en so long shut up, that I am only of one party--I am
for fresh air. Employ me in any other way; employ me even actively, but
let it be on the high roads."

"My dear Monsieur de Rochefort," Mazarin replied in a tone of raillery,
"you think yourself still a young man; your spirit is that of the
phoenix, but your strength fails you. Believe me, you ought now to take
a rest. Here!"

"You decide, then, nothing about me, my lord?"

"On the contrary, I have come to a decision."

Bernouin came into the room.

"Call an officer of justice," he said; "and stay close to me," he added,
in a low tone.

The officer entered. Mazarin wrote a few words, which he gave to this
man; then he bowed.

"Adieu, Monsieur de Rochefort," he said.

Rochefort bent low.

"I see, my lord, I am to be taken back to the Bastile."

"You are sagacious."

"I shall return thither, my lord, but it is a mistake on your part not
to employ me."

"You? the friend of my greatest foes? Don't suppose that you are the
only person who can serve me, Monsieur de Rochefort. I shall find many
men as able as you are."

"I wish you may, my lord," replied De Rochefort.

He was then reconducted by the little staircase, instead of passing
through the ante-chamber where D'Artagnan was waiting. In the courtyard
the carriage and the four musketeers were ready, but he looked around in
vain for his friend.

"Ah!" he muttered to himself, "this changes the situation, and if there
is still a crowd of people in the streets we will try to show Mazarin
that we are still, thank God, good for something else than keeping guard
over a prisoner;" and he jumped into the carriage with the alacrity of a
man of five-and-twenty.

4. Anne of Austria at the Age of Forty-six.

When left alone with Bernouin, Mazarin was for some minutes lost in
thought. He had gained much information, but not enough. Mazarin was a
cheat at the card-table. This is a detail preserved to us by Brienne. He
called it using his advantages. He now determined not to begin the game
with D'Artagnan till he knew completely all his adversary's cards.

"My lord, have you any commands?" asked Bernouin.

"Yes, yes," replied Mazarin. "Light me; I am going to the queen."

Bernouin took up a candlestick and led the way.

There was a secret communication between the cardinal's apartments and
those of the queen; and through this corridor* Mazarin passed whenever
he wished to visit Anne of Austria.