Vicomte De Bragelonne Chapter XLIX - The First Appearance of Colbert

In which the mortal agonies of Cardinal Mazarin unfold through a restless night, culminating in his death and the somber arrival of the astute M. Colbert, who reveals to the young King Louis XIV a hidden treasury and troubling truths about the kingdom’s finances. This unexpected disclosure sets the stage for the youthful monarch’s contemplation of the heavy burdens and secret intrigues that accompany sovereignty.