Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas, Alexandre part one

“Sire,” said the usher, “your Majesty desired me to permit M. le Comte de la Fere to pass freely at any time when he might wish to speak to your Majesty.”

“Well?”

“M. le Comte de la Fere is now waiting to see your Majesty.”

The King and De Saint-Aignan at this reply exchanged a look which betrayed more uneasiness than surprise. Louis hesitated for a moment, but almost immediately forming a resolution, he said: “Go, De Saint-Aignan, and find Louise; inform her of the plot against us. Do not let her be ignorant that Madame is beginning again her persecutions, and that she has set to work those who would have done better had they remained neutral.”

“Sire-”

“If Louise gets nervous and frightened, reassure her; tell her that the King’s love is an impenetrable shield over her. If, as I suspect is the case, she already knows everything, or if she has already been herself subjected to an attack, tell her, be sure to tell her, De Saint-Aignan,” added the King, trembling with passion,- “tell her, I say, that this time, instead of defending her, I will avenge her, and that too so terribly that no one will in future even dare to raise his eyes towards her.”

“Is that all, Sire?”

“Yes; all. Go quickly, and remain faithful,- you who live in the midst of this hell without having, like myself, the hope of paradise.”

De Saint-Aignan almost exhausted himself in protestations of devotion, took the King’s hand, kissed it, and left the room radiant with delight.

Chapter XIX: King and Nobility

THE King endeavored to recover his self-possession as quickly as possible, in order to meet M. de la Fere with an undisturbed countenance. He clearly saw that it was not mere chance which had induced the count’s visit. He had a vague impression of the serious import of that visit; but he felt that to a man of Athos’s tone of mind, to a person so distinguished, nothing disagreeable or disordered should be presented. As soon as the King had satisfied himself that so far as appearances were concerned he was perfectly calm again, he gave directions to the ushers to introduce the count.

A few minutes afterwards Athos, in full court dress and with his breast covered with the orders that he alone had the right to wear at the Court of France, presented himself with so grave and solemn an air that the King perceived at the first glance that he had not been mistaken in his anticipations. Louis advanced a step towards the count, and with a smile held out his hand to him, over which Athos bowed with the air of the deepest respect.

“M. le Comte de la Fere,” said the King, rapidly, “you are so seldom here that it is a very great happiness to see you.”

Athos bowed and replied, “I should wish always to enjoy the happiness of being near your Majesty.”

That reply, made in that tone, evidently signified, “I should wish to be one of your Majesty’s advisers, to save you from the commission of faults.” The King so understood it, and determined in this man’s presence to preserve all the advantages of calmness along with those of rank.

“I see you have something to say to me,” he said.

“Had it not been so, I should not have presumed to present myself before your Majesty.”

“Speak quickly; I am anxious to satisfy you,” returned the King, seating himself.

“I am persuaded,” replied Athos, in a slightly agitated tone of voice, “that your Majesty will give me every satisfaction.”

“Ah!” said the King, with a certain haughtiness of manner, “you have come to lodge a complaint here, then?”

“It would be a complaint,” returned Athos, “only in the event of your Majesty- But if you will deign to permit me, Sire, I will begin the conversation at the beginning.”

“I am listening.”

“Your Majesty will remember that at the period of the Duke of Buckingham’s departure I had the honor of an interview with you.”

“At or about that period I think I remember you did; only, with regard to the subject of the conversation, I have quite forgotten it.”

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