erved,
and so to her majesty's private closet. Were you to accompany me,
Beaufort would soon hear of it, and would be shrewd enough to perceive
that your meeting with me was by no means a matter of chance."

Hector followed out his instructions, and on presenting himself at the
palace was at once taken up to the queen's closet. Laporte went in, and
returning immediately requested him to enter. The queen was walking up
and down the room, her face flushed with indignation.

"Her majesty would fain hear from your own lips, monsieur le baron, the
statement that you have made to me."

The queen sat down and listened intently while Hector repeated the
story.

"There can be no doubt about it, cardinal; this keeping of a number of
armed men within call for days, the summons to them to gather in the Rue
St. Honore, while he himself with others took up his post at the convent
of the Capuchins hard by, the moment his spies had discovered that you
had left for Maisons, could but have been for one purpose. But they
shall learn that although a woman, Anne of Austria, Queen of France, is
not to be deprived of her minister and faithful friend without striking
back in return. Monsieur de Villar, you have rendered me a great
service. Is there any boon that you would ask of me? it is granted
beforehand."

"I thank your majesty most humbly," Hector said. "Already I have
received honours far beyond anything I deserve. I had the honour when
thanking your majesty, to hope some day to be able to give proof that
they were not unworthily bestowed, and still hope to do so."

"You have already shown yourself worthy," the queen said, "by the manner
in which you have in so short a time rendered the regiment to which we
appointed you so efficient. However, if there is at present no boon that
we can bestow, then remember that the Queen of France holds herself
your debtor, and that you have my royal word that any boon that you may
hereafter ask for, that is in my power to grant, will be given you.
Take this as a pledge of my promise." And she took off a gold chain
exquisitely worked, and gave it him. He received it kneeling. "Now, sir,
we will keep you here no longer. I have much to say to his excellency. I
trust that you will present yourself at the levee this evening."

"One thing more, colonel," Mazarin added; "I doubt not that some of
Beaufort's people will endeavour to find out how it was that you came to
be behind my carriage. If they do