Well, sire, if I had met with Monk on my way, instead of
Monsieur de Beaufort, Monsieur de Retz, or Monsieur le Prince--well, we
should have been ruined. If you engage yourself rashly, sire, you will
fall into the talons of this politic soldier. The casque of Monk, sire,
is an iron coffer, in the recesses of which he shuts up his thoughts,
and no one has the key of it. Therefore, near him, or rather before him,
I bow, sire, for I have nothing but a velvet cap."

"What do you think Monk wishes to do, then?"

"Eh! sire, if I knew that, I would not tell you to mistrust him, for
I should be stronger than he; but with him, I am afraid to guess--to
guess!--you understand my word?--for if I thought I had guessed, I
should stop at an idea, and, in spite of myself, should pursue that
idea. Since that man has been in power yonder, I am like one of the
damned in Dante whose neck Satan has twisted, and who walk forward
looking behind them. I am traveling towards Madrid, but I never lose
sight of London. To guess, with that devil of a man, is to deceive one's
self, and to deceive one's self is to ruin one's self. God keep me from
ever seeking to guess what he aims at; I confine myself to watching what
he does, and that is well enough. Now I believe--you observe the meaning
of the word I believe?--I believe, with respect to Monk, ties one to
nothing--I believe that he has a strong inclination to succeed Cromwell.
Your Charles II. has already caused proposals to be made to him by ten
persons; he has satisfied himself with driving these ten meddlers from
his presence, without saying anything to them but, 'Begone, or I
will have you hung.' That man is a sepulcher! At this moment Monk is
affecting devotion to the Rump Parliament; of this devotion, observe, I
am not the dupe. Monk has no wish to be assassinated,--an assassination
would stop him in the midst of his operations, and his work must be
accomplished;--so I believe--but do not believe, what I believe, sire:
for I say I believe from habit--I believe that Monk is keeping on
friendly terms with the parliament till the day comes for dispersing
it. You are asked for swords, but they are to fight against Monk. God
preserve you from fighting against Monk sire; for Monk would beat us,
and I should never console myself after being beaten by Monk. I should
say to myself, Monk has foreseen that victory ten years. For God's
sake, sire, out of friendship for you, if not out of consideration