“My good friend the regent—­it is he who hath been mad,” continued Law.  “He, holding France in trust, has ruined France forever.”

“Monsieur, I grieve for you,” said the Swiss.  “I have seen your success in these years and, as you may imagine, have understood something of your affairs as time went on.”

“And have you not profited by your knowledge in these times?”

“I have had the salary your Honor has agreed to pay me,” replied the Swiss.

“And no more?”

“No more.”

“Why, there are serving folk in France by the hundreds who have grown millionaires by the knowledge of their employers’ affairs these last two years in Paris.  Never was such a time in all the world for making money.  Have you been more blind than they?  Why did you not tell me?  Why did you not ask?”

“I was content with your employment.  Monsieur L’as.  I would ask no better master.”

“It is not so with certain others.  They think me a hard master enough, and having displaced me, will do all they can to punish me.  But now, Henri, you will perhaps need to look elsewhere for a master.  I am going far away—­perhaps across the seas.  It may he—­but I know not where and care not where my foot may wander hereafter, nor will I seek now to plan for it.  As for you, Henri, since you admit you have been thus blind to your own interests, let us look to that.  Go to the desk again.  Take out the drawer—­that one on the left hand.  So—­bring it to me.”

The servant obeyed.  Law took from his hand the receptacle, and with a sweep of his hand poured out on the table its contents.  A mass of glittering gems, diamonds, sapphires, pearls, emeralds, fell and spread over the table top.  The light cast out by their thousand facets lit up the surroundings with shimmering, many-colored gleams.  The wealth of a kingdom might have been here in the careless possession of this man, whose resources had been absolutely without measure.

“Help yourself, Henri,” said Law, calmly, and turned about to his employment among the papers.  A moment later he turned again to see his servant still standing motionless.

“Well?” said Law.

“I do not understand,” said the Swiss.

“Take what you like,” said Law.  “I have said it, and I mean it.  It is for your pay, because you have been honest, because I understand you as a faithful man.”

“But, Monsieur, these things have very great value,” said the Swiss.  “Let me ask how is it that you yourself take so little gold along?  Does Monsieur purpose to take with him his fortune in gems and jewels instead?”

“By no means.  I purpose taking but fifty louis, as I have said.”

“Monsieur would have me replace the drawer?”

“How do you mean?”

“Why, I want none of them.”

“Why?”

“Because Monsieur wants none of them.”

“Fie!  Your case is quite different from mine.”