in the days of her youth, when her palace was open to the
visits of the Duke of Buckingham’s father, then a young and
impassioned man, as well as an unfortunate prince, who lived
for her alone, and died with her name upon his lips. Anne of
Austria fixed upon Buckingham a look so tender in its
expression, that it denoted, not alone the indulgence of
maternal affection, but a gentleness of expression like the
coquetry of a woman who loves.
“Your majesty,” said Buckingham, respectfully, “desired to
speak to me.”
“Yes, duke,” said the queen, in English; “will you be good
enough to sit down?”
The favor which Anne of Austria thus extended to the young
man, and the welcome sound of the language of a country from
which the duke had been estranged since his stay in France,
deeply affected him. He immediately conjectured that the
queen had a request to make of him. After having abandoned
the first few moments to the irrepressible emotions she
experienced, the queen resumed the smiling air with which
she had received him. “What do you think of France?” she
said, in French.
“It is a lovely country, madame,” replied the duke.
“Had you ever seen it before?”
“Once only, madame.”
“But, like all true Englishmen, you prefer England?”
“I prefer my own native land to France,” replied the duke;
“but if your majesty were to ask me which of the two cities,
London or Paris, I should prefer as a residence, I should be
forced to answer, Paris.”
Anne of Austria observed the ardent manner with which these
words had been pronounced. “I am told my lord, you have rich
possessions in your own country and that you live in a
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splendid and time-honored palace.”
“It was my father’s residence,” replied Buckingham, casting
down his eyes.
“Those are indeed great advantages and souvenirs,” replied
the queen, alluding, in spite of herself, to recollections
from which it is impossible voluntarily to detach one’s
self.
“In fact,” said the duke, yielding to the melancholy
influence of this opening conversation, “sensitive persons
live as much in the past or the future, as in the present.”
“That is very true,” said the queen, in a low tone of voice.
“It follows, then, my lord,’ she added, “that you, who are a
man of feeling, will soon quit France in order to shut
yourself up with your wealth and your relics of the past.”
Buckingham raised his head and said, “I think not, madame.”
“What do you mean?”
“On the contrary, I think of leaving England in order to
take up my residence in France.”
It was now Anne of Austria’s turn to exhibit surprise.
“Why?” she said. “Are you not in favor with the new king?”
“Perfectly so, madame, for his majesty’s kindness to me is
unbounded.”
“It cannot,” said the queen, “be because your fortune has
diminished, for it is said to be enormous.”
“My income, madame, has never been so large.”
“There is some secret cause, then?”
“No, madame,” said Buckingham, eagerly, “there is nothing
secret in my reason for this determination. I prefer
residence in France; I like a court so distinguished by its
refinement and courtesy; I like the amusements, somewhat
serious in their nature, which are not the amusements of my
own country, and which are met with in France.”
Anne of Austria smiled shrewdly. “Amusements of a serious
nature?” she said. “Has your Grace well reflected on their
seriousness?” The duke hesitated. “There is no amusement so
serious,” continued the queen, “as to prevent a man of your
rank —- ”
“Your majesty seems to insist greatly on that point,”
interrupted the duke.
“Do you think so, my lord?”
“If you will forgive me for saying so, it is the second time
you have vaunted the attractions of England at the expense
of the delight which all experience who live in France.”
Anne of Austria approached the young man, and placing her
beautiful hand upon his shoulder, which trembled at the
touch, said, “Believe me, monsieur, nothing can equal a
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
residence in one’s own native country. I have very
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