The queen received him graciously, and said, “Have we any money, M. de Calonne?”
“Certainly, madame; we have always money.”
“You are perfectly marvelous,” replied she, “an incomparable financier, for you seem always ready when we want money.”
“Explain to me first how you manage to find money, when M. Necker declared that there was none.”
“M. Necker was right, madame; for when I became minister on the 3d of November, 1783, there were but one thousand and two hundred francs in the public treasury. Had M. Necker, madame, instead of crying out, ‘There is no money,’ done as I have done, and borrowed 100,000,000 the first year, and 125,000,000 the second, and had he been as sure as I am of a new loan of 80,000,000 for the third, he would have been a true financier. Every one can say there is no money, but not that there is plenty.”
“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.
“I have now a project, madame,” replied he, bowing, “which will put 20,000,000 into the pockets of the nation, and 7,000,000 or 8,000,000 into 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 the countries of Europe.”
“Certainly. In Spain gold is dearer than in France.”
“Your majesty is perfectly right. Gold in Spain has been for the last five or six years worth considerably more than in France; it results that the exporters gain on eight ounces of gold, that they send from here, about the value of fourteen ounces of silver.”
“Well, madame, I mean to raise the price of gold one-fifth of this difference, and where we have now thirty louis we shall then have thirty-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 the minister.
“Would it be possible to have at present—I am afraid it is too much——”
“Oh, madame, really your majesty frightened me; I was afraid it was something great.”
“Oh, madame, that is impossible. Every month all my accounts are laid before the king; however, he does not always read them.”