ember the Fronde sire?"--the
young king hung his head--"which the Fronde might have fatally
complicated. And thus I prove to your majesty that to change our
plan now; without warning our allies, would be at once unskillful and
dishonest. We should make war with the aggression on our side, we should
make it, deserving to have it made against us, and we should have the
appearance of fearing it whilst provoking it, for a permission granted
to five hundred men, to two hundred men, to fifty men, to ten men, is
still a permission. One Frenchman, that is the nation; one uniform,
that is the army. Suppose, sire, for example, that, sooner or later,
you should have war with Holland, which, sooner or later, will certainly
happen; or with Spain, which will perhaps ensue if your marriage fails"
(Mazarin stole a furtive glance at the king), "and there are a thousand
causes that might yet make your marriage fail,--well, would you approve
of England's sending to the United Provinces or to Spain a regiment,
a company, a squadron even, of English gentlemen? Would you think that
they kept within the limits of their treaty of alliance?"

Louis listened; it seemed so strange to him that Mazarin should invoke
good faith, and he the author of so many political tricks, called
Mazarinades. "And yet," said the king, "without any manifest
authorization, I cannot prevent gentlemen of my states from passing over
into England, if such should be their good pleasure."

"You should compel them to return, sire, or at least protest against
their presence as enemies in an allied country."

"But come, my lord cardinal, you who are so profound a genius, try if
you cannot find means to assist this poor king, without compromising
ourselves."

"And that is exactly what I am not willing to do, my dear sire," said
Mazarin. "If England were to act exactly according to my wishes, she
could not act better than she does; if I directed the policy of England
from this place, I should not direct it otherwise. Governed as she
is governed, England is an eternal nest of contention for all Europe.
Holland protects Charles II., let Holland do so; they will quarrel, they
will fight. They are the only two maritime powers. Let them destroy each
other's navies, we can construct ours with the wrecks of their vessels;
when we shall save our money to buy nails."

"Oh, how paltry and mean is all this that you are telling me, monsieur
le cardinal!"

"Yes, but nevertheless it