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m and strong； but to…day is not the proper time； to…day； flatter and caress； or you are only a mon woman。〃
（At the first words of this address D'Artagnan had seized Porthos's arm； which he pressed with gradually increasing force。 When Mazarin ceased speaking he said to Porthos in a low tone：
〃Never tell Mazarin that I understand Spanish； or I am a lost man and you are also。〃
〃All right；〃 said Porthos。）
This rough appeal； marked by the eloquence which characterized Mazarin when he spoke in Italian or Spanish and which he lost entirely in speaking French； was uttered with such impenetrable expression that Gondy； clever physiognomist as he was； had no suspicion of its being more than a simple warning to be more subdued。
The queen； on her part； thus chided； softened immediately and sat down； and in an almost weeping voice； letting her arms fall by her side； said：
〃Pardon me； sir； and attribute this violence to what I suffer。 A woman； and consequently subject to the weaknesses of my sex； I am alarmed at the idea of civil war； a queen； accustomed to be obeyed； I am excited at the first opposition。〃
〃Madame；〃 replied Gondy； bowing； 〃your majesty is mistaken in qualifying my sincere advice as opposition。 Your majesty has none but submissive and respectful subjects。 It is not the queen with whom the people are displeased； they ask for Broussel and are only too happy； if you release him to them； to live under your government。〃
Mazarin； who at the words； 〃It is not the queen with whom the people are displeased；〃 had pricked up his ears； thinking that the coadjutor was about to speak of the cries； 〃Down with Mazarin；〃 and pleased with Gondy's suppression of this fact； he said with his sweetest voice and his most gracious expression：
〃Madame； credit the coadjutor； who is one of the most able politicians we have； the first available cardinal's hat seems to belong already to his noble brow。〃
〃Ah！ how much you have need of me； cunning rogue！〃 thought Gondy。
（〃And what will he promise us？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Peste； if he is giving away hats like that； Porthos； let us look out and both demand a regiment to…morrow。 Corbleu！ let the civil war last but one year and I will have a constable's sword gilt for me。〃
〃And for me？〃 put in Porthos。
〃For you？ I will give you the baton of the Marechal de la Meilleraie； who does not seem to be much in favor just now。〃）
〃And so； sir；〃 said the queen； 〃you are seriously afraid of a public tumult。〃
〃Seriously；〃 said Gondy； astonished at not having further advanced； 〃I fear that when the torrent has broken its embankment it will cause fearful destruction。〃
〃And I；〃 said the queen； 〃think that in such a case other embankments should be raised to oppose it。 Go； I will reflect。〃
Gondy looked at Mazarin； astonished； and Mazarin approached the queen to speak to her； but at this moment a frightful tumult arose from the square of the Palais Royal。
Gondy smiled； the queen's color rose and Mazarin grew even paler。
〃What is that again？〃 he asked。
At this moment minges rushed into the room。
〃Pardon； your majesty；〃 he cried； 〃but the people have dashed the sentinels against the gates and they are now forcing the doors； what are your mands？〃
〃Listen； madame；〃 said Gondy。
The moaning of waves； the noise of thunder； the roaring of a volcano； cannot be pared with the tempest of cries heard at that moment。
〃What are my mands？〃 said the queen。
〃Yes； for time presses。〃
〃How many men have you about the Palais Royal？〃
〃Six hundred。〃
〃Place a hundred around the king and with the remainder sweep away this mob for me。〃
〃Madame；〃 cried Mazarin； 〃what are you about？〃
〃Go！〃 said the queen。
minges went out with a soldier's passive obedience。
At this moment a monstrous battering was heard。 One of the gates began to yield。
〃Oh！ madame；〃 cried Mazarin； 〃you have ruined us all the king； yourself and me。〃
At this cry from the soul of the frightened cardinal； Anne became alarmed in her turn and would have recalled minges。
〃It is too late；〃 said Mazarin； tearing his hair； 〃too late！〃
The gale had given way。 Hoarse shouts were heard from the excited mob。 D'Artagnan put his hand to his sword； motioning to Porthos to follow his example。
〃Save the queen！〃 cried Mazarin to the coadjutor。
Gondy sprang to the window and threw it open； he recognized Louvieres at the head of a troop of about three or four thousand men。
〃Not a step further；〃 he shouted； 〃the queen is signing！〃
〃What are you saying？〃 asked the queen。
〃The truth； madame；〃 said Mazarin； placing a pen and a paper before her； 〃you must；〃 then he added： 〃Sign； Anne； I implore you I mand you。〃
The queen fell into a chair； took the pen and signed。
The people； kept back by Louvieres； had not made another step forward； but the awful murmuring； which indicates an angry people； continued。
The queen had written； 〃The keeper of the prison at Saint Germain will set Councillor Broussel at liberty；〃 and she had signed it。
The coadjutor； whose eyes devoured her slightest movements； seized the paper immediately the signature had been affixed to it； returned to the window and waved it in his hand。
〃This is the order；〃 he said。
All Paris seemed to shout with joy； and then the air resounded with the cries of 〃Long live Broussel！〃 〃Long live the coadjutor！〃
〃Long live the queen！〃 cried De Gondy； but the cries which replied to his were poor and few； and perhaps he had but uttered it to make Anne of Austria sensible of her weakness。
〃And now that you have obtained what you want； go；〃 said she； 〃Monsieur de Gondy。〃
〃Whenever her majesty has need of me；〃 replied the coadjutor； bowing； 〃her majesty knows I am at her mand。〃
〃Ah； cursed priest！〃 cried Anne； when he had retired； stretching out her arm to the scarcely closed door； 〃one day I will make you drink the dregs of the atrocious gall you have poured out on me to…day。〃
Mazarin wished to approach her。 〃Leave me！〃 she exclaimed； 〃you are not a man！〃 and she went out of the room。
〃It is you who are not a w