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〃Then the thing is easy。 Oh！ do think of it； Giulio！ Paris；
this odious Paris； waking up one morning without queen or
king； surrounded； besieged； famished having for its sole
resource its stupid parliament and their coadjutor with
crooked limbs！〃
〃Charming！ charming！〃 said Mazarin。 〃I can imagine the
effect； I do not see the means。〃
〃I will find the means myself。〃
〃You are aware it will be war； civil war； furious；
devouring； implacable？〃
〃Oh！ yes； yes； war；〃 said Anne of Austria。 〃Yes； I will
reduce this rebellious city to ashes。 I will extinguish the
fire with blood！ I will perpetuate the crime and punishment
by making a frightful example。 Paris！； I I detest； I
loathe it！〃
〃Very fine； Anne。 You are now sanguinary； but take care。 We
are not in the time of Malatesta and Castruccio Castracani。
You will get yourself decapitated； my beautiful queen； and
that would be a pity。〃
〃You laugh。〃
〃Faintly。 It is dangerous to go to war with a nation。 Look
at your brother monarch； Charles I。 He is badly off； very
badly。〃
〃We are in France； and I am Spanish。〃
〃So much the worse； I had much rather you were French and
myself also； they would hate us both less。〃
〃Nevertheless； you consent？〃
〃Yes； if the thing be possible。〃
〃It is； it is I who tell you so； make preparations for
departure。〃
〃I！ I am always prepared to go； only； as you know； I never
do go； and perhaps shall go this time as little as before。〃
〃In short； if I go； will you go too？〃
〃I will try。〃
〃You torment me； Giulio； with your fears； and what are you
afraid of； then？〃
〃Of many things。〃
〃What are they？〃
Mazarin's face； smiling as it was； became clouded。
〃Anne；〃 said he； 〃you are but a woman and as a woman you may
insult men at your ease； knowing that you can do it with
impunity。 You accuse me of fear； I have not so much as you
have； since I do not fly as you do。 Against whom do they cry
out？ is it against you or against myself？ Whom would they
hang； yourself or me？ Well； I can weather the storm I；
whom； notwithstanding； you tax with fear not with
bravado； that is not my way； but I am firm。 Imitate me。 Make
less hubbub and think more deeply。 You cry very loud； you
end by doing nothing； you talk of flying 〃
Mazarin shrugged his shoulders and taking the queen's hand
led her to the window。
〃Look！〃 he said。
〃Well？〃 said the queen； blinded by her obstinacy。
〃Well； what do you see from this window？ If I am not
mistaken those are citizens； helmeted and mailed； armed with
good muskets； as in the time of the League； and whose eyes
are so intently fixed on this window that they will see you
if you raise that curtain much； and now come to the other
side what do you see？ Creatures of the people； armed with
halberds； guarding your doors。 You will see the same at
every opening from this palace to which I should lead you。
Your doors are guarded； the airholes of your cellars are
guarded； and I could say to you； as that good La Ramee said
to me of the Duc de Beaufort； you must be either bird or
mouse to get out。〃
〃He did get out； nevertheless。〃
〃Do you think of escaping in the same way？〃
〃I am a prisoner； then？〃
〃Parbleu！〃 said Mazarin； 〃I have been proving it to you this
last hour。〃
And he quietly resumed his dispatch at the place where he
had been interrupted。
Anne； trembling with anger and scarlet with humiliation；
left the room； shutting the door violently after her。
Mazarin did not even turn around。 When once more in her own
apartment Anne fell into a chair and wept； then suddenly
struck with an idea：
〃I am saved！〃 she exclaimed； rising； 〃oh； yes！ yes！ I know a
man who will find the means of taking me from Paris； a man I
have too long forgotten。〃 Then falling into a reverie； she
added； however； with an expression of joy； 〃Ungrateful woman
that I am； for twenty years I have forgotten this man； whom
I ought to have made a marechal of France。 My mother…in…law
expended gold； caresses； dignities on Concini； who ruined
her； the king made Vitry marechal of France for an
assassination： while I have left in obscurity； in poverty；
the noble D'Artagnan； who saved me！〃
And running to a table； on which were paper； pens and ink；
she hastily began to write。
50
The Interview。
It had been D'Artagnan's practice； ever since the riots； to
sleep in the same room as Porthos； and on this eventful
morning he was still there； sleeping； and dreaming that a
yellow cloud had overspread the sky and was raining gold
pieces into his hat； which he held out till it was
overflowing with pistoles。 As for Porthos； he dreamed that
the panels of his carriage were not capacious enough to
contain the armorial bearings he had ordered to be painted
on them。 They were both aroused at seven o'clock by the
entrance of an unliveried servant； who brought a letter for
D'Artagnan。
〃From whom？〃 asked the Gascon。
〃From the queen；〃 replied the servant。
〃Ho！〃 said Porthos； raising himself in his bed； 〃what does
she say？〃
D'Artagnan requested the servant to wait in the next room
and when the door was closed he sprang up from his bed and
read rapidly； whilst Porthos looked at him with starting
eyes； not daring to ask a single question。
〃Friend Porthos；〃 said D'Artagnan； handing the letter to
him； 〃this time； at least； you are sure of your title of
baron； and I of my captaincy。 Read for yourself and judge。〃
Porthos took the letter and with a trembling voice read the
following words：
〃The queen wishes to speak to Monsieur d'Artagnan； who must
follow the bearer。〃
〃Well！〃 exclaimed Porthos； 〃I see nothing in that very
extraordinary。〃
〃But I see much that is very extraordinary in it；〃 replied
D'Artagnan。 〃It is evident； by their sending for me； that
matters are becoming complicated。 Just reflect a little what
an agitation the queen's mind must be in for her to have
remembered me after twenty years。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Porthos。
〃Sharpen your sword； baron； load your pistols； and give some
corn to the horses； for I will answer for it；
something lightning…like will happen ere to…morrow。〃
〃But； stop； do you think it can be a trap that they are
laying for us？〃 suggested Porthos； incessantly thinking how
his greatness must be irksome to inferior people。
〃If it is a snare；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃I shall scent it
out； be assured。 If Mazarin is an Italian； I am a Gascon。〃
And D'Artagnan dressed himself in an instant。
Whilst Porthos； still in bed； was hooking on his cloak for
him； a second knock at the door was heard。
〃Come in；〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan； and another servant
entered。
〃From His Eminence； Cardinal Mazarin；〃 presenting a letter。
D'Artagnan looked at Porthos。
〃A complicated affair；〃 said Porthos； 〃where will you
begin？〃
〃It is arranged capitally； his eminence expects me in half
an hour。〃
〃Good。〃
〃My friend；〃 said D'Artagnan； turning to the servant； 〃tell
his eminence that in half an hour I shall be at his
command。〃
〃It is very fortunate；〃 resumed the Gascon； when the valet
had retired； 〃that he did not meet the other one。〃
〃Do you not think that they have sent for you； both for the
same thing？〃
〃I do not think it； I am certain of it。〃
〃Quick； quick； D'Artagnan。 Remember that the queen awaits
you； and