It is impossible to form an idea of the impression these fewwords made upon Louis XIII. He grew pale and red alternately;and the cardinal saw at once that he had recovered by a singleblow all the ground he had lost.

"Buckingham in Paris!" cried he, "and why does he come?"

"To conspire, no doubt, with your enemies, the Huguenots and theSpaniards."

"No, PARDIEU, no! To conspire against my honor with Madame deChevreuse, Madame de Longueville, and the Condes."

"Oh, sire, what an idea! The queen is too virtuous; and besides,loves your Majesty too well."

"Woman is weak, Monsieur Cardinal," said the king; "and as toloving me much, I have my own opinion as to that love."

"I not the less maintain," said the cardinal, "that the Duke ofBuckingham came to Paris for a project wholly political."

"And I am sure that he came for quite another purpose, MonsieurCardinal; but if the queen be guilty, let her tremble!"

"Indeed," said the cardinal, "whatever repugnance I may have todirecting my mind to such a treason, your Majesty compels me tothink of it. Madame de Lannoy, whom, according to your Majesty'scommand, I have frequently interrogated, told me this morningthat the night before last her Majesty sat up very late, thatthis morning she wept much, and that she was writing all day."

"That's it!" cried the king; "to him, no doubt. Cardinal, I musthave the queen's papers."

"But how to take them, sire? It seems to me that it is neitheryour Majesty not myself who can charge himself with such amission."

"How did they act with regard to the Marechale d'Ancre?" criedthe king, in the highest state of choler; "first her closets werethoroughly searched, and then she herself."

"The Marechale d'Ancre was no more than the Marechale d'Ancre. AFlorentine adventurer, sire, and that was all; while the augustspouse of your Majesty is Anne of Austria, Queen of France - thatis to say, one of the greatest princesses in the world."

"She is not the less guilty, Monsieur Duke! The more she hasforgotten the high position in which she was placed, the moredegrading is her fall. Besides, I long ago determined to put anend to all these petty intrigues of policy and love. She hasnear her a certain Laporte."

"Who, I believe, is the mainspring of all this, I confess," saidthe cardinal.

"You think then, as I do, that she deceives me?" said the king.

"I believe, and I repeat it to your Majesty, that the queenconspires against the power of the king, but I have not saidagainst his honor."

"And I - I tell you against both. I tell you the queen does notlove me; I tell you she loves another; I tell you she loves thatinfamous Buckingham! Why did you not have him arrested while inParis?"

"Arrest the Duke! Arrest the prime minister of King Charles I!Think of it, sire! What a scandal! And if the suspicions ofyour Majesty, which I still continue to doubt, should prove tohave any foundation, what a terrible disclosure, what a fearfulscandal!"

"But as he exposed himself like a vagabond or a thief, he shouldhave been - "

Louis XIII stopped, terrified at what he was about to say, whileRichelieu, stretching out his neck, waited uselessly for the wordwhich had died on the lips of the king.

"He should have been - ?"

"Nothing," said the king, "nothing. But all the time he was inParis, you, of course, did not lose sight of him?"

"No, sire."

"Where did he lodge?"

"Rue de la Harpe. No. 75."

"Where is that?"

"By the side of the Luxembourg."

"And you are certain that the queen and he did not see eachother?"

"I believe the queen to have too high a sense of her duty, sire."

"But they have corresponded; it is to him that the queen has beenwriting all the day. Monsieur Duke, I must have those letters!"

"Sire, notwithstanding - "

"Monsieur Duke, at whatever price it may be, I will have them."

"I would, however, beg your Majesty to observe - "

"Do you, then, also join in betraying me, Monsieur Cardinal, bythus always opposing my will? Are you also in accord with Spainand England, with Madame de Chevreuse and the queen?"

"Sire," replied the cardinal, sighing, "I believed myself securefrom such a suspicion."

"Monsieur Cardinal, you have heard me; I will have thoseletters."

"There is but one way."

"What is that?"

"That would be to charge Monsieur de Seguier, the keeper of theseals, with this mission. The matter enters completely into theduties of the post."

"Let him be sent for instantly."

"He is most likely at my hotel. I requested him to call, andwhen I came to the Louvre I left orders if he came, to desire himto wait."

"Let him be sent for instantly."

"Your Majesty's orders shall be executed; but - "

"But what?"

"But the queen will perhaps refuse to obey."

"My orders?"

"Yes, if she is ignorant that these orders come from the king."

"Well, that she may have no doubt on that head, I will go andinform her myself."

"Your Majesty will not forget that I have done everything in mypower to prevent a rupture."

"Yes, Duke, yes, I know you are very indulgent toward the queen,too indulgent, perhaps; we shall have occasion, I warn you, atsome future period to speak of that."

"Whenever it shall please your Majesty; but I shall be alwayshappy and proud, sire, to sacrifice myself to the harmony which Idesire to see reign between you and the Queen of France."

"Very well, Cardinal, very well; but, meantime, send for Monsieurthe Keeper of the Seals. I will go to the queen."

And Louis XIII, opening the door of communication, passed intothe corridor which led from his apartments to those of Anne ofAustria.

The queen was in the midst of her women - Mme. de Guitaut, Mme. deSable, Mme. de Montbazon, and Mme. de Guemene. In a corner wasthe Spanish companion, Donna Estafania, who had followed her fromMadrid. Mme. Guemene was reading aloud, and everybody waslistening to her with attention with the exception of the queen,who had, on the contrary, desired this reading in order that shemight be able, while feigning to listen, to pursue the thread ofher own thoughts.

These thoughts, gilded as they were by a last reflection of love,were not the less sad. Anne of Austria, deprived of theconfidence of her husband, pursued by the hatred of the cardinal,who could not pardon her for having repulsed a more tenderfeeling, having before her eyes the example of the queen-motherwhom that hatred had tormented all her life - though Marie deMedicis, if the memoirs of the time are to be believed, had begunby according to the cardinal that sentiment which Anne of Austriaalways refused him - Anne of Austria had seen her most devotedservants fall around her, her most intimate confidants, herdearest favorites. Like those unfortunate persons endowed with afatal gift, she brought misfortune upon everything she touched.Her friendship was a fatal sign which called down persecution.Mme. de Chevreuse and Mme. de Bernet were exiled, and Laporte didnot conceal from his mistress that he expected to be arrestedevery instant.

It was at the moment when she was plunged in the deepest anddarkest of these reflections that the door of the chamber opened,and the king entered.

The reader hushed herself instantly. All the ladies rose, andthere was a profound silence. As to the king, he made nodemonstration of politeness, only stopping before the queen."Madame," said he, "you are about to receive a visit from thechancellor, who will communicate certain matters to you withwhich I have charged him."

The unfortunate queen, who was constantly threatened withdivorce, exile, and trial even, turned pale under her rouge, andcould not refrain from saying, "But why this visit, sire? Whatcan the chancellor have to say to me that your Majesty could notsay yourself?"

The king turned upon his heel without reply, and almost at thesame instant the captain of the Guards, M. de Guitant, announcedthe visit of the chancellor.

When the chancellor appeared, the king had already gone out byanother door.

The chancellor entered, half smiling, half blushing. As we shallprobably meet with him again in the course of our history, it maybe well for our readers to be made at once acquainted with him.

This chancellor was a pleasant man. He was Des Roches le Masle,canon of Notre Dame, who had formerly been valet of a bishop, whointroduced him to his Eminence as a perfectly devout man. Thecardinal trusted him, and therein found his advantage.

There are many stories related of him, and among them this.After a wild youth, he had retired into a convent, there toexpiate, at least for some time, the follies of adolescence. Onentering this holy place, the poor penitent was unable to shutthe door so close as to prevent the passions he fled fromentering with him. He was incessantly attacked by them, and thesuperior, to whom he had confided this misfortune, wishing asmuch as in him lay to free him from them, had advised him, inorder to conjure away the tempting demon, to have recourse to thebell rope, and ring with all his might. At the denunciatingsound, the monks would be rendered aware that temptation wasbesieging a brother, and all the community would go to prayers.

This advice appeared good to the future chancellor. He conjuredthe evil spirit with abundance of prayers offered up by themonks. But the devil does not suffer himself to be easilydispossessed from a place in which he has fixed his garrison. Inproportion as they redoubled the exorcisms he redoubled thetemptations; so that day and night the bell was ringing fullswing, announcing the extreme desire for mortification which thepenitent experienced.

The monks had no longer an instant of repose. By day they didnothing but ascend and descend the steps which led to the chapel;at night, in addition to complines and matins, they were furtherobliged to leap twenty times out of their beds and prostratethemselves on the floor of their cells.

It is not known whether it was the devil who gave way, or themonks who grew tired; but within three months the penitentreappeared in the world with the reputation of being the mostterrible POSSESSED that ever existed.

On leaving the convent he entered into the magistracy, becamepresident on the place of his uncle, embraced the cardinal'sparty, which did not prove want of sagacity, became chancellor,served his Eminence with zeal in his hatred against the queen-mother and his vengeance against Anne of Austria, stimulated thejudges in the affair of Calais, encouraged the attempts of M. deLaffemas, chief gamekeeper of France; then, at length, investedwith the entire confidence of the cardinal - a confidence which hehad so well earned-he received the singular commission for theexecution of which he presented himself in the queen'sapartments.

The queen was still standing when he entered; but scarcely hadshe perceived him then she reseated herself in her armchair, andmade a sign to her women to resume their cushions and stools, andwith an air of supreme hauteur, said, "What do you desire,monsieur, and with what object do you present yourself here?"

"To make, madame, in the name of the king, and without prejudiceto the respect which I have the honor to owe to your Majesty aclose examination into all your papers."

"How, monsieur, an investigation of my papers - mine! Truly, thisis an indignity!"

"Be kind enough to pardon me, madame; but in this circumstance Iam but the instrument which the king employs. Has not hisMajesty just left you, and has he not himself asked you toprepare for this visit?"

"Search, then, monsieur! I am a criminal, as it appears.Estafania, give up the keys of my drawers and my desks."

For form's sake the chancellor paid a visit to the pieces offurniture named; but he well knew that it was not in a piece offurniture that the queen would place the important letter she hadwritten that day.

When the chancellor had opened and shut twenty times the drawersof the secretaries, it became necessary, whatever hesitation hemight experience - it became necessary, I say, to come to theconclusion of the affair; that is to say, to search the queenherself. The chancellor advanced, therefore, toward Anne ofAustria, and said with a very perplexed and embarrassed air, "Andnow it remains for me to make the principal examination."

"What is that?" asked the queen, who did not understand, orrather was not willing to understand.

"His majesty is certain that a letter has been written by youduring the day; he knows that it has not yet been sent to itsaddress. This letter is not in your table nor in your secretary;and yet this letter must be somewhere."

"Would you dare to lift your hand to your queen?" said Anne ofAustria, drawing herself up to her full height, and fixing hereyes upon the chancellor with an expression almost threatening.

"I am a faithful subject of the king, madame, and all that hisMajesty commands I shall do."

"Well, it is true!" said Anne of Austria; "and the spies of thecardinal have served him faithfully. I have written a lettertoday; that letter is not yet gone. The letter is here." Andthe queen laid her beautiful hand on her bosom.

"Then give me that letter, madame," said the chancellor.

"I will give it to none but the king monsieur," said Anne.

"If the king had desired that the letter should be given to him,madame, he would have demanded it of you himself. But I repeatto you, I am charged with reclaiming it; and if you do not giveit up - "

"Well?"

"He has, then, charged me to take it from you."

"How! What do you say?"

"That my orders go far, madame; and that I am authorized to seekfor the suspected paper, even on the person of your Majesty."

"What horror!" cried the queen.

"Be kind enough, then, madame, to act more compliantly."

"The conduct is infamously violent! Do you know that, monsieur?"

"The king commands it, madame; excuse me."

"I will not suffer it! No, no, I would rather die!" cried thequeen, in whom the imperious blood of Spain and Austria began torise.

The chancellor made a profound reverence. Then, with theintention quite patent of not drawing back a foot from theaccomplishment of the commission with which he was charged, andas the attendant of an executioner might have done in the chamberof torture, he approached Anne of Austria, for whose eyes at thesame instant sprang tears of rage.

The queen was, as we have said, of great beauty. The commissionmight well be called delicate; and the king had reached, in hisjealousy of Buckingham, the point of not being jealous of anyoneelse.

Without doubt the chancellor, Seguier looked about at that momentfor the rope of the famous bell; but not finding it he summonedhis resolution, and stretched forth his hands toward the placewhere the queen had acknowledged the paper was to be found.

Anne of Austria took one step backward, became so pale that itmight be said she was dying, and leaning with her left hand upona table behind her to keep herself from falling, she with herright hand drew the paper from her bosom and held it out to thekeeper of the seals.

"There, monsieur, there is that letter!" cried the queen, with abroken and trembling voice; "take it, and deliver me from yourodious presence."

The chancellor, who, on his part, trembled with an emotion easilyto be conceived, took the letter, bowed to the ground, andretired. The door was scarcely closed upon him, when the queensank, half fainting, into the arms of her women.

The chancellor carried the letter to the king without having reada single word of it. The king took it with a trembling hand,looked for the address, which was wanting, became very pale,opened it slowly, then seeing by the first words that it wasaddressed to the King of Spain, he read it rapidly.

It was nothing but a plan of attack against the cardinal. Thequeen pressed her brother and the Emperor of Austria to appear tobe wounded, as they really were, by the policy of Richelieu - theeternal object of which was the abasement of the house ofAustria - to declare war against France, and as a condition ofpeace, to insist upon the dismissal of the cardinal; but as tolove, there was not a single word about it in all the letter.

The king, quite delighted, inquired if the cardinal was still atthe Louvre; he was told that his Eminence awaited the orders ofhis Majesty in the business cabinet.

The king went straight to him.

"There, Duke," said he, "you were right and I was wrong. Thewhole intrigue is political, and there is not the least questionof love in this letter; but, on the other hand, there is abundantquestion of you."

The cardinal took the letter, and read it with the greatestattention; then, when he had arrived at the end of it, he read ita second time. "Well, your Majesty," said he, "you see how farmy enemies go; they menace you with two wars if you do notdismiss me. In your place, in truth, sire, I should yield tosuch powerful instance; and on my part, it would be a realhappiness to withdraw from public affairs."

"What say you, Duke?"

"I say, sire, that my health is sinking under these excessivestruggles and these never-ending labors. I say that according toall probability I shall not be able to undergo the fatigues ofthe siege of La Rochelle, and that it would be far better thatyou should appoint there either Monsieur de Conde, Monsieur deBassopierre, or some valiant gentleman whose business is war, andnot me, who am a churchman, and who am constantly turned asidefor my real vocation to look after matters for which I have noaptitude. You would be the happier for it at home, sire, and Ido not doubt you would be the greater for it abroad."

"Monsieur Duke," said the king, "I understand you. Be satisfied,all who are named in that letter shall be punished as theydeserve, even the queen herself."

"What do you say, sire? God forbid that the queen should sufferthe least inconvenience or uneasiness on my account! She hasalways believed me, sire, to be her enemy; although your Majestycan bear witness that I have always taken her part warmly, evenagainst you. Oh, if she betrayed your Majesty on the side ofyour honor, it would be quite another thing, and I should be thefirst to say, 'No grace, sire - no grace for the guilty!'Happily, there is nothing of the kind, and your Majesty has justacquired a new proof of it."

"That is true, Monsieur Cardinal," said the king, "and you wereright, as you always are; but the queen, not the less, deservesall my anger."

"It is you, sire, who have now incurred hers. And even if shewere to be seriously offended, I could well understand it; yourMajesty has treated her with a severity - "

"It is thus I will always treat my enemies and yours, Duke,however high they may be placed, and whatever peril I may incurin acting severely toward them."

"The queen is my enemy, but is not yours, sire; on the contrary,she is a devoted, submissive, and irreproachable wife. Allow me,then, sire, to intercede for her with your Majesty."

"Let her humble herself, then, and come to me first."

"On the contrary, sire, set the example. You have committed thefirst wrong, since it was you who suspected the queen."

"What! I make the first advances?" said the king. "Never!"

"Sire, I entreat you to do so."

"Besides, in what manner can I make advances first?"

"By doing a thing which you know will be agreeable to her."

"What is that?"

"Give a ball; you know how much the queen loves dancing. I willanswer for it, her resentment will not hold out against such anattention."

"Monsieur Cardinal, you know that I do not like worldlypleasures."

"The queen will only be the more grateful to you, as she knowsyour antipathy for that amusement; besides, it will be anopportunity for her to wear those beautiful diamonds which yougave her recently on her birthday and with which she has sincehad no occasion to adorn herself."

"We shall see, Monsieur Cardinal, we shall see," said the king,who, in his joy at finding the queen guilty of a crime which hecared little about, and innocent of a fault of which he had greatdread, was ready to make up all differences with her, "we shallsee, but upon my honor, you are too indulgent toward her."

"Sire," said the cardinal, "leave severity to your ministers.Clemency is a royal virtue; employ it, and you will find that youderive advantage therein."

Thereupon the cardinal, hearing the clock strike eleven, bowedlow, asking permission of the king to retire, and supplicatinghim to come to a good understanding with the queen.

Anne of Austria, who, in consequence of the seizure of herletter, expected reproaches, was much astonished the next day tosee the king make some attempts at reconciliation with her. Herfirst movement was repellent. Her womanly pride and her queenlydignity had both been so cruelly offended that she could not comeround at the first advance; but, overpersuaded by the advice ofher women, she at last had the appearance of beginning to forget.The king took advantage of this favorable moment to tell her thather had the intention of shortly giving a fete.

A fete was so rare a thing for poor Anne of Austria that at thisannouncement, as the cardinal had predicted, the last trace ofher resentment disappeared, if not from her heart at least fromher countenance. She asked upon what day this fete would takeplace, but the king replied that he must consult the cardinalupon that head.

Indeed, every day the king asked the cardinal when this feteshould take place; and every day the cardinal, under somepretext, deferred fixing it. Ten days passed away thus.

On the eighth day after the scene we have described, the cardinalreceived a letter with the London stamp which only containedthese lines: "I have them; but I am unable to leave London forwant of money. Send me five hundred pistoles, and four or fivedays after I have received them I shall be in Paris."

On the same day the cardinal received this letter the king puthis customary question to him.

Richelieu counted on his fingers, and said to himself, "She willarrive, she says, four or five days after having received themoney. It will require four or five days for the transmission ofthe money, four or five days for her to return; that makes tendays. Now, allowing for contrary winds, accidents, and a woman'sweakness, there are twelve days."

"Well, Monsieur Duke," said the king, "have you made yourcalculations?"

"Yes, sire. Today is the twentieth of September. The aldermenof the city give a fete on the third of October. That will fallin wonderfully well; you will not appear to have gone out of yourway to please the queen."

Then the cardinal added, "A PROPOS, sire, do not forget to tellher Majesty the evening before the fete that you should like tosee how her diamond studs become her."