Part 78 (2/2)
Louis, in order not to show on his face as passing at the botto in his own apartments, where his nurse alone kept him company; the more he saw the approach of the time when all constraint would be at an end, theback upon hins, in order to gainat the decisive moment
Extreme unction had been administered to the cardinal, who, faithful to his habits of dissiainst reality, receiving company in his bed, as if he only suffered from a temporary complaint
Guenaud, on his part, preserved profound secrecy; wearied with visits and questions, he answered nothing but ”his eth, but God wills that which He wills, and when He has decided that man is to be laid low, he will be laid low” These words, which he scattered with a sort of discretion, reserve, and preference, were co and the cardinal Mazarin, notwithstanding the prophecy of Guenaud, still lured himself with a hope, or rather played his part so well, that thethat he lured himself, proved that they were his dupes
Louis, absent from the cardinal for two days; Louis, with his eyes fixed upon that same donation which so constantly preoccupied the cardinal; Louis did not exactly kno tothe paternal traditions, had, up to that ti royalty, he desired it with that terror which always acco formed his resolution, which, besides, he communicated to nobody, he determined to have an intervieith Mazarin It was Anne of Austria, who, constant in her attendance upon the cardinal, first heard this proposition of the king's, and transitated For what purpose could Louis wish for an interview?
Was it to return the deed, as Colbert had said he would? Was it to keep it, after thanking hi man felt that the uncertainty increased his torments, he did not hesitate an instant
”Hisa sign to Colbert, as seated at the foot of the bed, and which the latter understood perfectly ”Madah to assure the king yourself of the truth of what I have just said?”
Anne of Austria rose; she herself was anxious to have the question of the forty millions settled--the question which seemed to lie heavy on the reat effort, and, raising himself up towards Colbert: ”Well, Colbert,” said he, ”two days have passed away--twohas been returned from yonder”
”Patience, my lord,” said Colbert
”Are you mad, you wretch? You advise hing atand you call out to me to wait!”
”My lord,” said Colbert, with his habitual coolness, ”it is is should not co to see you, and no doubt he brings back the deed himself”
”Do you think so? Well, I, on the contrary, a to thank me”
At this moment Anne of Austria returned On her way to the apartments of her son she had met with a new empiric This was a pohich was said to have power to save the cardinal; and she brought a portion of this poith her But this was not what Mazarin expected; therefore he would not even look at it, declaring that life was not worth the pains that were taken to preserve it But, whilst professing this philosophical axio-confined secret escaped him at last
”That,part of o, a little donation to the king; up to this time, from delicacy, no doubt, hisabout it; but the time for explanation is co has made up his mind on that matter”
Anne of Austria was about to reply, when Mazarin stopped her
”The truth, madame,” said he--”in the na man with a hope thathi track
”I know,” said Anne of Austria, taking the cardinal's hand, ”I know that you have generously made, not a little donation, as you ift I kno painful it would be to you if the king--”
Mazarin listened, dying as he was, as ten living --” replied he
”If the king,” continued Anne of Austria, ”should not freely accept what you offer so nobly”
Mazarin allowed himself to sink back upon his pillow like Pantaloon; that is to say, with all the despair of a man who bows before the teth and presence of mind to cast upon Colbert one of those looks which are orth ten sonnets, which is to say, ten long poems
”Should you not,” added the queen, ”have considered the refusal of the king as a sort of insult?” Mazarin rolled his head about upon his pilloithout articulating a syllable The queen was deceived, or feigned to be deceived, by this demonstration
”Therefore,” resuood counsels; and as certain lory you are about to acquire by this generosity, have endeavored to prove to the king that he ought not to accept this donation, I have struggled in your favor, and so well I have struggled, that you will not have, I hope, that distress to undergo”
”Ah!”eyes, ”ah! that is a service I shall never forget for a single minute of the few hours I still have to live”