“You were right, sir,” said Anne. “I misunderstood you.
There are the acts signed; I deliver them to you without
compulsion. Go and bring me back the cardinal as soon as
possible.”
“Madame,” faltered D’Artagnan, “’tis twenty years ago — I
have a good memory — since I had the honor behind a piece
of tapestry in the Hotel de Ville, of kissing one of those
lovely hands.”
“There is the other,” replied the queen; “and that the left
hand should not be less liberal than the right,” she drew
from her finger a diamond similar to the one formerly given
to him, “take and keep this ring in remembrance of me.
“Madame,” said D’Artagnan, rising, “I have only one thing
more to wish, which is, that the next thing you ask from me,
shall be — my life.”
And with this conclusion — a way peculiar to himself — he
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rose and left the room.
“I never rightly understood those men,” said the queen, as
she watched him retiring from her presence; “and it is now
too late, for in a year the king will be of age.”
In twenty-four hours D’Artagnan and Porthos conducted
Mazarin to the queen; and the one received his commission,
the other his patent of nobility.
On the same day the Treaty of Paris was signed, and it was
everywhere announced that the cardinal had shut himself up
for three days in order to draw it up with the greatest
care.
Here is what each of the parties concerned gained by that
treaty:
Monsieur de Conti received Damvilliers, and having made his
proofs as general, he succeeded in remaining a soldier,
instead of being made cardinal. Moreover, something had been
said of a marriage with Mazarin’s niece. The idea was
welcomed by the prince, to whom it was of little importance
whom he married, so long as he married some one.
The Duc de Beaufort made his entrance at court, receiving
ample reparation for the wrongs he had suffered, and all the
honor due to his rank. Full pardon was accorded to those who
had aided in his escape. He received also the office of
admiral, which had been held by his father, the Duc de
Vendome and an indemnity for his houses and castles,
demolished by the Parliament of Bretagne.
The Duc de Bouillon received domains of a value equal to
that of his principality of Sedan, and the title of prince,
granted to him and to those belonging to his house.
The Duc de Longueville gained the government of
Pont-de-l’Arche, five hundred thousand francs for his wife
and the honor of seeing her son held at the baptismal font
by the young king and Henrietta of England.
Aramis stipulated that Bazin should officiate at that
ceremony and that Planchet should furnish the christening
sugar plums.
The Duc d’Elbeuf obtained payment of certain sums due to his
wife, one hundred thousand francs for his eldest son and
twenty-five thousand for each of the three others.
The coadjutor alone obtained nothing. They promised, indeed,
to negotiate with the pope for a cardinal’s hat for him; but
he knew how little reliance should be placed on such
promises, made by the queen and Mazarin. Quite contrary to
the lot of Monsieur de Conti, unable to be cardinal, he was
obliged to remain a soldier.
And therefore, when all Paris was rejoicing in the expected
return of the king, appointed for the next day, Gondy alone,
in the midst of the general happiness, was dissatisfied; he
sent for the two men whom he was wont to summon when in
especially bad humor. Those two men were the Count de
Rochefort and the mendicant of Saint Eustache. They came
with their usual promptness, and the coadjutor spent with
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them a part of the night.
89
In which it is shown that it is sometimes more difficult for
Kings to return to the Capitals of their Kingdoms, than to
make an Exit.
Whilst D’Artagnan and Porthos were engaged in conducting the
cardinal to Saint Germain, Athos and Aramis returned to
Paris.
Each had his own particular visit to make.