These lighters, in the shape of gondolas, rather wide and rather heavy, containing a small cuddy, covered by the deck, and a chamber in the poop, formed by a tent, then acted as passage-boats from Orleans to Nantes, by the Loire; and this passage, a long one in our days, appeared then more easy and convenient than the high-road, with its post-hacks or its bad, insecurely hung carriages. Fouquet went on board this lighter, which set out immediately. The rowers, knowing they had the honor of conveying the Superintendent of the Finances, pulled with all their strength, and that magic phrase, the finances, promised them a liberal gratification, of which they wished to prove themselves worthy.
The lighter bounded over the waters of the Loire. Magnificent weather, one of those sun-risings that
