intimated to him.”
“You will intimate nothing of the kind, Philip,” said the
queen, “for if you act in that manner, and violate
hospitality to that extent, I will invoke the severity of
the king against you.”
“Do you threaten me, madame?” exclaimed Philip, almost in
tears; “do you threaten me in the midst of my complaints!”
“I do not threaten you; I do but place an obstacle in the
path of your hasty anger. I maintain that, to adopt towards
the Duke of Buckingham, or any other Englishman, any
rigorous measure — to take even a discourteous step towards
him, would be to plunge France and England into the most
disastrous disagreement. Can it be possible that a prince of
the blood, the brother of the king of France, does not know
how to hide an injury, even did it exist in reality, where
political necessity requires it?” Philip made a movement.
“Besides,” continued the queen, “the injury is neither true
nor possible, and it is merely a matter of silly jealousy.”
“Madame, I know what I know.”
“Whatever you may know, I can only advise you to be
patient.”
Page 547
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“I am not patient by disposition, madame.”
The queen rose, full of severity, and with an icy
ceremonious manner. “Explain what you really require,
monsieur,” she said.
“I do not require anything, madame; I simply express what I
desire. If the Duke of Buckingham does not, of his own
accord, discontinue his visits to my apartments I shall
forbid him entrance.”
“That is a point you will refer to the king,” said Anne of
Austria, her heart swelling as she spoke, and her voice
trembling with emotion.
“But, madame,” exclaimed Philip, striking his hands
together, “act as my mother and not as the queen, since I
speak to you as a son; it is simply a matter of a few
minutes’ conversation between the duke and myself.”
“It is that very conversation I forbid,” said the queen,
resuming her authority, “because it is unworthy of you.”
“Be it so; I will not appear in the matter, but I shall
intimate my will to Madame.”
“Oh!” said the queen-mother, with a melancholy arising from
reflection, “never tyrannize over a wife — never behave too
haughtily or imperiously towards your own. A woman
unwillingly convinced is unconvinced.”
“What is to be done, then? — I will consult my friends
about it.”
“Yes, your double-dealing advisers, your Chevalier de
Lorraine — your De Wardes. Intrust the conduct of this
affair to me. You wish the Duke of Buckingham to leave, do
you not?”
“As soon as possible, madame.”
“Send the duke to me, then; smile upon your wife, behave to
her, to the king, to every one, as usual. But follow no
advice but mine. Alas! I too well know what any household
comes to that is troubled by advisers.”
“You shall be obeyed, madame.”
“And you will be satisfied at the result. Send the duke to
me.”
“That will not be difficult.”
“Where do you suppose him to be?”
“At my wife’s door, whose levee he is probably awaiting.”
“Very well.” said Anne of Austria, calmly. “Be good enough
to tell the duke that I shall be charmed if he will pay me a
visit.”
Philip kissed his mother’s hand, and started off to find the
Duke of Buckingham.
Page 548
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
CHAPTER 92
Forever!
The Duke of Buckingham, obedient to the queen-mother’s
invitation, presented himself in her apartments half an hour
after the departure of the Duc d’Orleans. When his name was
announced by the gentleman-usher in attendance, the queen,
who was sitting with her elbow resting on a table, and her
head buried in her hands, rose, and smilingly received the
graceful and respectful salutation which the duke addressed
to her. Anne of Austria was still beautiful. It is well
known that at her then somewhat advanced age, her long
auburn hair, perfectly formed hands, and bright ruby lips,
were still the admiration of all who saw her. On the present
occasion, abandoned entirely to a remembrance which evoked
all the past in her heart, she looked almost as beautiful as