long as we find it convenient. One only is still not in our power and
braves us. But, devil take him! we shall soon succeed in sending him
to join his boon companions. We have accomplished more difficult things
than that. In the first place I have as a precaution shut up at Rueil,
near me, under my own eyes, within reach of my hand, the two most
intractable ones. To-day the third will be there also."

"As long as they are in prison all will be well," said Anne, "but one of
these days they will get out."

"Yes, if your majesty releases them."

"Ah!" exclaimed Anne, following the train of her own thoughts on such
occasions, "one regrets Paris!"

"Why so?"

"On account of the Bastile, sir, which is so strong and so secure."

"Madame, these conferences will bring us peace; when we have peace we
shall regain Paris; with Paris, the Bastile, and our four bullies shall
rot therein."

Anne frowned slightly when Mazarin, in taking leave, kissed her hand.

Mazarin, after this half humble, half gallant attention, went away. Anne
followed him with her eyes, and as he withdrew, at every step he took, a
disdainful smile was seen playing, then gradually burst upon her lips.

"I once," she said, "despised the love of a cardinal who never said 'I
shall do,' but, 'I have done so and so.' That man knew of retreats
more secure than Rueil, darker and more silent even than the Bastile.
Degenerate world!"

82. Precautions.

After quitting Anne, Mazarin took the road to Rueil, where he usually
resided; in those times of disturbance he went about with numerous
followers and often disguised himself. In military dress he was, indeed,
as we have stated, a very handsome man.

In the court of the old Chateau of Saint Germain he entered his coach,
and reached the Seine at Chatou. The prince had supplied him with fifty
light horse, not so much by way of guard as to show the deputies how
readily the queen's generals dispersed their troops and to prove that
they might be safely scattered at pleasure. Athos, on horseback, without
his sword and kept in sight by Comminges, followed the cardinal in
silence. Grimaud, finding that his master had been arrested, fell back
into the ranks near Aramis, without saying a word and as if nothing had
happened.

Grimaud had, indeed, during twenty-two years of service, seen his master
extricate himself from so many difficulties that nothing less than
Athos's imminent death was likely to make him