Louis the Fourteenth had granted a pardon to a nobleman who had committed some very great crime.
M. Voisin, the chancellor, ran to him in his closet, and exclaimed, “Sire, you cannot pardon a person in the situation of Mr. X.”
“I have promised him,” replied the king, who was always impatient of contradiction, “go and fetch the great seal.”
“But sire…”
“Pray, sir, do as I order you.”
The chancellor returned with the seals; Louis applied them himself to the instrument containing the pardon, and gives them again to the chancellor.
“They are polluted, now, sire,” exclaimed the intrepid and excellent magistrate, pushing them from him on the table, “I cannot take them again.”
“What an impracticable man!” cried the monarch, and threw the pardon into the fire. “I will now, sire, take them again,” said the chancellor, “as fire purifies all things.”
