has been in England. He went the first time to save the
honor of a great queen; the second, to avert the death of a
great king.”
“Sir,” said Anne to Mazarin, with an accent from which daily
habits of dissimulation could not entirely chase the real
expression, “see if we can do something for these
gentlemen.”
“I wish to do, madame, all that your majesty pleases.”
“Do what Monsieur de la Fere requests; that is your name, is
it not, sir?”
“I have another name, madame — I am called Athos.”
“Madame,” said Mazarin, with a smile, “you may rest easy;
your wishes shall be fulfilled.”
“You hear, sir?” said the queen.
“Yes, madame, I expected nothing less from the justice of
your majesty. May I not go and see my friends?”
“Yes, sir, you shall see them. But, apropos, you belong to
the Fronde, do you not?”
“Madame, I serve the king.”
“Yes, in your own way.”
“My way is the way of all gentlemen, and I know only one
way,” answered Athos, haughtily.
“Go, sir, then,” said the queen; “you have obtained what you
wish and we know all we desire to know.”
Scarcely, however, had the tapestry closed behind Athos when
she said to Mazarin:
“Cardinal, desire them to arrest that insolent fellow before
he leaves the court.”
“Your majesty,” answered Mazarin, “desires me to do only
what I was going to ask you to let me do. These bravoes who
resuscitate in our epoch the traditions of another reign are
troublesome; since there are two of them already there, let
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us add a third.”
Athos was not altogether the queen’s dupe, but he was not a
man to run away on suspicion — above all, when distinctly
told that he should see his friends again. He waited, then,
in the ante-chamber with impatience, till he should be
conducted to them.
He walked to the window and looked into the court. He saw
the deputation from the Parisians enter it; they were coming
to assign the definitive place for the conference and to
make their bow to the queen. A very imposing escort awaited
them without the gates.
Athos was looking on attentively, when some one touched him
softly on the shoulder.
“Ah! Monsieur de Comminges,” he said.
“Yes, count, and charged with a commission for which I beg
of you to accept my excuses.”
“What is it?”
“Be so good as to give me up your sword, count.”
Athos smiled and opened the window.
“Aramis!” he cried.
A gentleman turned around. Athos fancied he had seen him
among the crowd. It was Aramis. He bowed with great
friendship to the count.
“Aramis,” cried Athos, “I am arrested.”
“Good,” replied Aramis, calmly.
“Sir,” said Athos, turning to Comminges and giving him
politely his sword by the hilt, “here is my sword; have the
kindness to keep it safely for me until I quit my prison. I
prize it — it was given to my ancestor by King Francis I.
In his time they armed gentlemen, not disarmed them. Now,
whither do you conduct me?”
“Into my room first,” replied Comminges; “the queen will
ultimately decide your place of domicile.”
Athos followed Comminges without saying a single word.
81
Cardinal Mazarin as King.
The arrest produced no sensation, indeed was almost unknown,
and scarcely interrupted the course of events. To the
deputation it was formally announced that the queen would
receive it.
Accordingly, it was admitted to the presence of Anne, who,
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silent and lofty as ever, listened to the speeches and
complaints of the deputies; but when they had finished their
harangues not one of them could say, so calm remained her
face, whether or no she had heard them.
On the other hand, Mazarin, present at that audience, heard
very well what those deputies demanded. It was purely and
simply his removal, in terms clear and precise.
The discourse being finished, the queen remained silent.
“Gentlemen,” said Mazarin, “I join with you in supplicating
the queen to put an end to the miseries of her subjects. I
have done all in my power to ameliorate them and yet the