Twenty Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

a barony, with a promise to confer that order on one of my

particular friends, whenever his majesty next creates

peers.”

“You know, sir, that before receiving the order one must

submit proofs.”

“My friends will submit them. Besides, should it be

necessary, monseigneur will show him how that formality may

be avoided.”

Mazarin bit his lips; the blow was direct and he replied

rather dryly:

“All this appears to me to be ill conceived, disjointed,

gentlemen; for if I satisfy some I shall displease others.

If I stay in Paris I cannot go to Rome; if I became pope I

could not continue to be prime minister; and it is only by

continuing prime minister that I can make Monsieur

d’Artagnan a captain and Monsieur du Vallon a baron.”

“True”” said Aramis, “so, as I am in a minority, I withdraw

my proposition, so far as it relates to the voyage to Rome

and monseigneur’s resignation.”

“I am to remain minister, then?” said Mazarin.

“You remain minister; that is understood,” said D’Artagnan;

“France needs you.”

“And I desist from my pretensions,” said Aramis. “His

eminence will continue to be prime minister and her

majesty’s favorite, if he will grant to me and my friends

what we demand for France and for ourselves.”

“Occupy yourselves with your own affairs, gentlemen, and let

France settle matters as she will with me,” resumed Mazarin.

“Ho! ho!” replied Aramis. “The Frondeurs will have a treaty

and your eminence must sign it before us, promising at the

same time to obtain the queen’s consent to it.”

“I can answer only for myself,” said Mazarin. “I cannot

answer for the queen. Suppose her majesty refuses?”

“Oh!” said D’Artagnan, “monseigneur knows very well that her

majesty refuses him nothing.”

“Here, monseigneur,” said Aramis, “is the treaty proposed by

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

the deputation of Frondeurs. Will your eminence please read

and examine?”

“I am acquainted with it.”

“Sign it, then.”

“Reflect, gentlemen, that a signature given under

circumstances like the present might be regarded as extorted

by violence.”

“Monseigneur will be at hand to testify that it was freely

given.”

“Suppose I refuse?”

“Then,” said D’Artagnan, “your eminence must expect the

consequences of a refusal.”

“Would you dare to touch a cardinal?”

“You have dared, my lord, to imprison her majesty’s

musketeers.”

“The queen will revenge me, gentlemen.”

“I do not think so, although inclination might lead her to

do so, but we shall take your eminence to Paris, and the

Parisians will defend us.”

“How uneasy they must be at this moment at Rueil and Saint

Germain,” said Aramis. “How they must be asking, `Where is

the cardinal?’ `What has become of the minister?’ `Where has

the favorite gone?’ How they must be looking for monseigneur

in all corners! What comments must be made; and if the

Fronde knows that monseigneur has disappeared, how the

Fronde must triumph!”

“It is frightful,” murmured Mazarin.

“Sign the treaty, then, monseigneur,” said Aramis.

“Suppose the queen should refuse to ratify it?”

“Ah! nonsense!” cried D’Artagnan, “I can manage so that her

majesty will receive me well; I know an excellent method.”

“What?”

“I shall take her majesty the letter in which you tell her

that the finances are exhausted.”

“And then?” asked Mazarin, turning pale.

“When I see her majesty embarrassed, I shall conduct her to

Rueil, make her enter the orangery and show her a certain

spring which turns a box.”

“Enough, sir,” muttered the cardinal, “you have said enough;

where is the treaty?”

“Here it is,” replied Aramis. “Sign, my lord,” and he gave

him a pen.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

Mazarin arose, walked some moments, thoughtful, but not

dejected.

“And when I have signed,” he said, “what is to be my

guarantee?”

“My word of honor, sir,” said Athos.

Mazarin started, turned toward the Comte de la Fere, and

looking for an instant at that grand and honest countenance,

took the pen.

“It is sufficient, count,” he said, and signed the treaty.

“And now, Monsieur d’Artagnan,” he said, “prepare to set off

for Saint Germain and take a letter from me to the queen.”

88

Shows how with Threat and Pen more is effected than by the

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