hen, of touching him?"

"I have the means of making myself feared."

Mazarin looked at the young man, but at the fire which shot from his
glance he bent his head; then, embarrassed how to continue such a
conversation, he opened Cromwell's letter.

The young man's eyes gradually resumed their dull and glassy appearance
and he fell into a profound reverie. After reading the first lines of
the letter Mazarin gave a side glance at him to see if he was watching
the expression of his face as he read. Observing his indifference, he
shrugged his shoulders, saying:

"Send on your business those who do theirs at the same time! Let us see
what this letter contains."

We here present the letter verbatim:

"To his Eminence, Monseigneur le Cardinal Mazarini:

"I have wished, monseigneur, to learn your intentions relating to the
existing state of affairs in England. The two kingdoms are so near that
France must be interested in our situation, as we are interested in that
of France. The English are almost of one mind in contending against the
tyranny of Charles and his adherents. Placed by popular confidence at
the head of that movement, I can appreciate better than any other its
significance and its probable results. I am at present in the midst of
war, and am about to deliver a decisive battle against King Charles. I
shall gain it, for the hope of the nation and the Spirit of the Lord are
with me. This battle won by me, the king will have no further resources
in England or in Scotland; and if he is not captured or killed, he will
endeavor to pass over into France to recruit soldiers and to refurnish
himself with arms and money. France has already received Queen
Henrietta, and, unintentionally, doubtless, has maintained a centre
of inextinguishable civil war in my country. But Madame Henrietta is a
daughter of France and was entitled to the hospitality of France. As to
King Charles, the question must be viewed differently; in receiving and
aiding him, France will censure the acts of the English nation, and
thus so essentially harm England, and especially the well-being of the
government, that such a proceeding will be equivalent to pronounced
hostilities."

At this moment Mazarin became very uneasy at the turn which the letter
was taking and paused to glance under his eyes at the young man. The
latter continued in thought. Mazarin resumed his reading:

"It is important, therefore, monseigneur, that I should be in