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