Whilst Mazarin was endeavoring to recover from the serious alarm hehad just experienced, Athos and Raoul were exchanging a few words ina corner of the apartment. "Well, here you are at Paris, then, Raoul?"said the comte.
"Yes, monsieur, since the return of M. le Prince."
"I cannot converse freely with you here, because we are observed; but Ishall return home presently, and shall expect you as soon as your dutypermits."
Raoul bowed, and, at that moment, M. le Prince came up to them. Theprince had that clear and keen look which distinguishes birds of preyof the noble species; his physiognomy itself presented several distincttraits of this resemblance. It is known that in the Prince de Conde,the aquiline nose rose out sharply and incisively from a brow slightlyretreating, rather low than high, and according to the railers of thecourt,--a pitiless race even for genius,--constituted rather an eagle'sbeak than a human nose, in the heir of the illustrious princes of thehouse of Conde. This penetrating look, this imperious expression of thewhole countenance generally disturbed those to whom the prince spoke,more than either majesty or regular beauty could have done in theconqueror of Rocroy. Besides this, the fire mounted so suddenly to hisprojecting eyes, that with the prince every sort of animation resembledpassion. Now, on account of his rank, everybody at the court respectedM. le Prince, and many even, seeing only the man, carried their respectas far as terror.
Louis de Conde then advanced towards the Comte de la Fere and Raoul,with the marked intention of being saluted by the one, and of speakingto the other. No man bowed with more reserved grace than the Comte dela Fere. He disdained to put into a salutation all the shades which acourtier ordinarily borrows from the same color--the desire to please.Athos knew his own personal value, and bowed to the prince like a man,correcting by something sympathetic and undefinable that which mighthave appeared offensive to the pride of the highest rank in theinflexibility of his attitude. The prince was about to speak to Raoul.Athos forestalled him. "If M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne," said he, "werenot one of the humble servants of your royal highness, I would beg himto pronounce my name before you--mon prince."
"I have the honor to address Monsieur le Comte de la Fere," said Condeinstantly.
"My protector," added Raoul, blushing.
"One of the most honorable men in the kingdom," continued the prince;"one of the first gentlemen of France, and of whom I have heard so muchthat I have frequently desired to number him among my friends."
"An honour of which I should be unworthy," replied Athos, "but for therespect and admiration I entertain for your royal highness."
"Monsieur de Bragelonne," said the prince, "is a good officer, and it isplainly seen that he has been to a good school. Ah, monsieur le comte,in your time, generals had soldiers!"
"That is true, my lord, but nowadays soldiers have generals."
This compliment, which savored so little of flattery, gave a thrill ofjoy to the man whom already Europe considered a hero; and who might bethought to be satiated with praise.
"I regret very much," continued the prince, "that you should haveretired from the service, monsieur le comte, for it is more thanprobable that the king will soon have a war with Holland or England, andopportunities for distinguishing himself would not be wanting for a manwho, like you, knows Great Britain as well as you do France."
"I believe I may say, monseigneur, that I have acted wisely in retiringfrom the service," said Athos, smiling. "France and Great Britain willhenceforward live like two sisters, if I can trust my presentiments."
"Your presentiments?"
"Stop, monseigneur, listen to what is being said yonder, at the table ofmy lord the cardinal."
"Where they are playing?"
"Yes, my lord."
The cardinal had just raised himself on one elbow, and made a sign tothe king's brother, who went to him.
"My lord," said the cardinal, "pick up, if you please, all those goldcrowns." And he pointed to the enormous pile of yellow and glitteringpieces which the Comte de Guiche had raised by degrees before him by asurprising run of luck at play.
"For me?" cried the Duc d'Anjou.
"Those fifty thousand crowns; yes, monseigneur, they are yours."
"Do you give them to me?"
"I have been playing on your account, monseigneur," replied thecardinal, getting weaker and weaker, as if this effort of giving moneyhad exhausted all his physical and moral faculties.
"Oh, good heavens!" exclaimed Philip, wild with joy, "what a fortunateday!" And he himself, making a rake of his fingers, drew a part of thesum into his pockets, which he filled, and still full a third remainedon the table.
"Chevalier," said Philip to his favorite, the Chevalier de Lorraine,"come hither, chevalier." The favorite quickly obeyed. "Pocket therest," said the young prince.
This singular scene was considered by the persons present only as atouching kind of family fete. The cardinal assumed the airs of a fatherwith the sons of France, and the two young princes had grown up underhis wing. No one then imputed to pride, or even impertinence, as wouldbe done nowadays, this liberality on the part of the first minister. Thecourtiers were satisfied with envying the prince.--The king turned awayhis head.
"I never had so much money before," said the young prince, joyously,as he crossed the chamber with his favorite to go to his carriage. "No,never! What a weight these crowns are!"
"But why has monsieur le cardinal given all this money at once?" askedM. le Prince of the Comte de la Fere. "He must be very ill, the dearcardinal!"
"Yes, my lord, very ill; without doubt; he looks very ill, as your royalhighness may perceive."
"But surely he will die of it. A hundred and fifty thousand crowns! Oh,it is incredible! But, comte tell me a reason for it?"
"Patience, monseigneur, I beg of you. Here comes M. le Duc d'Anjou,talking with the Chevalier de Lorraine; I should not be surprised ifthey spared us the trouble of being indiscreet. Listen to them."
In fact the chevalier said to the prince in a low voice, "My lord, itis not natural for M. Mazarin to give you so much money. Take care! youwill let some of the pieces fall, my lord. What design has the cardinalupon you to make him so generous?"
"As I said," whispered Athos in the prince's ear; "that, perhaps, is thebest reply to your question."
"Tell me, my lord," repeated the chevalier impatiently, as he wascalculating, by weighing them in his pocket, the quota of the sum whichhad fallen to his share by rebound.
"My dear chevalier, a wedding present."
"How a wedding present?"
"Eh! yes, I am going to be married," replied the Duc d'Anjou, withoutperceiving, at the moment, he was passing the prince and Athos, who bothbowed respectfully.
The chevalier darted at the young duke a glance so strange, and somalicious, that the Comte de la Fere quite started on beholding it.
"You! you to be married!" repeated he; "oh! that's impossible. You wouldnot commit such a folly!"
"Bah! I don't do it myself; I am made to do it," replied the Ducd'Anjou. "But come, quick! let us get rid of our money." Thereupon hedisappeared with his companion, laughing and talking, whilst all headswere bowed on his passage.
"Then," whispered the prince to Athos, "that is the secret."
"It was not I that told you so, my lord."
"He is to marry the sister of Charles II.?"
"I believe so."
The prince reflected for a moment, and his eye shot forth one of its notunfrequent flashes. "Humph!" said he slowly, as if speaking to himself;"our swords are once more to be hung on the wall--for a long time!" andhe sighed.
All that sigh contained of ambition silently stifled, of extinguishedillusions and disappointed hopes, Athos alone divined, for he alone hadheard that sigh. Immediately after, the prince took leave and the kingleft the apartment. Athos, by a sign made to Bragelonne, renewed thedesire he had expressed at the beginning of the scene. By degrees thechamber was deserted, and Mazarin was left alone, a prey to sufferingwhich he
could no longer dissemble. "Bernouin! Bernouin!" cried he, in abroken voice.
"What does monseigneur want?"
"Guenaud--let Guenaud be sent for," said his eminence. "I think I'mdying."
Bernouin, in great terror, rushed into the cabinet to give the order,and the piqueur, who hastened to fetch the physician, passed the king'scarriage in the Rue Saint Honore.
CHAPTER 43. Guenaud
Ten Years Later Page 46
