in an impassive voice, and Fouquet realized that the position of Prosecutor General now belonged to him.
Mazarin easily received the King's consent to transfer this position to Fouquet, who henceforth became one of the ministers of state and occupied one of the chairs in the chamber of the Royal Council. The position of Attorney General gave him immunity from any prosecution, even from the King.
It must have been at that moment when Fouquet heard from the lips of Mazarin the news that the appointment was approved by the King and Queen Mother, he remembered the motto on his coat of arms and thought proudly: “Wherever I rise!”
At that moment he was proud of himself, not without reason. But you should never be proud of yourself, since exorbitant pride and complacency are the steps from which a descent begins, first invisible to anyone, and then turning into a dizzying fall.

Chapter 192

I must say that Mazarin, immediately after Fouquet’s appointment as superintendent of finance, demanded that he actively participate in providing the financial needs of the Kingdom. This was the responsibility of the superintendent. There were two of them, along with Nicolas Fouquet there was also Servien, also superintendent of finance. If this had helped matters, Mazarin might have appointed three or four superintendents, but a high-profile position in itself did not bring money, and the monarchy needed money more than ever. And all the sources of money that could be imagined, since the time of the Duke de Sully, the faithful adviser and superintendent of finances of King Henry IV, had already been exhausted, but there was no money, and they were needed both for waging war and for keeping in obedience grandees, and to pay the costs of the guards and musketeers, who alone could keep the mob in obedience. All problems could be solved with money, but without it everything became a problem.
Mazarin was a supporter of peaceful solutions to problems. In those cases when Richelieu would execute the instigators, hide the suspicious and unreliable ones in the Bastille and achieve obedience, Mazarin preferred to bribe his friends, bribe his enemies, bribe everyone he could, if the issue could be resolved peacefully. It must be said that this policy of his was justified to the best extent. It was much more profitable to bribe dukes and princes than to fight with them, especially since the war could be lost, while bribery did its job quickly and effectively. The only trouble was that, having bribed one of the grandees, Mazarin aroused the desire in others to also show disobedience in order to receive their portion of the bribe for returning to the hand of the King.
The stakes were rising, the appetites of the grandees were swelling by leaps and bounds, and there was a catastrophic shortage of money. And yet Mazarin knew how to calculate his trade machinations in such a way that the gain from the deal always justified the costs of its conclusion. Mazarin's main secret was that, with the help of Fouquet and his henchmen, he squeezed money from all sources under promises to return it in greater quantities, but later, much later. So the country, the state, having lived through all the income of the current year, began to live off the planned income of the next year, and after that another, and another...
To begin with, the replenishment of the treasury was carried out through the sale of court positions, since the funds received from taxes were not enough for a quarter of the needs, and the increase in taxes, it was impossible not to notice, led first to the first Fronde, then to its second version, aggravated the accession to it of the Prince of Cond;, the Duke of Orleans and other grandees.
“ My friend, I need your advice,” Fouquet once told me. “The Cardinal demands that I outline to him a plan for obtaining money for the needs of the state.”
— What can you offer besides taxes? - I asked. - And here's another thing! Sale of positions at court. Has it stopped generating income?
“These are all well-known paths,” Fouquet waved him off. - Yes, that’s the problem. Taxes are collected once a year and for many months, while the money is needed now. There are other problems with job sales. These sales, of course, bring a good amount of money one time, but over a long period of time it is a complete ruin. After all, the position involves payment, as well as many benefits. Not only do many of the positions give the right to live in the palace at the expense of the King, but they are also exempt from taxes! The richest citizens, therefore, prefer to buy a position rather than pay taxes, but their income is such that if they paid taxes, then there would be no financial difficulties, or they would be much less severe.
“It never occurred to me,” I answered. - But there are tax farmers? Isn't this the solution to the problem?
“To some extent, yes,” Fouquet agreed. “But tax farmers have become intractable these days.” They cite difficulties, ask for benefits that are too large for themselves, unaffordable. Of course, if there were tractable tax farmers for all the taxes that need to be collected, things would go better. Tax farmers immediately pay the crown the amount that they will have to collect from taxpayers, which makes it possible to receive money immediately. In order for them to do this, they are allowed to collect taxes in excess of the amounts that should be collected. Additionally, they charge their own overhead.
- How much is it? - I asked.
— According to the law, no more than five and a half percent of the collected amount, but who controls them? - Fouquet replied. “I fully admit that they take more.”
- How much more? - I became interested.
- I have no idea! - exclaimed Fouquet. “It could be eight percent, or it could be ten or twelve.” How can you keep track of everything here?
- Listen, but you are also the prosecutor general, aren’t you? - I asked. - After all, you must have levers both to keep track of this difference, and to press on whom you should, even to release where you pressed too hard?
- I suppose so, but so what? - Fouquet said with a sour expression. - I don’t meddle in these matters.
- And completely in vain! - I answered. “After all, in this matter it is necessary to adjust all the shares so that the tax collection mechanism works without interruption, clearly and rhythmically. If five and a half percent is not enough to interest tax farmers, then this rate must be increased and other benefits introduced for them.
“ But raising these rates would be ruinous for the King!” - exclaimed Fouquet.
- Why for the King? - I objected. — The king must receive a fixed amount, this amount cannot be touched. And the fact that publicans must collect on top of this is our problem, and certainly does not concern the King! This is the problem of the tax collectors themselves.
—Are you proposing to change the law? - Fouquet was surprised. “Parliament won’t let this pass.” And besides, as soon as the people find out that even more taxes will be collected from them just so that the publicans have more income, then there will be a new revolt, a revolution!
“I’m not proposing to change the law, but we can weaken control over its implementation!” - I answered. “You can even hint to tax farmers that they can more than cover their losses if they only act carefully, adapting to the circumstances.” Where they can collect more, let them collect more.
— Allow them to get rich on someone else’s misfortune? - Fouquet replied sadly.
- Why allow them to get rich when we can get rich? - I objected.
—Are you suggesting that I become a tax farmer myself? asked Fouquet.
- Why do it yourself? - I asked. - The Marshal does not take the fortress himself, but with the help of his soldiers. You will not deal with the affairs of tax farmers yourself, and you will not even organize them yourself. But you will manage the work of those who will organize the affairs of tax farmers. And in this case, you will be able to control them both as a superintendent of finance, as a customer of work, and as an attorney general in the capacity of the judicial system. The Superintendent of Finance, Mr. Nicholas Fouquet, will benefit from this in that the money due to the crown as taxes will flow into the treasury immediately, and as the person organizing those who will create this slender machine, you will receive your share of the profits from this business.
“All this is very dangerous,” Fouquet said slowly. “However, it doesn’t scare me.” If the business works out, I'm ready to take the risk. But that’s the question. In order for my people, as a representative of tax farmers, to pay money to the treasury even before taxes are collected, they need to have them. But I don’t have the amounts that the cardinal demands from me.
- So borrow it! - I answered. - At the required percentage, of course, so that the lenders are interested in this transaction.
- On what behalf can I make such loans? asked Fouquet. “My own fortune is so great that it serves as a guarantee of the return of such sums.” And, in the end, it’s not me who needs the money, but the cardinal. But I can’t borrow money on behalf of the cardinal! I can’t take them in the name of the King or Queen either! Every lender understands that lending money to those in power is not only awkward, but also dangerous! It will be very difficult to get back! It's better to donate right away. After all, it will be impossible to ask the cardinal, or, especially, the Queen or the King! And no one will give such gifts!
- Of course! - I agreed. - You will have to borrow these amounts on your own behalf, on behalf of the Superintendent of Finance, on your word of honor. They will trust you to lend you any amount, because, after all, you manage all the finances of France. But the creditors will know that if you refuse to repay the debt, they will be able to complain against you to the King, who will oblige you to repay the debt. And in the event of your insolvency, the King or the Cardinal will cover your debt, since the debt is made by the Superintendent of Finance. But if the King does not cover this debt, then he orders it to be collected from you, or from your heirs, as the law and the duty of honor dictate, so that they can be calm about their money.
“The picture seems to be clear,” Fouquet said doubtfully. “And if it works, then, it seems to me, it may turn out that Mazarin will be satisfied, and I can make something out of it.”
- Of course you can! - I exclaimed. “If taking ten percent isn’t enough for you, take seventeen!”
Little did I know how prophetic my words were.
“Well, seventeen is too much, but twelve, it seems to me, would solve all the problems,” said Fouquet thoughtfully. - What if these amounts are not enough?
“If the business works out, then we can farm out next year’s taxes,” I said.
- Farm out next year's income, you say? - asked the amazed Fouquet. - Where will you get the money next year then?
“Farm over the income of the year following this year,” I answered with a smile.
- Damn it, but someday it will all have to be returned! - Fouquet said thoughtfully, tugging at his mustache.
- A year later, a year earlier, what's the difference? - I asked. — Only the weak repay debts on time. But the attorney general of the kingdom is not one. In addition, you will be able to repay debts with a promissory note, a new promissory note, or issue securities that will be no worse than gold if they trust you. And they will trust you. To do this, you just need to start paying off your debts to at least someone. Make a small loan to begin with, and pay it back with good interest so that everyone knows about it.
— Securities? - asked Fouquet. - But where will I get these securities?
— How much is your signature worth, Mr. Superintendent of Finance? - I asked.
“I never thought about it, because it costs me nothing to supply it, but if it is under a promissory note, it costs as much as is indicated in this obligation,” Fouquet replied. “In any case, it cannot cost more than all the money I have.”
“I won’t, if in five years, no, in three years, your signature won’t be worth twenty million livres!” - I answered. “And in ten years it will be worth a hundred million.”
Fouquet said nothing, just looked at me carefully. I think he thinks I'm crazy. But he was deep in thought, and it was easy to read on his face.
“Tell me, dear d’Herblay, who taught you such views?” - Fouquet finally asked.
“King Charles of England,” I answered. “His death was predetermined by his incorrect attitude towards money and, accordingly, towards the taxes collected. If he had seen in taxes only what he should have seen in them, as in money, that cruel ending that I, unfortunately, had to see with my own eyes would never have happened to him.
-Can you explain your idea? - asked Fouquet.
“It is not the King’s treasury that gives him power over the country, but the King’s power over the country fills his treasury,” I answered.
- This is a fresh idea! - Fouquet admired. - Could you expand it further? I would like to fully understand your point of view on this matter!
“Money has meaning for everyone except the King,” I answered. — Money is the share of power that the King delegates to his citizens for settlements among themselves. They have power due to their recognition by the King. For the King they are not required at all. The King's subjects must obey not because he pays them to do so, but because he is the King. And if all the subjects in his state obey the King, then he only needs money to make purchases from foreign countries. But a strong state can survive without such purchases, or this activity can be farmed out to merchants.
- So-so! - Fouquet was delighted. - Continue, I beg you!
“If the King chases money, he will no longer be a King, but a moneylender,” I continued. - If the King saves money, he will cease to be a King, but will turn into a treasurer, or even something worse. If the King is overly generous, distributing money left and right, then as soon as the money runs out, and any generous King will definitely run out of it, everyone will turn away from him, and he will lose not only his kingdom, but, possibly, his freedom and his life itself. After all, you yourself, Mr. Fouquet, when you come to your home, don’t buy the attention of your loved ones by paying them for it?
- However, I pay my servants! - Fouquet replied.
“Because they need to buy something outside your home,” I answered. “But the King’s servants must remain his servants even if he does not pay them a salary.” The salary should be just a pleasant bonus for the happiness of serving the King. And then not a single courtier will dare to ask for more than what is given to him. And in this case, their appetites will not grow, and money will not depreciate, therefore, it will not be needed in larger and larger quantities. Money is perishable, just a means. If money can buy loyalty, you can appease enemies, make friends out of them, at least temporarily; if money can stop a war, then there is nothing to feel sorry for them. But if there is no money, then you should act as if there was money, and if there was an unlimited amount of it. When the King's financial capabilities are not known, everyone considers them limitless. If they are known, they always seem insufficient.
- So, you think that it is quite safe to increase the debt of the sovereign to his subjects? asked Fouquet.
- Who talks about the duty of the sovereign? - I was surprised. “The king owes nothing to his subjects, while subjects must obey their sovereign, don’t you think?”
“Of course it is,” agreed Fouquet.
“The king can spend money in his state to reward those who serve him faithfully, as well as to make purchases in the interests of himself, his family, and state affairs,” I continued. “Consequently, if the sovereign underpays them somewhat, then there is nothing to complain about, because they are already obliged to obey him. And where does the sovereign’s money come from? They come from taxes! Consequently, they are taken from those of its citizens who, working not for the sovereign, earn this money. That is, even those who do not work for the sovereign must return some part of their labor in monetary form to the sovereign. If taxes are a little higher than usual, then this is not robbery, but simply a way to force citizens to work for their King a little better than they do! But they are obliged to work so that the state prospers! If the state is not prospering, it means that the citizens are not working hard enough. In this case, making them work more diligently is the sacred duty of any government official, and is good for the state in exactly the same degree as it is good for the King. If the King redistributes state revenues, then this is his right, and that is what he is the King for. So if for some work some hard worker received less than usual, and this happened as a result of some act of the King, then this, therefore, was the decision of the King, conscious or unconscious. But what's the difference? Knowingly or unknowingly, the King rules the country for the benefit of all citizens. And citizens should thank their sovereign for this. So, there is not and cannot be robbery by the sovereign of his subjects, but there is only a careful seizure of surplus profits, necessary for their own good, or a sloppy seizure, which is mistakenly perceived by dark citizens as violence. King Charles of England did not show sufficient firmness in his decisions and was punished by citizens who did not even realize what they were doing. If he had been more decisive, they would not have dared to do this to him. Having the opportunity to pay for the hired labor of the army protecting him, he neglected this opportunity. If he did not pay the Scots, he should have at least given them for plunder those territories that he considered hostile to himself. This would be a lesson to those who live on them, and a payment for loyalty to those who remained faithful to him. Strength should not be indecisive. Strength without determination is weakness. King Louis XIV must not repeat the mistakes of King Charles of England. Flirting with subjects, showing indecisiveness, calculating how much you can pay to whom, and how much you can save on whom, this is not a royal business! The weak hand reaches out like a boat, asking for mercy, the strong hand takes what it considers necessary. A weak King is not a King! In order to become strong, the King only needs to build a strong hierarchical ladder, at the very top of which there would be those who have the right to see him and who are ready to fulfill his slightest desire. These people and only they can receive rewards from the hands of the King, but not with money, but with orders, titles, estates, castles, fortresses. If the King sees a reliable person in front of him, he can give him a fortress on the border of the state, which this person will protect from external enemies, not sparing his life and his money. If he sees an unreliable person in front of him, he can send him to prison or the scaffold, and add his estate to state property. It's his right! No other rights are needed.
- Interesting! - exclaimed Fouquet.
- But those reliable people who surround the strong and great King do not have power as such, they need money to reward people loyal to them, to maintain the army, and for other needs! - I continued. - So where do you tell them to get this money? There are two ways - from the state treasury, or directly from collected taxes! Agree that the first path is ruinous for the treasury and alarming for the sovereign, while the second path is a benefit and support for the state! The king gives his loyal people ranks, and let them earn the money they need to carry out the royal orders using these ranks. This is better than every marshal, every general, every minister will do nothing but beg the King for money for certain needs! The king is not the treasurer! The king has the right to never touch money with his hands or eyes. His word is enough for everything to happen in the state that should happen, according to his will.
— Did you also learn this from watching King Charles of England? asked Fouquet.
“No, I came to these conclusions by thinking about faith,” I answered. - The Lord does not need monetary donations, so he rejects them, saying that by giving to the poor, we are giving to Him. This is the highest ethics of the highest power! Serve him not for money, but for faith, for an idea, for devotion as such.
“So the King doesn’t need money at all?” - Fouquet asked doubtfully.
“While the King has not yet fully become the King, he needs to go through this path to the stage when everyone will strive to serve him without asking how much they will pay him for it,” I answered. “You can’t change the system overnight. It should be created gradually, built by laying brick by brick. But someday, I believe in this, Louis XIV will become a King who will not need money in order to achieve obedience.
“Does this mean that anyone who contributes to this serves the King in the best possible way?” - Fouquet finished for me.
- Exactly so, dear friend! - I answered.
“I need to think about your words and calculate something,” said Fouquet.
- Good morning! - I answered and, saying goodbye, left Fouquet.
“First, let Louis XIV become a real strong King of France,” I thought then. “And then I will use what I know to achieve complete harmony with the King of France!” I will make sure that the King will obey me completely. Not this King, but another, indistinguishable from him, his own twin brother, who will owe me everything, and who will obey me in everything. But only I will know about this, for everyone else he will be the same Louis XIV, the Great King, whom everyone will obey simply because he is the King!”

Chapter 193

“Gold can be extracted from an inkwell,” I once told Fouquet. - Gold, silver, pearls, emeralds, diamonds! All the valuables in the world can be bought with paper on which the right words are written, and on which the right signatures and seals are placed. Consequently, the financial problem can concern anyone, but not the King and not his first minister! And the superintendent of finance must develop, gain approval and implement the very system that will extract gold from the inkwell without the danger of collapsing the entire state financial system. Debt obligations can be repaid with new obligations for a slightly larger amount. This may work for a while, and then, when the King comes into force, it will no longer be so important when, how and by whom these obligations will be repaid. Will creditors not argue if they are offered to receive money a little later, but in a slightly larger amount? Of course, this cannot last forever, but we don’t need eternity, we need to win five or six, eight years at most. When the King is unattainable for ordinary subjects, just as the Sun is unattainable for them, all these money problems will seem absurd and insignificant.
Fouquet no longer argued with me. The main fact that could not be ignored was time: the money that was needed right now, as quickly as possible, could be borrowed from the future time, from the future France, and Fouquet could boldly express this idea to Mazarin, since the cardinal could not disapprove. There was a certain risk that the cunning Mazarin could refuse to take responsibility, or, rather, pretend that he did not understand all the cunning and subtlety of the proposed scheme, but it was a justified, predictable and acceptable risk.
The Superintendent considered the ideas I had put forward and on this basis created an extremely efficient government machine for extracting gold from inkwells. His system was flawless and made it possible to enrich Mazarin, despite the fact that all necessary expenses were provided with money in a timely manner. Of course, at the same time, the state debt to the lenders gradually grew, but what’s the harm if at any given moment the lenders were very satisfied with the interest they received on the capital they provided, and were firmly convinced that the capital they issued can they pick it up at any time? It was only necessary to convince them that such a moment had not yet arrived, but would come quite soon, perhaps, and that their investments in public debt were the best investment of money. The historical moment justified this approach, since without the necessary amounts it would have been impossible to end the war, it would have been impossible to ensure the obedience of the grandees, or to build serious political and economic plans. Paper, turning into gold, helped equip ships, build cannons, recruit an army, provide military recruits with uniforms, weapons, ammunition, equip the cavalry with horses and provide food.
Fouquet began to actively reform the tax system, starting with tax laws, including the hierarchy from power structures to ordinary executors, as well as the tax distribution scheme and the institution of control over all these processes. Part of the collected taxes was distributed even before they reached the treasury, for example, paying the labor of collectors at the very bottom, and paying commissions to everyone who manages this process at all levels. It turned out that the treasury itself actually paid some tax to those who ensured the collection of taxes from the population.
In addition, he began to widely use the circulation as money of all kinds of monetary obligations, orders, patents and other documents. After he realized that paper, correctly executed and provided with appropriate signatures and seals, turns into real money, he realized everything that I tried to explain to him. Fouquet had a tenacious mind regarding money and laws that were beneficial to him. In addition, he discovered on his own that there is a wide possibility of non-compliance with unfavorable laws due to numerous amendments, conditions, clauses and subclauses, interpretations, precedents, judicial practices and other tools of professional chicanery. In this area, in my understanding of all this tools, I was significantly inferior to the talented and lively judicial mind of Fouquet. I felt more like a financier and, if you like, an adventurer than Fouquet, while he was much more than me a lawyer, a formalist, a lawyer for everything that was beneficial to him, and a prosecutor against everything that was beneficial to him. interfered. The system began to work, slowly at first, but soon gained momentum and demonstrated its effectiveness. Taxes began to be collected better, money flowed into the treasury, and Mazarin, who understood that part of these cash flows ended up in the pockets of all participants in this legal system, realized the inevitability of these losses and sadly accepted them. He was smart enough to understand that a lion does not eat grass, but a lion can eat those who eat grass. In the same way, the first minister cannot personally rob peasants, merchants, and artisans, but he can effectively devour those who make fortunes from robbing peasants, merchants, and artisans. This hierarchical ladder or, if you like, a pyramid, the stronger the stronger the connection of each layer with the upper and lower layers closest to it, and the best connection is mutual responsibility, a common, so to speak, somewhat free handling of the laws.
Managing the state became a profitable business, because although taxes were collected poorly, this did not prevent cash flows from remaining uninterrupted and fairly full. Sometimes old taxes, even those that had lost legal force, were still collected. And this was a special item of income for the structure that ensures the collection of taxes, that is, the system of tax farmers, in which Fouquet invisibly participated. After all, the taxed citizens were not aware that taxes were no longer legal, and the sovereign was not aware that these taxes were still being collected. For example, wines imported through the port of Bordeaux have since ancient times been subject to a tax intended to organize the protection of our ships from pirates. Pirate taxes had almost completely ceased, merchants were thinking about getting rid of this tax, which was called the “Bordeaux Convoy”. They were preparing a riot.
Fouquet had to think about organizing two or three occasions when ships flying Dutch flags attacked our merchant ships in neutral waters. The goal was only to intimidate the merchants, but the captain of one of the ships, having fired two warning shots with the goal of simply intimidating the merchant ship, was surprised to see that instead of raising all sails and escaping pursuit, the attacked ship raised a white flag, indicating its the intention to surrender to the mercy of the winner without a fight and without trying to hide. The captain had to rob this ship. The prisoners were treated very gently, they were simply tied up and driven into the hold, after which, taking only the most valuable of the cargo and cutting the masts, the crew posing as pirates left the captured ship at sea. Since one of the rather busy trade routes ran through this area, the robbed ship was soon found, the crew was freed, after which the masts were restored and the ship reached the port safely.
This incident struck fear into the merchants and thereby eliminated any dissatisfaction with the Bordeaux convoy; this type of tax began to be collected again without any problems. In addition, merchants took the initiative to insure ships. Each merchant paid a small share of his profits so that in the event of the ship's sinking, he could receive compensation for losses from these collected funds. Need I say that the insurance was handled by people loyal to Fouquet? So the superintendent also had income from insurance companies.
This incident also led to other consequences. The crew of the ship that carried out this robbery suggested that their owners allow them to engage in this fishing, but only in relation to Dutch merchant ships. Since relations with Holland were worse than ever, they easily received such permission. Over time, this became another side of the secret activities of a financial secret structure, the actions of which were also led by Fouquet, but not directly, so that not a single investigator could get to the bottom of his invisible presence in this case.
Most of the money for the treasury came from the tag and various indirect taxes in the form of excise taxes, although the amount of these revenues varied greatly from year to year depending on many reasons. These incomes were called ordinary. The remaining funds, which came from a wide variety of sources, were called extraordinary income. Extraordinary revenues came from entry fees collected from those entering certain professions and trades, as well as proceeds from sales of annuities, as annuities secured by future tax revenues were called.
One of the most important sources of income was the creation and sale of government positions, primarily within the judicial and financial apparatus of the monarchy. Of course, the problem was that, having sold the position, the treasury was subsequently burdened with the need to pay salaries and various benefits for the official, but the payback period for the position for those who acquired them reached twenty years or more, that is, by selling the position, the treasury received twenty years in advance those sums that were subsequently to be spent on paying the salary of this official. Mazarin proposed to further increase this discrepancy between the value of the position and the income received from it officially, rightly judging that officials also receive unofficial income from their positions, using their special position in the court.
- Since positions are bought, therefore, it is profitable for them! - he said to Fouquet. - And since there is more than one applicant for many positions, it follows from this that we are charging even less for them. This means that if prices for government jobs increase, it will only be fair!
In this reasoning, Mazarin was, of course, right. If a product is in short supply, the price should be increased, and when people stop buying the product, you can wonder if the price is too high. So far, the trade in positions has been quite brisk, because the purchase of a position played the role of an investment. Who else but Fouquet knew about this from his own experience! The position simultaneously gave the owner both prestige and privileges in the form of tax exemption, and sometimes even noble status! Mazarin understood perfectly well that added to this was the possibility of receiving money through unjust means after fulfilling his duties. Bribes among judges and tax collectors were widespread, but Mazarin did not worry about this, since he needed to win this quiet war of his against the grandees to strengthen the power of the King and his own, for this he needed money, and he considered bribery a necessary evil, it is useless to fight, therefore, it was necessary to use it for one’s own purposes, that is, in particular, to increase the value of these same positions. The position was the same commodity as any other, and even better, since the increase in the cost of positions did not at all reduce the desire of the rich to acquire them, but, on the contrary, encouraged them. After all, if a position increases in value, this makes it an even more reliable investment! Soon the creation and sale of new positions became almost the main source of treasury income.
The church also brought in income. Although she did not officially pay taxes, she was regularly forced to make gifts and voluntary donations to the treasury. Thus, Brother Fouquet began to be called Abbot Fouquet only because he was entrusted with collecting gifts and donations from abbeys, which, of course, enriched himself. Nominally, such donations were intended for the high purpose of protecting the kingdom from external and internal heresies and heretics. The Jesuit Order also made donations to the royal treasury. Taxes were collected from the population by tax farmers who knew no pity and extorted money, regardless of circumstances such as crop failure, fire, flood or other unforeseen misfortunes. Sometimes, after taxes were paid, peasant farms went completely bankrupt, so the peasants left without livestock had to go to the city to work, or simply beg. But in the cities there was an abundance of hired labor, so many ruined peasants voluntarily hired themselves out as soldiers, and some became robbers.
The robbers were sometimes caught and sent to the galleys, but sometimes they joined the ranks of legal pirates, robbing Dutch ships and paying the appropriate percentage to those who covered them, that is, ultimately, again to Fouquet.
I stayed away from this activity, although Fouquet invited me to share. I preferred to keep my distance, because I valued my moral integrity before the Lord, and before the King, and before my own conscience, but, of course, my main consideration was that such activity could not continue indefinitely with impunity. If Fouquet could afford not to think about what would happen to him in ten or fifteen years, hoping that by that time he would become unattainable for any proceedings, and, besides, he was already unattainable for them, since he was the prosecutor general, then I did not limit my plans to only such a short period. I planned to live happily ever after if fate allowed me to do so, which, however, did not make me a coward. Without hesitation, I would risk my life in battle, since I remained a musketeer at heart, but I would never undertake a task that threatened a shameful trial for embezzlement or abuse of the King’s trust. If you are going to climb the scaffold, then only as a rebel, or as a failed defender of your love. Money is not a value for which I would risk my freedom. Moreover, love itself brought me enough, I learned to be content with little and did not need money, although my modest income already allowed me to live quite luxuriously. In the Order I saw my future and in that main matter to which I had all the keys, namely, in the possession of the great secret of Queen Anne.

Chapter 194

Fouquet's officials acted efficiently and brutally. If they were unable to collect money, they took away livestock, land and any other property of even the slightest value, even when the peasants could not pay taxes due to lack of income, and even obvious losses, most often due to a bad harvest or natural disasters. They immediately valued this property on the lowest scale, and sold it through a well-functioning network of traders at much higher prices. The peasants could not do anything about it; there was simply no possibility of appealing anything anywhere. This constituted another item of income, and these additional incomes, of course, did not reach the treasury, but a significant part of them went to Fouquet’s disposal. The fact is that this money passed through a long chain of different hands, whose functions were strictly delimited. First, a portion was withdrawn from the collected funds and was intended for the salaries of local tax collectors, officials, stationed troops ensuring obedience and order, and, of course, their commanders.
What little was left of this ended up in the central treasury in Paris, and with a huge time delay. So the treasury was constantly short of funds, and they were urgently needed to supply the troops, to maintain the royal house, for other state needs, and for the salaries of the ever-increasing staff of courtiers. Since revenues arrived irregularly and in insufficient quantities, the treasury was forced to borrow from a small circle of financiers who sympathized with the government party and were therefore called partisans, as well as from the so-called contractors who found it profitable to lend small sums for urgent needs at substantial interest. Of course, these loans could not be granted directly to the King, because who would subsequently dare to sue His Majesty, and even demand interest? If loans were sought in the King's name, all potential lenders would swear that they had no funds. Therefore, loans were taken out in the name of the superintendent, that is, under Fouquet’s personal responsibility. The loan agreements stated that even if His Majesty does not recognize these agreements and refuses to ensure the repayment of debts at the expense of the treasury, then in this case the superintendent bears personal responsibility for their provision, that is, he is obliged to return the money from his own funds.
This begs the question: why did Fouquet need this, why such a strong risk? But the fact is that these were the costs of his position, which brought him income much faster than his personal debt obligations grew, so this situation suited him quite well. He could either abandon this practice and, consequently, the position of superintendent of royal finances, since who needs a superintendent who is unable to meet the needs of the treasury? Or he had to accept this risk with his own capital, if only for the reason that the King as a whole promised to ensure the repayment of these loans from future tax revenues, and also for the reason that, as I already said, even if he had to to repay these loans from their own funds, the wide opportunity for enrichment at all stages of tax collection more than covered these probable losses.
Fouquet noticed that his capital was growing like dough with yeast, and did not see that his debts were also growing like a snowball rolling down from the top of a high mountain, that is, like an avalanche. This avalanche inevitably had to bury someone under it, but the careless Fouquet never expected that this person would be him. Therefore, he did not pay attention to the fact that the repayment of these loans was secured by future tax revenues of more and more later years, so that even taxes that had not yet been collected became the subject of state obligations for several years in advance and no longer belonged to the treasury in advance! In 1648, money was borrowed under the waist of 1651.
In some years, Fouquet, in agreement with Mazarin, on behalf of the King, transferred the rights of the state to a syndicate of wealthy bankers and tax farmers, who provided an approximate preliminary calculation of the amounts planned to be collected. During the duration of this contract, the syndicate contributed this amount to the treasury, while the King assigned his royal rights to collect taxes and dispose of these revenues. Of course, in fact the taxes collected were more than the approximate amounts that the syndicate paid to the King, otherwise this conglomerate of rich people would not have taken on such a business. This difference was appropriated by the syndicate and divided among its members according to the same rules. Fouquet also received his share of these profits. Mazarin understood that this was bound to happen, and was content to shamelessly take from Fouquet the part that he considered reasonable, and Fouquet, of course, did not refuse him this. Preliminary calculations of taxes planned for collection were checked by experts from state treasury officials, and the syndicate understood that in order for their calculation to be recognized as correct, it was necessary to pay a certain amount to Fouquet, and the more this calculation differed from a reliable estimate, the greater the amount collected. But, of course, both Fouquet and the syndicate understood the limits within which actual calculations could be distorted, but beyond which they should under no circumstances be allowed to go.
With the support of the superintendent, the syndicates sought incentives in the form of allowances to cover the costs of tax collection, as well as in the form of significant discounts. As a rule, no more than half of the money that the syndicate collected from citizens ended up in the treasury.
Fouquet's talents in finding ways to get rich blossomed comprehensively and widely. He came up with more and more sophisticated ways to make gold out of everything. Financiers proposed to the King the introduction of new taxes or change the rules or deadlines for collecting existing taxes. For example, when transferring rights to a position, a fee began to be collected for the appointment of a successor. In order for the King to be more willing to accept such explicit or hidden tax increases, these same financiers gave the King in advance a certain amount, which, according to calculations, would appear in addition to the planned amounts of income. Fouquet also received his share for this. Thus cajoled, the King agreed to transfer the right to collect this new tax to this syndicate. These transactions were called contracts, and its participants were called contractors. The richest investors and financiers, who enriched themselves even more, fed on this business.
Financiers began to be called everyone who ever collected, spent, invested or otherwise managed royal funds. It was not at all necessary to have your own funds to be considered a financier. Instead, one could have the right to manage the King's finances. All these financiers were excellent at distinguishing their money from others, but they had that special kind of forgetfulness, thanks to which they often confused state funds with their own pockets, in other words, they transferred them from the treasury to their own chests. However, in order to steal gold, it was not at all necessary to drag it to your home; it was enough to sign a warrant for its distribution to the right people, for example, in this way paying for the acquisition of houses, castles, palaces, ships for yourself or financing their construction on lands acquired in the same way.
These people spread the myth that their wealth was based on the ability to properly manage money, while each of them understood that this meant the ability to take advantage of the situation in order to pocket the treasury money, which in the right place at the right time was moving under a little less control, whether by accident or deliberately occurring in a pre-predicted situation. For example, one of the high-income positions was called “financial consultant.” The conviction that a certain group of people had exceptional knowledge of how to make money from money forced only people from this group to be appointed to “grain” positions, so that an honest and decent person had no chance of becoming a “financier.” To protect their good name and in order to protect themselves, most of the “financiers” managed such transactions not personally, but through trusted people, clients, their own servants or pages, squires or distant relatives from among the bankrupt nobles, who, with the rights of survivors, were formally considered the secretaries of these financiers. These people signed contracts, and the true owners of the money and the executors of the transactions acted only as guarantors of these transactions, posing as patrons and benefactors in relation to these secretaries, pages and squires.
All these mechanisms led to the formation of a noticeable handful of rich people who amassed their capital in a matter of years, and these capitals in their magnitude far exceeded the hereditary fortunes of the majority of noble grandees, who, as a result, gradually began to lose their influence on state policy. Indeed, if there is someone nearby who can bribe all your servants, you will no longer feel safe, and, consequently, everyone will have some fear of people of excessive wealth. If this wealth is combined with the position of prosecutor general, as was the case with Fouquet, then the power of such a person became almost comprehensive, although, of course, it could not yet compete with the power of the King or the first minister.
At the same time, almost all the courtiers felt the delay in the payment of their salaries, but Fouquet imperceptibly and gradually taught everyone that there could be no delay in salaries for Fouquet’s friends, while for his enemies - it just so happened by the absurd whim of Fortune - under those or On other pretexts, salaries were sometimes delayed, or even seriously cut as a result of some mistake. Under these conditions, everyone made every effort to become one of the friends of the all-powerful superintendent of finance, Nicolas Fouquet.
Occasional deviations from the statutory rate for repayment of tax collection costs, which amounted to 5.5%, could be legitimized by a special cash order signed personally by the superintendent of finance. Fouquet received his percentage of the percentage for such an ordonnance de comptant without even raising an eyebrow. Expenditures made under the superintendent's order were not subject to inspection by the Court of Accounts or other financial officials, since it was believed and accepted that the superintendent could authorize certain expenses that were made in the interests of the state in a sensitive area, the purpose of which was secret. Of course, such expenses were also carried out, and I dare say, quite often and quite effectively. So, despite all the shortcomings of this system, it worked, and worked successfully, in the interests of strengthening the power of the King and the First Minister.
In these ways, huge sums were obtained for subsidies to friendly foreign princes, in other words, in order to make insufficiently friendly grandees extremely friendly. It must be said that under Mazarin, funds spent on state needs, including bribery of the necessary influential persons, reached forty percent of all state costs, although it cannot be ruled out that some expenses were also attributed to this item in the interests of the financiers themselves who managed these funds. This technique was also widely used to increase the interest rate when financing many cases, and the excess of this rate was forever hidden from any audits or inspections.
So gradually a new power was formed in the state - the power of finance and financiers. In part, the state itself became hostage to this new government. The grandees began to feel that they were losing influence, and this was one of the reasons for their personal dissatisfaction with the Queen Mother and Mazarin, and also even to some extent with the young King; the grandees skillfully broadcast this dissatisfaction to the Royal Council and other segments of the population, but Mazarin skillfully acquired supporters, only sighing that it cost him and the treasury more and more, and yet it paid for itself, since one way or another the power of the Queen, King and First Minister grew stronger, and the importance of the grandees became more and more purely nominal over time. These people still considered themselves the most significant persons after the King, although they had not been such for a long time, but they were still allowed to harbor these illusions.
The gap between expenditures and actual annual revenues grew, resulting in a gap between the date of expenditures incurred and the date of future receipt of corresponding tax revenues. State needs, having exhausted the current year’s taxes that had not yet been collected, were taken to spend the next year’s expenses through the borrowing mechanism, and after that, income for the two years ahead, and so on.
I could smell future financial disaster in the air, but Nicolas Fouquet enjoyed the increase in his net worth, as well as the financial sums under his trust, he exulted in his financial genius, feeling the full significance of the motto on his coat of arms: “Wherever you go.” I’ll climb!” The Squirrel, depicted on his coat of arms, in consonance with his surname, could, of course, climb very high, but she should not forget about the existence of the Marten!

Chapter 195

Marshal de Grammont once spoke in the presence of the Viscount de Turenne about a military leader who, having learned that his officer had an amorous affair with his wife, sent him to the front line, where he met his death.
“It would be in vain to look for traces of a crime against the honor of an officer in this event,” said the Viscount. “The essence of any military command is complete control over the life and death of all the soldiers entrusted to its command. No matter what they say, he always has the opportunity to send someone to certain death, and certainly save someone by sending him, on the contrary, with an important dispatch to the rear, or by entrusting him with such an assignment that at least It looked dangerous, but in fact it was completely safe. So there is no judgment over a commander except the court of the King, and no judge over his actions in relation to the destinies of his officers, except the court of his own conscience.
“So that means there is a trial after all,” Marshal de Grammont objected. - At least the one you mentioned, the court of conscience.
“There is also God’s judgment,” I said, and we all crossed ourselves.
I recalled this episode in connection with the fact that Fouquet, at his own discretion, petitioned for the distribution of various positions in the financial and judicial spheres, although he did not finally decide the issue himself, but much was done with his knowledge. This made it possible to place one’s own people where required, but it also made it possible in other cases to place people who were not our own in a situation where they were innocently guilty and condemned. In this sense, Fouquet was the commander of his civilian troops, although not engaged in the military field, but sometimes involved in affairs no less dangerous.
His affairs were conducted so cunningly that, for example, of the total taxes collected in 1651-1652, the amount amounting to forty million livres was distributed in such a way that only twenty-three million went into the treasury, and seventeen million were spent to collect these most forty million. But at that time, no one thought about the efficiency of the activities of financial services, correlating the amounts emanating from these services with the costs of maintaining their activities, the main thing was that these services quite rhythmically supply the treasury with the required amounts, and no one was interested in the price of this rhythm.
The discrepancy between the planned expenses and the actual ones could not yet concern the young King, who understood little about this. If the deployment of troops in winter quarters was estimated at eight million livres, but in reality it cost three times that amount, that is, twenty-four million livres, then the main thing was that this money appeared from somewhere, and the deployment of the troops was carried out. The following year, taxes were collected in the amount of one hundred and ten million livres, of which only slightly less than nineteen million reached the treasury. Tax farming became the most efficient activity in the kingdom. It was more profitable to be the superintendent of finance than the King of France!
It is known that Alexander the Great once suggested to Diogenes that he should ask him for whatever he wanted. Diogenes replied: “Move aside, otherwise you are blocking the Sun for me.” After this, Alexander said: “If I were not Alexander, I would like to be Diogenes!”
Fouquet could have said: “If I were not Fouquet, I would like to become Louis XIV.” But the King could also say: “If I were not the King, I would like to become Fouquet.” France nominally belonged to the King, but Nicolas Fouquet was increasingly becoming the master of its finances. It was the responsibility of the Superintendent of Finance to find sources of income and then authorize its distribution. But he did not deal directly with money.
All collected funds were placed in the central treasury. The royal treasurers issued them on the basis of appropriate warrants from the superintendent. Initially, Nicola Fouquet and Abel Servien, the two superintendents of finance, had the same powers. From December 1654 their functions were separated. From now on, Servien was responsible for checking and approving expenses and payments, and Fouquet had to raise funds.
Prior to this official decision, differences had arisen from time to time between the two superintendents, which could have developed into persistent hatred and confrontation, but the decision taken removed the cause of this friction between the two superintendents. One of Mazarin's personal bankers and business partners, Barth;lemy Hervart, became financial controller and was entrusted with the responsibility for funds to pay bills and loans. This division of responsibilities was proposed by Fouquet himself, based on my considerations.
Fouquet explained to Mazarin that the state would be able to borrow from its citizens amounts of up to thirty million livres per year, which are annually necessary to ensure military expenses, only if the creditors trust it, that is, understand the possibility not to ask, but to demand their funds with the accumulated interest within a pre-agreed period. Creditors could not demand repayment from the First Minister or from the King, so the obligations were concluded on behalf of Fouquet, who would be obliged to pay the necessary sums even if there were no funds in the treasury, and even if he was removed from his position as Superintendent of Finance. Only such a scheme could convince creditors that under no circumstances would the state be able to unilaterally refuse debt obligations, or demand a revision of the terms of loan repayment, as happened in 1648.
A situation arose in which the creditors did not have to trust the King, since they now trusted Nicolas Fouquet personally, understanding that the King ensures the repayment of loans, but they can demand directly from Fouquet, so that only he, Fouquet personally, is the guarantor of the return of funds with accrued funds on the loan with interest. They did not yet suspect that it was just as impossible to demand repayment of a loan from a person imprisoned as from a King; they were yet to find out this in the near future.
In the meantime, confidence in Fouquet's word increased every month. The time has come when Fouquet's simple word acquired the power of money, not to mention his signature. Fouquet built a whole network of lenders, among whom were his relatives from his second marriage. This financial circle included Claude de Boileve, the Gr;n brothers and Fran;ois Jacquet. Other financiers, such as Nicolas Janin de Castille or Ervart, held positions in the royal financial administration. This allowed them to manipulate transactions and accounts profitably.
Fouquet, relying on his senior clerks, created a credit syndicate, which included, above all, Charles Bernard, Jacques Delorme and Louis Bruant. Mazarin's people also entered there: brothers Claude and Pierre Girardin, Robert Grune du Boucher, brothers Nicola and Pierre Monero, Claude de Boileve and Francois Jacquet. Only Fouquet himself could understand the intricate intricacies of financial transactions.
During the years 1653–1661, the total royal debt reached 216 million livres, and contracts for tax farming were concluded for approximately 208 million livres. While Fouquet held office, the financiers provided the state with only about 424 million livres before deductions and benefits.
Fouquet was not only a full participant in this juggling of debt obligations and real money, but also a puppeteer holding in his hands all the secret springs and threads. He did not distinguish his own pocket from the state treasury. At the same time, fearing the loss of his position, he sought to fulfill all his obligations, as a result of which he mortgaged his wife’s property for two million livres to make up for the shortfall in the treasury in the amount of 1.2 million. At another point, he sold one of his estates for these purposes. But he also used public funds to purchase lands in his own name, including Vaux and Belle-Ile. During his entire tenure as superintendent, Nicolas Fouquet borrowed on personal responsibility a total of more than 30 million livres, in order to then lend them to the crown. At the time of his arrest in 1661, which I will discuss later, Fouquet's debt amounted to twelve million livres, a third of this amount he borrowed personally as a private individual, two thirds as a government official on behalf of the King. The number of creditors who lent him various amounts exceeded five hundred people.
Mazarin perfectly understood the essence of schemes that brought immediate money to the treasury, but this did not bother him too much, since he understood that money was needed immediately to strengthen royal power, and if the power of the King was strong, then the King’s debts would not matter. The Cardinal bet on the victory of absolutism, and his calculation was justified. When, in November 1655, Marshal Auquincourt threatened to surrender the cities of Ema and Perona under his governorship to the Spanish troops or the Prince of Conde, Fouquet collected six hundred thousand livres in one night so that his emissaries would hand them over to the marshal along with the royal pardon. I must admit that if Auquincourt had carried out his treacherous intention, it would have cost the treasury much more, and, moreover, many tens of thousands of people would have paid for it with their lives. There are many such examples.
In turn, Mazarin himself also used the treasury for his political intrigues, bribery, peace and appeasement, without forgetting the personal interests and needs of his large family.
The next year, in July 1656, Fouquet was again required to quickly find huge funds. Events developed not far from the estate of Athos.
The Viscount de Turenne and Marshal de la Fert; were besieging Valenciennes, which was held by the Prince of Cond; in alliance with the Spaniards, whose troops he led. Cond; attacked La Ferte and captured him. Mazarin's headquarters were at La F;re, where Athos provided the cardinal with magnificent apartments. There was unrest among the soldiers because their salaries had not been paid for a long time. Mazarin, who did not have the talents of Julius Caesar, could not inspire the soldiers with speeches alone, but he remembered very well how the failure to pay the Scottish soldiers their salaries ended for Charles I of England: the debts of Charles I were paid by parliament, for which he received the King himself. Fearing such a development of events, Mazarin in desperation turned to Fouquet, demanding nine hundred thousand livres from him. It was then that Fouquet mortgaged his wife's estate. The money was delivered in carriages under reliable security, which Fouquet also organized.
This was a salvation for Mazarin, who, without hiding his joy and relief, wrote a letter of gratitude to Fouquet, where he notified him that he had informed the King and Queen Mother about this great service, and they ordered him to convey their gratitude and promise not to forget how he helped them in time of need.
Feeling like a benefactor of the King and the Queen Mother himself, Fouquet decided that he had now become his own man in the royal family.
Mazarin did not skimp on words of praise, but did not return any amounts to Fouquet, explaining that the amounts were transferred to the Royal Family, which did not return them even at face value, not to mention interest. True to himself, Mazarin sometimes painted such pitiful pictures of his financial state that he was almost convincing in his complaints. So he says that he does not know any other interests other than the interests of His Royal Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen Mother, and he also assured with a blue eye. That he doesn’t know what it’s like to make even a penny of profit. To communicate with Fouquet, the cardinal resorted to his trusted servant, Jean Baptiste Colbert. This scoundrel managed all the cardinal’s affairs; Mazarin trusted him extremely. If Fouquet helped the cardinal rob his own country, then Colbert even helped him outwit Fouquet himself.
Soon Mazarin asked Fouquet for another three hundred thousand livres. Fouquet replied that the treasury was empty. Mazarin was surprised, recalling that he had already returned some funds, meaning new receipts that he sent to Fouquet in return for old obligations.
“Monseigneur,” objected Fouquet. - In response to your requests, I sent you the required amounts in a carriage under reliable protection. When I talk about the return of these funds, I do not mean replacing old receipts with new ones, but the return of those real amounts that I could return to creditors, so that in the future they would trust me in such extraordinary cases. If I give them your receipts instead of money, then the next time I ask them for money, they will return those receipts to me.
- But the first minister’s debt obligation is the same money! - Mazarin objected. — How are these securities fundamentally different from gold?
“Monsignor, paper is not sent in carriages,” answered Fouquet.
“Diamonds too,” answered Mazarin.
“If Monsignor wants to repay the debt in diamonds, I will accept it,” Fouquet answered with a bow.
Hearing this caustic remark, Mazarin smiled softly, showing with all his appearance that he appreciated the joke.
This small conflict, which Fouquet himself forgot about the next day, Mazarin did not forget until the end of his days. That is why, subsequently, just before his death, Mazarin did not remind the King of Fouquet’s merits, and did not even mention him at all, but he warmly recommended Jean Baptiste Colbert to the young Louis XIV as a person on whom the King could completely rely in matters of finance. This meant that, over time, Nicolas Fouquet should be removed from his post as superintendent of finance, entrusting financial management to Colbert. Louis understood this advice and remembered it.
However, Mazarin continued to demand more and more sums from Fouquet, and Fouquet continued his activities in this field. At the end of the autumn of 1657, Mazarin demanded eleven million eight hundred thousand livres for the needs of the army, Fouquet obtained ten million two hundred thousand livres and, for the missing million six hundred thousand, offered his thoughts on where and what could be saved.
Fouquet cleverly exchanged, through dummies, old and worthless debt obligations for new ones, reliable at face value; his clients drew up receipts, promissory notes, and documents on transactions with securities, which were then submitted for consideration to the council, which Fouquet himself headed. The financial council, represented by Fouquet, Servien and Pierre Seguier, approved such transactions as valid; according to the documents, it turned out that real money was deposited into the treasury, while in fact only papers were deposited into it, and only Fouquet could distinguish the papers, which you can reliably get real money from papers that are only good for lighting a fireplace.

Chapter 196

In mid-February 1659, an event occurred that opened the way for Fouquet to even greater power. Servien, exactly the same superintendent of finance as Fouquet himself, died, and his position remained vacant. Mazarin could have sold this position profitably, but he understood that in this case he would let another person into power, giving him excessive influence on finances, and, consequently, on politics. There were enough applicants for this position, but none of them inspired sufficient trust. Mazarin was thinking about appointing another of his protege, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to this position, but one weighty consideration stopped him. He had already seen that Fouquet, who at first was entirely the cardinal's man, had over time acquired such influence that it had already greatly weakened his subordination to the cardinal. Mazarin was well aware of the mistakes of Richelieu, who contributed to the success of some of his prot;g;s, such as Chalet and Saint-Mars, and was also well aware that these prot;g;s had embarked on a conspiracy to overthrow their benefactor. It was dangerous to let Colbert out from under his influence; he had to remain with the cardinal and, if necessary, serve as a watchdog that could tear Fouquet apart. For this purpose, King Louis XIII kept de Treville with him so that Richelieu would always remember that the King had a man capable of arresting the first minister.
- Let's not learn from our mistakes, because there is always the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others! - Mazarin said to himself. “Shouldn’t I take this position myself?”
Mazarin thought deeply.
- No impossible! - he objected to his reflection in the mirror. - The narrow-minded Parisians will decide that I want to rob them, and, perhaps, this would not lead to the third Fronde!
Indeed, dissatisfaction with the financiers on the part of the population has almost surpassed the dissatisfaction with the foreign minister, which Mazarin felt so recently. If the hatred of financiers was still widespread among many, then, being focused on the damned foreigner, it would once again whip up a wave of active rage.
In addition, Mazarin thought that between the chaotic avalanche of transactions and the authority of the first minister there should be an impenetrable barrier, a bridge that, if necessary, could be burned without leaving any traces. In the event of a third Fronde, it could be fed to Fouquet and his accomplices, leaving Mazarin's person unsullied. The state's revenues for two years in advance had already been spent, an explosion of the situation was inevitable in any case, the name of the cardinal under no circumstances should have been mentioned in connection with the inevitable trial of these cases.
“I will deal with political affairs and the military, this is already too much for me, let Fouquet handle the money,” Mazarin decided. “No matter how important financial matters are, I must save my energy for the most urgent tasks.”
This was Mazarin: even refusing another delicious piece of the state pie, he found the most sublime and noble motives for his actions, and he found such sublime arguments that it was a pity to waste them only on satisfying his own pride. He decided to share these thoughts with the Queen Mother, once again reminding her of how difficult it was for him to cope with all the tasks of state, and what sublime sacrifices he made to strengthen the throne for her son.
The Queen did not appreciate the cardinal's verbal intricacies.
“Sire, you always make the right decisions,” she replied indifferently. “If you said that this position should be filled by you, I would certainly agree with you, but if you say that someone else should take it, then so be it.”
Mazarin was frightened by the ease with which the Queen allowed that a random person could be appointed to this important position. He didn’t even notice that he was not talking about a random person, but about a person of his personal choice. He was scared to death by the word “other”, which the Queen said so calmly. It suddenly occurred to him that someone “else” might at some time become the First Minister of France, and God knows what or who else!
“We will have to recommend to the King that he should not appoint anyone as First Minister after me! - he thought, acutely realizing that he did not have much time left to live in this world. - Another superintendent! It's too dangerous! This shouldn't happen!
“I wanted to suggest to the King not to appoint a second superintendent of finance,” said Mazarin, knowing full well that his opinion would be accepted as final. “Mr. Nicolas Fouquet does an excellent job of ensuring the flow of funds into the treasury, and it does not require large talents to spend them. Some of the functions of the late Servien will be transferred to him, fortunately, he had already dealt with them before, and I will personally control the most important expenses.
— Does this necklace suit me, Giulio? - asked the Queen. “I’ve been standing in front of you in it for an eternity, and you don’t seem to notice it?”
- Your Majesty, no necklace can endow you with even greater beauty than the one that the Lord has endowed you with! - exclaimed Mazarin. “This necklace should thank the Creator for having the honor of being on your charming chest.”
- Why didn’t you tell me about this right away? - asked the satisfied Queen.
“I delayed the happiness of this confession until the end of our conversation, not daring to discuss with you such base issues as questions of finance and their management, after all my feelings were already tuned to the motives of the delight that I invariably experience when I am next to Your Majesty.” and having the happiness of seeing you in good health and fully armed with your irresistible beauty.
- Giulio! — the even more flattered Queen objected flirtatiously. - But I’m far from young anymore!
“Beautiful women have no age, but the woman you love with all your soul and to whom you want to devote your whole life is always the most attractive age!” - Mazarin exclaimed impulsively and kissed the Queen’s hand.
It must be said that the feelings that Mazarin had for the Queen were mutual and very reverent. I have no reason to believe that the Queen and the Cardinal did not love each other sincerely and selflessly. This love, which began with a simple business partnership, reinforced by mutual praise and compliments, blossomed with a strong feeling when they had to part, maintaining contact only through letters. These letters were sent several times a day, and response letters were not long in coming. The passion that gradually flared up between these two people, who were at the very pinnacle of power in France, was genuine and constant, it would be worthy of the pen of the best poets and playwrights.
So, Mazarin made a decision, after which Fouquet became the sole superintendent of finance. This decision was ratified by a royal decree, recognizing his dedication and valuable services in the past.
Indeed, Fouquet obtained very large sums, including by making millions of loans in his own name.
Left as the only superintendent of finance, Fouquet expanded even more widely. It must be said that he had very extensive connections in the field of trade and navy, as well as his interests in such commercial enterprises. The shares he inherited from his father in various such enterprises, founded under Richelieu, gave him income from trade with North and South America, Africa and Asia. Many of these enterprises were located in Breton ports. Fouquet bought out the shares of some of the partners and expanded the business, investing significant sums in new commercial enterprises with bases in Brittany. There, in Brittany, he bought large land holdings. To protect the merchant fleet from pirates, it was necessary to equip warships, well-armed with cannons, fast and controlled by brave crews led by loyal captains. These warships over time expanded their functions, from protecting their own merchant fleet to privateering open combat against ships of unfriendly countries for the purpose of plunder. Nominally, these pirate ships, called privateers, were assigned to the ports of Portugal, but in fact they acted in the interests of Fouquet. They robbed English, Dutch and Spanish merchant ships off the western coast of France. Fouquet armed these ships and received income from this robbery. The ships called for replenishment of supplies and minor repairs at French ports, including the port of Concarneau, the governor of which was one of Fouquet's Chalen relatives, as well as the island of Yeux, which belonged to the noble Breton family of Rieu d'Asserac, also permanent partners of the superintendent.
Equipping and maintaining private ships was a profitable business, so not only Fouquet was involved in it.
Mazarin, Hugues de Lionne and Abel Servien also participated in the privatization.
In September Fouquet complained to me about a problem.
The fact is that private activity began to irritate Mazarin, who had still condoned it, but only until he felt that he himself was losing income from customs duties. The fact is that the privateers robbed those ships that were heading to the port controlled by the cardinal, so that he was deprived of customs duties from those ships that arrived at the port completely robbed, or even returned back from where they came, without even reaching the shores of France.
“Privacy activities should be abandoned near the route along which the ships intended to be robbed by the cardinal at customs go,” I suggested. - Move your ships to other locations.
- But my base is on Yo Island! - Fouquet objected. — The ships will have to travel far from the hunting grounds to the base, this will dramatically increase the danger of this activity!
“Get rid of Yo Island,” I advised. - Sell it and buy something else.
-Grua? - Fouquet asked with contempt.
“No, I meant something better than the island of G;,” I objected.
- What could be better? asked Fouquet. - Ile de Reu? Ars-en-Re? Ile d'Oleron?
- Well, not that much better! - I answered with a laugh. — You can’t buy such real estate so easily!
— Saint-Marguerite? Ilo de Lyon? - continued Fouquet, clearly hoping to make me laugh.
“Belle-Ile,” I said softly.
Fouquet jumped on the spot.
- Belle-Ile? - he was surprised. - Do you think this is possible?
“I undertake to talk to Paul de Gondi and convince him that it is not advisable for him to remain the master of this island,” I answered. - He recently returned from exile, he barely managed to make peace with the royal house, he needs friends surrounded by the King, his desire to become a cardinal finally came true three years ago, but Mazarin can put Cardinal de Retz in the Bastille if he shows restlessness. So Gondi seeks friendship with Mazarin, and with someone else. I have some friends whose opinions Gondi listens to. And these friends of mine have been very lenient to my requests for some time now.
- Will you persuade Gondi to sell me Belle-Ile?! - exclaimed Fouquet.
“I’m going to do it,” I said. “True, it will be more expensive than you will get from the sale of the island of Ye... I believe that Gondi will ask for one and a half million livres.”
- I don’t care! - exclaimed Fouquet. - I will collect the required amount!
“Don’t give more than one million three hundred thousand,” I warned Fouquet. - He will agree. He needs money, and no one else except you or the King can buy this island.
- If you help me with this deal, I will do for you... Lord, what can I do for you? - asked Fouquet in delight.
“It seems to me that the position of the Bishop of Van has become vacant, so if you can put in a good word for Mazarin and the Queen,” I said. - In this case, I suppose...
- Not a word more! - exclaimed Fouquet. - You will be the Bishop of Van, or I am not Fouquet!
“ You are Fouquet, and Belle-Ile will be yours,” I answered. - Gondi will give his consent in two days. I will see him at one reception where he will be there and I will also be there.
So, through my efforts in 1658, Fouquet had the opportunity to acquire the magnificently located island of Belle-Ile, which could easily be turned into an impregnable fortress from which part of the coast of France could be controlled, and in which, if necessary, one could hide from persecution no matter how strong. sovereign, playing on the contradictions between powers that have interests in nearby waters. This island guarded the approaches to the Gulf of Quiberon on the southern coast of Brittany and was an ideal base for private enterprises. The possibility of acquiring this island inspired Fouquet, although he initially lacked the funds for this transaction. But, as he promised, he collected the required amount, which needed to be added to the proceeds from the sale of the island of Y;. This purchase met both public and private interests of Fouquet.
I convinced Fouquet that Belle-Ile should be turned into an impregnable fortress with its own forts, with fortress walls and cannons at key points on these walls. I undertook to draw up drawings of the future fortress.
Even before construction began, I was already the Bishop of Van. Mazarin congratulated me heartily on this event. The cunning cardinal always valued people not by their merits or faults, but by how useful or dangerous they could be to him in the future, and in me he immediately recognized the kind of person with whom it is better to be friends than to be at enmity.
The strategic position of the island was extremely advantageous, so it is not surprising that Mazarin wanted to see it in good hands. The Cardinal considered that Fouquet was quite worthy to make this acquisition. People from the Order, known to me, convinced the cardinal that as a result of this deal, perhaps someday in the near future this island would pass to some of Mazarin’s heirs, but it would be extremely wise to first allow Fouquet to carry out the necessary work on this island to develop it, including strengthening the port and erecting fortress walls. The Cardinal had not yet suffered so much from his illness and fully expected that he himself would one day become the master of this island, or, at least, would rule it through Fouquet, who was obedient to him. Thus, a royal decree of August 1658 authorized the acquisition of the island of Fouquet. This decree also gave him the power to propose a candidate for the position of governor of Belle-Isle. Fouquet was allowed to build a fortification on the island and maintain a garrison.
I understood that Fouquet, in order to acquire the island and build fortifications on it, again resorted to loans.
“I’m afraid to think how and when you will be able to repay all these debts!” - I once told him.
“Any obligation that does not establish strict deadlines for fulfillment is void,” Fouquet answered serenely. — The weak pay the debts, while the strong simply postpone the payment due date to a later date, in extreme cases agreeing to increase the amount by reasonable interest.
“ But sooner or later you’ll have to...” I tried to object.
“There’s not such a big difference between “very soon” and “never,” especially when you consider that we are all mortal and we all walk under God,” Fouquet said philosophically. “Besides, you couldn’t help but notice that my ability to pay certain amounts is rapidly increasing. What seemed like a significant amount to me for several years is now a trifle to me. So, probably, what seems significant to me today will be a trifle in the future.
- “Wherever I can’t climb”? - I remembered the motto on the Fouquet coat of arms.
- Yes, dear friend, that’s exactly it! - Fouquet answered with sincere gaiety.
I remember this moment because although Fouquet almost never lost heart and always showed humor and optimism, it seems to me that never before, not after this incident, have I seen him so happy. He was not so cheerful even on the eve of his second marriage. Even when receiving the post of Superintendent of Finance. Even when receiving the post of Attorney General and even when receiving the news that a second Superintendent of Finance will never be appointed again, so that he, Fouquet, will be the only one.

Chapter 197

My ascension to the rank of Bishop of Vannes passed without any problems. I knew the former Bishop of Vannes, Sebastian de Rosmadek, well. He was a member of the Jesuit Order, like me. He and I were on very good terms, and called each other “brother,” as is customary among church ministers. This was misunderstood by many in our circle, which gave rise to the legend that I was, in fact, his brother. In addition, since I was called Charles in the Order, Rosmadek called me “Brother Charles.” As a result of this absurd misunderstanding, many of the church ministers around me sincerely considered me Charles de Rosmadek. However, I had no idea about this, and would not have known if Bazin had not told me about it. After all, they addressed me as “Monsignor,” and the especially zealous ones addressed me as “Your Eminence,” and none of them called me by name. Reading some of the memoirs of my former deans, archpriests and canons, who called me Charles de Rosmadek, now I just chuckle. Several times even Mazarin called me by this name, but I noticed that an ironic expression appeared on his face, after which he called me by my true name. Well, Mazarin perfectly remembered the names of those people who had any significance for him, as well as faces, character traits, connections and financial status.
Much later, when I left the position of Bishop of Vannes in connection with the transition to a higher position, I recommended Louis Coze de Vautorte, also a member of the Jesuit Order, to take my place. Thus, I was Bishop of Vannes for more than twenty years.
Since it became necessary to take care of the construction of a fortress on the island of Belle-Ile, but I myself needed to take over the diocese, I needed a person who could oversee the construction and in whom I would completely trust. But where could I find such a person?
It was necessary that this man could control himself, that he would inspire authority in those whom he was to lead, but that he should be obedient to my orders and not challenge them; however, he should not be a blind executor of my will. I needed a devoted friend.
As soon as I found the right word “friend”, I immediately remembered my three real friends. Athos and d'Artagnan were not suitable for this role, but Porthos was exactly what I needed. Of course, Porthos! How come I didn’t immediately think of him?
I remembered that ten years ago d'Artagnan involved Porthos in his affairs, promising him to make him a baron. And it worked. Well, I can probably promise him that he will become a viscount! Given my current capabilities, which were based on friendly relations with Fouquet, I, perhaps, could even work for the King to make him a count, although this was already the limit of my capabilities. Of course, I needed Porthos, and I knew how to attract him, so I went to him in Pierrefonds.
I decided not to tempt him by demonstrating my current position, so I set off on horseback, accompanied by Bazin, almost incognito, since such trips no longer suited the Bishop of Vannes.
My heart was ready to jump out of my chest when I saw in the distance the contours of Pierrefonds Castle, where our dear Porthos, our ancient hero, the giant, Hercules lived. I had no doubt that Porthos continued to practice his physical exercises, so I did not lose my remarkable strength, which I, however, had no hope of achieving. For me, the most important thing was selfless friendship, devotion, fidelity, as well as the ability to give orders in such a tone and with such an air that it would not occur to anyone to object to him. It would be enough to present him as Fouquet's governor, and all the inhabitants of the island would unconditionally obey him, of that I had no doubt.
Of course, Porthos himself jumped out to meet me and even tried to hug me, but when he saw my frightened face, he remembered that his hugs could break all my bones. Therefore, he made a smooth and soft movement with his hands and depicted tender softness with his face, apparently seeing in me more a small child than a musketeer, which I would not forgive anyone but him.
- My dear Aramis! - he exclaimed. - How incredibly glad I am to see you as a guest! Don't be afraid, I have learned to balance my strength with friendly hugs! Are you really going to avoid showing my joy just because you are afraid that I will cause you harm through clumsiness?
I felt terribly ashamed. I swear on my honor that I would have preferred it if he had broken my rib, but I didn’t think that I would shy away from hugging him for fear of being maimed. Forgetting all fears, I opened my arms to this giant with iron muscles.
Porthos gently pressed me to his chest and lightly patted my back with his right hand. His delicacy made me feel even more ashamed.
“ I have already learned to be careful,” Porthos said as if he had heard my thoughts and informed me that he was not angry with them.
“How glad I am to meet you again, Porthos, and how ashamed I am that I did nothing to see you until I needed you!” - I exclaimed completely sincerely.
“In that case, I’m glad you needed it,” Porthos replied with a laugh. - A person, you know, gets tired of the fact that someone constantly needs something from him, but when he finds himself in a situation where no one needs anything from him, it becomes simply unbearable, and he begins to yearn for the times when he had no doubt about his need.
“Dear friend, we all need you all the time, it’s just that our personal affairs sometimes distract us from the affairs of those who, despite this, are very dear to us,” I hastened to answer.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Porthos agreed. “We all know that somewhere there are people who treat us very well, and even, perhaps, miss us, but not so much that, leaving everything, they set off on a journey to see us, even if this path is not so long.
“That’s true, dear friend, but if you find a little time to help me with one event, I will be glad to have the opportunity to see you more often and for longer,” I replied.
- Do you need my sword and my strength? - asked Porthos. “You can always count on this, without even asking my consent every time.” The same applies to our friends. You, Athos or d'Artagnan need only notify me, and I'll be right there. Will all four of us get together again?
“I don’t think so,” I answered, a little embarrassed. “The matter for which I wanted to enlist your help will require only your participation, so we will not bother Athos and d’Artagnan.”
“It’s a pity,” Porthos replied with a sigh. - This means that you will not need cunning and nobility, but only strength and perseverance.
- Not at all, dear Porthos! - I objected. “This time I will need not so much your strength and dexterity in using all types of weapons, but rather your intelligence, intelligence, perseverance and ingenuity.
“In that case, perhaps it would be better for you to turn to d’Artagnan,” Porthos objected doubtfully.
“It’s you that I need, and I insist on this,” I strongly disagreed. - You have no reason to be modest. Your intelligence and talents may be a little dim compared to d'Artagnan's cunning, but I will not need cunning, cunning, diplomacy and the gift of persuasion. I will need the simple mind of an experienced officer, soldier, musketeer, capable of distinguishing a donjon from a bastion, who knows first-hand what an orillion is, a large and small cavalier, a ditch or a retreat tier flank, and will not confuse a flank and a flush, a foreburg and a fosserbrae.
- You are laughing at me? - exclaimed Porthos. - Are you saying that there are people who do not distinguish between such things? People who can confuse Shieldmauer and Orilion? Can't you tell the difference between a tenal and a flank?
“ They still happen, alas, in large numbers,” I answered. —Imagine, there are people for whom ramp, aproche, banquet, barbican, batardo or bergfried are meaningless words. These people will not be able to explain to you what a berm, bolwerk, valgang or werk is.
- Amazing ignorance! - Porthos was sincerely surprised. - And how can the earth tolerate such klutzes?
“Alas, dear Porthos, there are even greater ignoramuses,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Are there really those who couldn’t tell the difference between a fence and a fence?” - Porthos asked in horror.
“Well, they’re not that stupid,” I said, in order to at least calm Porthos somewhat and calm his ardor. “But, who knows, maybe somewhere in the outback there are a couple of similar stupid people who don’t even know these simple things.”
- How low people have fallen! - Porthos said with a sigh. - How then do they understand the orders of the commanders during the assault?
“I can’t imagine,” I answered. - These ignoramuses cause all the troubles.
“All because the cardinal ordered half the fortresses in France to be razed,” Porthos suggested. - And it’s a great pity.
“Richelieu destroyed only fortresses within the state, but he did not touch the fortresses on its borders,” I clarified.
— Fortresses on the borders are still very much needed! - Porthos agreed. “They should be kept in order, or even repaired and strengthened from time to time.”
“Or even build new ones,” I added.
“The current cardinal doesn’t have the money and the foresight for this,” Porthos waved it off.
“Thankfully, there are people, besides the cardinal, who have both the means and foresight,” I answered.
-Who are they? - asked Porthos.
“That’s what I’m going to talk to you about,” I replied. “And first of all, I would like to know your opinion on such a matter as the management of work on the construction of a new fortress. Are you ready to take it on yourself?
- Am I ready, damn me, to take on such a noble cause as building a fortress?! - exclaimed Porthos. - Don’t feed me bread, let me build something! That is, not with my own hands, of course, but I myself am not averse to helping here and there with my own strength, which, thank God, I still have in abundance! Crap! After all, during these conversations I didn’t even invite you to the table!
“I’m not too hungry, my friend,” I replied. — Lately I have been eating extremely little.
- But not after a long journey and not while visiting me! - exclaimed Porthos. “If you do not share my modest dinner with me, you will offend me beyond words!”
- Well, no, I won’t hurt you like that, dear Porthos! — I reassured him. “We will continue our pleasant conversation at the table, if you allow, and over a sip of wine.”
- Not only will I allow it, but I also insist on it! - Porthos perked up. — Today for dinner we have partridges with truffles, suckling pig, Proven;al hare, bojele, and, as usual, pates, desserts and light snacks.
The conversation promised to be not only interesting, but also memorable. And so it happened.

Chapter 198

The cuisine at Porthos Castle was amazing and overly plentiful.
- A magnificent treat, dear Porthos, magnificent wine, and, besides, your castle is also magnificent! — I spoke sincerely. — It seems to me that you updated it a little?
- Exactly so, dear friend! - Porthos confirmed. — Pierrefonds Castle was built at the end of the century before last on the site of earlier fortifications, which were already two centuries old at that time. Duke Louis d'Orl;ans received Pierrefonds and the Duchy of Touraine in 1392 as a gift from his brother, King Charles VI. The area around Pierrefonds became part of the County of Valois, which became a duchy. In 1396, Louis began a complete reconstruction of the castle. The architect was the famous Raymond du Temple. Later the work was led by the royal architect Jean Le Noir, under the supervision of Jean Aubele. Construction was completed after the assassination of Louis of Orleans, which took place, as you know, in 1407. At the beginning of the reign of our glorious King Louis XIII, for whom we had the honor of being musketeers, the castle belonged to Fran;ois-Hannibal d'Estr;, brother of the same beautiful Gabrielle d'Estr;, who gave the glorious King Henry IV a whole dynasty of side princes of the blood. Francois-Hannibal joined the party of the “dissatisfied”, led by Prince Cond;. In March 1617, Pierrefonds was besieged and captured by troops sent by Cardinal Richelieu. The cardinal ordered the castle to be destroyed, but due to the scale of the structure, they limited themselves to tearing down the outer fortifications and destroying the roof. So I was lucky that the castle remained relatively intact. Subsequently, to preserve the walls, a temporary roof was erected, which I, of course, ordered to be demolished and to build one that befits a castle, which was rightfully ducal. I'm even glad that there was no real roof, since its absence reduced its value and allowed me to buy it and add it to my property. I, of course, am not complaining about the fortune I inherited, but if this castle had been in the same condition as it was under Fran;ois Hannibal, I’m afraid I would not have been able to buy it.
“Dear friend, I am convinced that the roof built under your leadership is far superior to the one that was destroyed by order of the cardinal!” - I exclaimed almost sincerely.
“Thank you for your flattering opinion,” replied Porthos modestly, whose face shone with happiness at hearing such a compliment. “I was able to restore the roof, but I could not restore the dignity of this castle.
— Do you mean the ducal status of the Pierrefonds estate? - I asked.
“I think it’s impossible,” answered Porthos with such a strong sigh that if it were already evening, and there were two dozen candles on the table, they would all be extinguished by this gust of air from the mighty lungs of our giant friend.
“I wouldn’t rush to such depressing conclusions, my friend,” I objected. “Who knows, maybe my visit to you will be the first step towards Pierrefonds regaining this dignity?”
“Are you saying that you can make me a duke?!” - Porthos exclaimed and jumped up from the table so quickly that he almost knocked it over. - Do you think this is possible?
“I invite you to the service of a person who can very well take care of this matter,” I said.
—You began to serve Cardinal Mazarin? - Porthos was surprised.
“Not at all,” I objected. “The Cardinal doesn’t have much time left; his health has deteriorated greatly in the last few years. But some of the men he promoted closer to the throne were likely to soon be every bit as influential as Mazarin.
“We have to wait for the cardinal’s death?” - Porthos didn’t so much ask as he said with disappointment.
- Well, why? - I was surprised. “The Cardinal is on his own, and our influential friend is on his own.” We will help him strengthen his island, the King will thank him for this service and ask who helped him in this. Our friend will call your name and you will become Duke.
“It sounds quite logical and extremely tempting,” Porthos answered enthusiastically. - So what are we waiting for? Are we going?
- Right now? - I was surprised.
- My friend, we have already had lunch, but we can have dinner on the way! - Porthos said enthusiastically. - Why wait?
“Don’t be afraid, my friend, the King is capable of making anyone a duke even today,” I said. “And these opportunities of his will not go away.
- Just think about it! - Porthos exclaimed in admiration. “And yet we must hurry.”
- Why? - I was surprised.
“I understand that the King has enough power to write out patents for the dukedom at least every day,” Porthos admitted, not hiding his admiration for this thought. “But I’m afraid that one day he may lose the desire to create more and more duchies, and it will be extremely disappointing if this desire of his disappears just before he asks your friend a question about what helped him supervise the construction of the fortress!
- Still, we can easily leave tomorrow, and you can spend the rest of today on getting ready.
“Okay,” Porthos agreed, after which he shouted in his bass voice so that not only the glasses, but also the plates shook on the table. - Muston! Pack your things! We're leaving tomorrow morning!
Less than three minutes had passed when a frightened Mousqueton ran into the hall.
— Are we leaving, Mister Baron? - he asked worriedly. - May I ask where? What should we collect?
“We are leaving for my dukedom, and we must take everything that is necessary,” answered Porthos. - That is, everything that Mr. Aramis tells you to pack.
“I’ll make a list of what it’s advisable to take,” I replied. “The most necessary things are Mr. Baron himself, his horse, sword and camping clothes.” We will find the rest on site if necessary.
- Will Monsieur Baron really go alone, without his faithful servant Muston? - asked the faithful Mousqueton.
- In no case! - Porthos answered. - After all, I said that we were leaving, therefore, you are going with me!
No matter how upset Mousqueton, whom Porthos began to call Muston for some time now, was that he would have to leave the cozy castle of Pierrefonds, where he knew neither worries nor hardships, we must give him his due that parting with his dear lord would be even more difficult for him. more painful, so that on his face I noticed a certain semblance of joy from the thought that he would not leave “Mr. Baron”, but would share with him all the hardships of travel.
“Why wasn’t Muston surprised that you said that you were coming for your dukedom?” - I asked Porthos in a whisper.
“He already considers me a duke, or even a prince,” Porthos whispered in response. “It’s good that he doesn’t consider me a King or Lord.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I whispered back with a laugh.
The next morning, Porthos and I, accompanied by Mouston and Bazin, drove off to Vannes. Porthos prudently took with him a wallet filled with gold, and in addition, a dozen diamonds were sewn into his belt. Truly, our giant was very rich!
“It’s good that Porthos is so obsessed with the desire to get the ducal title,” I thought. “I have something to attract him to the job I need him for!”
“You probably think that stupid swagger makes me want a dukedom?” - Porthos asked me.
I shuddered because it seemed to me that Porthos had looked into my head and read in it the thought that I had just thought.
- No, why not! — I objected, trying to hide my embarrassment. - You are fully worthy of this title!
“Titles are given not to those who deserve them, but to those who can demand or ask for them, and who have something to offer for it,” Porthos objected. “I understand perfectly well that I, who is not yet a viscount or a count, am far from a duke!” But if you don’t strive for something higher, you will never achieve anything less! So if I don't aspire to be a duke, I won't even become a viscount.
“Why do you even need to become a viscount, Porthos?” - I asked. “Don’t think that I doubt your right, I would just like to understand your train of thought.”
“ You are the first person in the last forty years who took an interest in my thoughts,” Porthos chuckled. “The last person to do this was my mother.” Well, thanks for that, dear friend! I will explain.
“I’m listening with attention,” I answered.
“You know that our friend Athos is the Count de La F;re, as noble as Dondolo or Montmorency!” - said Porthos.
- Do you want to outdo him? - I said with a laugh.
- Not at all! - exclaimed Porthos. - I just want to take an example from him!
“I don’t understand,” I was sincerely surprised.
“You see, dear friend,” Porthos explained. “Athos’s position is much higher than us, but he never let us feel it.
“You want, having become a duke, to remain with all of us in relations as simple as Athos!” - I guessed.
- At least for one day! - Porthos picked up. - I really want to show you all how dear you are to me! You, dear Aramis, and also Athos and d'Artagnan! I would give you all my money, but I know that you won't take it. I would give my life for you, but that doesn't seem to be necessary. I would receive the duchy only in order to make Raoul, son of Athos, my heir.
“Athos would not accept this gift,” I suggested.
“Athos would not have accepted it from me for himself, but he could not have rejected it in my will on behalf of his son Raoul!” - Porthos objected.
“But you won’t be able to feel the joy of this, because Raoul will be able to take over the rights of inheritance only after you are gone,” I said.
“The thought of this happening will warm my soul,” Porthos replied.
I wanted to hug Porthos, but I was afraid that he would see the tears in my eyes, so I spurred my horse.
“Let’s go quickly, otherwise I’ll get hungry soon,” I said to justify my impulse.
“Muston has smoked hams and wine in his bags,” said Porthos. - I'll tell him to get them.
“Later,” I replied. - I'm not that hungry yet. Tell us better how you had fun these years.
- Very simple! - exclaimed Porthos. “I ordered a small fortress to be built from logs, and we are amusing ourselves with the fact that part of my people defends it, and the other part storms it.”
“I hope you don’t hurt each other?” - I asked.
- No, of course, because we don’t use edged weapons! - exclaimed Porthos. “We just fire muskets and cannons at each other!”
— Are you firing muskets and cannons? - I asked again. - How do you stay alive?
- Very simple! - Porthos answered cheerfully. “We load cannons with flour instead of cannonballs, and muskets with paint!”
- Paint?! - I asked again.
“ You should see, my friend, how funny those who get hit by this paint look!” - Porthos said with a laugh. “At first we only loaded with red paint, and it was very natural, it looked like my soldiers were really wounded. But now we load the muskets with different colored paints, so it's fun to look at!
- It seems to me, dear friend, that you have invented a new game! - I exclaimed.
- Exactly! - Porthos agreed. - I called it Peinture de tir. And you know, there are great benefits from this fun!
- Which one? - I asked.
- My horses are not at all afraid of shots! - exclaimed Porthos. - You can shoot at least right next to their ear! They will decide that the fun with paint is going on again, and since they are then fed with selected oats, they love this fun and are ready to jump into the thick of battles!
“We will have to use your method to prepare a garrison on the island of Belle-Ile!” - I said.
“This is how we will strengthen Belle-Ile,” Porthos noted and nodded.
I bit my lip. However, in the company of Porthos I felt so serene that it was not surprising to lose my vigilance for a while. Besides, this secret still had to be told to Porthos, a day earlier, or a day later - does it really matter?
“Only for now it’s a secret, my friend,” I said.
- Of course, otherwise you would have told me about this as soon as we met, yesterday! - Porthos answered innocently. - Don't worry, Muston won't let it slip. Wow! Your influential friend has decided to fortify Belle-Ile for His Majesty the King! Your friend is probably none other than the Superintendent of Finance, Mr. Nicolas Fouquet! Well, such a person can really put in a good word with His Majesty regarding the charter for the dukedom!
Now say that Porthos has a narrow mind! I looked at him with genuine surprise.
—Are you interested in news at court? - I asked him.
“There is one neighbor,” he answered me. - Very pretty. She sometimes comes to see me for tea. And shares the news.
- And you treat her not only to evening tea, but also to morning coffee? - I said with a smile and winked at Porthos.
- Well, I’m not a monk! - Porthos agreed. - And not the abbot!
After that, Porthos winked back at me, and we both laughed merrily.

Chapter 199

The combination of the two highest government positions - the prosecutor general and the superintendent of finance - brought Nicolas Fouquet fantastic incomes, about two hundred thousand livres a year. To this should be added income from lands and buildings on them, profits from maritime operations, legal and not, as well as from participation in lending to the state at disproportionate interest rates, the recognition of which as proportionate again depended on him alone. This totaled half a million livres a year. But even more important was that everyone around him believed that his income was much higher, many times higher than these amounts, which allowed him to easily obtain loans and spend them as easily as if they were his own free working capital, then there are means free from any need to pay for something priority, obligatory, urgent.
Of course, there were urgent payments for Fouquet, and these were payments at the request of the cardinal and the King. He did not dare to refuse their request for funds, since this would show him to be insolvent, unsuitable for the high positions he occupied, after which resignation and then ruin would inevitably follow, since, as I already said, he made most of the loans in his own name, and, therefore, was responsible for the repayment of these loans with personal property and fortune.
So Fouquet's income was comparable to that of the Cond; family, but he did everything in his power to maintain the belief that they were far superior. In particular, he tried to pretend that the royal treasury was virtually inexhaustible, and that the King had no need to limit himself in expenses. The King, of course, did not think so, but all the courtiers naively believed that this was exactly how things were, and that for this reason the King had already become omnipotent, which forced them to recognize his unconditional right to command them. So things turned out exactly as I predicted and as Mazarin hoped.
To maintain this myth, Fouquet sought to ensure that his lifestyle corresponded to his status and even in some ways exceeded it. He occupied several residences at the same time, in each of which everything was furnished to the highest standard, in each residence there was a staff of servants, and a sumptuous dinner awaited him everywhere. He surrounded himself with poets, writers, musicians, philosophers, artists and even just talkers who had the audacity to pass themselves off as people of art, who in fact had no talents other than the talents of hangers-on and parasites. But these clients were also useful to him, because they brought rumors, some of which later turned out to be quite true. And awareness in this turbulent environment was the most important factor for survival, so it was perhaps in vain that I called them talkers, since they should have been called voluntary spies. Each such client dreamed of being the first to obtain the most important information, which he could first tell Fouquet in his ear, and the next day or two days later notify everyone that it was he who first learned this news. These people, of course, had some benefit, so it was not in vain that they fed from this greatest philanthropist of his time.
It should be noted that the tables at Fouquet were always set extremely generously, and this was overseen by Fran;ois Vatel, the head waiter, who had exceptional talents in how to organize a sumptuous feast. Subsequently, Cond; was happy to have him, but at the time of which I am writing, Vatel, with the rank of housekeeper, was responsible for all the numerous receptions and holidays, and he did it exceptionally well. This was greatly facilitated by Fouquet’s order to spare no expense on these feasts, to always purchase only the best products and wines, and to recruit only the most skilled cooks for the staff. That's how it was done. The cost of any dish at Fouquet's was such that for this money one could feed at least five dozen ordinary people to their fullest.
Particularly noteworthy is the patronage that Fouquet provided to writers. He created his own salon, paid huge pensions, not always deservedly. Madame Fouquet supported her husband in this matter.
Among the clients and recipients of a pension from Nicolas Fouquet were: the Duke de La Rochefoucauld, Madame de Lafayette, Madame de Sevigne and Madeleine de Scud;ry, along with such high professionals of the literary craft as Jean de La Fontaine, Thomas Corneille, Pierre Corneille, Jean-Baptiste Moli;re, Charles Perrault, Isaac de Benserade and Valentin Conrard, founder and permanent secretary of the French Academy, which Richelieu once took under the wing. I was among the circle of people who spent their literary talents for the good purpose of maintaining Fouquet’s prestige, but I preferred to write under an assumed name, so that even the crafty La Rochefoucauld did not realize that I was his competition. I had few readers, but they were entirely selected people, and my works were such that it would have been absolutely impossible to publish them due to their extreme courage and frankness. In terms of piquancy, they could only be compared with the works of Bourdaile, Queen Margot the Elder and Pietro Aretino. In terms of the seriousness of the conclusions, I would compare them with the notes of Richelieu and Machiavelli. In other words, if my writings had reached Mazarin or the King, and if the authorship of these works had been revealed, then I would not even have gotten away with imprisonment in the Bastille; the Place de Greve would have been my lot. But I was careful. Even Fouquet did not know that he was the author of these opuses; they were given to him by a deaf-mute who was accustomed to putting envelopes containing new works in a certain place at the right time, taking a small fee for himself. For me, the only reward was that I gave myself the pleasure of knowing that my daring, sharp and sometimes even poisonous thoughts found their readers and admirers. Sometimes I wanted to admit my authorship, but I always restrained these impulses, realizing that such a confession was extremely dangerous. Even Bazin did not know about this hobby of mine, and he would not have approved of it, because in me he saw almost the future Pope. It's funny, but he was not as far from the truth as I thought then!
But that's aside! Let me return to the description of those events. With the help of his trusted connoisseur of the literary arts, Paul Pelisson, Fouquet assembled a galaxy of talented authors. They, of course, not only engaged in literature in the full sense of the word, but also considered it their duty to thank their benefactor. La Fontaine dedicated to him a long lyric poem “Adonis”, which I would cut three times, and add colors to it so that it would play in a completely new way. Pierre Corneille dedicated his play “Oedipus” to him, in the preface to which he praised his benefactor in every possible way. Madeleine de Scud;ry enthusiastically described the splendor of his estate in Vaud, and also depicted his “portrait” under the name Cleonymus in the unbearably long love story “Clelia”, which I would actively recommend as a rapidly acting sleeping pill. Fouquet became such friends with Madame de Sevigneux that only my exceptional modesty, when I write not under a pseudonym, but under my own name, forces me to call this relationship the word I used, “befriended.” However, Fouquet “became friends” with many noble ladies in this way. I would even say that he behaved at court like the only rooster in the hen house, and if no one challenged him to a duel, then this oddity can be explained only by two considerations: everyone saw in him a source of money that they did not want to destroy, and everyone understood, that as attorney general, he can send anyone to the Bastille, or even worse, for the mere thought of a duel.
As superintendent, Fouquet was entitled to official apartments in the Louvre, but he built himself one residence after another in Paris, choosing, after numerous moves, the former home of his predecessor Michel Particelli d'Emery, on rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs, in two steps from the Palais Royal, with magnificent gardens laid out by his order.
In addition, Fouquet spent a lot of time at his estate in Saint-Mand; on the outskirts of Paris, where he was given the opportunity to meet His Majesty more often, since Fouquet's gardens bordered the gardens of the royal residence in Vincennes. Mazarin was also very fond of Vincennes and visited there often, even without waiting for the completion of the magnificent pavilions of the Queen and King, designed by the architect Levo. In 1654, Fouquet bought an estate in Saint-Mand to further improve them and give them a splendor that no one could even imagine. He enriched them with rare plants and built a greenhouse. In addition, he expanded the building, including in order to house his library, which numbered more than thirty thousand volumes. This was all Fouquet - he took pleasure in buying real estate from the King or from the princes of the blood and giving them such a shine that had not previously been or was not foreseen. He reached the point that the grandees who sold him this property began to regret this deal, not taking into account the fact that his investments in this property were sometimes disproportionate to the costs of acquiring it. He furnished his residences with precious works of art: paintings, sculptures, tapestries, which, as a connoisseur, were selected for him by his brother Louis, the future Bishop of Agde, during a trip to Italy.
But Fouquet was not content with this luxury. He acquired an estate where he built his most magnificent palace, Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Here he gathered around him all the literary and artistic talents and instructed them to come up with a scenario for a future gala performance in order to organize the famous holiday in honor of Louis XIV in the summer of 1661. However, I am perhaps getting ahead of myself, because this happened only after the death of Cardinal Mazarin, about which I have not yet said anything. The holiday was still far away, the only thing was to create this fabulous place.
The territory of Vaud is located east of Melun, fifteen leagues from the royal castle of Fontainebleau. Fouquet bought Vaud in 1641 and annexed the adjacent part of the Viscounty of Melun. At the time of purchase, the Vaux estate was a dilapidated castle and several abandoned villages around. For fifteen years Fouquet invested money in restoring old buildings and grounds, but in 1656, realizing that this estate lay on the route of the King from Paris to Fontainebleau, Fouquet decided to demolish all the existing buildings, transform the landscape and create a stately rural residence that would immortalize him name and would secure his status as the largest high-ranking landowner. He was inspired to do this by the famous Richelieu Castle. But the castle of the great cardinal was in distant Anjou, in obscurity and rarely visited even by its owner, while Vaux was originally intended to provide hospitality to the King and his entire court, since it would certainly have caught his eye during any journey from Paris to Fontainebleau.
From that time on, Fouquet began to invest with insane generosity in this crazy project not only utter money, but also all the talents of all the greatest artists and masters of his time known to him. The entire natural landscape was destroyed, everything was created anew according to the designs of the greatest landscape designers after he personally approved these projects. Fouquet acted with fury, like a genie that had finally escaped from a jug in which it had been sitting for several centuries. He did not recognize obstacles, no price was excessive for him when it came to satisfying his whims.
The castle's splendor was matched by equally impressive gardens. Networks of alleys alternated with geometric ideal flower beds, regular gardens alternated with irregular landscapes, as if created by Nature. The grottoes were superbly designed in their location, as if created by Nature itself, in some places they were decorated with statues, as if preserved from ancient times, water cascades and fountains made this place unique and extremely fantastic, but at the same time cozy, the majesty of these places was given grandeur -canal and pond. Water was supplied to all these waterworks through an extremely sophisticated system of lead underground pipes from local streams and rivers; channels, indistinguishable from natural ones, surrounded the castle on all sides. All this splendor cost Fouquet four million three hundred thousand livres.
The construction of a magnificent castle and park in Vaud was no secret. The grandees jealously watched as another influential family appeared in France, almost out of nowhere, which could compete not only in income, but also in the lands and estates at its disposal with the most noble houses of the kingdom. The construction of the castle clearly expressed Fouquet’s intention to take a position among the highest nobility not only in terms of influence, but also in terms of nobility. It is obvious that Fouquet will seek the status of a dukedom for the Vaud estate. The more curiosity was expressed by everyone who was affected by this, that is, virtually all the nobles of France, and above all, the numerous relatives of the King and even himself.
In the summer of 1659, Mazarin stayed there for the night, and, of course, he was given the best quarters, all the buildings already created, as well as the entire project, were presented to his attention. As a true connoisseur of architecture and art, the cardinal highly appreciated the progress of the work and gave some practical advice, which was gratefully accepted. Mazarin carefully studied Le N;tre's just completed plans for laying out the gardens and the art objects collected for Fouquet by his brother. His praise prompted the young King, his brother Philippe d'Orl;ans and the Queen Mother to visit the estate, although the visit was short and informal. Fouquet was overwhelmed by opposite feelings. On the one hand, he was glad for such attention, but on the other hand, he was almost in despair because he showed the castle and gardens in an unfinished form, and he was also upset that it would no longer be possible to make the castle a complete surprise. Still, he decided that he could still furnish and decorate the castle so that it would be completely unrecognizable, and at the upcoming holiday, a series of concerts, fireworks, banquets and other entertainment would be so perfectly thought out that the King would completely forget about this first visit, in comparison with the impression that Fouquet intended to make on His Majesty, intending to become nothing less than the second man in the state, the best friend of the King.
Almost exactly a year later, returning with his Spanish bride, Infanta Maria Theresa, Louis and his court stopped in Vaud - on the way from Fontainebleau to Paris - for a visit and lunch. The King's cousin, the Duchesse de Montpensier, who herself had a good understanding of construction projects, having undertaken similar transformations herself many times, called Vaud a "magical place." In July 1661, the king's brother Philippe d'Orl;ans and his wife Henrietta of England visited Vaud with a detachment of courtiers. They were received with exceptional splendor, superbly treated and entertained by the premiere of a new play by one of Fouquet’s prot;g;s, Moli;re, called “The School for Husbands.”
Intensive construction in Vaux paralleled the fortification of Belle-Ile.
Arriving with Porthos in Vannes, I met Fouquet there and introduced him to our friend. Porthos made an indelible impression on Nicolas Fouquet.
“I had no idea that in France there were such giants reminiscent of the mythical Hercules!” - Fouquet exclaimed in admiration.
“There is absolutely nothing mystical about me,” Porthos answered good-naturedly. “I am an open person, I don’t get involved with any secrets, but if something is entrusted to me in secret, I will keep my mouth shut.”
Sometimes it seemed to me that Porthos was simply fooling around. I was convinced of his deep intelligence and erudition, so he was most likely joking, pretending that he did not distinguish the word “mythical” from the word “mystical”. However, I’m not sure, maybe he really sometimes confused some words, just as the beloved Duke de Beaufort almost always did, for whom this sometimes gave rise to an extremely comic effect, which has even become proverbial.

Chapter 200

On March 9, 1661, Cardinal Mazarin died. Before that, he had been painfully ill for a long time, and the Queen selflessly looked after him and was in despair from the realization that his days were numbered. It must be admitted that she loved him, and even, perhaps, she loved him seriously for the first time, not like her first legal husband, King Louis XIII, and not like her first and, perhaps, last crazy passion, the Duke of Buckingham. She loved Mazarin as a person whom she trusted completely and in everything, on whom she could rely entirely, from whom she never expected anything bad, and always saw only one good thing. Even Mazarin's worst enemies could not deny this: he was an excellent subject, a loyal friend and, God knows, the Queen's husband, as well as the first minister of the kingdom. He, of course, did not forget his own interests and the interests of his large family, especially his nieces, whom he dearly adored. But he was first and foremost the servant and support of the Queen Mother, the mentor of the King and the master of the country.
D'Artagnan lost his immediate master, whom he served not out of fear, but out of conscience. D'Artagnan's faithful and effective service seemed unappreciated by this cardinal, but it only seemed so. The cardinal did not raise d'Artagnan to the high level of grandees that his generosity could have offered him precisely because he was afraid of losing such a skillful and devoted servant. Mazarin saw that dukes, princes, peers and marshals easily betrayed him, as did the King and Queen. They considered themselves a self-sufficient value, and from this came their dissatisfaction with the level of ostentatious recognition of their importance, with the level of gifts, most often undeserved, and with the abundance of positions and sinecures that they would consider fair for themselves. Everything was always not enough for them, their insatiability could become proverbial if someone with a sharp mind took the trouble to notice it and was not afraid to voice it. D'Artagnan, of course, was not like that, but the cardinal did not want to risk it. And yet he did a lot for him. The position of captain-lieutenant of the royal musketeers, which Jean-Baptiste Colbert had his eye on, still went to d'Artagnan. A service apartment in the Louvre, a service place in the royal stables for his two horses, some concessions and privileges that were not so significant as to be taken seriously, but in the aggregate all this was not so little. D'Artagnan's income was not yet such that he could equate himself with some count or marquis, but his high position at court, frequent personal communication with the King and friendly disposition towards him on the part of His Majesty put him on the same level as the marshals, who did not shy away from getting to know him, sought friendship with him and rightly feared enmity with this already very influential officer. D'Artagnan carried out the most important, delicate and complex assignments of Mazarin, who recommended him in this capacity to the King. But, in addition, Mazarin recommended Jean-Baptiste Colbert to His Majesty as a reliable support in financial, state and military affairs, and also bequeathed not to appoint a first minister, instead paying his personal close attention to all issues that Mazarin himself had previously decided.
Before leaving for another world, the cardinal hinted to the King that Nicolas Fouquet needed close monitoring, his actions needed to be comprehensively controlled, and it was in this that he recommended relying on Colbert’s mind and d’Artagnan’s sword.
“Beware of Cond; and his family, Your Majesty,” said Mazarin. “Princes should be respected, but they should not be trusted. And most of all, beware that these princes will gain influence over your brother, Philip of Orleans. In contrast to the princes, I leave you Fouquet.
“Thank you for your advice, Your Eminence,” Louis replied.
“I’m not finished yet, Your Majesty,” Mazarin continued. - Beware also of Fouquet, with his brothers, with his clients and minions. Against Fouquet, I leave Colbert to you.
“Thank you, cardinal,” replied the King.
“Beware of Colbert too, don’t give him too much power,” the cardinal continued.
“Against Colbert, are you leaving d’Artagnan to me?” - the King asked with a smile.
“I leave D’Artagnan to you against Colbert, and against Fouquet, and against the Princes, and against the King of Spain, and against whomever Your Majesty chooses,” answered Mazarin. - He will help you in any matter.
“And who do you leave me with against d’Artagnan?” - asked Louis.
“You won’t need anyone against him,” Mazarin replied. “Do not commit injustice against him, and he will serve you faithfully, and if necessary, he will give his life for you.”
- What if he thinks that I am unfair to him? - asked the King.
“He will not consider this even if Your Majesty is really unfair to him, he will still remain loyal to you,” answered Mazarin. “He will consider injustice to himself to be injustice to his friends.” He seems to have three or four of them. In any case, three of them are the most important to him. This is the Bishop of Vannes d'Herblay, the reclusive Count de La F;re and a living Hercules in the flesh named Baron du Valon. His current colleague de Bezmeaux also considers himself one of his friends, but, as far as I understand, he is not one. He is just a friend, a comrade in arms, of which he has a great many, and besides that, scoundrels. De Bezmo, it seems, dreamed of becoming the commandant of the Bastille, and, having received this position, he gladly voluntarily locked himself within these four walls, along with his dearest wife, whom he is terribly jealous of, and therefore does not let go anywhere. Having learned about this, d'Artagnan decidedly lost interest in him, since he would consider the position of commandant of any military fortress honorable, but he considers the commandant of a fortress that serves as a prison for state criminals despicable. However, perhaps this is just a pose, because Bezmo achieved the rank of general and became a marquis, so I fully admit that d' Artagnan is simply jealous of him. But I can guarantee that if he were to receive the appointment of commandant of any fortress, even such as the Bastille, he would fulfill these duties with all diligence, harmoniously combining initiative with obedience, enterprise with caution and cunning with truthfulness, as he does in carrying out any assignments. This person can be spoiled by only one thing - insufficiently significant assignments, that is, too easy a service that does not require all the best qualities that he has developed in himself.
“Thank you, cardinal, for such a detailed description of some of my servants,” replied the King.
“And I thank you, Your Majesty, for the patience with which you listen to me,” answered Mazarin. “To this I would like to add that you should be wary of the intrigues of the Duchess de Chevreuse.” In her youth, she played a lot of tricks, but even now she has not yet lost her passion for all kinds of intrigues. If she sides with the Princes, the Princes could become dangerous again. If she supports Fouquet, this clan will concentrate too much influence in its own hands. If she gets together with Colbert, this couple will get their hands on you.
- Why don't I get rid of her? - asked Louis.
“Your august mother, the Queen, has a soft spot for this intriguer,” the cardinal answered with a sigh. “She herself already avoids her company, but she doesn’t want to seem vindictive, so she takes care not to offend her.” In addition, the Duchess is capable of influencing your uncle and father-in-law, King Philip IV of Spain, with whom she was undoubtedly extremely close, to the extent that according to the laws of God only spouses are allowed to become close. This ease of communication brought them so close that she influenced and still influences his decisions even more than your august mother Queen Anne, and more than your august wife Queen Maria Theresa. This lady should not be angry. She knows too much, much more than she should know. Really, it would be much better if the Lord took her to himself. I would say that calm and peace in France are only possible when the Duchess de Chevreuse is outside its borders. But we have to respect the Queen Mother's feelings. If she does not want to harm her, despite all the harm that the Duchess brought to the Queen, that is her right. I don't know what to expect from this schemer in the future. But even Richelieu did not dare to put her in the Bastille, although she caused him much more trouble than me. More precisely, he missed this opportunity.
- Was the power of the First Minister really not enough to imprison just the Duchess? - the King was surprised.
“I’ll tell you a secret, Your Majesty, at that time your august father, King Louis XIII, stood up for her, since she influenced him with her charm.
- But my father, it seems, did not like women, and, in particular, coquettes? - Louis was surprised.
“That’s true, but he also made exceptions for some ladies, and the duchess was first on this list,” the cardinal said with a sigh. “They had a good time in their youth, your father, your mother, the duchess and her first husband, the Duke de Luynes.” They all became friends in some way, and the King's liking for the duchess made it possible in some way to smooth out some of the friction between your father and your mother. Let's just say that the duchess quite well and skillfully reconciled them, however, after she herself had previously served as the cause of their discord. This topic is very confusing, and we are not given the opportunity to judge them, and we, in fact, do not know anything that we should not know. In other words, I only recommend that you beware lest the Duchess use some of her old connections or some secret known only to her to the detriment of Your Majesty. Therefore, I recommend treating her moderately favorably and never trusting her with anything.
“Your Eminence, I see that you are very tired of such a detailed and lengthy conversation, I fear for your health,” the King realized.
“Oh, don’t worry, Your Majesty, my health no longer matters, for I will soon appear before the Creator, and the only thing that worries me at the moment is your future.”
“You are probably also concerned about the future of your nieces,” said the King, blushing slightly, since he continued to love some of the charming Mazarinettes, who were indeed good and still quite fresh.
- Not at all! - answered the cardinal. - After all, I am absolutely convinced that you will not allow anyone to offend them!
“You’re right, cardinal, your nieces are just like my own sisters to me, and even more,” Louis answered with a sigh.
And he did not bend his soul, since he knew almost half of them too well, having become close to them in his time no less closely than the Duchess de Chevreuse became close to Philip IV in her time, and earlier - with the Earl of Holland, with the Duke of Buckingham, with Charles of Lorraine, with the Duke de La Rochefoucauld, with the Parisian coadjutor Pierre de Gondi, and with many others, not to mention me and her two husbands, the Duke de Luynes and the Duke de Chevreuse.
The Cardinal did not yet suspect that the Duchess de Chevreuse would manage to get closer to Jean-Baptiste Colbert by marrying his grandson to Colbert’s daughter. Thanks to this marriage, the duchess became Colbert's ally, which allowed him to overthrow Fouquet and achieve complete victory over all his supporters.
Before his death, Mazarin gave the Queen Mother notes of his advice for her and for the young King, which he strongly recommended never to be published or shown to anyone except those two persons to whom they were addressed. Fortunately for me, I got acquainted with these records through my own channels and even made interesting extracts from them. However, my memory preserves them almost verbatim. Perhaps I will quote something else here, in these memoirs of mine.
After all the tedious procedures that are obligatory for Catholics and all the more urgently necessary for a cardinal slowly dying from an incurable illness, he prepared morally and physically to appear before the Lord and soon went to this meeting. His departure raised many questions about who would now hold the power and place of first minister, but the King strictly adhered to Mazarin’s recommendation, and no one was appointed first minister. This was the second high-ranking position that remained vacant and was effectively eliminated, despite the high price for which it could be sold. The first such position was that of the second superintendent of finance, which was abolished after the death of one of the two superintendents of finance, Charles de la Vieuville.
Young Louis XIV was interested in retaining the position of captain of his musketeers, so nominally he was their commander. Commanding them, conducting exercises and forming squadrons was his favorite pastime, but since he himself was not a sufficient officer, he exercised this command through d'Artagnan, which contributed to the rapprochement of our friend with the King, and contributed to his further career.
Thanks to daily communication with the musketeers, the King got to know him better, appreciated him and began to trust him with the most important sensitive assignments. In March 1661, a few days after the death of his patron, d'Artagnan, increasingly busy serving under Louis XIV, decided to leave the Guards regiment and sold his position at an obviously reduced price.

Chapter 201

Readers, if these memoirs of mine ever have any, will, of course, have already noticed that the name of the Marquise de Brenvilliers appears in my story. And every reader involuntarily shuddered when he encountered this name in my memoirs. Indeed, this name is widely known not only in France, but throughout Europe! Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite Dreux d'Aubray, Marquise de Brenvilliers was born on the second of July 1630. Today she is already known as a famous poisoner, with whose arrest the sensational case of poisons began. She was executed in Paris on July 17, 1676. Readers may have wondered: is there some connection between the Marquis and Marquise de Brenvilliers, about whom I wrote much earlier, and this famous Marie-Madele-Marguerite?
There is a connection between them, and a very direct one. I have come to the point in my story where I should return to this family in order to tell something about the Marquise de Brenvilliers.
As readers will probably remember, this name was borne during his stay in France by Lord Winter's younger brother, Baron Sheffield, who was married to Lady Claric, Anne de Bayle. You, of course, remember that this marriage was illegal, since by that time she was already married to Athos and therefore should have been called Countess de La F;re. Her husband, Baron Sheffield Marquis de Brenvilliers, did not suspect that she was not free and married before the Lord, so he gave her his name, his wealth, and his title, and she began to be called the Marquise de Brenvilliers.
I first met her and recognized her by that name a few minutes before she shot at me, hiding in the darkness so that I could not see her. She said that I should have killed her husband, but instead I became friends with him, which greatly upset her.
—Are you the wife of the Marquis de Brenvilliers? — I asked her then. “Perhaps you will come out of the darkness if you want to talk to me?”
- This minute, sir! - she answered, and at the very moment when I expected to see a woman, only one female hand appeared from the darkness, holding a small pistol, pointed directly at me. A shot rang out, I felt a strong blow to my chest and fell.
Before losing consciousness, as if in a dream, I heard: “You are mistaken, Aramis, I am not the wife of the Marquis de Brenvilliers, but his widow.” She told the truth, since by this time her husband, the Marquis de Brenvilliers, Baron Winter, was already dead. She killed him out of fear that the marquis, who learned that she was in another marriage, and also that her son was born to her from another man, would achieve recognition of the marriage with her as illegal, recognize her child as illegitimate, and renounce kinship with him. and will disgrace her in front of the whole world, and also, of course, will ensure that instead of dividing the property, she will have to be content with the share of maintenance that he, perhaps, out of pity, will allocate to her, and perhaps will allocate absolutely nothing.
“I know for sure that your first French husband is alive, and so that you do not doubt this, I will find him and present evidence about this matter to the church court!” - he told her. “Then I will not only receive a divorce, but the recognition of our marriage as invalid.” As the injured party, I can sue you and deprive you of your rights to even the slightest content! Of course, I will give you something like a thousand livres a month so that you can live quite decently, although God knows you don’t deserve it. And I will free myself from you, so that, perhaps, I can form a happy marriage with some honest woman who will be faithful to me and will give birth to my children, and not a bastard from her lover!
These words, spoken with fervor, became his own death sentence. Charlotte realized that the Marquis de Brenvilliers was not joking, that he would do exactly as he promised if she did not get ahead of him. Therefore, she told the Marquis that she had been slandered and that she would provide evidence of her innocence, after which, waiting for an opportune moment, she poisoned him and her maid, and then, taking all the most valuable things, set the house on fire. She did this in order to present the matter as if the fire had happened due to negligence, and not only the marquis, but also his wife died in it, so that no one would make an attempt to find her.
When passions subsided, and when she became close to Cardinal de Richelieu through her acquaintance with the Comte de Rochefort, she decided to appear as the miraculously saved Marquise de Brenvilliers. She returned and announced that her husband had sent her to the waters for treatment, which explained her absence, and that the woman whose burnt corpse was found in the marquis’s house was his mistress. Relying on the support of the cardinal, she assigned herself the title of Marquise de Brenvilliers, and intended to verify letters of inheritance for the title of Marquis de Brenvilliers for her son Mordaunt. Her artistic performances in court and the support of the cardinal allowed her to arouse the sympathy of investigators and judges in order to easily receive the inheritance of the marquis, but not his title for the child living with his lover, since the will made by the marquis even before the mentioned conversation deprived Mordaunt of this title, and it entered into legal force, as it was done according to all the rules and certified by a notary. Lord Winter, having learned about everything, challenged Charlotte's rights to the inheritance and his brother's title in court; the court sided with him, taking into account the evidence presented by Lord Winter. So she could not claim this title in England, but in France, with the support of Richelieu, she began to be called Milady, as the widow of an English marquis. This title remained with her until her death.
This murder of the Marquis was not the first in the chain of her crimes, and not the last. She was so entrenched in these atrocities and was so ruthless that I only wonder how I survived her attempt to kill me! After all, she could have shot me in the face, and not in the chest. It was only by luck that the bullet hit the golden crucifix given to me by her husband. So I recovered pretty quickly, since my wound was not fatal, although painful, it only consisted of the fact that several of my ribs were cracked.
In chapters 56 - 58 I have already described briefly the history of Anne de Bayle, Lady Clarik, Milady. Her real name was Charlotte Munier. I described how she ended up in a monastery, where she seduced Jean Dertier, who stole the holy gifts and escaped from the monastery with her. In chapter 59 I retold the story of her meeting with Athos.
To begin with, I ask you to remember that one of the princes of the blood was the Comte de Moret, who was six years younger than Anne of Austria, and I also ask you to remember that he was the legitimized son of Henry IV from Jacqueline de Bayle de Moret. Didn't the name "de Bayle" alarm you? Absolutely fair! You remember, of course, that Milady introduced herself to Athos as a certain “Anna de Bayle.” That is, she pretended that in some way she was a relative of King Henry IV himself, and, of course, therefore, of all the Princes and King Louis XIII. Athos, Count de La F;re, “noble as Dondolo or Montmorency,” of course, could not let such a name pass his ears. He asked Anne questions about what the connection was between her and Jacqueline de Bayle de Moret. The cunning Anna answered so evasively and portrayed such modesty on her face that Athos decided that there was a relationship between her and Jacqueline not Bayle, and, moreover, the most direct one, but some secret prevented her from talking about it in detail. Perhaps the reason for this was a quarrel between the heads of two branches of this house, or perhaps Anna herself disagreed with one of her influential relatives. Athos saw Milady as a goddess, and interpreted any omission in her favor. Perhaps Milady did not at all intend to pretend to be a relative of the Royal House, but Athos at that time was already in love with her, since he fell in love with her at first sight, and for a long time he simply admired her, not daring to speak and get acquainted. It is not difficult to deceive one who wants to be deceived, so Athos fell into a trap that he himself built for himself. Intending to marry a simple girl, he was shocked by the very thought that she, perhaps secretly, could boast of an even more noble origin than even himself! So what if she is forced to hide her origins? Athos firmly believed in the power of blood. “If a girl comes from a noble family, this is a guarantee that she herself will be noble in all respects,” so believed the naive Athos. In this secret nobility of the one he fell in love with in the form of a poor and humble noblewoman, Athos saw a sign of God. If before that he was ready to marry her, but intended to first obtain his father’s consent to this marriage, then, having decided that Anna was a relative of Jacqueline de Bayle, he decided to marry her in any case, regardless of the opinion and desire of his father, who wants to marry him to Mademoiselle de La Luce, and even if his father disinherits him and refuses his parental blessing. “When Anna becomes a real Countess de La F;re, shows all her best qualities, and gives me an heir, she will no longer be able to hide her secret, she will reveal it to me, I will find out about her origin, and together we will inform my elderly father about it. He will shed a tear, pick up and kiss our baby, his grandson, and give us his parental blessing. All old people are slow to rise, they always contradict their children, wanting to guide them in life only along the path that they themselves have chosen for them, so that not a single intention, even the most reasonable one, if it comes from a son, seems correct to the old father. He would prefer to marry me to some duchess or marquise, without taking into account either her appearance, or her character, or my feelings, or rather the complete absence of such towards her. I’ve already found my love and nothing will change my decision!” Athos thought so, and he was, of course, wrong about Charlotte.

Chapter 202

In Chapter 59, I have already described the episode in which Athos learned the whole truth about her, after which he decided to independently carry out a trial over her and carry out the sentence himself.
Athos exposed her not only for the fact that she had arbitrarily appropriated someone else’s name and called herself a noble title. He investigated the history of her entire life, and for him it turned out to be not so difficult, because he spared neither time nor money to find out the whole truth down to the smallest detail.
He found out that she was a thief and a murderer, an accomplice to monstrous crimes and a perpetrator of no less monstrous atrocities. He showed her a medallion she had and told her the story of this family heirloom of the Marquise de Beltham. In order to take possession of it, Charlotte poisoned her at the age of ten. He also told her about Annabelle de Lernu, who died at the age of thirteen, because young Charlotte liked the gold-framed mirror she owned too much. He presented her with a monstrance and other sacred gifts worth fifty-two thousand pistoles, which he took from the monastery especially for this purpose as bail - the same ones that Jean Berthier stole from the monastery at her instigation. He also showed her a precious ring, for the sake of which Charlotte’s father killed a young man with green eyes and black curls, who treated young Charlotte to a sugar cockerel. He also showed a gold ring that had been taken from the finger of a forty-year-old lady who had called young Charlotte a lovely child and given her a tortoiseshell comb. He also showed another ring, which cost the life of a young girl and the young man accompanying her, who compared Charlotte to an angel. From a young age, in the house of her father, an innkeeper, Charlotte learned about the jewelry and money that their guests had in order to report this to her father, Michel Munier and mother Jeanne Munier, who killed the guests, stole their belongings, and disposed of the corpses. When her parents were exposed and arrested, Charlotte, due to her infancy, was considered innocent and sent to a monastery, although she was an accomplice in all her father’s atrocities, and even in some cases, when her father did not dare, for example, to raise his hand against the priest, she demanded that he he killed him because the things she noticed on him attracted her very much, so she certainly wanted to take possession of them. In addition, she mixed sleeping pills into the horses' feed and into the guests' tea to make it easier for the parents to commit their crime.
“You should be impaled on the wheel for your murders,” Athos told her. “I know for sure that if it weren’t for your stubbornness, your parents would not have decided to kill the priest.” So the punishment that your father suffered for you should have been applied to you. But even if you leave aside your crimes committed as a child, then you are entitled to the gallows for crimes committed in your youth.
Athos locked Charlotte up for the night so that she would pray all night for the salvation of her soul and for those she had destroyed, intending in the morning to offer her to drink poison that would act instantly.
“Perhaps we can drink it together,” Athos thought then.
Charlotte pretended to submit, but during the night she managed to get rid of her bonds and kill Pierre, Athos’s servant, who was guarding her, breaking his skull with a heavy crucifix.
Then Athos jumped on the fastest and most resilient one, caught up with the fugitive and, tying her with his whip, gagged her with his handkerchief and brought her back to his house.
“You did not want to atone for your sins, preferring to take on the new sin of murder on your soul,” he said in a gloomy voice, from which goosebumps ran down Charlotte’s body. - I will not tell you: “Die in peace,” madam. I'll tell you: "Go to Hell." I won't give you the last word. Everything you could say in this world, you have already said. Save your eloquence for the meeting with Satan.
Hastily, as if afraid to change his mind, he dragged Charlotte onto the stepladder, put a noose around her neck and kicked the stepladder out from under her feet. After that, without even looking at the result of the work of his hands, he slammed the doors of the room where Charlotte was squirming on a rope and ran out of the house. He intended to drown himself in a nearby pond.
His instincts prevented him from drowning. He got up and wandered off, not knowing where.
On the road he met a sergeant of the royal troops, accompanied by two soldiers.
- Young man! - exclaimed the sergeant. — Sign up for the royal army.
— Which troops have the highest mortality rate? - asked Athos.
“In wartime, with everyone, and in peacetime, as now, with the King’s musketeers,” answered the sergeant. “But in order to join the musketeers, you must be a nobleman and be able to fence well, shoot a pistol and a musket, and ride a horse.”
“That’s all there,” answered Athos indifferently. - Where do I sign?
“Here and here,” answered the sergeant. — When can you arrive at the collection point?
“Immediately,” answered Athos.
So, being in a second illegal marriage with the Marquis de Brenvilliers, Charlotte did not interrupt her ties with the world of adventurers, thieves, blackmailers and extortionists; she was in love with one of them like a cat, stronger even than with the Comte de Wardes later. This adventurer was G;rard Duchot.
I have previously written that Mordaunt was the son of Gerard Duchaud. Now it's time to tell you that this is not the whole truth about Charlotte Buxton, Anne de Bayle, Lady Clarik. This is what I learned from a letter from a member of the Jesuit Order, whose name has nothing to do with the story. This correspondent addressed me as it was customary by that time to address me in these circles.

“Dear d'Alameda!
I think that you might be interested in some information about Charlotte Munier, also known by other names, which are unnecessary to recall here.
It will probably be interesting for you to know that in addition to an illegitimate son named Mordaunt from the adventurer and robber Gerard Duchot, she had another son, born from the nun Jean Berthier, who was seduced by her, Antoine. Without much hesitation, she gave this son to her lover, not caring at all about his future fate, informing him that, along with the end of love, she was returning to him her fruit in the person of this baby. Apparently, she did this not so much out of thoughtlessness as out of selfish considerations, since having a son would have deprived her of the opportunity to marry the Count de La F;re. Jean Berthier was too busy with his mad love for Charlotte to take care of the child. He was going to commit suicide, and intended to take his child with him to the next world. His brother, Jacques Berthier, finding him in a state of extreme despondency with a huge cleaver in his hand, and with a screaming baby, completely naked and lying in front of the distraught Jacques on the table, took both the cleaver and the baby from him. Having taken all the sharp objects from his brother’s shack, giving him a glass of red wine to calm him down and putting him to bed, Jacques took the baby to a wet nurse, paying her for the child’s maintenance for a year in advance. Jacques did not dare to raise and raise the child himself, since he was single, and his profession as an executioner did not contribute to his knowledge of how to feed and raise children, and did not promise this child any more or less worthy future. The nurse, Cosette Lemar, became attached to the baby, and since Jacques Berthier regularly paid her sums for the child’s maintenance, not only sufficient, but also excessive, the child received quite decent feeding, education and training, so that he could easily go to work as a secretary for some nobleman. In 1621, Charlotte Munier, as Marquise de Brenvilliers, arrived in Lille and sought out her illegitimate son Antoine. She did not take him away, but left ten thousand pistoles with Cosette Lemar, and also informed her that she, the Marquise de Brenvilliers, had plans to take care of this child in the future. The next day, she brought Cosette a will certified by a notary, in which she recognized this child as hers and left her entire fortune to this child in the event that she and her husband, the Marquis, had no other heirs. Attached to the document was also an act in which her husband, Marquis de Brenvilliers, having affixed this document with his own signature and seal in the presence of a notary, recognized this child as his own and transferred his title of Marquis de Brenvilliers to this boy in the event that he was not legally born. marriage of a male child. As it turned out, Charlotte begged this document from her husband, confessing to him the mistakes of her youth, only when she herself was already pregnant. The Marquis, believing that his wife was pregnant with his child, agreed to sign this document in case he had a girl and no other children, which then seemed extremely unlikely to him. The Marquise persuaded him that this was in his interests, so that his family would not be cut short in the “straight line”, and so that his entire fortune would not go to his elder brother, Lord Winter, who was already many times richer than the Marquis. Probably, by that time, Charlotte had managed to seriously quarrel between the marquis and his brother, so the idea of leaving everything, including the title, to his wife’s illegitimate son then seemed more attractive to him than leaving an inheritance to his brother or his descendants, in the event that his own descendants he won't be there.
All these documents seemed insignificant until it became known that the Marquis de Brenvilliers and his wife died due to a fire in their house. Some time later, it turned out that Charlotte de Brenvilliers had escaped, and the corpse of either a maid or the marquis’ mistress was mistakenly taken for her corpse. Thus, these papers became less important, since Charlotte herself entered into inheritance rights. However, several years later, Charlotte disappeared, after which it was established that she had been executed by unknown persons, as reported by officials from the service of His Eminence. Thus, Antoine entered into the rights of inheritance and became known as Antoine, Marquis de Brenvilliers.
That's not all I wanted to tell you, dear d'Alameda!
Do you remember Charlotte's lover, Gerard Duchot? This same Gerard Duchot pretended to be another person, a nobleman, an officer. He managed to become such in the eyes of the French nobility. Comte de Ronchamp told me that Duchot met him at the post station, and learned from him that he was returning from military service to his estate to accept the inheritance of his deceased parents. The vile Duchot, using all his hypocrisy, tried to gain the trust and make friends with the officer, who was an orphan. The poor officer said that he was absent from his native estate for a very long time. The criminal realized that in appearance this officer was vaguely similar to Gerard Duchot himself. The idea of taking his life, destiny, title and wealth came to his vile mind, after which he realized it in the most vile way. It is unknown how exactly he disposed of the corpse. Most likely, he threw his corpse into the nearest lake, having previously tied some kind of weight to it, after which the fish ate the corpse beyond recognition. Under this name, he even married one not too picky or overly trusting lady, who was related to very influential political and religious figures. Marriage was a way for Duchot to elevate himself, because he hated his wife. But, nevertheless, she gave birth to his daughter Marie-Madeleine in 1639, and after two sons, Antoine and Francois, as well as the youngest daughter Anne-Charlotte. Soon, Duchot’s wife became seriously ill; before her death, she asked her husband to raise their children to be God-fearing and kind, which he promised her, but he had no intention of keeping his promise. Deep down, he himself was far from being like that, so he raised his children as he saw fit, that is, in no way. He was not too attached to his children, perceived them as his property and disposed of them at his own discretion.
Duchot hid this side of his life from his son, Mordaunt. In front of him, he portrayed a penniless robber, because he hoped with his help to profit from the kindness of Lord Winter. However, his plans were not destined to come true: during an attempt on the life of the Duchess de Chevreuse, he was shot, and his corpse was carried by servants outside her estate and left in the forest. But this is only part of the truth, and the complete truth is that Duchot was only wounded. One compassionate peasant, returning from his poaching foray, during which he hunted hares in the forests of the Duchess, found a dying man and took pity on him, carried him into his house and left. The recovered Duchot returned to his estate, acquired by cunning, and reigned there again under the name of Antoine Dreux d'Aubray. And it had to happen that this Gerard, hiding under the name of Antoine Dreux d'Aubray, gave his daughter Marie-Madeleine to my lady's second son, to this same Antoine, Marquis de Brenvilliers! Of course, he knew about Antoine’s origins, but even better he knew about his wealth, inherited from the Marquis de Brenvilliers, with whom you were familiar, and on which this scoundrel had his eye. Just think what it's like! The daughter of the imaginary nobleman Dreux d'Aubray married the imaginary nobleman Brenvilliers! The daughter of Gerard Duchot, lover of Charlotte Munier, Lady Clarique, Anne de Bayle, Countess de La F;re, married her illegitimate son! So the family of the so-called Marquis de Brenvilliers is a family of impostors!
I wouldn’t be writing to you about this if I hadn’t also learned this. Gerard Duchot vowed revenge on certain four musketeers, whose names you know! But this may no longer bother you, since there was no mutual understanding between father and daughter, which led to a tragic outcome. I have good reason to suspect that from an early age Duchot treated his daughter not at all as a father should treat him, but encroached on what she could only provide to her future husband. After Marie-Madeleine’s marriage, Gerard Duchot tolerated her husband, since he brought significant capital to the family, but Marie-Madeleine did not love her husband, their relationship was more than cold, so from time to time she made acquaintances with other men, which is why her dad became furious. His madness reached the point that he arranged for the arrest in 1663 of her lover, cavalry captain Jean Baptiste de Gaudin de Sainte-Croix, who was put in a cell with the Italian alchemist Exili, accused of manufacturing and selling poisons. After his release, Gaudin de Sainte-Croix used the knowledge he received from Exili and became interested in alchemy and the composition of poisons. He passed on these hobbies to his girlfriend, Marie-Madeleine, with whom he got back together. Five years ago, Gerard Duchot died under very suspicious circumstances, which make me suspect a poisoning that could have been carried out by Jean-Baptiste de Gaudin, and, perhaps, not only with the consent of Marie-Madeleine, but even with her assistance. Last year, both of Marie-Madeleine's brothers, Antoine and Francois, as well as her sister Anne-Charlotte, died under equally mysterious circumstances. The family of Marie-Madeleine and Antoine of the imaginary de Brenvilliers inherited the entire fortune of the Dreux d'Aubray family in addition to the inheritance from the Marquis de Brenvilliers, despite the fact that both of these noble noble families have no relationship to these degenerates. It seems that Marie-Madeleine did not break off her relationship with de Gaudin. All this would have nothing to do with you, if not for the fact that Marie-Madeleine, somehow rummaging through the papers of her late father, did not find his notes in which he described in black paint certain four musketeers, and vowed to take revenge on them. For all her hatred of her father and his memory, this lady seems to adore such concepts as revenge, murder and inheritance. I’m afraid that in this beautiful head a plan may be ripening that you may very much dislike and harm those four gentlemen musketeers of whom I am talking. Take a closer look at this family and, if possible, take measures to protect yourself and your three friends, who, as I know, are very dear to you.
Yours sincerely
K. O.I.”

Abbreviation "K" O.I" meant "Coadjutor of the Jesuit Order", of course. I will not name this person. What do you need it for? And I will never forget him!
A shiver ran down my spine as I read this letter. So Milady had another son, and now he must have been somewhere around forty-two or forty-three years old. What if he also inherited his mother’s character, like her other son, Mordaunt?

Chapter 203

I have developed a magnificent plan for the transformation of the island of Belle-Ile. I decided to turn it into a magnificent port fortress. This fortress had to cope perfectly with both defense against attacks from the sea and protection against attacks from the mainland. If the owner of the fortress were to defend France from external enemies, the part of the coast behind the island would become impregnable. If he went over to the side of England, it would be an excellent outpost, allowing him to attack the coast of France and support an amphibious landing. In addition, the island could well lay claim to independent governance, without joining either France or England, and maintaining moderate relations on the border between alliance and rivalry, beneficial, but not subordinate to either side. That's what my idea was. Such a fortress could be sold to the King for good money, for an amount much greater than the cost of the island and the sum of all construction costs. The king would certainly have paid, since he would have been afraid that such a beautifully fortified island might go over to the side of the enemies of France. Mazarin paid huge sums to achieve alliances with much less significant rulers than what the governor of a fortified fortress on the island of Belle-Ile could become. What an alliance! Mazarin even paid for simple neutrality!
Porthos did an excellent job of supervising the construction, so that the fortress was built extremely quickly, and at the same time the construction was carried out with high quality and accuracy. I would not be surprised if Porthos fell in love with this future fortress long before its appearance, like his own child. Yes, that’s how it was, in essence – this fortress was his brainchild.
He enjoyed constant authority among the builders, and not only because of his heroic figure and exorbitant strength, but also because of the reasonableness of his instructions, fair demands and the enthusiasm that he showed so sincerely that he infected everyone around him. Even once, when I visited a construction site, I caught myself thinking that I wanted to grab some stone to help put it in place. There is no need to say that Porthos himself often applied his remarkable strength to the construction, greatly helping to ensure that even the heaviest stones were laid as neatly as possible in the places intended for them.
In this very year, 1661, of which I am now writing, some important events took place, the most notable of which was the marriage of Monsieur, the King's brother, Duke Philippe of Orleans, and Princess Henrietta of England. This marriage took place due to the return of the throne of England to the son of Charles of England, who reigned under the name Charles II. We should probably tell you at least briefly about this.
Grimaud, in his memoirs entitled “The Vicomte de Bragelonne, or Ten Years After,” told something about how d’Artagnan and his hired assistants kidnapped General Monck in England and delivered him to the son of Charles I, and Athos, meanwhile, did not Knowing about d'Artagnan's plans, he arrived in England only to extract a million pounds sterling in gold coins hidden there from the cache of the late King, in order to offer this million to his son. This million was supposedly supposed to contribute to the return of the King's son to his power in England and Scotland, the restoration of the English and Scottish Stuart dynasty.
Well, Grimaud outlined the essence of the events quite tolerably, but, of course, he got a lot of things wrong in the details. Accompanying Athos, he saw that he had removed a barrel of treasure from the cache, but did not know what kind of treasures lay in it. Hearing that the amount in question was a million pounds sterling, he decided that the barrel was full of gold.
I will remind you of what Grimaud wrote in this regard in two different volumes of his works. According to him, King Charles I in the novel “Twenty Years Later” tells Athos the following: “I still have a million pounds of gold left; I buried it in the dungeon of Newcastle Castle when I left this city. You alone know where this money is; use them when it seems appropriate to you, for the benefit and benefit of my eldest son.”
It is easy to calculate, a million pounds sterling, equal to the value of a million pounds of silver, if its value is contained in gold coins, must weigh 13.8 muy! A cube-shaped gold bar of this value would be about half a toise in width, length and height. It is impossible to hide such an amount of gold in a barrel; no barrel can withstand such weight.
Grimaud fantasized something that he did not know exactly. Charles of England would not have hidden the gold in a cache; he would have used it to hire an army. He hid the Royal Family's heirlooms, jewels that were worth much more than gold in terms of weight. These were made of gold, but contained superbly cut diamonds, the value of which was very significant due to their purity, size and cut. These values, if converted into gold, were much more valuable than a million English pounds sterling. Some precious items I would call priceless. All this was carefully packed and lined with soft pieces of velvet fabric, which protected them from the slightest scratches. As a case for this precious treasure, the King chose an ordinary keg of gunpowder, and the weight of this keg was quite consistent with the weight of a keg of gunpowder, since it was not entirely filled with gold, but contained jewelry, generously arranged in soft packaging that weighed almost nothing. Therefore, Athos could easily convince General Monk’s soldiers that it was a keg of gunpowder. The question remains unclear as to how General Monck was able to explain to his officers the fact that a certain French nobleman arrived at the very center of the army in order to remove a keg of gunpowder hidden there from an abandoned tomb and take it away under careful guard somewhere there, where he considered it necessary. Who would need gunpowder that has lain underground for many years? After all, he would most likely become damp! And who would need to hide just a keg of gunpowder in a crypt? Grimaud didn't think about this. In addition, he reports that the gold was stored in two barrels, and for some reason Athos knew about this, although Charles did not tell him any details about this! You yourself understand that only the conjectures of Grimaud were presented here, who by the time he wrote about this, had already forgotten what he had written earlier in his book “Twenty Years Later.”
Charles I told Athos quite accurately where and how to look for the treasure he had hidden, which is the only reason why Athos easily found it. The money was not hidden in the family crypt, because, firstly, there is no family crypt in the dungeon of Newcastle Castle, and secondly, the pious King would never desecrate the family crypt in this way. The treasure was located under one of the stone slabs with which the dungeon was paved, and the King very precisely remembered and told Athos how to find this slab.
Well, the rest of the story is about how Athos obtained the treasure hidden by Charles I and handed it to the rightful heir, Charles II, and also about how d'Artagnan and his friends stole General Monck and brought it to the same Charles II, who ordered the return of freedom to the general, can be taken as a conditionally correct statement of all the events of this time. That is, there is not much more fiction in this presentation than truth, and any presentation of events in which there is at least a quarter of the truth can rightfully be called a historical chronicle, such is my deepest conviction. There was perhaps a third of Grimaud’s tales that were true, so I certainly recognize them as historically correct.
So, Athos and d'Artagnan, with their actions, touched the heart of General Monck, who decided to return the English throne to its rightful owner, Charles II, who thus became the rightful King of England, as well as the King and ruler of Scotland and Ireland. It is only worth adding to this that Lambert established a military dictatorship in England, which Monk could not cope with, so it was in Monk’s interests to find a strong move against his rival. I will also add that the people of England remained monarchists at heart, that is, the majority of the nation already regretted everything that had happened and was disposed to the idea of returning the monarchy. Indeed, the people felt much freer under Charles I than under Lambert. Thus, Monk realized the benefit of his decision, although, of course, the actions that d'Artagnan and Athos took contributed to this decision. But I am not as naive as Grimaud, so I would not argue that two such events are capable of forcing a person like General Monck to diametrically change his intentions, voluntarily relinquish power and transfer it to a person little known to him. If this step had not been beneficial to himself, he would never have taken it. With this move, he defeated his stronger opponent Lambert.
In March 1660, the English Parliament passed a bill to repeal all regulations since 1648, including the regulation abolishing the monarchy. Thus, the monarchy was officially restored. After the promulgation of the Declaration of Breda, which guaranteed amnesty to all supporters of the revolution, except for the murderers of Charles I, preservation of ownership of property acquired during the revolution, freedom of religion, and repayment of debts to soldiers, Charles II returned to London. On May 8th he was proclaimed King by a unanimous decision of Parliament. On the same day, the King approved the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right and the Statute of Parliament's power to lay taxes.
His sister Henrietta thus became a royal bride, and the marriage of our King's younger brother, Philip of Orl;ans, to her was a highly desirable political step for both states, since it contributed to the rapprochement of France and England. Cardinal Mazarin also actively pursued this marriage; both the Queen Mother and King Louis IV were interested in this marriage. Bold, witty, slender, beautiful and passionate Henrietta arrived in France, and after her marriage to Philippe d'Orl;ans, she began to be called Madame, started her own staff of ladies-in-waiting, which also included Mademoiselle de La Valli;re, a childhood friend of Raoul, Viscount de Bragelonne, the son of our dear Athos. Raoul considered this friendship to be sincere love, and intended to marry her, contrary to the wishes of his father, who, not being a tyrant, opposed this marriage only in the depths of his soul, without limiting the Viscount with his paternal will. This was all the more strange because Athos himself, who married Anna de Bayle against the will of his father, repented, of course, of this marriage, and very soon realized that it would be better for him to obey his father’s will. On this basis, he might seem to have felt the father's responsibility for the matrimonial choice of his son, but this was not our Athos.
So, Mazarin arranged the marriage of Monsieur and Henrietta of England after he strengthened the throne of King Louis XIV and linked the ever-warring kingdoms of Spain and France with a new dynastic marriage. Despite the fact that the double dynastic marriage arranged earlier by Marie de Medici did not ensure peace between our countries, this additional kinship alliance established peace for some time. The consistent and persistent activity of the cardinal thus reached the highest point of his success, after which he seemed to break down. Having given all his strength and health to the benefit of the ruling Royal House, he seemed to have dried up, as if state necessity was the source of strength that did not allow him to die, and as soon as the opportunity arose for him to relax at least for a while and enjoy life on the crest success, this source disappeared, and with it the soul of the cardinal flew to the Lord.
On March 9, 1661, Cardinal Mazarin passed away to a better world.

Chapter 204

In connection with the letter I received from the coadjutor of the Jesuit Order, I became concerned for my friends. Porthos would be almost constantly before my eyes, or, in any case, I would know where he was and what he was doing. While he supervised the construction of the Belle-Ile fortress, he was completely safe. Athos and d'Artagnan were in the greatest danger. It was Athos who Mordaunt hated most of all, since he was the culprit of all his mother’s misadventures; he executed her twice, although the first time was unsuccessful. Second on the hate list was d'Artagnan. There was another reason to fear for these two friends of mine more than for Porthos. Both of them were surprisingly indecisive and sentimental towards Charlotte Buxton herself, and towards Mordaunt in particular. While I, knowing Mordaunt's crimes, could have shot him without hesitation, when the opportunity presented itself, Athos stopped me. D' Artagnan hesitated suspiciously when the opportunity to duel with Mordaunt presented itself. If he acted decisively as usual, not a single swordsman would be able to elude him. It would not have taken him three experimental thrusts to skewer Mordaunt on the fourth, like a partridge on a spit. Since, as it turned out, Milady had another son, the eldest, who was also interested in issues of revenge, and also her lover, Gerard Duchaud, had a daughter who had read the diaries or letters of her robber father, and since she loved to take revenge, and, Seems to be addicted to using poisons for their own purposes, this family posed a serious threat to my friends. I had no doubt that Duchot's daughter, who now bore the name of the Marquise de Brenvilliers, simply poisoned her father, two brothers and a sister, simply to remain the sole heir to the entire family fortune. But I wanted to know everything for sure. I instructed two of my agents to look into this matter and find out everything in detail, and also, if possible, find out the plans of this family. First of all, I was interested in whether they knew our names, and how serious the intentions of this couple or one of them were to take revenge for their relatives - Charlotte Buxton, Mordaunt and Gerard Duchot. In addition, after all, Gerard Duchaud was shot by the people of the Duchess de Chevreuse, so his daughter’s revenge could extend to her. Anyone else in my place would have thought that the daughter would not take revenge for the attempted murder of her father if she herself subsequently poisoned him, but I understand the quirks of the human psyche much better. For a long time I confessed to many ladies, some of them were far from angels. In addition, I studied human history, psychology and politics from books from the secret library of the Jesuit Order, so it was not surprising to me that such whims could not only come to the minds of some ladies, but even become an obsession.
Here's what I found out about this lady.
She apparently did not love her parents, her brothers and sister, or her husband. I think that she, apparently, did not love her lover, Gaudin de Sainte-Croix, so much either, but they were connected to a much greater extent by a common passion for poisons and their use. Godin was simply obsessed with poisons, and with this addiction he infected his mistress.
At the beginning of the development of this interest, Marie-Madeleine-Margarita did not hide her hobbies at all. In front of her relatives and family, she happily tested her poisons, first on frogs and lizards, then on mice, hamsters, moles, and then began testing them on larger animals such as cats and dogs. Finally, she completely lost interest in poisoning animals, and her family decided that her interest had dried up. But from that moment on, strange things began to happen. The Marquise began visiting patients in hospitals for the poor. She spoke kindly to them, choosing the most hopeless patients for conversation, after which she left them various treats. A day after her visits, those whom she visited died. The clinic staff did not make a fuss about this because these hospitals tended to house the poorest people without relatives, the clinic had limited funds, and there were more patients than the clinics could accommodate. So for all the staff, the death of some hopelessly ill poor man was more of a relief than a grief. Moreover, even if they had suspicions about any other visitor, they could not even think of anything bad in relation to such a noble person. In addition, the Marquise always accompanied her visits with generous gifts to the clinic, so these visits were manna from heaven for the clinics of Paris.
The Marquise herself, upon learning of the death of those whom she was visiting, became extremely excited, which was attributed to a special form of sympathy due to involvement. She immediately came to this clinic and asked the doctors about all the symptoms of a transient illness and death, and also always asked to show her the deceased or deceased. She carefully examined the deceased and touched his face, lips, looked into his eyes, lifting his eyelids. She seemed very pleased, while the medical staff believed that she was thus worried about the unfortunate victim and was trying to understand the reasons for the unexpected death.
In addition, I learned that in the last couple of years more than half of the marquise’s servants have taken payoffs, as a result of which she had to hire new ones. It started when one maid irritated the marquise because the bed was not made thoroughly enough. The maid tried to justify herself by saying that the bed had been rumpled by the cat.
- These terrible folds on the bedspread could not have been made by a cat! - the marquise objected sharply. “Either do your job the way you’re supposed to, or I’ll fire you!”
“But madam, I’m telling the truth!” - the maid tried to justify herself.
- Oh, how’s that? - the marquise objected arrogantly. - So I'm lying?
“You are simply mistaken, madam,” the maid answered meekly. - But I'll fix everything.
With these words, she straightened the folds of the bedspread.
“Everything can be fixed, madam,” said the maid with a smile. - I ask you to forgive me for myself and for your cat.
“Yes,” said the marquise absently. “Everything can be easily fixed, honey.” Go.
Two days later, the maid died unexpectedly. The Marchioness hired a new maid.
A month later, a similar scandal broke out between the marquise and her gardener. This time the marquise reprimanded him for the fact that the roses had too sharp and prickly thorns.
“Madam, roses always have thorns,” answered the gardener.
- But not in my garden! - objected the marquise. “You are a gardener, and if you see that my flowers have thorns, you should remove them so that your marquise does not injure her hands on them!”
“Mistress, if you cut off all the thorns of a rose, it will die!” - the gardener objected.
- So be it! - answered the marquise. “It’s better that all the roses die than that I scratch my hands!” If you don't understand this, you don't belong in my house, I'll find another gardener.
“I will watch the thorns of the roses so that they don’t prick you,” the gardener answered humbly.
- Yes, please, be kind! - the marquise rapped.
The gardener apparently decided that the marquise was joking and that she would henceforth be more careful with roses. But he was wrong. The next day, the marquise went out into the garden and first of all went to the roses. Finding that the thorns on the roses had not been removed, she smiled ominously and nodded, looking in the direction of the gardener's lodge.
Three days later the gardener died unexpectedly. After this, half of the marquise’s servants asked for payment.
“So, Duchaux’s daughter not only became addicted to poisons, but she also developed a taste for carrying out her diabolical experiments on people! — I thought, having familiarized myself with this information. “She only has to find out the names of those musketeers whom her father hated, and she will immediately deal with them!” You should get ahead of her!”
After that, I began to study information about Charlotte Buxton's son, Antoine.
Information about him was rather scarce. But I learned something about him.
Antoine, indeed, was raised by a wet nurse and considered himself a rootless orphan, after which he unexpectedly received documents stating that he was the son of the Marquis de Brenvilliers and his wife Charlotte. The inheritance fell out of the blue along with the news that both his parents had passed away. Almost immediately a certain nobleman appeared to him, calling himself Antoine Breu d'Aubray. It was Gerard Duchot.
“I knew your beautiful mother well, I was her closest friend,” he said. “As proof of this, I can say that she ordered you to be named Antoine in my honor, and I was your godfather.”
- Why have I never seen you, or, in any case, don’t remember you? - asked young Antoine.
“Life is very complex, and sometimes has its secrets, which you, of course, will learn about in due time,” answered Duchot. “Your mother and I had many cruel enemies. She and I were faithful servants of Cardinal Richelieu, for which the cardinal’s enemies hated us. You are aware of the revelations of many conspiracies against the great cardinal! All these gentlemen, Chalet, Saint-Mars, and many others intended to kill the great Richelieu, the first minister and the cardinal! Kill the priest! What sacrilege! Your mother and I had to hide. That is why she gave you to be raised by a wet nurse, because she was afraid that the enemies would destroy her, your father, and you. She hoped in this way to protect at least you from death, and, as you can see, her foresight was completely justified! All you have to do is avenge yourself. I will tell you the names of the killers of your mother and your father. This is the Duchess de Chevreuse, as well as four noblemen, whose names are Comte de La F;re, Baron Du Valon, Chevalier d' Herblay and Captain d'Artagnan.
- How can I take revenge on them for my parents? - asked Antoine.
- Obey me in everything, and I will find a means for revenge! - Duchot replied.
He did not say that Antoine had a younger brother, Mordaunt, just as he did not tell Mordaunt about Antoine. Mordaunt was his own son by Milady, while Antoine was the son of Jean Berthier. So Duchot could use the knowledge of his relationship with this young man as he saw fit. If he had told him that he had a maternal brother who was also the paternal brother of the one he intended to marry Antoine, then this marriage would have been impossible. The death of Mordaunt put everything in its place: Antoine should not have known about the existence of Mordaunt, so nothing prevented Duchot from marrying his daughter to Antoine, making her the Marquise de Brenvilliers.
Since Gerard Duchot was only interested in money and revenge, he did not raise children. His wife died early, leaving him five children. Gerard suspected that only the eldest daughter was from him, since he was constantly on the road and had almost no contact with his wife. However, he was not completely sure of this, although his meetings with his wife should rather be described not as acts of love, but as manifestations of animal passion, rough and cruel. Duchot's wife, apparently, did not realize that instead of love she was content with bestial relationships, in fact, with violence. She did not expect any pleasure from these meetings, naively believing that this is how everything should happen. Frequent pregnancies and childbirth, as well as the rude methods of starting this pregnancy, had such a detrimental effect on her health that after the birth of her fifth child, her youngest daughter, she soon died. The rude Gerard openly hated his children, except for his eldest daughter, and passed this hatred of each other on to them. His sons entered into criminal relationships with their sisters, for which the sisters hated them. So it doesn’t surprise me at all that Marie-Madeleine-Margarita could well have poisoned her father, her three brothers, and her younger sister.
Antoine, the eldest son of Charlotte Buxton, having learned about the wealth that had fallen on him, began to lead a disgusting lifestyle. Apparently, Athos was right about the fact that children are inherited from their parents not only external features, but also character, inclinations, and temperament. Antoine was the worst incarnation of Milady in male form. He made himself a friend. Over the course of a few days, this friend, with the help of the adventurers he hired, kidnapped young village women for Antoine and delivered them to him in an outbuilding specially equipped for this. There Antoine played with them, satisfying his own perverted inclinations, not caring at all about the desires and rights of these kidnapped girls. After, as a result of his amusements, they lost their attractiveness in his eyes, he ordered to get rid of them, and the same friend of his, for additional money, eliminated her, that is, killed her and buried her in some vacant lot, or drowned her in the sea away from the shore., tying a heavier stone to his feet. The name of this assistant of his was mentioned in one of the messages, and I should have remembered it well, although I did not pay the slightest attention to him, which I regret to this day. The fact is that this man's name was du Trabuson. I still don’t understand why, with my exceptional memory, I didn’t remember this name and wasn’t alert when I heard it under different circumstances. If I had remembered him and been wary, perhaps it would have saved us from many misfortunes. I should have put this scoundrel's name on the list of people who should be punished, but at that time I was only interested in those who were a danger to my friends and myself, so I did not give this man the attention he deserved.
So, the story of the marriage of Charlotte Buxton’s son and the daughter of her former lover was more or less known to me. Now I was occupied with only one question: are Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite and her husband Antoine united in their desire to take revenge on the four nobles and the duchess, or is each of them hatching these plans for revenge on their own?
I undertook further investigations, which convinced me that G;rard Duchot had inherited these plans for revenge to both of them separately, without informing either of them. Apparently, he was guided by the principle: “Divide and conquer.” Well, that worked to our advantage.
United, this self-proclaimed marquis and his poisoner wife would be more dangerous to us.
I decided that I should put an end to this family as quickly as possible, and I chose as my weapon not a sword, but a pen, paper and pistols.

Chapter 205

“Come in, Jean-Paul,” I said.
A forty-year-old man dressed as a chevalier entered my office.
“Good evening, monsignor,” said the newcomer.
“Good evening, Jean-Paul,” I replied. - You will go to the estate of the Marquis de Brenvilliers. The owner of the estate, Antoine, Marquis de Brenvilliers, has sinful addictions, which he carries out with the help of money, and hides the traces of his crimes behind even worse crimes, ordering the murder of his unfortunate victims. But this scoundrel has a twisted vocation to record all his crimes in his diary. He keeps this diary in a chest located in the outbuilding, where he carries out his crimes. He told his wife that he was practicing alchemy in the hope of discovering the secret of preparing the philosopher's stone. His wife, Marie-Madeleine-Margarita de Brenvilliers, understands chemistry, but only in that section of it that is associated with the preparation and use of poisons. So she treated her husband’s imaginary hobbies with contempt and never visited this outbuilding. You must open the marquise’s eyes to what her husband is doing. Care should be taken to ensure that the marquise finds the key to the chest and knows where the chest is, and it is also necessary to ensure that she has the opportunity to visit the outbuilding in the absence of the marquis. And all this should look like pure coincidence. The marquis carries the key to the chest on a chain, which he does not remove from his neck even during sleep. Can you handle it?
“You know, monsignor, that the Order entrusted me with more difficult matters,” answered Jean-Paul.
“Didn’t the Order teach you to answer the master’s questions directly and to the point, without delving into the essence and without adding unnecessary things to the answers?” - I asked.
“Sorry, monsignor,” Jean-Paul answered obediently. - I can handle. I had to answer only this.
“Yes, you can handle it,” I agreed. - Please note that the Marquise is a skilled poisoner. You should be careful not only to drink or eat anything in her house, but also not to smell anything, and if possible not to touch anything except with gloves. The Marquis himself has devoted servants, and you should also beware of them. Take care of yourself. I want you to come out of this unscathed and uncompromised. Do you understand everything?
“Yes, monsignor,” answered Jean-Paul.
Jean-Paul was an excellent professional in his field.

On a beautiful May morning, the marquise woke up in a great mood. The Marquis intended to go hunting for two days. She intended to spend these two days with her lover Gaudin de Sainte-Croix. He promised to teach her the recipe for another poison, and together with him they would receive it in her secret laboratory in the dungeon of the castle. Then she tries it out on a daring young shepherdess. This young shepherd boy played the horn extremely skillfully. Moreover, he was handsome, perhaps just like ancient Paris. The marquise even liked him. But two days ago, while walking through a meadow, she stepped in a place where she shouldn’t have stepped at all. Screaming in horror and disgust, she heard cheerful laughter. It was the shepherd boy who saw the trouble she was getting into and thought it was funny. Evil lights sparkled in the marquise’s eyes. This scoffer must die. And his death must be painful. She wrote a note to her boyfriend, and he promised to teach her how to make poisons that would cause a person to die for a long time and in terrible pain. This was what we needed!
So the marquise was in the most rosy mood in anticipation of a whole series of entertainments.
She headed towards the roses. The new gardener was warned to cut off the thorns on all roses, even if doing so would kill them. The Marquise hoped that she would find a rose with thorns, which would allow her to scold the new gardener, and then punish him in her favorite way.
Near the flowerbed something sparkled brightly in the sun. She walked up and saw the key on the chain. She recognized the chain because she saw it on her husband's neck. Her husband never showed her what was at the end of this chain, and she believed that there was a crucifix there. She was very surprised that her husband wore a key on a chain instead of a crucifix.
The marquise looked around and, making sure that no one saw her, quickly picked up the chain with the key and hid it in her sleeve. She realized that if the chain was not broken, then the Marquis himself had removed it from his neck, which meant that he needed the key. But the rosalia is located quite far from the castle, why could the marquis remove the key from his neck so early? Unless the key was not from some door in the castle, but from something in the outbuilding? The outhouse was nearby. The marquise headed towards the outbuilding. The doors to it were locked, but the marquise had a key to it, which the marquis himself did not know about. She had enough time to go to the castle for it, get it out of the secret place where it was kept, and return to the outhouse. Opening the door, she was surprised to see that it was furnished not at all like an alchemist’s laboratory, but rather like the alcove of a voluptuous nobleman. She went up the spiral staircase to the second floor and saw some very strange devices there, screwed to the walls and to the floor, something similar to benches or stands for something. They are of such a strange shape that she could not understand what they could be used for.
In the corner she saw a chest, securely attached to the floor with iron brackets. The key fit the lock on this chest. Inside were a set of whips, handcuffs with spikes facing inward, some kind of belts reminiscent of horse harnesses, leather belts, masks, and a book bound in even embossed leather. She opened the book and recognized the marquis's handwriting. This was his secret diary. The Marquise read one page at random and her eyes filled with horror and anger. She flipped through a dozen pages and began reading a new place. It was the same there. Knowing that she still had more than a day ahead, the marquise carefully closed the chest, locked it, and took the diary with her.
All day until the evening she read her own husband’s diary and learned more about him than she had learned in her entire previous life together. She learned the most terrible secrets about him. In this outbuilding he did not practice alchemy, here he satisfied his animal sexual instincts, which, however, should not be called animals, since there were hardly any animals that treated their relatives so harshly. The Marquis was a perverted criminal whose voluptuousness extended to pretty young peasant women, whom he treated at first very delicately and tenderly, but at the end of their stay in the outhouse he made their lives hell, after which he dealt with them and got rid of the corpse and the evidence.
“So that’s why he devoted so little time to me! - thought the marquise. “This scoundrel knows how to have fun!”
However, the marquise herself was far from an angel. She realized that she and her husband were worth each other. While she dealt with her relatives, as well as with clinic patients and servants who did not please her, her husband tormented the peasant girls he had kidnapped with his harassment. His assistants brought them from not the closest settlements, usually those that border a forest or a fast river, so the residents explained the disappearance of young girls as an accident while swimming, or associated with an attack by predators.
The Marquise thought about it. Her face lit up with an evil smile. It turns out that her husband is not such a pantyhose and a bumpkin for whom she took him! He has his own terrible secret! For a while she even thought that he had become more interesting to her. But she immediately thought that he had cheated on her, neglected her, and therefore he should be punished.
“It will be interesting to make love to him, knowing how many young girls he has destroyed! - thought the marquise. — This will be a new experience, very interesting and valuable! I will do so! When he returns from the hunt, we will lie down with him on the bed of last love, on the bed of mortal passion! And then he will die! And since I will know about it in advance, this love will be especially piquant!”
The marquise returned to the outbuilding, put her husband's diary where it lay, locked the chest, after which she went downstairs, closed and locked the outbuilding's entrance doors. In a day the Marquis will have to return from hunting.
The Marquise headed to the rose garden, where she placed the chain with the key on the sandy path, exactly where she had found it.
It was almost dark and at dusk her lover and friend Gaudin de Sainte-Croix crept into the marquise’s garden.
- Good, my dear! - exclaimed the marquise. - I'm all impatient! Let's quickly start making poison according to your new recipe!
- Dear Marie! - answered Godin. “I brought everything you need, and we’ll get on with it right away!” Which servant will you poison this time?
“Oh, this time it won’t be a servant, but my dearly adored husband!” - the marquise answered with a laugh. - So if this poison does not make him suffer before death, I will be offended by you, my Godin!
- Wonderful choice! - exclaimed Godin. “It was high time to send him to the next world!”

At the beginning of June 1661, the Marquise de Brenvilliers was widowed. This was already the second Marquise de Brenvilliers, who became a widow due to the fact that she herself poisoned her husband. This time, the poisoned person was the son of the first poisoner, recorded in the registration book of the Church of St. Ambrose in the city of Lisle under the name Antoine Berthier, son of Jean Berthier and Anne de Bayle, nephew of the executioner of the city of Lisle, Jacques Berthier, pupil of Cosette Lemar.
The next day Jean-Paul came to me with a report on the work completed.
“Good afternoon, monsignor,” said the Chevalier.
“Good afternoon, Jean-Paul,” I replied. - No need to report, I know everything. Take this.
I handed him a wallet with a thousand pistoles.
“Monsignor, I don’t serve for money,” objected Jean-Paul.
“I know you serve the Lord, Jean-Paul, but this does not prevent me from compensating your expenses and paying you a small bonus over and above the expenses for the exact fulfillment of the orders of the Order,” I answered. - After all, they don’t serve the King for money! In any case, all the nobles claim exactly this. What does not prevent them from receiving a salary, and what a salary!
“Thank you, monsignor,” replied Jean-Paul. - I surrender.
He took the wallet and left with a bow.
So, there is one less enemy. The truth can have no less destructive power than slander, flattery or slander. The main thing is to know who should tell this truth, at what moment and in what way.

Chapter 206

The spring that I set in action continued to work. The marquise's lover, Gaudin de Saint-Croix, intended to become a marquis himself, or at least her husband, who owned her entire fortune. Marie-Madeleine-Margarita did not want to part with the freedom that she had just gained. She tried to gently refuse him at first, then, seeing his persistence, she refused more decisively. Finally, when he insisted, she categorically refused. Then Godin began to threaten to expose her role in the death of the Marquis.
Marie-Madeleine-Margarita was horrified by this threat. Indeed, she did not take into account the fact that her lover was not only a witness to all her crimes, but also had irrefutable evidence proving her crimes. He himself limited himself to only passing on the poison recipes to her. He could easily make an excuse by saying that the marquise asked him to provide remedies against mice, moles and insects, since these were the words they jokingly called those people who the marquise did not like. Gaudin, taught by the bitter experience of being in prison, acted extremely carefully, did not leave any evidence, and he himself collected only evidence against the marquise that did not expose him as her accomplice.
Evidence of the marquise’s involvement in the death of patients in clinics for the poor and servants was of no importance, so Gaudin did not even collect it. But the evidence exposing her as a poisoner to her husband, as well as earlier to her father, brothers and sister, was an extremely serious threat. The Marquise instantly realized her dependence on Gaudin and, for the sake of appearance, agreed to the marriage, asking only for a delay of a year in connection with mourning, which could not be avoided. At the same time, she promised to ensure the comfortable maintenance of Godin. Gaudin calmed down and agreed to a delay.
Here I will finish describing the fate of this family, so as not to return to it again. The threat of exposure by Gaudin forced out of the marquise's plans aspirations for revenge on her father's enemies. Although this thought did not leave her, she was forced to be more concerned about her own safety, so for the future she limited herself to poisoning only ordinary people from among her servants and the sick she visited. She could not moderate her passion and continued her destructive activities directed against those she did not like, or against those whom she considered unnecessary on this earth. Continuing to pay off her former lover with money and cajole him with promises of a quick marriage, she remained in this state for another eleven years, after which Godin realized that the Marquise was simply leading him by the nose and demanded the immediate fulfillment of her promises. This was his mistake, since the Marchioness set a date for the wedding and demanded that her engagement take place before that. She herself provided Gaudin with money to buy wedding rings for herself and for him, and this dulled his vigilance. She organized a secret engagement, hiring a fake priest for this, and then offered to celebrate this event in private. She tried to eat the dishes that she treated Gaudin herself. The festive cake was decorated with candles, and only the piece under the longest candle was poisoned. It was this piece that the Marquise placed on the dish for Godena. She prepared a poison without taste, smell or color, which was supposed to take effect only after two days. That's exactly how it worked. There was no evidence against her. However, I made sure that papers incriminating the marquise were found in Gaudin's house, as well as samples of poisons prepared by Gaudin. It became clear to investigators that Gaudin had been poisoned, and that his accomplice, the Marquise de Brenvilliers, was responsible for many of the deaths.
The Marquise, warned by one of her accomplices, fled, taking only diamonds and gold. She hid for a long time in London, then in Holland and Flanders, but was found in a Liege monastery, from where she was taken to Paris, where she stood trial in 1676. While the investigation was ongoing, she was kept in the Bastille, where she unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide. It is surprising that a woman who so masterfully mastered the technique of poisoning, and who was the only poisoner I know who could poison a person even with the help of a boiled egg, did not bother to hide a grain of poison for herself, which allowed her to painlessly leave this world in a critical case. The suicide attempt failed, or perhaps she only pretended to attempt it in the hope of pitying the judges. I am more inclined to this assumption. At first, the Marquise completely denied her guilt, but under pressure from the evidence she was forced to fully admit her guilt in the hope of mitigating her punishment due to repentance. Next, she was tortured by drinking water, after which she was beheaded, and her corpse was burned and scattered to the wind.
True victory lies not in noisily destroying your enemy, but in having your enemies destroy each other. This is what I was taught in the Order.
My people brought me notes from the Marquise herself. It is surprising that she, who exposed her husband using a similar diary, also kept notes herself. True, they did not say anything about the fate that she prepared for her future victims, it was just a list of names. There were one hundred and thirty names on this list. In the first place was the name of the Duchess de Chevreuse. Next thirteenth was the name of Athos, then d'Artagnan, mine and Porthos. The next seventy-six names had already been crossed out, all these people were already dead.
I hid this story from my friends, as well as from the Duchess de Chevreuse. Grimaud also did not know about this, so there is not a word about this story in his memoirs.
This concludes the story of the descendants and relatives of Charlotte Munier, Anne de Bayle, Lady Clarique, Countess de La F;re, Milady.

Chapter 207

On his deathbed, First Minister Giulio Mazarin recommended that King Louis XIV rely on three ministers of state, members of the supreme royal council. These ministers were the Minister of War Michel Letellier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugues de Lyonne, and the Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet. However, at the same time, the cardinal advised the King to be wary of Fouquet due to his exorbitant ambitions, fueled by his well-known excessive passions: power and women. Fouquet, regardless of expenses, bought up land, built palaces, laid out gardens, acquired works of art and diamonds, and showered his mistresses with more than generous gifts.
In his forged memoirs, Grimaud describes a conversation between Colbert and the King the day after Mazarin's death. Of course, the main source of his message is Grimaud's fantasy. But he probably did a good rummaging in Athos’s library, so in his depiction Colbert tells the King everything that Mazarin and Fouquet knew very well, but which the King had yet to become acquainted with a year later. Colbert informs Louis XIV that the treasury is empty and future income for four years has been wasted, for which four loans have already been made. Loans, of course, were made much more, and the bulk of them were made not in the name of the King, but in the name of Fouquet himself.
Grimaud reported that Colbert gave the King thirteen million livres, which not a single soul knew about, from Mazarin's hiding places, in addition to the forty million that he left to his family members. This is hardly possible. And Colbert hardly had the integrity to give away this money, which he could easily have kept for himself. There were few people like Athos who would return the million-dollar treasures handed over to him for safekeeping to the person for whom they were intended, without even taking compensation for the expenses incurred during such an operation. More precisely, there was only one such person - Athos.
Grimaud further writes that the King offers Colbert the position of intendant of finance, to which Colbert objects: “But there is already a superintendent.”
Firstly, it is not customary for the King to say the word “but” under any circumstances. Colbert knew this, Grimaud did not know this. Secondly, having a finance superintendent does not negate the possibility of having a finance superintendent. Thirdly, there was a time, about which I have already written, when there were two superintendents of finance at the same time. So Colbert could very well apply for the position of superintendent of finance. Fourthly, it is unlikely that the King would have been so surprised by thirteen million livres from Colbert that he would have immediately offered him a similar position, since the King received significantly larger sums from Fouquet, and more than once. Fifthly, Colbert was already manager of the first minister, Cardinal Mazarin. The king appointed him first minister.
Colbert was the shadow of Mazarin, so, having lost Mazarin, the King needed an adviser and specialist who would replace Mazarin, so it is quite natural that the King took advantage of Colbert's knowledge and experience.
Grimaud reported that Louis XIV received a dispatch from King Charles II of England, who expressed consent to Henrietta's marriage to Philip of Orleans, and also expressed concern about the strengthening of the Belle-Ile fortress. It was hardly appropriate for the King of England, who, in fact, had not yet been honored with a coronation, which happened only at the end of the year in Westminster, to show concern regarding the strengthening of the King of France’s own maritime borders. This is the inalienable right of any monarch. It is erroneous to say that information about the fortification of the island of Belle-Ile was received by the King of France from the monarch of a neighboring state. These works were agreed upon with the cardinal and the King, of course, knew about them. The Cardinal even showed him the plan of the fortifications that I had drawn, although it was only a sketch, very preliminary, and did not contain some important details for me, which I deliberately did not include in these drawings. I think that the King did not delve into the drawings in all details, but he was already quite attentive to such things as drawings of fortresses. So the King did not learn the news about the construction from Henry II.
Next, Grimaud paints a fantastic picture of how well d'Artagnan understood horses. This is what he says to Raoul at the sight of a detachment of cavalry: “Keep in mind, Raoul, the second horse in the fifth row will lose its shoe before you reach the Bridge of Marie. There are only two nails left in the horseshoe on the front leg.”
Horseshoes should be changed every month and a half. During this time, the nails cannot fall out on their own. If the horseshoes are nailed correctly, the ends of the nails will stick out and bend. The bent nail at the end did not just fall out, but even if there were only three nails left on the horseshoe, the horseshoe would not fall off so easily. Not a single musketeer will allow his horse to not be reforged in a timely manner. In addition, any rider can easily determine by the clatter of hooves on the pavement that something is wrong. But it is impossible to see that there is not enough horse on the horseshoe, observing the equestrian detachment from the side.
Grimaud further reports that Raoul told d'Artagnan that the cardinal was very ill, and even, most likely, died. How could Raoul be better informed about the cardinal's condition than d'Artagnan? Having heard this information, d'Artagnan allegedly reacted as follows: "D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders dismissively, wanting to show that the death of the cardinal did not upset him at all." The death of the cardinal greatly upset d'Artagnan, since he lost his patron, his source of funds. He was so upset that he decided to leave the guards regiment and sold his position at a clearly reduced price, which I already wrote about earlier. However, Grimaud mentioned that d'Artagnan had retired, since this news had excited all of Paris, and Grimaud simply could not help but notice it.
Well, I feel it's time to pay a little attention to Colbert's persona in the pages of my memoirs.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was four years younger than Fouquet and came from a family of influential hereditary merchants, international traders and bankers living in Reims. His father, Nicolas Colbert, was a member of one of the syndicates lending to the state and, in addition, bought the position of general collector of excise tax on certain types of goods entering Paris. Colbert's family had long-term business and family ties with Particelli d'Emery, Fouquet's predecessor. Despite the fact that Fouquet knew about this, he did not take care to make Colbert his supporter, and, as life showed, this was his fatal mistake.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was more inclined towards financial activities than legal ones. Young Jean Baptiste began his career as a prot;g; of Michel Letelier, with whom he was related: the sister of the Minister of War Letelier married one of the Colberts. In 1640, his father bought Jean-Bariste the government post of inspector of the military department.
During the Fronde, Colbert remained loyal to the crown and Mazarin. He achieved universal respect due to his fantastic work ethic and meticulousness. He also had the gift of persuasion, so he knew how to convince each of his next patrons that he was completely devoted to his interests. He successively created this impression in Letelier, Mazarin and Louis XIV with extraordinary talent.
Not seeing Fouquet as his true patron and superior, since Colbert had enlisted the support of the King himself, he nevertheless diligently earned a reputation as a loyal servant not only of the throne and the cardinal, but also of Nicolas Fouquet. Therefore, Fouquet recklessly considered Colbert to be his man, and therefore did not pay much attention to the issue of timely encouragement of his works and the establishment of truly strong ties, spiritual and mutually beneficial (which is much more important).
One of the characteristic psychological mistakes of almost all people in the sphere of maintaining strong relationships, both in the family and in professional cooperation, is that to establish such relationships people are ready to expend incredible efforts, but to maintain them they do not even do anything it would not be worth it, that is, a simple regular demonstration of respect, trust, recognition, gratitude. Like a hunter who, at the risk of his life, caught a live lion, and then put him in a fragile cage made of willow, and even with doors that do not lock, we want to make friends, companions, or establish loving relationships with the people we need and like, but then we treat these people so carelessly, as if the established bonds are stronger than anchor chains.
At first, the relationship between Colbert and Fouquet was quite favorable, so that they could have developed into friendly or even friendly relations.
It was Colbert who finally convinced Letelier not to interfere with Fouquet's appointment as prosecutor general in the fall of 1650, which he apparently repented of no later than ten years later.

Chapter 208

Colbert used every opportunity to be visible to the First Minister and the reigning Queen. His occupation greatly contributed to this.
When, at the beginning of the winter of 1651, Mazarin was forced to go into exile in the domain of the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, he desperately tried to find a reliable person to whom he could entrust the care of the property and capital he left in France. He was equally concerned about his personal capital and the royal treasury. The Cardinal turned for help to Letelier, who recommended his relative, since in such cases most people do just that, and will do the same in a hundred, two hundred or five hundred years, although most often these recommenders and guarantors have to be disappointed in their prot;g;. On this recommendation, Colbert became such a confidant, the confidential personal secretary of the exiled cardinal, although formally he continued to serve under Letelier.
Colbert appreciated the opportunity to become useful to the First Minister, so he became indispensable to him. Mazarin knew how to value loyalty and could be grateful. The cardinal wrote about him with sincere delight: “Colbert is my man and for my sake he will drown those he loves, not excluding Letelier.”
I can add that about d’Artagnan the cardinal could write: “d’Artagnan is my man, on my orders he will do the unthinkable and impossible, but he will never raise his hand against those he loves, so orders should be given to him deliberately.”
Colbert was much more cunning than d'Artagnan, but only in the area of servility, which d'Artagnan was not at all capable of. He even once took it upon himself to scold his master for neglecting personal benefits in the interests of state benefits. He managed to convince Mazarin to take more active care of his personal condition and the condition of his large family, consisting mainly of nieces. Mazarin is often accused of putting personal enrichment above state interests and would be ready to enrich himself even at the cost of the death of the monarchy. These reproaches are unfair, since the cardinal sincerely loved the Queen, and the only way he saw the Queen’s love was to be her indispensable First Minister. Fouquet, of course, also made efforts to save Mazarin's collection of paintings and books, but his efforts were insignificant in comparison with the efforts of Colbert, who went out of his way and outdid himself in these active efforts.
After Mazarin's final return to France in early 1653 and his virtual accession as first minister, Colbert remained his personal manager and secretary. His duties included only taking care of the cardinal's personal finances. However, given the incredible mixture of income between the state and the cardinal, the division was nominal, and the confusion most often made it possible for Mazarin personally to profit from it. The Cardinal, not without the effective help of Colbert, not only returned, but also increased his personal fortune, investing personal funds in the state financial system, just as Fouquet did. In addition, Mazarin was engaged in repurchase and collection of customs taxes, which allowed him to act as the largest supplier of various goods, mainly supplies for the French troops. He also accepted bribes for appointments and for approving the terms of financial transactions, even when those transactions also involved himself, so that they were carried out in his interests. Mazarin also drew from financial flows passing through the state treasury. And although he was rightly accused of profiting when the warring royal army was ready to flee due to lack of supplies or non-payment of salaries, in his justification it should be said that sometimes, by bribing enemies and traitors, he achieved more than was possible would be achieved through the actions of the army. Funds for these bribery actions, of course, could not be carried out officially and approved by the royal council of state, so some of Mazarin’s accusations were due to ignorance of the entire range of state needs. Mazarin was no exception; not only did he very often make no distinction between personal funds and treasury funds. The same can be said about Nicolas Fouquet and many others, with the difference that the rest could only draw from the treasury, filling their own pockets, while Mazarin, Fouquet and Colbert took some action to ensure that the treasury money appeared, although, of course, it would not have been in their power to make it inexhaustible.
And yet it must be admitted that every year Mazarin pumped at least twenty-three million livres from the state treasury into his personal one. In addition, some sums were extracted independently of him by his agents, such as Barth;lemy Hervart, Louis Berrier and, possibly, Jean de Gourville and Paul Pelisson. All of them were in one way or another connected with the management of royal finances, and each time, benefiting from this position, they did not forget to share the extracted amounts with Mazarin, realizing that he had the power to take away their financial positions from anyone and thus almost completely ruin. If in June 1658 Mazarin's fortune was estimated at eight million livres, then by the time of his death in 1661 it had risen to forty million livres. Of course, this amount did not come from the salary of the First Minister. In addition, over these three years, Mazarin spent a lot of money on a wide variety of purposes, including not only bribes in the political interests of the state, but also on the construction and furnishing of personal apartments, on the purchase of works of art, jewelry, and on the acquisition of land.
Colbert himself fed under Mazarin, like a scavenger on a lion's prey. Apart from official remuneration for his work, he accepted gifts from Mazarin and also had his own business. So back in 1647, he accepted as a gift an estate confiscated from a relative for treason. A little later, he received the post of secretary of the Queen's house management for free. He sold this position in 1660 for half a million livres. Colbert also took care of appointing his relatives to profitable positions, to positions in which they could be useful to him. In 1657, Colbert acquired a vast land estate in Seignele, which he later made a marquisate, so that his son is now called the Marquis de Seignele.
At first, Colbert and Fouquet preferred not to interfere with each other's livelihood through farming and other financial transactions. But when the post of superintendent of finance became vacant in 1653 due to the death of the Duke de la Vieuville, Fouquet's interests came into conflict with the interests of Colbert. Both of them applied for this post, and, of course, not only them. Colbert resisted Fouquet's appointment in every possible way, calling on Letelier as an ally, who probably himself had applied for this position. Colbert, in vague predictions and vague considerations, warned the cardinal against allowing the post of superintendent to go to such a person who gives away a lot to his subordinates for next to nothing in order to win supporters for himself, so that it would be easier to betray the leader. However, this time Colbert lost the battle against Fouquet. The cash flow from Fouquet was more significant and this played a role, although the funds that Colbert brought enriched Mazarin personally, while some of the money flow from Fouquet also went to the state treasury. But, as I already said, the cardinal did not distinguish the state treasury from the personal treasury.
Colbert, as I noted above, was hardworking, meticulous and tenacious. He did not despair and came up with a way to defeat Fouquet in the eyes of Mazarin. Since he became manager of Mazarin's personal finances, he became especially careful to ensure that the cardinal's interests were given priority. He learned to praise Fouquet to the cardinal in such a way that these praises were more effective than censures, since the cardinal was aware of the exaggeration. Gradually Colbert dared to criticize Fouquet, and he resorted to this means when he managed to catch the superintendent of finances with even the slightest disregard for the interests of the cardinal. Colbert kept careful records of every sou not paid by the superintendent to the cardinal. It was enough to report the debt and forget to report the repayment of this debt a little later to create in the cardinal a persistent distrust of Nicolas Fouquet. Mazarin reacted painfully to non-payment or delays of amounts intended for him personally, especially in the last years of his life.
These messages caused extremely emotional correspondence between Mazarin and Fouquet in 1657. Fouquet understood the sources of this discontent and realized that Colbert had become his fierce enemy, but mistakenly considered him disproportionately less significant than Fouquet himself, and reacted to him as a lion might react to an annoying fly, not realizing that even a fly’s bite could kill him lion, if this fly carries within itself the fluids of a deadly fever.
The conflict between Fouquet and Colbert worsened when Fouquet intervened in a family dispute between two representatives of the Colbert family, Hugo and Leon. Fouquet's intervention only aggravated the conflict, about which Colbert was quick to complain to the cardinal, who, through his intervention, achieved reconciliation between the parties due to the fact that each side made some concessions.
Mazarin, who did not like squabbles and scandals, after this incident was additionally filled with respect for Colbert and began to be wary of Fouquet, who was acting ahead in this matter.
Colbert kept records of every sou that passed through Fouquet's hands, was aware of all his transactions with securities, all his purchases and sales, and all cash payments.
Gradually, Fouquet began to feel a competitor in Colbert and became even more irritated with him.
As soon as Fouquet made proposals to revive commerce and production, Colbert, who was aware of all the points of this proposal, proposed his own alternative path, in which he rejected some points in Fouquet’s proposal and gave a detailed justification for his position. Mazarin accepted Colbert's plan, and Colbert then felt that he could begin to fight Fouquet more openly. But Mazarin was in no hurry to take sides in this confrontation, preferring to divide and conquer.
In July 1659, Mazarin went to meet the Spanish cardinal Don Luis de Haro to negotiate with Spain. The purpose of the negotiations was to achieve peace and strengthen it through the marriage of Louis XIV with the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa. The Cardinal stopped overnight at Voles-Viscount, deciding to take the opportunity to see how the construction of the new castle of Fouquet was progressing. At the same time, he decided to once again discuss with the superintendent the state of the treasury and measures to replenish it, since the available money was clearly not enough even for the most urgent needs. Fouquet, of course, promised to get the missing sums, understanding that the cardinal could not be refused; his entire high position as superintendent and prosecutor general rested on this.
It would seem that, having received assurances of a speedy resolution of all financial problems, Mazarin could have calmed down, but he instructed Colbert to conduct a secret audit of the royal finances.
Colbert already knew the state of affairs of Fouquet, but he needed evidence, which he attached to his messages. Letters incriminating Fouquet caught up with Mazarin on his way to the south, where Colbert did not miss a single fact of Fouquet’s disorderly expenses or other orders. Colbert kept copies of these letters for himself. He summarized all his reports in a long memorandum dated October 1, 1959. In this memorandum, he accused Fouquet of embezzling public funds for personal use.
Among other crimes, the superintendent was accused of illegally trading in practically worthless old government bonds, long unsecured and completely worthless, as well as exchanging them for new bonds of real value.
Colbert exposed Fouquet for building enterprises of his relatives, friends and business partners with government money. He proposed the establishment of a Chamber of Justice to try financial crimes and abuses. Colbert was convinced that it was possible to restore order in financial affairs only by removing Fouquet from his positions as superintendent of finance and prosecutor general. Colbert hoped not only to remove Fouquet from office, but also to punish him.

Chapter 209

Having learned through my channels this important information, on the first of October I visited Fouquet at his castle at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
“Monsignor, get ready,” I told him. - You immediately leave after Mazarin, and you need to catch up with him as quickly as possible.
“Are you crazy, d’Herblay!” - exclaimed Fouquet, who in private, with my consent and even at my request, addressed me so familiarly, although I was already the Bishop of Vannes and should have been titled “Your Eminence” or “Monsignor.” “I still have a lot to do here in Vaud, and besides, I intended...
“Your financial affairs now depend only on how soon you can see Mazarin, and your gallant visits - even more so, I dare to assure you,” I said. “Get ready immediately, and while you are getting ready, I will explain why you should go.”
“Since all your advice was practical, and I don’t remember a time when I regretted accepting them, I obey,” said Fouquet with a grin, which was supposed to turn his words into a joke, in order to explain to me an already obvious thing, consisted in the fact that Fouquet trusted me, but did not obey me, he reserved the right to make decisions for himself, temporarily transferring it to me each time only for each given current moment, without the right to unilaterally extend this privilege. - But, by the way, what might my fees consist of? After all, I am always ready to go anywhere!
- Yes, Monsignor, you, like the King, could say to yourself that in France you are at home everywhere, just don’t say this in front of the King or the cardinal! - I answered with a smile. “Perhaps you need money with you for the trip?”
“I don’t carry cash, you know, I don’t need to touch gold with my hands as long as I mine it with my head,” objected Fouquet. - In case of small expenses, my secretary has the gold with him, who will go with me, and in case of large expenses, my signature is enough. I can pay for average expenses with diamonds.
“Please, we have already wasted two minutes on empty talk,” I hurried to Fouquet. “Let’s go to the carriage, and let your secretary go with you, taking everything necessary for travel needs.”
“Come on, and I’m listening to you, monsignor,” said Fouquet, addressing me in a proper manner, since we were already leaving his office.
“Colbert has prepared a memorandum that lists all of your actions that he dares to call financial crimes and malpractice,” I said. “This memorandum is still on its way, it is addressed to Mazarin, and if the cardinal reads it without immediately hearing your comments and refutations, I am convinced that, under the influence of the first impression of reading Colbert’s work, he may well sign the memorandum and give the progress of Colbert's projects.
“But I am clean before the King and the cardinal, so I can easily justify myself!” Colbert exclaimed.
“You will not have a second chance to make a first impression on the cardinal in connection with this matter,” I objected. - If the cardinal, in his hearts, signs a decree creating a Chamber of Justice to try financial crimes and abuses, and if this Chamber is given the power to examine the actions of the attorney general, then even if you can convince the cardinal that this should not be done, he will not cancel his order, since this would mean that he acted rashly without thinking. And Mazarin has a very high opinion of his intelligence; he does not like to admit his mistakes, especially now, at the height of power. Once started, the machine of biased proceedings will not be stopped. So the only way to prevent this investigation is to convince the cardinal that it is not only unnecessary, but also extremely undesirable, dangerous, first of all, for himself, as well as for the kingdom as a whole. If the cardinal realizes that this is unprofitable for him, he will be ready to abandon this plan, but will not do so. If he receives an argument based on the highest interests of the state, he will be able to do so without losing his own dignity, but he may not be willing to do so. So it is necessary that he hear both arguments in favor of his personal interest and arguments in favor of the highest interests of the state. This can only be connected in a personal conversation. If he agrees even for a moment with Colbert’s conclusions and signs the corresponding decree, it will be extremely difficult for him to withdraw his consent and abandon the idea of proceedings.
- So you are convinced that this is a serious danger? - Fouquet asked doubtfully. - Is it really true that in order to clear oneself from unfair accusations, reasoned explanations are not enough, but the timeliness of these justifications is also necessary?
- That's right, monsignor! - I answered. - In order to justify yourself, you need to have a copy of the document that Colbert sent to Mazarin in advance.
— Do you have a copy of it? asked Fouquet.
“A copy will be made on the road, two reliable people will simultaneously copy different parts of this document for the sake of speed, after which it will be carefully sealed and handed over to the addressee,” I answered. - You must familiarize yourself with the document in advance, and at the same time appear before the cardinal at the same second when this document is presented to him. If you are late for at least two seconds, the cardinal will answer you that he is busy and asks you to wait, and while you wait, he will familiarize himself with the memorandum and its annexes, as a result of which Mazarin will already form his own opinion about him, which will be very difficult to change. If, before he opens it, you start a conversation with him about the lack of order in financial affairs, your stakes will increase. You will have to inform the cardinal that you yourself asked Colbert to work on this issue and draw up a proposal for streamlining financial transactions, and you are surprised that the document was sent not to you, but to the cardinal himself over your head. Knowing what is contained in this document, you will state your instructions to Colbert in such words that the document will look like the fruit of excessive, and therefore inappropriate zeal, flavored with an extremely biased attitude towards you, and as an abuse in the execution of your instructions, your will. The document will look like evidence of Colbert’s malicious intent, his deliberately incorrect understanding of the task that you, his direct superior, the Superintendent of Public Finance, have set for him. Mazarin should see in him only that Colbert is digging under you, and he is doing it rudely and openly, and also completely unfounded. This will turn the cardinal against Colbert and you will win. Well, is this matter worth leaving all other matters in Vaux-le-Vicomte?
“You have once again convinced me, Monsignor Bishop, that your advice is always worth listening to and following,” Fouquet said sincerely. “I am already beginning to regret that, having become the Bishop of Vannes, you inevitably moved too far away from me, so that I will no longer be able to resort to your advice and your mind so often.”
“You see for yourself, monsignor, that when the need arises, I do not waste time to see you and express my modest advice,” I replied. “At the same time, the position of Bishop of Vannes allows me to learn a lot in a timely manner, which is much more useful for our common cause with you than constantly being near you.
- Thank you, Your Eminence, for calling the cause our common, which I serve to the best of my ability! - Fouquet exclaimed hotly. - I swear on my honor, it is so! My business is common with you, it is truly ours!
“Secretary Fouquet is listening to our conversation too closely,” I thought. “It will be necessary to advise Fouquet to replace him after a while with a more reliable person, and send this one to some kind of honorable retirement away from living affairs.” However, I doubt that anyone could bribe Fouquet’s own servant! I think it’s just my imagination!”
On the road to Bordeaux, a horseman approached our carriage, which was racing quite quickly. This was my man, and I made a sign to the horsemen accompanying us, who formed Fouquet’s guard, not to worry. This man put a package through the open window of the carriage on the side where I was sitting. It was a complete copy of the document that Colbert sent to the cardinal. I nodded to the rider, and he rode away from the carriage, turned around and disappeared in the direction from which we ourselves had come. I handed over to Fouquet the package I had received from the horseman, which the superintendent immediately opened. As he read, his face became more and more serious. Several times he looked up from the sheets of paper and looked at me with gratitude. I pretended to be looking at the landscape outside the window.
There was no need for me to read Colbert's memorandum, since I was aware of Fouquet's affairs and understood that Colbert had informants, so he knew the same thing that I knew. All that remained was to understand how all these matters could be presented in a light favorable to Colbert in order to compromise Fouquet as much as possible. I think that if I myself had drawn up this memorandum, it would have been in many ways similar to the document that Fouquet was now studying with amazement. Or much more dangerous for Fouquet, I dare say.
“It never occurred to me that my affairs, which were essentially stated more or less correctly, could be twisted and presented in such a light that, after reading this document, I would want to address myself and start investigating my own actions!” - exclaimed Fouquet. “I can imagine the impression this document will make on the cardinal!”
“I’ve jotted down a few theses that can form the basis of your conversation with Mazarin,” I said and handed Fouquet a sheet of paper with my notes.
- Interesting! - said Fouquet, took the piece of paper handed to him and began to study it. - But this is not your handwriting? - he asked, skimming a few lines with his eyes.
“I changed the handwriting in case the document falls into the wrong hands,” I replied. “Otherwise I would have to hurry you to study it, since in Saint-Jour-de-Marin, where I will leave you, I will not have to ask you to return the original to me.”
-Are you going to leave me? asked Fouquet.
“I have some business here, but you don’t need me to talk with Mazarin,” I said. “Believe me, monsignor, my personal presence can only harm the conversation; I prefer to remain in the shadows.”
“I understand,” agreed Fouquet. “I noticed this feature of yours a long time ago.” If you had not done this, you would probably already be a cardinal, with your intelligence, efficiency, awareness and connections, the depth and breadth of which, I think, I cannot even imagine.
“You’re right, monsignor,” I answered with a smile. “I would have been a cardinal long ago if that were my ultimate goal.”
— Apparently, my motto “Wherever I can climb” would suit you just as much as it suits me? asked Fouquet.
“Perhaps,” I answered dryly.
“You’re mistaken,” I thought, “I aim much higher.”
“I wish you success, monsignor, and I have no doubt that you will be able to develop these theses so eloquently that you will completely dispel the unfavorable impression of the report that Mazarin may have when reading it,” I offered my explanations. “You may not be able to get ahead of the letter from Colbert or arrive at the same time as him.” I'm afraid the courier is riding on horseback, while you and I decided to use a carriage. Well, I thought about this situation while you were reading a copy of the memo. Perhaps, if you arrive after Mazarin has seen him, you should feign insulted innocence. Tell the cardinal that you happened to be nearby, because you arrived to inspect the customs work at the port. I recommend identifying any violations, punishing those responsible, at least for appearances, replacing one or two officials and reporting this to the cardinal. By the way, here is a way for you to remove those people who are not yet yours. I'll give you a hint. A certain Jerome de Cotillard works in the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This is Colbert's secret informant. He will let a cargo of fruit from India pass through customs. Fruit boxes will have a double bottom. Have these boxes opened, and what you find there will allow you to greatly compromise Colbert. Accuse Cotillard of condoning the duty-free import of spices and textiles. This will help you move the needle on it.
- How do you know this? - Fouquet was surprised. —Or did you organize it yourself? However, I am silent! I shouldn't have asked that question.

Chapter 210

Arriving in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Fouquet found the cardinal there and cleverly portrayed insulted innocence.
“Your Eminence, I assigned Monsieur Colbert to investigate financial abuses, since he seemed to have a talent for digging into old accounts and orders,” Fouquet said. “I hoped to use his sometimes excessive activity for peaceful and creative purposes, since correcting minor errors always only benefits the cause. But he decided to destroy the entire system, which for several years now has been successfully supplying the treasury, ravaged by wars and civil strife, with timely and sufficient cash receipts. Just recently, Monsignor, while passing through Vaux-le-Vicomte, you blessed me with a stop at my modest home for the night. You know that my house is always open to you, monsignor! You are the master in it, and for the duration of your stay in it I am only your humble servant! You gave me a number of instructions, which I hastened to carry out. And what do I see at this time? Messrs. Ervart and Denis Talon are already constantly causing all sorts of obstacles for me. But I never expected a trick from Mr. Colbert, whom I always assisted in resolving issues of managing your property and replenishing your funds from those profits that were obtained not so much by my diligence and perseverance, but by your brilliant ideas and orders! Will this wonderful collaboration really come to an end? After all, that fragile but very fruitful agreement in our joint efforts, which, believe me, was very difficult to achieve, and which, for the benefit of all, has finally been established, can collapse overnight due to just misunderstandings or petty grievances! For my part, I am ready to forget all the insults inflicted on me and return to this cooperation, but I ask you not for intercession, but for justice! What can I say, I finally demand that you punish me if you find even the slightest reason for this, but as long as all the accusations are based only on an unfounded interpretation of not entirely accurate, or even completely inaccurate information, I cannot remain calm! Send me to resign immediately if my actions have earned me the loss of your trust! I would have already asked to resign if I had seen among the financiers around me someone who could shoulder the impossible task of managing finances in such a confused state in which they are now!
Mazarin thought about it. Fouquet, indeed, managed in this monologue to show resentment, and to express resignation to fate, and to hint to Mazarin that Fouquet’s resignation would be unprofitable for him personally, and to offer high motives for ignoring Colbert’s memorandum. The superintendent had enough time on the way to Saint-Jean-de-Luz not only to compose this amazing speech, but also to memorize it and rehearse the intonation and gestures. Fouquet later showed me a draft of this speech, and I remembered it word for word.
Mazarin realized that the time had not yet come to part with Fouquet, but he did not want to part with Colbert either. He realized that such proceedings would be undesirable in the current situation. So he decided to play the peacemaker.
- Mister Fouquet, you completely misunderstood everything! - he exclaimed, smiling sweetly. - Who, if not me, is fully aware of the devotion, efficiency, and diligence with which you carry out your difficult and so important duties for the state! I assure you that M. Colbert admires you no less than I do. You are certainly mistaken in seeing him as your ill-wisher. He may be jealous of your talent and your ability to work, but in a kind way, trying to learn from you, but not intending to harm you. On the contrary, you judge him, apparently, by the contents of the document that he brought me, and a copy of which you apparently somehow obtained, but verbally he very, very stood up for you, and even said, that he would like to destroy this memorandum even before I read it, but only his duty to the Fatherland forces him not to do this and allow me to personally familiarize myself with it and decide for myself what to do in the future.
“Monsignor, I don’t know the contents of the memorandum, or what this document is called,” Fouquet lied. “I just know what task I entrusted to Monsieur Colbert.” Finding you in a bad mood, and already knowing that in recent days M. Colbert has become not very friendly with many of my friends, and, therefore, this unfriendliness is apparently fueled by his hostility towards me, I approximately restored the essence of his false conclusions and hasty proposals.
“This memorandum is quite harmless, and it does not offend you in any way!” - Fouquet lied in response. “I would let you read it and see that I’m right if I hadn’t already thrown it into the fire.” Mister Colbert was probably upset about something when he drafted this document. He himself told me that he was going to use it only as a draft, with which he planned to work further, removing all insufficiently substantiated conclusions and hasty conclusions, but he came with me only to consult what exactly should be crossed out in this document, and what could be - apparently, leave it. So you see, you are completely in vain to get excited, since the reason for this is a document that is not actually a document, but only an attempt at writing, a draft, an overly radical version of what, perhaps, should have been done under other circumstances. And since this draft is no longer there, you don’t have to worry about it at all.
“You know, monsignor, that certain types of expenses could not be entered into ordinary registers, which can be consulted by any member of the royal council and many other unnecessary persons,” said Fouquet. — Some types of expenses are not subject to disclosure. For example, I can remind you...
- You are right, Mister Fouquet! - Mazarin hastened to interrupt him. - Everything is exactly as you say! The absence of certain warrants is a state necessity in the interests of maintaining peace and harmony.
“If Monsignor wishes to create a Chamber of Justice, I will have to present to this Chamber those documents that are kept in my personal safe,” continued Fouquet, “and which, of course, completely exonerate me with regard to the most serious charges, but they may throw shadow on...
- No Chamber of Justice will be created, it is decided! - exclaimed Mazarin. - And I have a personal request to you. Make peace with Colbert. He is not your enemy, so don’t be his enemy either. I need you both! I ask you not as the first minister, but as a clergyman.
“Why, monsignor, do you consider me the enemy of Monsieur Colbert?” - Fouquet objected. - On the contrary, it was I who instructed him to deal with the issues of verifying certain transactions. I myself am currently doing the same thing. I came here to Saint-Jean-de-Luz because I have information that M. Jerome de Cotillard, at the customs post entrusted to him, is committing an oversight, either through thoughtlessness or intentionally, which causes damage to the treasury and also reduces your rightful share from customs duties here at the port. If the information is confirmed, it will only prove that my order to Mr. Colbert was not done in vain. But at the same time, you can make sure that the existing means of controlling financial activities are more than enough to restore order; you just need to apply them more regularly and more decisively. And I myself, as Crown Prosecutor, undertake to pay more attention to monitoring the financial activities of government agencies subordinate to me.
“Mr. Jerome de Cotillard, it seems, is Colbert’s client? - Mazarin apparently thought at that moment. - He deftly bypassed me! If I allow him to remove Cotillard from his post, it will turn out that he not only withstood Colbert, but also struck back a very noticeable blow himself! If I order Cotillard to be forgiven, I will have to forgive all the others whose violations are exposed by Colbert’s memorandum, which I, fortunately, managed to hide, so I can calmly assure Fouquet that I destroyed it!”
- Act in relation to Cotillard as you see fit, if he is indeed guilty, but remember that justice always lies halfway between connivance and cruelty. It can sometimes be very difficult to stay in the middle, without deviating to either extreme. And by the way, forget about this memorandum! I have a much more important conversation to talk to you!

Chapter 211

“Monsieur Fouquet,” Mazarin began. “We will need to discuss all the measures to resolve financial issues that we agreed on during my visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte. After this, I would like to introduce you to someone interesting to you.
“Monsignor, I was waiting for this question and brought with me a report on the work that was done by me and my people after our meeting,” Fouquet answered, handing the cardinal a sheet folded into four, which he took out from the cuff of his left sleeve. “We managed to get the required amount, and even with some reserve.”
The Cardinal blushed with self-satisfaction: he needed such people! He demanded money, and the money appeared. He was not interested in which way, at what cost, at the expense of what sacrifices. The main thing was that the necessary money appeared as if by itself, out of nowhere.
“Is it possible to part with such a person? - thought Mazarin, while Fouquet listed the receipts that ultimately added up to the required amount. - Where will he find a replacement for him? Yes, of course, Colbert will not let a single sou go to waste in vain! But where will these sous come from? But the treasury does not need sous, and not even livres or pistoles, but millions of livres! Several million! Tens of millions! In the end, if Fouquet loses something there or even pockets it, he still controls the situation and presents the required amounts exactly when they are needed! What is the point of properly managing money if there is essentially nothing to manage? It was like this for many years! Henry IV was so poor that he was glad when one of his friends paid for his dinner and wine. Fouquet is so rich that he would be offended if one of his friends tried to pay for dinner himself, since where Fouquet is, he pays for all the feasts; he established this immutable rule for all his friends and guests, even casual ones. Any of his guests seems to be dearer and dearer to him than a member of his own family, or, at least, just as much. This is exactly how he treats his guests. And isn’t that what Holy Scripture tells us? Lot, the only righteous man in Sodom, valued his guests so much that he could not allow his fellow citizens to know them. He offered the inhabitants of Sodom his own daughters so that they could get to know them, but not touch the guests, so sacred was the law of hospitality to him! And what do we see in the end? The Lord appreciated this - Lot and his entire family were saved, while all the other inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were consumed by heavenly fire! So Fouquet is perhaps also a righteous man!”
The Cardinal's thoughts were interrupted by Fouquet's voice, addressed directly to him.
“And imagine, monsignor, when I had only half a million livres left to find the required amount, luck happened!” - said Fouquet. “The ship from Madagascar, equipped by me several months ago, brought goods worth eight hundred thousand livres, but since the money was needed urgently, I transferred the entire lot for six hundred eighty thousand, so that the required amount was found, and even more than that!” But I received this wonderful casket from India completely free of charge as a prize from resellers for the transactions that we carried out three months ago, so I beg you to accept it as a gift for your niece Olympia, who, as I accidentally found out, will soon have Day Angel.
Satisfied, Mazarin accepted the small elegant box, but by its weight he determined that it was far from empty.
- But there is something in her! - Mazarin exclaimed, opening the box. - Wait a minute! Why, this is a whole pearl necklace!
“I’m superstitious, monsignor, and I’m afraid to give empty boxes or purses,” Fouquet replied. “I got this necklace for the occasion for almost nothing, so I will be happy to give the birthday girl this small thing in addition to the gift from you.”
“Well, it’s quite nice, such attentiveness on your part,” the cardinal answered with a satisfied smile. “You know how much trouble I have, so I almost forgot to take care of a gift for Olympia.”
“I know very well, monsignor, so taking care of saving your time and your strength is the sacred duty of every person who cares about the interests of our kingdom, which you so resolutely guard.”
“And how can I resign such a person? - thought Mazarin. “Definitely, Colbert is minding his own business.” I’ll have to tell him to stop digging under Fouquet.”
“Oh, by the way, now about the second matter,” said Mazarin. — I am invited to dinner today with Cardinal Don Luis de Haro. You know how strong his influence is in Spain. Since we are now well on the way to establishing complete peace, friendship with the influential people of Spain may come in handy. You come with me and we have dinner with Don Luis. I will introduce you to him, he is the nicest person, I assure you. However, he may not be the nicest to those who are not introduced to him, so you should definitely be at the dinner.
“But will it be convenient, monsignor?” - Fouquet objected coquettishly. “It seems Don Luis didn’t invite me?”
- Nonsense! - Mazarin objected. — Don Luis invited me and my friends. You are my friend! So what's confusing you?
“Will Your Eminence take other friends with you as well?” asked Fouquet.
“Don’t be afraid, Colbert won’t be there, he’s in Paris now,” Mazarin replied. - It will be just the three of us. But make peace with him in the end! Remember, I need both of you. You have different responsibilities. You have nothing to share. You shouldn't be at odds.
“I had no intention of being at enmity with Monsieur Colbert, I assure you, monsignor!” - exclaimed Fouquet.
“The eagle is not at enmity with the magpies,” he thought. “And he doesn’t feed on them.” But if one of them bothers him, he can break her neck.”
Dinner at Don Luis's was great.
In December, Fouquet returned to Paris, where he met Colbert, who had received orders from Mazarin to make peace with the superintendent. Fouquet and Colbert exchanged meaningless compliments with a stony expression on their faces, after which each of them reported to the cardinal that they had made peace, as ordered.
So, this is what this man was like, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the manager of Mazarin's affairs, whom, after the death of Mazarin, King Louis XIV appointed intendant of royal finances, deciding to trust him and rely on him in his struggle against the omnipotence of Fouquet. As a faithful officer, he chose d'Artagnan for these purposes, whom the dying cardinal recommended to him, and whom he himself already knew quite well from the best side.

Chapter 212

Let me return, however, to the story about Nicolas Fouquet, from which I was distracted by the person of Colbert so much that I had to devote several chapters to him, for which I even go back to those times about which I, it would seem, had already told everything that should be talk about them.
But before I return to the events after the death of Mazarin, I will tell you about some of the plans Fouquet began to draw up, becoming convinced how precarious his position was, that even such a nonentity, in his opinion, as Colbert, could crush him overnight by convincing in his guilt Mazarin.
At first, Fouquet decided that in case of disgrace, he, with the help of his friends, would create the threat of armed rebellion in many cities at the same time, which would force his enemies to accept his conditions and return his freedom, just as the Queen freed the Councilor of Brussels under pressure from the rebellious Parisians. Fouquet intended to entrust the actions of organizing the protest to his brother Basil, and in case he was also arrested or for other reasons was unable to act, Fouquet transferred all powers to Madame du Plessis-Belaire, his closest friend and confidant, about whom he himself spoke that he has no secrets from her. Of course, we were talking about the most intimate secrets, because what secrets can people have who, for some reason, have become closer to each other than spouses, and in every sense? Isn't it strange for a married man to rely more on his “girlfriend” than on his spouse? I’ll answer myself: it’s not strange. As a confessor, I have heard so many confessions about family relationships over many years that it would rather seem strange to me if he confided in his wife. If a man has a wife whom he trusts in everything, then he does not and cannot have any girlfriends on the side. If a man has an intimate acquaintance, it means he is lonely in the family.
And the more such gallant girlfriends a man has, the more unhappy he is in the family, and, oddly enough, I can add that he is not completely happy with any of his many passions.
After the acquisition of the Belle-Ile fortress, the rescue plan in case of disgrace changed dramatically. In addition, Fouquet's relationship with Basil became more than cool, the reason for which was Basil's exorbitant ambitions. Indeed, two other brothers, through Fouquet's troubles, had already received bishoprics; Louis was Bishop of Agde, and Francois was Bishop of Narbonne. Basil laid claim to no less than the bishopric of Vannes, which Fouquet procured for me. Of course, this decision of Nicolas Fouquet in my favor was absolutely correct, Basil could not hold this post for many reasons, and I was much more valuable to Fouquet, I have already written about the reasons for this. Without my advice, Fouquet would not have been what he became, since I told him how to extract the necessary amounts of money peacefully from citizens who did not want to part with their money. Regarding the island of Belle-Ile, I not only gave valuable advice to purchase it, but also organized the possibility of this acquisition. Basil did not do for his brother even a tenth of what I did for him.
Colbert managed to achieve a change of governors in Esden and Tombelen, replacing them with people more loyal to him. This strengthened his position and weakened Fouquet, but strategic harbors in Calais, Le Havre, Concarneau and, of course, Belle-Isle still remained in the hands of his friends. Fouquet had his own navy, and not just a merchant one. More precisely, his merchant fleet was partly openly military, since this was required by the raider campaigns carried out by these ships against the ships of countries unfriendly to France. Robbery of the ships of unfriendly countries will, apparently, always be an act worthy of respect.
The first chairman of the Parisian parliament, Guillaume de Lamoignon, was also considered by Fouquet as his reliable man, since he actually owed him his position. Well, this opinion is common, but wrong. If you did some good for a person, this does not make him your reliable friend. He will not be your man when you have already done him a favor and are expecting gratitude without promising anything for it, but only when you have not yet done any good for him, or have done significantly less than what you can do in the future. Especially if it depends on you, only on you personally, whether he gets something he passionately desires or not. Only in this case can you count on at least the appearance of his loyalty. A business relationship that is fully paid for by one party immediately ceases to be a business relationship in the eyes of the other party. At the same time, I warn you not to mistake the appearance of friendship for true friendship, for true friendship does not seek visible manifestations. The more often you are assured of friendship, the less friendly feelings you will find in the one who talks so much about it. I would say that you can meet people around you who are ready to give their lives for you, as well as people who are ready to declare such readiness at any moment, but most likely they will be completely different people. Anyone who is ready to betray never declares it. So why do we so blindly believe claims of total and eternal fidelity? Because people gladly believe those praises that they themselves know very well that they do not deserve! Not a single person could reasonably declare of himself that someone from his environment has every reason to sacrifice his life for him. Why does he believe that there are such people around him? Moreover, you will hardly find anyone next to you who will sacrifice their wallet for you! But this is such a small thing compared to life! However, you will probably find lenders or even donors, but the former and especially the latter do not patronize the arts, but make investments in you and count on returning their subsidies with a large percentage and as soon as possible. A person who does not expect to receive anything more important in return than what he gives does not give anything. Open lenders are more honest, at least because they do not call their deposits gifts and tell you in advance the percentage they hope for on top of the repayment of their loans. Donors are waiting for you to figure out how to repay them a hundredfold, or that you won’t be able to refuse a request that will probably arise very soon. And believe me, the interest charged by the most greedy lenders is much lower than the interest charged by those pretending to be donors.
When Basil realized that he had already received everything he could count on from his brother, and that he would not receive anything more significant, he began to show independence and independence from the family, that is, Nicolas Fouquet, who was considered the head of this influential clan, lost all influence on him. Of course, he noticed this and stopped counting on Basil.
In addition to Guillaume de Lamoignon, Fouquet had several other influential friends in parliament. To write proclamations in the event of Fouquet's arrest, it was planned to use my talent, and also, as a cover for my participation, the talent of Pelisson, who, of course, was inferior to mine in all respects. Pelisson himself admitted this, tacitly, in a private conversation with me. In response, I always publicly praised his talent and called it unsurpassed, and I did it so sincerely that even Pelisson believed me.
Fouquet also envisaged other measures, such as the abduction of Letelier, or a figure equal to him, or even several at once, and a rise in discontent among the Huguenots.
In drawing up this plan, Fouquet took unacceptable liberties. Instead of thinking about this plan yourself, or, suppose, discussing it only verbally only with me, even if also with Madame du Plessis-Belaire, with the brothers Louis and Francois. And the most unforgivable thing was that he wrote down this plan and hid it behind the mirror in his office. Of course, during the search this document was found, and it was one of the main documents on the basis of which the judges concocted a charge against him. I told Gourville, who had never heard of this document, to report that this document was written as a joke.
“Gourville, listen and remember what you will have to declare,” I told him. — You will tell me that one evening back in 1660, during Mazarin’s lifetime, you and Fouquet had a conversation after a glass of liqueur. Your testimony will completely coincide with Fouquet's, since I undertake to deliver instructions to him. You will report that you said that, no matter how influential Fouquet may be, there is always a danger of disgrace for him, and that Fouquet will not have the means to save himself, as, for example, Conde saved himself. You added that Fouquet, of course, is a significant person, but not as significant as the winner of Rocroi, and therefore he is far from an untouchable figure.
“Let’s assume,” Gourville agreed.
“ Listen and don’t interrupt,” I continued. - You will say that Fouquet actively objected that it would not be so easy to arrest him, and that too many people would stand up for him. You suggested calculating what measures he could propose against such an arrest. You will say that Fouquet exclaimed passionately: “I bet that I will write at least five reasons to set me free immediately!” You refused to bet because if you lost, Fouquet would pay you four times, and if you won, he would forgive you for your loss. To this Fouquet answered you: “Then just watch and remember what arguments I have.” He grabbed the first piece of paper he came across and hastily wrote down all these defense methods. After this, Fouquet said to you: “See, if we argued, you would lose! And I haven’t yet written down that as prosecutor general I am not subject to prosecution. But I, of course, would not use these methods under any circumstances, because, as you rightly noted, I am not Cond;. I am Fouquet. I simply believe that I will not be arrested, and if I am arrested, I will accept my fate.” Here you asked him for this piece of paper in order to read it only as further evidence of the sophistication of the mind of a great man. “You should not read it, and I should not write it, and I will immediately burn this piece of paper, since the very fact that I wrote it was the highest disrespect for the royal power, and not a single speck of dust should remain from this piece of paper, whereas you and I should forget about this conversation.” With these words, Fouquet placed the paper on a silver tray and rang the golden bell for the valet to bring a candle, for it was daytime and there were no lighted candles in the room. The secretary who answered the bell instead of the valet announced the arrival of an important visitor, calling the visitor “Madam” and without mentioning her name. Thus, you don’t know either the name or appearance of the visitor, because she was wearing a mask, and you immediately left, but only managed to hear Fouquet whisper in your ear: “I’ll burn it a little later” and saw that he hid the paper behind the mirror. You believe that, apparently, this, of course, business meeting was so emotional that Mr. Fouquet forgot about this note, so that it remained there, without being any plan of action, and without reflecting any intentions of the one who gave it wrote, except with the intention of winning a bet in which there were no stakes.
- That’s exactly how it was! - said the quick-witted Gourville.
Unfortunately, Gourville forgot a good half of the details that I provided him with, so this ploy did not work. The judges considered this document as evidence against Fouquet.
You ask me, did Fouquet really intend to use this plan? My answer is this: if you are going to use a plan, do not write it down, but keep it in your mind, because if you do not keep the plan in your mind, you cannot use it, and if you remember it, you do not need to write it down, and, to Moreover, is it permissible to write down plans of this kind? If Fouquet admitted that he could be arrested, then even more so he should not have kept such papers in his house! If you are preparing for a fire in your home, you should not store gunpowder in it! Therefore, my testimony is unequivocal: no, Fouquet did not draw up such a dubious plan for his salvation. I was in charge of the rescue plans for Fouquet, and there was only one miscalculation in my plan: I did not take d' Artagnan into account. To make any political or military plans in France and not take into account the existence and possible moves of d'Artagnan is madness, now I know it very well! Tens, hundreds and thousands of other people could not have done anything against my almost flawless plan, but since D'Artagnan was not on my side, this plan was insane.

Chapter 213

The events that rapidly developed after the death of Mazarin force me to return again and again to some circumstances on the eve of his death. Well, don't blame me, picky reader, which I hope I won't have. After all, these memoirs are written by no longer a young man. At my age, I should be glad that I still remember all these events as if they happened yesterday. And I don’t need to worry about the sequence of presentation.
Fouquet did not draw up any plan to escape arrest for the reason that he never believed that he would be arrested. He knew that his talent for making money where others could not was exceptional. Its hierarchical structure for squeezing money out of everything acted so cunningly that those who controlled the process did not see the suffering of ordinary people, and those who worked directly with taxpayers could no longer ease the pressure on them, since this was not included in their capacity. Each performed that part of the duties that he could not change; his job was either to obey or to leave, but no one wanted to leave, since everyone in their place received much more than they could have earned on their own. Everyone was bound by common interests, at the top of it was Fouquet, and no one but him could manage this ingenious system so effectively, not even me.
However, it’s possible that I could, but I wasn’t interested. You don't have to know how a horse works to enjoy riding, and you don't have to know how an egg is created or cooked to eat it. I was not interested in the details of the operation of the Fouquet system, I was only interested in the movement of funds and the people who were behind it. I studied people with no less interest than some naturalist examines the pattern on the wings of a hitherto unknown butterfly, the species of which had just been discovered to him. I was no more interested in money than a geographer is interested in the rivers and seas that spread life throughout the world.
Fouquet, I argue, did not intend to defend himself from arrest; he was more concerned about Mazarin's impending death. He feared that the King, without Mazarin, would not be able to appreciate the importance of Fouquet and his system in the functioning of the state. Fouquet also did not count on the Queen Mother's intelligence. Mazarin was valuable to Fouquet because he understood the usefulness of a superintendent like no one else.
The Cardinal understood that, despite the fact that he distributed a significant share of his capital among his nieces, the bulk of the “family capital” he created was concentrated in his hands. And he also foresaw that after his death the King would most likely lay his hand on this jackpot. To do this, he will have to provide a legal basis for these actions. The easiest way would be to order an audit of the cardinal's sources of income. The audit will reveal too much, and then the King will probably take into the treasury not only Mazarin’s personal fortune, but also all the wealth that the families of his nieces possess, because they all arrived in France literally without a single sou, even their travel expenses were paid cardinal. Therefore, he decided to offer the King his entire fortune, not even as a will, but as a gift during his lifetime. Just like the army of Alexander the Great, loaded with plundered goods, which prevented further advance until Alexander ordered everything to be collected in a heap and burned, so the Cardinal, burdened with accumulated treasures, understood that it was impossible to take them with him to the next world, and that this was an exorbitant burden will not allow him to go to heaven. It is easier for a camel to crawl through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, the cardinal decided to present forty million livres to King Louis XIV, not forgetting that his real estate and the valuables in it were worth at least fifteen million livres. If his capital had been seized after his death and an investigation had been carried out, then these funds would have gone to the treasury. By the way, before his death, Richelieu donated his Palais Cardinal palace to King Louis XIII, probably also for the same reasons, that is, realizing that this palace would still go to the treasury one way or another, and traveling to the next world lightly has a better chance of being safe end in heaven, not purgatory.
Mazarin waited for the King's answer for three days and only on March 6 was he informed that the King had refused to accept this gift. The Queen Mother persuaded Louis XIII to accept this gift. Grimaud writes in his notes that Fouquet persuaded him to refuse the gift, since it was supposedly indecent for the King to accept a gift from his subjects. Grimaud is wrong. What was proper for Louis XIII, called the just, was also proper for his son, Louis XIV. Subsequently, Louis XIV accepted gifts from Fouquet without any problems, which I will write about later. So the question of decency has nothing to do with it, just like the legend that the idea of refusing the gift was proposed to King Fouquet. The king would accept this gift. But he still loved the cardinal’s nieces, not just one, not two, but all of them. They were all nice, they were all very polite to him. Almost each of them for some time owned, if not all of his heart, then a significant part of it. And each of them gave him all of herself, asking almost nothing in return. Sometimes they went to bed with him in twos, and never one of them was jealous of the King for the other. The king ecstatically dreamed that he could be the Turkish Sultan, and then all of Mazarin’s nieces would be his wives, they would all make up one big family.
But it was not these thoughts that forced the King to refuse Mazarin’s gift, but the smug statement of his wife, Maria Theresa.
“Your mother is right, sire,” said the Queen. “You should accept Mazarin’s gift.” It will only be fair. This money should belong to your family.
“Our family, madam, belongs to all of France,” the King answered coldly.
“Take this money, my King,” she exclaimed. “You won’t allow them to go to Mazarin’s nasty nieces, those terrible Mazarinettes, will you?”
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Louis replied in an even colder tone.
At that moment he thought that Maria Theresa's joy on this occasion was more than inappropriate.
Louis secretly met with Olympia.
“Do you know, madam, that your uncle offered me his entire fortune as a gift?” - he asked, looking into her charming eyes.
“I don’t care,” Olympia lied.
“If I refuse to accept the gift, then this money will be divided among all of you, his nieces,” continued the King.
- "If"? - Olympia asked ironically. - Did you say: “If”? Oh yes, I completely forgot that the King sometimes hesitates a lot before making a decision. But does long deliberation always guarantee that the decision made will be correct?
“I do not hesitate, I will do as you say,” answered the King, blushing.
“Damn me, I’ll give up this money in favor of the cardinal’s nieces if she asks me to!” - thought Louis. “I think I still love her!” And all of them! But hers is more than others!
“Can a modest baroness advise the King anything?” - she exclaimed. - If I could give you advice...
- What would you advise in this case, madam? - asked the King with animation.
“Once upon a time you could have acquired in my person the most loving, most faithful and, I dare to hope, the most beloved wife in the whole wide world,” Olympia said bitterly. - You refused this gift, which could have made you happy, I dare to hope. Now you are thinking about whether to refuse or accept that gift, which cannot even make you just rich, because in comparison with all of France this money is nothing!
- But I can accept this money in order to give it to you! - Louis exclaimed passionately.
“Silly, but she still loves me! - Olympia noted with satisfaction. - But I don’t love him anymore! My time is up, my chance is gone!
“Sir, if you accepted my gift, I would be the Queen of France, and for me this money would be nothing,” answered Olympia. “Since you rejected me, everything else is indifferent to me, so in this case, this money means nothing to me.” You will not be able to give it to me, because by accepting this money from my uncle, you will add it to your family capital, and in this case you will no longer be able to deprive your family so much. You cannot give this amount to me, or my sisters, or all of us together. Certainly no less than a quarter of this sum should be given to the Queen Mother, no less than a quarter to the Queen, your wife, and probably another quarter to Philippe d'Orl;ans, your brother. You'll only have a quarter left.
“I don’t have to share them with everyone!” - the King objected vehemently.
“You are already sorry to part with the shares of money that you have not yet accepted,” Olympia answered with ostentatious regret. - How can you say that you are ready to refuse my uncle’s gift completely?
“All the shame for accepting this gift in front of the cardinal’s nieces will fall on me alone, because it is I who will deprive them of this part of the inheritance! - thought Louis. “And this money will be divided among themselves by my wife, my mother and, what’s most offensive of all, my brother!” Let them then blush for it in front of the Mancini sisters! Even if I leave myself only a quarter, they, having spent their shares, will encroach on it too! And if I give them smaller shares, they will also become angry with me, sulk and act offended!”
“I just wanted to know your opinion, but not in order to make a decision, but to talk with you, like in the old days,” Louis said with a grin, feigning indifference. “As for my decision, I made it almost immediately after receiving the letter of gift from the cardinal. Of course, I will refuse this gift. I was just looking for an excuse to meet you, Olympia. You don't regret this secret meeting, do you? Will you kiss me after this conversation?
“Ah, sire, you know very well that I belong entirely to you,” Olympia said languidly.
After that, she gently wrapped her arms around the King's neck and approached his face with her lips, leaving a small distance between them and the King's lips so that the last move in this battle could be made by him.
The king inhaled that indescribably pleasant smell that came from the beauty, skillfully using Cologne water with the smell of lilac and a slight admixture of the aroma of roses, as well as a subtle pine note.
The king pressed his lips to Olympia's.
“I still love him,” Olympia might have thought at that moment, “And he loves me!”
But she didn’t think so, because at that moment she didn’t think at all, all her senses were focused on this bringing together of lips.
After that, she provided the King with irrefutable evidence that during these six months she had not lost any of her beauty and passion. In addition, Louis was once again convinced that a marriage for political interests cannot bring the same sweet fruits of possessing a beloved woman as secret meetings with the baroness, whose presence in France at that moment not a single soul is aware of.
However, I knew about this meeting, as did five other people from the Order.

Chapter 214

Anticipating that he would soon appear before the Creator, Mazarin ordered everything to be prepared for the sacrament of Holy Communion. Monsignor K.O.I. arranged at my request that I be among those priests who participated in this sacrament. I placed a small golden crucifix into the cardinal's weakening hand. The cardinal felt it with his fingers and suddenly became tense and brought the cross to his eyes.
“Leave us alone with the Bishop of Vannes,” said Mazarin.
All those present left the cardinal's bedroom.
“I guessed, Monsieur d’Herblay, that you were not a simple priest,” he said. - What do you want to ask me, or what do you want to tell me?
“I want to know where you hid Philip,” I said.
“The Duke of Orleans is now in Paris,” answered Mazarin. - Nobody hid him.
“I'm talking about Louis Philippe, born on September 5, 1638, eighteen minutes later than you know who,” I replied.
- Did you know? - Mazarin was surprised, on whose already pale face the last remnants of blush had disappeared.
“I didn’t know, I know,” I corrected. - So, where is he?
- Why do you need this? - asked the cardinal, and I heard fear in his voice.
“My dear Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino,” I said softly. - You suggested asking me questions, but I didn’t make such proposals to you. Why do you need to know why I need this, if all you need to know is that you are obliged to answer my questions as before the Lord. Or did you not look closely enough at the item I gave you?
“Forgive me, my brother,” Mazarin replied, returning the golden cross to me. “Of course, I shouldn’t have asked this question, and I don’t need to know the answer to it.” There's no need for it now, yes. But you don’t use your knowledge to harm the rightful King?
“I use my knowledge exclusively for the benefit of the legitimate King of France,” I answered sincerely, meaning the man whom I considered no less a legitimate monarch than Louis XIV.
“Well, of course, I will answer you, monsignor,” said Mazarin. “Earthly affairs will soon cease to bother me at all, while the heavenly authorities will retain their rights over me in heaven, and I recognize that the general of the Order, like the Pope, is the vicar of the Lord on earth.” And since you are the general's envoy, I will tell you, but keep in mind that not only the King, but also the Queen does not know this. I know only one, and now you will know too, that the person you are interested in is under the care of Monsieur de Bezmeaux.
— That is, in the Bastille? - I cried. - How dare you?
“It was not me, but Cardinal Richelieu who placed it there,” Mazarin calmly answered. “And besides, he gets the best content, he feels good there, he even reads books.” And he eats excellent dishes served to him on silver dishes.
“And yet it is inhumane to deprive him of his freedom!” - I objected.
“The highest state interests require an effective solution,” Mazarin said dispassionately. “At times it seems cruel, even inhumane, but, believe me, all other measures are so dangerous that I would say this is the only sufficiently reliable measure to prevent the terrifying consequences that could arise if this secret is revealed. Let me remind you that it was not me who made the decisions, but I only care that things don’t get worse.
- Under what name will he enter the prisoner register? - I said, trying to be emotionless, although a storm was bubbling inside me.
“Marciali,” answered Mazarin. “Are these all the questions you wanted to ask me?”
“Yes, monsignor,” I answered.
- Requests? - asked the cardinal.
“Tomorrow you will hold a meeting of the council and recommend that the King place full confidence in Messrs. Fouquet, Letelier and Lyonne,” I said.
“Of course,” answered Mazarin. “These people are worthy of recommendation, but will I be able to hold a council meeting?”
“After all, this can be a very short meeting, and you can hold it where it is convenient for you,” I said. - You will be dressed appropriately and seated in a comfortable chair with a high back, tilted so that you almost lie down. I think no one will blame you for not standing up in the presence of the King if, the moment the King enters, you make a movement as if you were trying to stand up, but His Majesty stops you and asks you to remain in your chair.
- What if he doesn’t do this? - Mazarin asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied. - The king will be warned. I will ask Monsieur d'Artagnan to speak with the King. He knows how to persuade, especially if he conveys this request to His Majesty on your behalf.
“Yes, of course, ask your secretary to call M. d’Artagnan to me,” answered Mazarin. - That's all?
— Dominus tibi omnia peccata dimitit et dicit quod caelum te exspectat — I said and made a cross over the cardinal’s forehead.
—Omnes _ desideria tua sapiens sunt, Domine! Fata mihi a Domino parata supplex suscipio! — Mazarin answered humbly. — Amen.
The next day, Mazarin, indeed, held a council of state and recommended to the King the names I had named Letelier, Lyonne and Fouquet, but only Fouquet he named last. But Mazarin’s trick failed; Louis considered that Fouquet was named last precisely as the most important member of the state council among all those named.
But Mazarin was cunning. He sent Bezmo a letter in which he ordered, in the name of the King, not to allow anyone to see the prisoner Marchiali except by the King’s own order, either oral or written, signed and sealed with his own hand. It was forbidden to allow a visit to a prisoner or to change the regime of his detention, even by order of the Attorney General, or the Queen Mother, or by order of the Council of State signed by its chairman. Only the King could control the fate of this prisoner and allow anyone to see him. This order bore not only Mazarin’s signature, but also the King’s signature, which Mazarin asked Louis XIV to put, explaining this for state reasons. He conducted the conversation in such a way that the King signed without reading the document. In addition, Mazarin, in a private conversation with the King, recommended that he not trust Fouquet too much, pointed out his exorbitant ambition and hinted that Fouquet was dishonest
— He is fully suited to the positions he occupies, - said Mazarin. — But don't give him more power than he already has. Observe his activities, if you notice that he is claiming more than what was given to him by your royal will, send him to resign.
— Even more power? — asked the King. — Do you mean the position of First Minister?
— Under no circumstances make Fouquet first minister, Your Majesty, - said Mazarin firmly. — You limit the power of this ambitious man. You remember his motto: “Wherever I can climb”? Only one person in the state can have such a motto - the King. Even the first minister should not think about power without restrictions, about a position of higher and higher status. Only the monarch should stand above everyone. Anyone else must limit their aspirations. However, Your Majesty, do not quarrel with Fouquet under any circumstances. Even if you decide to resign him, do not tell anyone in the whole world about it, except those people you can trust.
— To the queen? — asked Louis.
— The Queen has done a lot for the state, she deserves a rest, and her strength is not unlimited, Your Majesty, - answered Mazarin. — Rely on Colbert for financial control and government control. Colbert will not let you down, Your Majesty. And for special occasions where intelligence, courage and devotion are required, rely on Monsieur d'Artagnan. He, of course, is not a marshal, not a prince or a duke, but you yourself see that the loyalty of princes, dukes and marshals has to be bought from time to time, and not just once, but many times. No treasury is sufficient to satisfy the ambitions of all the noble offspring of your worthy grandfather Henry IV. D'Artagnan's loyalty rests on his understanding of honor and valor; there are very few such people left.
— I thank you, Your Eminence, for all the care with which you have surrounded us and the kingdom all this time, as well as for your invaluable advice, - answered the King. — However, I believe that you are needlessly upsetting us by talking about how we should act without you. Her Majesty the Queen Mother brought gifts to Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, begging him to restore your health and strength. I am sure that you will soon make a complete recovery. You need to rest, just rest, maybe two weeks, or even a month.
— Thank you, Your Majesty, - answered Mazarin, tears appearing in the corners of his eyes. — Your mother, the Queen, is immensely kind to me. Give her my regards, my deepest gratitude and my farewell blessing. Regarding Fouquet. Don't take my warnings for lack of confidence in the superintendent. I very much appreciate his efforts to provide the treasury with finances. These efforts have always been effective and timely. In addition, I have appointed him as my executor, and I ask Your Majesty to agree with this decision of mine.
— Your will will be done, monsignor, - answered the King.
— Thank you, Your Majesty, - The cardinal said in a quiet voice and closed his eyes tiredly.
The king noticed that Mazarin spoke with difficulty, taking long pauses between phrases and even between individual words. He realized that the cardinal was tired and, having said goodbye to the cardinal, left him.
— Here you go, - muttered the cardinal. — If Fouquet is my executor, there will be no investigation into the ways of forming my capital. My nieces can rest assured that my entire inheritance will go to them in the shares that I indicated in my will. Who can decide to interfere with the actions of the Prosecutor General, who, with the consent of the King, manages the inheritance of the First Minister? If there is a person in France who can doubt the legality of the acquisition of my fortune, then it is, in any case, not Fouquet. After all, our capital and his were compiled using the same method. Who will dig for himself? Now I can die in peace. It's a damn shame to leave all these treasures of mine! Nudus in hunc mundum venimus, nudum hunc mundum relinquimus. Well, I took care of both France and my family.

(Continued in Book 6)