Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

returned to his ruelle at the moment the name of M. le

Prince was being announced. The Prince de Conde, the first

prince of the blood, the conqueror of Rocroy, Lens and

Nordlingen, was, in fact, entering the apartment of

Monseigneur de Mazarin, followed by his gentlemen, and had

already saluted the king, when the prime minister raised his

curtain. Athos had time to see Raoul pressing the hand of

the Comte de Guiche, and send him a smile in return for his

respectful bow. He had time, likewise, to see the radiant

countenance of the cardinal, when he perceived before him,

upon the table, an enormous heap of gold, which the Comte de

Guiche had won in a run of luck, after his eminence had

confided his cards to him. So forgetting ambassador, embassy

and prince, his first thought was of the gold. “What!” cried

the old man — “all that — won?”

“Some fifty thousand crowns; yes, monseigneur!” replied the

Comte de Guiche, rising. “Must I give up my place to your

eminence, or shall I continue?”

“Give up! give up! you are mad. You would lose all you have

won. Peste!”

“My lord!” said the Prince de Conde, bowing.

“Good-evening, monsieur le prince,” said the minister, in a

careless tone; “it is very kind of you to visit an old sick

friend.”

“A friend!” murmured the Comte de la Fere, at witnessing

with stupor this monstrous alliance of words; — “friends!

when the parties are Conde and Mazarin!”

Mazarin seemed to divine the thought of the Frondeur, for he

smiled upon him with triumph, and immediately, — “Sire,”

said he to the king, “I have the honor of presenting to your

majesty, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, ambassador from his

Britannic majesty. An affair of state, gentlemen,” added he,

waving his hand to all who filled the chamber, and who, the

Prince de Conde at their head, all disappeared at the simple

gesture. Raoul, after a last look cast at the comte,

followed M. de Conde. Philip of Anjou and the queen appeared

to be consulting about departing.

“A family affair,” said Mazarin, suddenly, detaining them in

their seats. “This gentleman is the bearer of a letter in

which King Charles II., completely restored to his throne,

demands an alliance between Monsieur, the brother of the

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

king, and Mademoiselle Henrietta, grand-daughter of Henry

IV. Will you remit your letter of credit to the king,

monsieur le comte?”

Athos remained for a minute stupefied. How could the

minister possibly know the contents of the letter which had

never been out of his keeping for a single instant?

Nevertheless, always master of himself, he held out the

dispatch to the young king, Louis XIV., who took it with a

blush. A solemn silence reigned in the cardinal’s chamber.

It was only troubled by the dull sound of the gold, which

Mazarin with his yellow dry hand, piled up in a casket,

whilst the king was reading.

CHAPTER 41

The Recital

The maliciousness of the cardinal did not leave much for the

ambassador to say; nevertheless, the word “restoration” had

struck the king, who, addressing the comte, upon whom his

eyes had been fixed since his entrance, — “Monsieur,” said

he, “will you have the kindness to give us some details

concerning the affairs of England. You come from that

country, you are a Frenchman, and the orders which I see

glittering upon your person announce you to be a man of

merit as well as a man of quality.”

“Monsieur,” said the cardinal, turning towards the

queen-mother, “is an ancient servant of your majesty’s,

Monsieur le Comte de la Fere.”

Anne of Austria was as oblivious as a queen whose life had

been mingled with fine and stormy days. She looked at

Mazarin, whose evil smile promised her something

disagreeable; then she solicited from Athos, by another

look, an explanation.

“Monsieur,” continued the cardinal, “was a Treville

musketeer, in the service of the late king. Monsieur is well

acquainted with England, whither he has made several voyages

at various periods; he is a subject of the highest merit.

These words made allusion to all the memories which Anne of