. She is
all-powerful yonder; she will help me. But send me word should you be
arrested, for then I will return directly."

"Why do you not take your chance and be arrested with me?"

"No, I thank you."

"Should we, by being arrested, be all four together again, we should
not, I am not sure, be twenty-four hours in prison without getting
free."

"My friend, since I killed Chatillon, adored of the ladies of Saint
Germain, I am too great a celebrity not to fear a prison doubly. The
queen is likely to follow Mazarin's counsels and to have me tried."

"Do you think she loves this Italian so much as they say she does?"

"Did she not love an Englishman?"

"My friend, she is a woman."

"No, no, you are deceived--she is a queen."

"Dear friend, I shall sacrifice myself and go and see Anne of Austria."

"Adieu, Athos, I am going to raise an army."

"For what purpose?"

"To come back and besiege Rueil."

"Where shall we meet again?"

"At the foot of the cardinal's gallows."

The two friends departed--Aramis to return to Paris, Athos to take
measures preparatory to an interview with the queen.

80. The Gratitude of Anne of Austria.

Athos found much less difficulty than he had expected in obtaining an
audience of Anne of Austria. It was granted, and was to take place after
her morning's "levee," at which, in accordance with his rights of birth,
he was entitled to be present. A vast crowd filled the apartments of
Saint Germain. Anne had never at the Louvre had so large a court; but
this crowd represented chiefly the second class of nobility, while the
Prince de Conti, the Duc de Beaufort and the coadjutor assembled around
them the first nobility of France.

The greatest possible gayety prevailed at court. The particular
characteristic of this was that more songs were made than cannons fired
during its continuance. The court made songs on the Parisians and the
Parisians on the court; and the casualties, though not mortal, were
painful, as are all wounds inflicted by the weapon of ridicule.

In the midst of this seeming hilarity, nevertheless, people's minds were
uneasy. Was Mazarin to remain the favorite and minister of the queen?
Was he to be carried back by the wind which had blown him there? Every
one hoped so, so that the minister felt that all around him, beneath the
homage of the courtiers, lay a fund of hatred, ill disguised by fear and
interest. He felt ill at ease and at a loss what to do.