man
whom all had been so long accustomed to obey. With hand upraised, Law
gazed at them for one instant, and then gave them no further attention.

"Yet these words I must hasten to qualify," resumed he. "True, I am at
this moment your master, your Grace, but two minutes hence, and for all
time thereafter, I shall no longer be your master. Your Grace was once
so good as to make me head of certain financial matters, and to give me
control of them. The fabric of this Messasebe, which you see without,
was all my own. It was this which made me master of Paris, and of every
man within the gates of Paris. So far, very well. My plans were honest,
and the growth of France--nay, let us say the resurrection of
France--the new life of France--shows how my own plans were made and how
well I knew that which was to happen. I made you rich, your Grace. I
gave you funds to pay off millions of your private debts, millions to
gratify your fancies. I gave you more millions to pay the debts of
France. France and her regent have again taken a position of honor in
the eyes of the world. You may well call me master of your fate, who
have been able to accomplish these things. So long as you knew your
master, you did well. Now your Grace has seen fit to change masters. He
would be his own master again. There can not be two in control of a
concern like this. Sir, the two minutes hare elapsed. I am your very
humble servant!"

The regent still sat staring from his chair, and speech was yet denied
him.

"There are your people. There is your France," said Law, beckoning as he
turned toward the window and pointing to the crowd without. "There is
your France. Now handle it, my master! Here are the reins! Now drive;
but see that you be careful how you drive. Come, your Grace," said he,
mockingly, over his shoulder. "Come, and see your France!"

The audacity of John Law was a thing without parallel, as had been
proved a hundred times in his strange life and in a hundred places. His
sheer contemptuous daring brought Philippe of Orleans to his senses. He
relaxed now in his purpose, changeable as was his wont, and advanced
towards Law with hand outstretched.

"There, there, Monsieur L'as, I did you wrong, perhaps," said he. "But
as to these hasty words, pray reconsider them at once. 'Twill have a bad
effect should a breath of this get afloat. Indeed, 'twas because of some
such thing that I came to see you this morning. A most unspeakable, a
most incr