nd before the king.--Now, then, one last
word: who gave you the Fleece? I remember you passed for having the
Garter; but as to the Fleece, I do not know--"

"Recently, my lord, Spain, on the occasion of the marriage of his
majesty Louis XIV., sent King Charles II. a brevet of the Fleece in
blank; Charles II. immediately transmitted it to me, filling up the
blank with my name."

Mazarin arose, and leaning on the arm of Bernouin, he returned to his
_ruelle_ at the moment the name of M. le Prince was being announced. The
Prince de Conde, the first prince of the blood, the conqueror of
Rocroi, Lens, and Nordlingen, was, in fact, entering the apartment
of Monseigneur de Mazarin, followed by his gentlemen, and had already
saluted the king, when the prime minister raised his curtain. Athos had
time to see Raoul pressing the hand of the Comte de Guiche, and send him
a smile in return for his respectful bow. He had time, likewise, to see
the radiant countenance of the cardinal, when he perceived before him,
upon the table, an enormous heap of gold, which the Comte de Guiche had
won in a run of luck, after his eminence had confided his cards to him.
So forgetting ambassador, embassy and prince, his first thought was of
the gold. "What!" cried the old man--"all that--won?"

"Some fifty thousand crowns; yes, monseigneur," replied the Comte de
Guiche, rising. "Must I give up my place to your eminence, or shall I
continue?"

"Give up! give up! you are mad. You would lose all you have won.
_Peste!_"

"My lord!" said the Prince de Conde, bowing.

"Good-evening, monsieur le prince," said the minister, in a careless
tone; "it is very kind of you to visit an old sick friend."

"A friend!" murmured the Comte de la Fere, at witnessing with stupor
this monstrous alliance of words;--"friends! when the parties are Conde
and Mazarin!"

Mazarin seemed to divine the thoughts of the _Frondeur_, for he smiled
upon him with triumph, and immediately,--"Sire," said he to the king,
"I have the honor of presenting to your majesty, Monsieur le Comte de
la Fere, ambassador from his Britannic majesty. An affair of state,
gentlemen," added he, waving his hand to all who filled the chamber, and
who, the Prince de Conde at their head, all disappeared at the simple
gesture. Raoul, after a last look cast at the comte, followed M. de
Conde. Philip of Anjou and the queen appeared to be consulting about
departing.

"A family affair," said Mazarin, sudd