At last, however, M. de Calonne began to speak of the loan to be raised for the ensuing year. The king became attentive, and said, “Always borrowing; but how is it to be repaid? That is a problem, M. de Calonne, for you to solve.”
“Sire, a loan is only turning a stream from one direction, to cause it to flow more abundantly in another. In deepening the channel, you only increase the supply; therefore, let us not think of paying, but only of obtaining present supplies.” M. de Calonne then explained his plans, which were approved by his colleagues.
“Now we have money,” said M. de Calonne, “let us dispose of it;” and he handed a paper to the king, with a list of pensions, gifts, and payments to be made.
The king glanced at the total,—“1,900,000 francs for this—enormous!”
“To the queen! 500,000 francs to the queen!—impossible!”
“But there must be a mistake; a fortnight ago her majesty received her money.”
“Sire, but if her majesty has need of money; and we all know how well she employs it.”
“No,” cried the king; “the queen does not want this money; she said to me that she preferred a vessel to jewels. The queen thinks but of France, and when France is poor, we that are rich ought to lend to France; and if she does require this money, it will be a greater merit to wait for it; and I guarantee that she will wait.”
The ministers applauded this patriotic speech of the king,—only M. de Calonne insisted.
“Really, monsieur,” said the king, “you are more interested for us than we are for ourselves.”
“The queen, sire, will accuse us of having been backward when her interests were concerned.”
“But, sire, the queen never asks without necessity.”
“If the queen has wants, they are, I trust, less imperious than those of the poor, and she will be the first to acknowledge it.”
“I am resolved,” said the king; “and I fancy I hear the queen in her generosity thanking me for having so well understood her heart.”
M. de Calonne bit his lips, and Louis, content with this personal sacrifice, signed all the rest without looking at them.
“Calonne, you shall tell the queen yourself.”
“Oh! sire, I beg to resign to you the honor.”
“So be it then. Ah! here she comes, let us meet her.”
“I beg your majesty to excuse me,” he replied, and retired quickly.