Buckingham rose, his features distorted, and his hands pressed against his heart. "You are right, madame," he said, "but those of whom you speak had received their order of exile from the lips of the one whom they loved; they were not driven away; they were entreated to leave, and were not laughed at."
Buckingham rose, his features distorted, and his hands pressed against his heart. "You are right, madame," he said, "but those of whom you speak had received their order of exile from the lips of the one whom they loved; they were not driven away; they were entreated to leave, and were not laughed at."
"No," murmured Anne of Austria, "they were not forgotten. But who says you are driven away, or that you are exiled? Who says that your devotion will not be remembered? I do not speak on any one's behalf but my own, when I tell you to leave. Do me this kindness,grant me this favor; let me, for this also, be indebted to one of your name."
"It is for your sake, then, madame?"
"For mine alone."
"No one whom I shall leave behind me will venture to mock,no prince even who shall say, 'I required it.'"
"Listen to me, duke," and hereupon the dignified features of the queen assumed a solemn expression. "I swear to you that no one commands in this matter but myself. I swear to you that, not only shall no one either laugh or boast in any way, but no one even shall fail in the respect due to your rank. Rely upon me, duke, as I rely upon you."
"You do not explain yourself, madame; my heart is full of bitterness, and I am in utter despair; no consolation, however gentle and affectionate, can afford me relief."
"Do you remember your mother, duke?" replied the queen, with a winning smile.
"Very slightly, madame; yet I remember how she used to cover me with her caresses and her tears whenever I wept."
"Villiers," murmured the queen, passing her arm round the young man's neck, "look upon me as your mother, and believe that no one shall ever make my son weep."
"I thank you, madame," said the young man affected and almost suffocated by his emotion; "I feel there is still room in my heart for a gentler and nobler sentiment than love."
The queenmother looked at him and pressed his hand. "Go," she said.
"When must I leave? Command me."
"At any time that may suit you, my lord," resumed the queen; "you will choose your own day of departure. Instead, however, of setting off today, as you would doubtless wish to do, or tomorrow, as others may have expected, leave the day after tomorrow, in the evening; but announce today that it is your wish to leave."
"My wish?" murmured the young duke.
"Yes, duke."
"And shall I never return to France?"
Anne of Austria reflected for a moment, seemingly absorbed in sad and serious thought. "It would be a consolation for me," she said, "if you were to return on the day when I shall be carried to my final restingplace at SaintDennis beside the king, my husband."
"Madame, you are goodness itself; the tide of prosperity is setting in on you; your cup brims over with happiness, and many long years are yet before you."
"In that case you will not come for some time, then," said the queen, endeavoring to smile.
"I shall not return," said Buckingham, "young as I am. Death does not reckon by years; it is impartial; some die young, some reach old age."
"I will not harbor any sorrowful ideas, duke. Let me comfort you; return in two years. I perceive from your face that the very idea which saddens you so much now, will have disappeared before six months have passed, and will be not only dead but forgotten in the period of absence I have assigned you."
"I think you judged me better a little while ago, madame," replied the young man, "when you said that time is powerless against members of the family of Buckingham."
"Silence," said the queen, kissing the duke upon the forehead with an affection she could not restrain. "Go, go; spare me and forget yourself no longer. I am the queen; you are the subject of the king of England; King Charles awaits your return. Adieu, Villiers,farewell."
"Forever!" replied the young man, and he fled, endeavoring to master his emotions.
Anne leaned her head upon her hands, and then looking at herself in the glass, murmured, "It has been truly said, that a woman who has truly loved is always young, and that the bloom of the girl of twenty years ever lies concealed in some secret cloister of the heart." [1]
[1] In the threevolume edition, Volume 1, entitled The Vicomte de Bragelonne, ends here.
Chapter XVIII.
King Louis XIV. Does Not Think Mademoiselle De La Valliere Either Rich Enough or Pretty Enough for a Gentleman of the Rank of the Vicomte De Bragelonne.
Raoul and the Comte de la Fere reached Paris the evening of the same day on which Buckingham had held the conversation with the queenmother. The count had scarcely arrived, when, through Raoul, he solicited an audience of the king. His majesty had passed a portion of the morning in looking over, with madame and the ladies of the court, various goods of Lyons manufacture, of which he had made his sisterinlaw a present. A court dinner had succeeded, then cards, and afterwards, according to his usual custom, the king, leaving the cardtables at eight o'clock, passed into his cabinet in order to work with M. Colbert and M. Fouquet. Raoul entered the antechamber at the very moment the two ministers quitted it, and the king, perceiving him through the halfclosed door, said, "What do you want, M. de Bragelonne?"
The young man approached: "An audience, sire," he replied, "for the Comte de la Fere, who has just arrived from Blois, and is most anxious to have an interview with your majesty."
"I have an hour to spare between cards and supper," said the king. "Is the Comte de la Fere at hand?"
"He is below, and awaits your majesty's permission."
"Let him come up at once," said the king, and five minutes afterwards Athos entered the presence of Louis XIV. He was received by the king with that gracious kindness of manner which Louis, with a tact beyond his years, reserved for the purpose of gaining those who were not to be conquered by ordinary favors. "Let me hope, comte," said the king, "that you have come to ask me for something."
"I will not conceal from your majesty," replied the comte, "that I am indeed come for that purpose."
"That is well," said the king, joyously.
"It is not for myself, sire."
"So much the worse; but, at least, I will do for your protege what you refuse to permit me to do for you."
"Your majesty encourages me. I have come to speak on behalf of the Vicomte de Bragelonne."
"It is the same as if you spoke on your own behalf, comte."
"Not altogether so, sire. I am desirous of obtaining from your majesty that which I cannot ask for myself. The vicomte thinks of marrying."
"He is still very young; but that does not matter. He is an eminently distinguished man; I will choose a wife for him."
"He has already chosen one, sire, and only awaits your consent."
"It is only a question, then, of signing the marriagecontract?" Athos bowed. "Has he chose a wife whose fortune and position accord with your own anticipation?"
Athos hesitated for a moment. "His affirmed wife is of good birth, but has no fortune."
"That is a misfortune we can remedy."
"You overwhelm me with gratitude, sire; but your majesty will permit me to offer a remark?"
"Do so, comte."
"Your majesty seems to intimate an intention of giving a marriageportion to this young lady."
"Certainly."
"I should regret, sire, if the step I have taken towards your majesty should be attended by this result."
"No false delicacy, comte; what is the bride's name?"
Athos hesitated for a moment. "His affirmed wife is of good birth, but has no fortune."
"That is a misfortune we can remedy."
"You overwhelm me with gratitude, sire; but your majesty will permit me to offer a remark?"
"Do so, comte."
"Your majesty seems to intimate an intention of giving a marriageportion to this young lady."
"Certainly."
"I should regret, sire, if the step I have taken towards your majesty should be attended by this result."
"No false delicacy, comte; what is the bride's name?"
"Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere," said Athos, coldly.
"I seem to know that name," said the king, as if reflecting; "there was a Marquis de la Valliere."
"Yes, sire, it is his daughter."
"But he died, and his widow married again M. de SaintRemy, I think, steward of the dowager Madame's household."
"Your majesty is correctly informed."
"More than that, the young lady has lately become one of the princess's maids of honor."
"Your majesty is better acquainted with her history than am I."
The king again reflected, and glancing at the comte's anxious countenance, said: "The young lady does not seem to me to be very pretty, comte."
"I am not quite sure," replied Athos.
"I have seen her, but she hardly struck me as being so."
"She seems to be a good and modest girl, but has little beauty, sire."
"Beautiful fair hair, however."
"I think so."
"And her blue eyes are tolerably good."
"Yes, sire."
"With regard to her beauty, then, the match is but an ordinary one. Now for the money side of the question."
"Fifteen to twenty thousand francs dowry at the very outset, sire; the lovers are disinterested enough; for myself, I care little for money."
"For superfluity, you mean; but a needful amount is of importance. With fifteen thousand francs, without landed property, a woman cannot live at court. We will make up the deficiency; I will do it for De Bragelonne." The king again remarked the coldness with which Athos received the remark.
"Let us pass from the question of money to that of rank," said Louis XIV.; "the daughter of the Marquis de la Valliere, that is well enough; but there is that excellent SaintRemy, who somewhat damages the credit of the family; and you, comte, are rather particular, I believe, about your own family."
"Sire, I no longer hold to anything but my devotion to your majesty."
The king again paused. "A moment, comte. You have surprised me in no little degree from the beginning of your conversation. You came to ask me to authorize a marriage, and you seem greatly disturbed in having to make the request. Nay, pardon me, comte, but I am rarely deceived, young as I am; for while with some persons I place my friendship at the disposal of my understanding, with others I call my distrust to my aid, by which my discernment is increased. I repeat, that you do not prefer your request as though you wished it success."
"Well, sire, that is true."
"I do not understand you, then; refuse."