Part 80 (1/2)
”I will press hi of the kind; do not speak of signatures with M Fouquet, nor of deeds, nor even ask him to pass his word
Understand this: otherwise you will lose everything All you have to do is to get M Fouquet to give you his hand on the o”
Chapter XLIII An Intervieith the Queen-Mother
The queen-mother was in the bedroom at the Palais Royal, with Mada Louis, who had been impatiently expected the whole day, had notimpatient, had often sent to inquire about him The moral at stor in the ante-chambers and the corridors in order not to converse on co early in the -party; Madame remained in her own apartment, cool and distant to every one; and the queen-mother, after she had said her prayers in Latin, talked of domestic matters with her two friends in pure Castilian Madae perfectly, answered her in French When the three ladies had exhausted every form of dissi that the king's conduct was h sheer grief and vexation, and when, in the uarded and polished phrases, they had fulainst Mademoiselle de la Valliere, the queen-mother terminated her attack by an exclamation indicative of her own reflections and character ”_Estos hijos!_” said she to Molina--whichon a nificance in the mouth of a queen who, like Anne of Austria, hid many curious secrets in her soul
”Yes,” said Molina, ”children, children! for whom every mother becomes a sacrifice”
”Yes,” replied the queen; ”a , certainly”
She did not finish her phrase; for she fancied, when she raised her eyes towards the full-length portrait of the pale Louis XIII, that light once rew livid rath The portrait see expression--speak it did not, but it seemed to threaten A profound silence succeeded the queen's last ree work-table Madaence which had been exchanged between the confidant and her mistress, cast down her eyes like a discreet wo that was passing, listened with the ut, however, but a very insignificant ”hum” on the part of the Spanish duenna, as the incarnation of caution--and a profound sigh on that of the queen
She looked up i?” she said
”No, Motteville, no; why do you say that?”
”Your ht; I did sigh, in truth”
”Monsieur Valot is not far off; I believe he is in Madame's apartment”
”Why is he with Madame?”
”Madame is troubled with nervous attacks”
”A very fine disorder, indeed! There is little good in M Valot being there, when a very different physician would quickly cure Madareat surprise, as she replied, ”Another doctor instead of M Valot?--whom do you mean?”
”Occupation, Motteville, occupation If any one is really ill, it is hter”
”And your h”
”Do not believe that too confidently, madame,” said De Motteville And, as if to justify her caution, a sharp, acute pain seized the queen, who turned deadly pale, and threw herself back in the chair, with every syilded tortoise-shell cabinet, froe rock-crystal bottle of scented salts, and held it to the queen's nostrils, who inhaled it wildly for a fewmy death--but Heaven's will be done!”
”Your majesty's death is not so near at hand,” added Molina, replacing the s-bottle in the cabinet
”Does your majesty feel better now?” inquired Madame de Motteville
”Much better,” returned the queen, placing her finger on her lips, to ie,” remarked Madae?” said the queen