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king； 〃but I have no inclination to sleep。〃
〃Laporte；〃 said Anne of Austria； in an undertone； 〃find some
very dull book to read to his majesty； but do not undress
yourself。〃
The king went out； accompanied by the Chevalier de Coislin；
bearing the candlestick； and then the queen returned to her
own apartment。 Her ladies that is to say Madame de Bregy；
Mademoiselle de Beaumont； Madame de Motteville； and
Socratine； her sister； so called on account of her sense
had just brought into her dressing…room the remains of the
dinner； on which； according to her usual custom； she supped。
The queen then gave her orders； spoke of a banquet which the
Marquis de Villequier was to give to her on the day after
the morrow； indicated the persons she would admit to the
honor of partaking of it； announced another visit on the
following day to Val…de…Grace； where she intended to pay her
devotions； and gave her commands to her senior valet to
accompany her。 When the ladies had finished their supper the
queen feigned extreme fatigue and passed into her bedroom。
Madame de Motteville； who was on especial duty that evening；
followed to aid and undress her。 The queen then began to
read； and after conversing with her affectionately for a few
minutes； dismissed her。
It was at this moment D'Artagnan entered the courtyard of
the palace； in the coadjutor's carriage； and a few seconds
later the carriages of the ladies…in…waiting drove out and
the gates were shut after them。
A few minutes after twelve o'clock Bernouin knocked at the
queen's bedroom door； having come by the cardinal's secret
corridor。 Anne of Austria opened the door to him herself。
She was dressed； that is to say； in dishabille； wrapped in a
long； warm dressing…gown。
〃It is you； Bernouin；〃 she said。 〃Is Monsieur d'Artagnan
there？〃
〃Yes； madame； in your oratory。 He is waiting till your
majesty is ready。〃
〃I am。 Go and tell Laporte to wake and dress the king； and
then pass on to the Marechal de Villeroy and summon him to
me。〃
Bernouin bowed and retired。
The queen entered her oratory； which was lighted by a single
lamp of Venetian crystal； She saw D'Artagnan； who stood
expecting her。
〃Is it you？〃 she said。
〃Yes； madame。〃
〃Are you ready？〃
〃I am。〃
〃And his eminence； the cardinal？〃
〃Has got off without any accident。 He is awaiting your
majesty at Cours la Reine。〃
〃But in what carriage do we start？〃
〃I have provided for everything； a carriage below is waiting
for your majesty。〃
〃Let us go to the king。〃
D'Artagnan bowed and followed the queen。 The young Louis was
already dressed； with the exception of his shoes and
doublet； he had allowed himself to be dressed； in great
astonishment； overwhelming Laporte with questions； who
replied only in these words； 〃Sire； it is by the queen's
commands。〃
The bedclothes were thrown back； exposing the king's bed
linen； which was so worn that here and there holes could be
seen。 It was one of the results of Mazarin's niggardliness。
The queen entered and D'Artagnan remained at the door。 As
soon as the child perceived the queen he escaped from
Laporte and ran to meet her。 Anne then motioned to
D'Artagnan to approach； and he obeyed。
〃My son；〃 said Anne of Austria； pointing to the musketeer；
calm； standing uncovered； 〃here is Monsieur d'Artagnan； who
is as brave as one of those ancient heroes of whom you like
so much to hear from my women。 Remember his name well and
look at him well； that his face may not be forgotten； for
this evening he is going to render us a great service。〃
The young king looked at the officer with his large…formed
eye； and repeated：
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan。〃
〃That is it； my son。〃
The young king slowly raised his little hand and held it out
to the musketeer； the latter bent on his knee and kissed it。
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan；〃 repeated Louis； 〃very well； madame。〃
At this moment they were startled by a noise as if a tumult
were approaching。
〃What is that？〃 exclaimed the queen。
〃Oh； oh！〃 replied D'Artagnan； straining both at the same
time his quick ear and his intelligent glance； 〃it is the
murmur of the populace in revolution。〃
〃We must fly；〃 said the queen。
〃Your majesty has given me the control of this business； we
had better wait and see what they want。〃
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan！〃
〃I will answer for everything。〃
Nothing is so catching as confidence。 The queen； full of
energy and courage； was quickly alive to these two virtues
in others。
〃Do as you like；〃 she said； 〃I rely upon you。〃
〃Will your majesty permit me to give orders in your name
throughout this business？〃
〃Command； sir。〃
〃What do the people want this time？〃 demanded the king。
〃We are about to ascertain； sire；〃 replied D'Artagnan； as he
rapidly left the room。
The tumult continued to increase and seemed to surround the
Palais Royal entirely。 Cries were heard from the interior；
of which they could not comprehend the sense。 It was evident
that there was clamor and sedition。
The king； half dressed； the queen and Laporte remained each
in the same state and almost in the same place； where they
were listening and waiting。 Comminges； who was on guard that
night at the Palais Royal； ran in。 He had about two hundred
men in the courtyards and stables； and he placed them at the
queen's disposal。
〃Well；〃 asked Anne of Austria； when D'Artagnan reappeared；
〃what does it mean？〃
〃It means； madame； that the report has spread that the queen
has left the Palais Royal； carrying off the king； and the
people ask to have proof to the contrary； or threaten to
demolish the Palais Royal。〃
〃Oh； this time it is too much！〃 exclaimed the queen； 〃and I
will prove to them I have not left。〃
D'Artagnan saw from the expression of the queen's face that
she was about to issue some violent command。 He approached
her and said in a low voice：
〃Has your majesty still confidence in me？〃
This voice startled her。 〃Yes； sir；〃 she replied； 〃every
confidence； speak。〃
〃Will the queen deign to follow my advice？〃
〃Speak。〃
〃Let your majesty dismiss M。 de Comminges and desire him to
shut himself up with his men in the guardhouse and in the
stables。〃
Comminges glanced at D'Artagnan with the envious look with
which every courtier sees a new favorite spring up。
〃You hear； Comminges？〃 said the queen。
D'Artagnan went up to him； with his usual quickness he
caught the anxious glance。
〃Monsieur de Comminges；〃 he said； 〃pardon me； we both are
servants of the queen； are we not？ It is my turn to be of
use to her； do not envy me this happiness。〃
Comminges bowed and left。
〃Come；〃 said D'Artagnan to himself； 〃I have got one more
enemy。〃
〃And now；〃 said the queen； addressing D'Artagnan； 〃what is
to be done？ for you hear that； instead of becoming calmer；
the noise increases。〃
〃Madame；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃the people want to see the king
and they must see him。〃
〃What！ must see him！ Where on the balcony？〃
〃Not at all； madame； but here； sleeping in his bed。〃
〃Oh； your majesty；〃 exclaimed Laporte； 〃Monsieur d'Artagnan
is right。〃
The queen became thoughtful and smiled； like a woman to whom
duplicity is no stranger。
〃Without doubt；〃 she murmured。
〃Monsieur Laporte；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃go and announce to the
people through the grating