he entered; but scarcely had she
perceived him then she reseated herself in her armchair, and made a sign
to her women to resume their cushions and stools, and with an air of
supreme hauteur, said, "What do you desire, monsieur, and with what
object do you present yourself here?"

"To make, madame, in the name of the king, and without prejudice to
the respect which I have the honor to owe to your Majesty a close
examination into all your papers."

"How, monsieur, an investigation of my papers--mine! Truly, this is an
indignity!"

"Be kind enough to pardon me, madame; but in this circumstance I am but
the instrument which the king employs. Has not his Majesty just left
you, and has he not himself asked you to prepare for this visit?"

"Search, then, monsieur! I am a criminal, as it appears. Estafania, give
up the keys of my drawers and my desks."

For form's sake the chancellor paid a visit to the pieces of furniture
named; but he well knew that it was not in a piece of furniture that the
queen would place the important letter she had written that day.

When the chancellor had opened and shut twenty times the drawers of
the secretaries, it became necessary, whatever hesitation he might
experience--it became necessary, I say, to come to the conclusion of
the affair; that is to say, to search the queen herself. The chancellor
advanced, therefore, toward Anne of Austria, and said with a very
perplexed and embarrassed air, "And now it remains for me to make the
principal examination."

"What is that?" asked the queen, who did not understand, or rather was
not willing to understand.

"His majesty is certain that a letter has been written by you during the
day; he knows that it has not yet been sent to its address. This letter
is not in your table nor in your secretary; and yet this letter must be
somewhere."

"Would you dare to lift your hand to your queen?" said Anne of Austria,
drawing herself up to her full height, and fixing her eyes upon the
chancellor with an expression almost threatening.

"I am a faithful subject of the king, madame, and all that his Majesty
commands I shall do."

"Well, it is true!" said Anne of Austria; "and the spies of the cardinal
have served him faithfully. I have written a letter today; that letter
is not yet gone. The letter is here." And the queen laid her beautiful
hand on her bosom.

"Then give me that letter, madame," said the chancellor.

"I will give it to none but the