room first," replied Comminges; "the queen will ultimately
decide your place of domicile."

Athos followed Comminges without saying a single word.

81. Cardinal Mazarin as King.

The arrest produced no sensation, indeed was almost unknown, and
scarcely interrupted the course of events. To the deputation it was
formally announced that the queen would receive it.

Accordingly, it was admitted to the presence of Anne, who, silent and
lofty as ever, listened to the speeches and complaints of the deputies;
but when they had finished their harangues not one of them could say, so
calm remained her face, whether or no she had heard them.

On the other hand, Mazarin, present at that audience, heard very well
what those deputies demanded. It was purely and simply his removal, in
terms clear and precise.

The discourse being finished, the queen remained silent.

"Gentlemen," said Mazarin, "I join with you in supplicating the queen to
put an end to the miseries of her subjects. I have done all in my power
to ameliorate them and yet the belief of the public, you say, is that
they proceed from me, an unhappy foreigner, who has been unable to
please the French. Alas! I have never been understood, and no wonder. I
succeeded a man of the most sublime genius that ever upheld the sceptre
of France. The memory of Richelieu annihilates me. In vain--were I an
ambitious man--should I struggle against such remembrances as he has
left; but that I am not ambitious I am going to prove to you. I own
myself conquered. I shall obey the wishes of the people. If Paris has
injuries to complain of, who has not some wrongs to be redressed? Paris
has been sufficiently punished; enough blood has flowed, enough misery
has humbled a town deprived of its king and of justice. 'Tis not for me,
a private individual, to disunite a queen from her kingdom. Since you
demand my resignation, I retire."

"Then," said Aramis, in his neighbor's ear, "the conferences are over.
There is nothing to do but to send Monsieur Mazarin to the most distant
frontier and to take care that he does not return even by that, nor any
other entrance into France."

"One instant, sir," said the man in a gown, whom he addressed; "a plague
on't! how fast you go! one may soon see that you're a soldier. There's
the article of remunerations and indemnifications to be discussed and
set to rights."

"Chancellor," said the queen, turning to Seguier, our old acquaintance,
"you