bowing.

"Good-evening, monsieur le prince," said the minister, in a careless
tone; "it is very kind of you to visit an old sick friend."

"A friend!" murmured the Comte de la Fere, at witnessing with stupor
this monstrous alliance of words;--"friends! when the parties are Conde
and Mazarin!"

Mazarin seemed to divine the thought of the Frondeur, for he smiled upon
him with triumph, and immediately,--"Sire," said he to the king, "I have
the honor of presenting to your majesty, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere,
ambassador from his Britannic majesty. An affair of state, gentlemen,"
added he, waving his hand to all who filled the chamber, and who, the
Prince de Conde at their head, all disappeared at the simple gesture.
Raoul, after a last look cast at the comte, followed M. de Conde. Philip
of Anjou and the queen appeared to be consulting about departing.

"A family affair," said Mazarin, suddenly, detaining them in their
seats. "This gentleman is the bearer of a letter in which King Charles
II., completely restored to his throne, demands an alliance between
Monsieur, the brother of the king, and Mademoiselle Henrietta,
grand-daughter of Henry IV. Will you remit your letter of credit to the
king, monsieur le comte?"

Athos remained for a minute stupefied. How could the minister possibly
know the contents of the letter which had never been out of his keeping
for a single instant? Nevertheless, always master of himself, he held
out the dispatch to the young king, Louis XIV., who took it with a
blush. A solemn silence reigned in the cardinal's chamber. It was only
troubled by the dull sound of the gold, which Mazarin with his yellow
dry hand, piled up in a casket, whilst the king was reading.

CHAPTER 41. The Recital

The maliciousness of the cardinal did not leave much for the ambassador
to say; nevertheless, the word "restoration" had struck the king,
who, addressing the comte, upon whom his eyes had been fixed since his
entrance,--"Monsieur," said he, "will you have the kindness to give
us some details concerning the affairs of England. You come from that
country, you are a Frenchman, and the orders which I see glittering
upon your person announce you to be a man of merit as well as a man of
quality."

"Monsieur," said the cardinal, turning towards the queen-mother, "is an
ancient servant of your majesty's, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere."

Anne of Austria was as oblivious as a queen whose life had been min