Le collier de la reine. English
Page 57
CHAPTER LV.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE.
We have seen that the queen, before receiving Andree, was smiling over anote from Madame de la Motte. She was, however, rendered serious by theinterview with Mademoiselle de Taverney. Scarcely had she gone, whenMadame de Misery came to announce M. de Calonne. He was a man of muchintellect, but, foreseeing that disaster was hanging over France,determined to think only of the present, and enjoy it to the utmost. Hewas a courtier, and a popular man. M. de Necker had shown theimpossibility of finding finances, and called for reforms which wouldhave struck at the estates of the nobility and the revenues of theclergy; he exposed his designs too openly, and was overwhelmed by atorrent of opposition; to show the enemy your plan of attack is half togive them the victory. Calonne, equally alive to the danger, but seeingno way of escape, gave way to it. He completely carried with him theking and queen, who implicitly believed in his system, and this is,perhaps, the only political fault which Louis XVI was guilty of towardsposterity. M. de Calonne was handsome, and had an ingratiating manner;he knew how to please a queen, and always arrived with a smile on hisface, when others might have worn a frown.
The queen received him graciously, and said, "Have we any money, M. deCalonne?"
"Certainly, madame; we have always money."
"You are perfectly marvelous," replied she, "an incomparable financier,for you seem always ready when we want money."
"How much does your majesty require?"
"Explain to me first how you manage to find money, when M. Neckerdeclared that there was none."
"M. Necker was right, madame; for when I became minister on the 3d ofNovember, 1783, there were but one thousand and two hundred francs inthe public treasury. Had M. Necker, madame, instead of crying out,'There is no money,' done as I have done, and borrowed 100,000,000 thefirst year, and 125,000,000 the second, and had he been as sure as I amof a new loan of 80,000,000 for the third, he would have been a truefinancier. Every one can say there is no money, but not that there isplenty."
"That is what I compliment you on, sir; but how to pay all this?"
"Oh, madame, be sure we shall pay it," replied he, with a strange smile.
"Well, I trust to you," said the queen.
"I have now a project, madame," replied he, bowing, "which will put20,000,000 into the pockets of the nation, and 7,000,000 or 8,000,000into your own."
"They will be welcome, but where are they to come from?"
"Your majesty is aware that money is not of the same value in all thecountries of Europe."
"Certainly. In Spain gold is dearer than in France."
"Your majesty is perfectly right. Gold in Spain has been for the lastfive or six years worth considerably more than in France; it resultsthat the exporters gain on eight ounces of gold, that they send fromhere, about the value of fourteen ounces of silver."
"That is a great deal."
"Well, madame, I mean to raise the price of gold one-fifth of thisdifference, and where we have now thirty louis we shall then havethirty-two."
"It is a brilliant idea!" cried the queen.
"I believe it, and am happy that it meets your majesty's approbation."
"Always have such, and I am sure you will soon pay our debts."
"But allow me, madame, to return to what you want of me," said theminister.
"Would it be possible to have at present--I am afraid it is toomuch----"
Calonne smiled in an encouraging manner.
"500,000 francs?" continued the queen.
"Oh, madame, really your majesty frightened me; I was afraid it wassomething great."
"Then you can?"
"Assuredly."
"Without the king's knowledge?"
"Oh, madame, that is impossible. Every month all my accounts are laidbefore the king; however, he does not always read them."
"When can I have it?"
"What day does your majesty wish for it?"
"On the fifth of next month."
"Your majesty shall have it on the third."
"Thanks, M. de Calonne."
"My greatest happiness is to please your majesty, and I beg you neverwill allow yourself to be embarrassed for want of money." He rose, thequeen gave him her hand to kiss, and then said, "After all, this moneycauses me some remorse, for it is for a caprice."
"Never mind; some one will gain by it."
"That is true; you have a charming mode of consoling one."
"Oh, madame, if we had none of us more reasons for remorse than you, weshould all go straight to heaven."
"But it will be cruel to make the poor people pay for my caprices."
"Have no scruples, madame; it is not the poor who will pay."
"How so?" asked the queen, in some surprise.
"Because, madame, they have nothing to pay with."
He bowed and retired.