Part 33 (1/2)
”What, madame?”
”Listen, Philip; I am not disposed to pay people ill co people, but I cannot take advantage of it without running the chances of losing it altogether Besides, there is nothing to prove that M de Guiche is guilty”
”He has displeased me”
”That is your own affair”
”Very well, I knohat I shall do,” said the prince, impetuously
Anne looked at him with some uneasiness ”What do you intend to do?” she said
”I will have him drowned in ain” Having launched this terrible threat, the prince expected his htened out of her senses; but the queen was unmoved
”Do so,” she said
Philip was as weak as a woan to cry out, ”Every one betrays me,-no one cares for me; my mother, even, joins my enemies”
”Your mother, Philip, sees further in theyou, since you will not listen to her”
”I will go to the king”
”I was about to propose that to you I a his majesty; it is the hour he usually pays me a visit; explain the matter to him yourself”
She had hardly finished when Philip heard the door of the ante-rooan to feel nervous At the sound of the king's footsteps, which could be heard upon the carpet, the duke hurriedly , and was laughing still when the king entered He came very affectionately to inquire after the even now uncertain health of the queen-mother, and to announce to her that the preparations for the journey to Fontainebleau were coh, his uneasiness on her account diminished, and he addressed her in a vivacious tone himself Anne of Austria took him by the hand, and, in a voice full of playfulness, said, ”Do you know, sire that I a a Spanish woman?”
”Why, lish women at least”
”Explain yourself”
”Since your le reproach to ainst the queen”
”Certainly not”
”And you, too, have been married some time Your brother, on the contrary, has been ht”
”Well?”
”He is now finding fault with Madaham still?”
”No, another”
”Who?”
”Guiche”
”Really? Madame is a coquette, then?”
”I fear so”
”My poor brother,” said the king, laughing
”You don't object to coquettes, it seems?”
”In Madame, certainly I do; but Madame is not a coquette at heart”
”That ry about it”
”What does he want?”
”He wants to drown Guiche”
”That is a violent h; he is extremely irritated Think of what can be done”
”To save Guiche-certainly”
”Of, if your brother heard you, he would conspire against you as your uncle did against your father”
”No; Philip has too reat a regard for hiood terms But what is the substance of his request?”
”That you will prevent Mada amiable”
”Is that all? My brother has an exalted idea of sovereign power To refor a woman!”
”Hoill you set about it?”
”With a word to Guiche, who is a clever felloill undertake to convince him”
”But Madah I will compose a homily and read it to her”