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tly repensed； either for his address or for his sensibility； whichever it might be termed。
〃You were right； sir；〃 said Anne。 〃I misunderstood you。 There are the acts signed； I deliver them to you without pulsion。 Go and bring me back the cardinal as soon as possible。〃
〃Madame；〃 faltered D'Artagnan； 〃'tis twenty years ago I have a good memory since I had the honor behind a piece of tapestry in the Hotel de Ville； of kissing one of those lovely hands。〃
〃There is the other；〃 replied the queen； 〃and that the left hand should not be less liberal than the right；〃 she drew from her finger a diamond similar to the one formerly given to him； 〃take and keep this ring in remembrance of me。
〃Madame；〃 said D'Artagnan； rising； 〃I have only one thing more to wish； which is； that the next thing you ask from me； shall be my life。〃
And with this conclusion a way peculiar to himself he rose and left the room。
〃I never rightly understood those men；〃 said the queen； as she watched him retiring from her presence； 〃and it is now too late； for in a year the king will be of age。〃
In twenty…four hours D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Mazarin to the queen； and the one received his mission； the other his patent of nobility。
On the same day the Treaty of Paris was signed； and it was everywhere announced that the cardinal had shut himself up for three days in order to draw it up with the greatest care。
Here is what each of the parties concerned gained by that treaty：
Monsieur de Conti received Damvilliers； and having made his proofs as general； he succeeded in remaining a soldier； instead of being made cardinal。 Moreover； something had been said of a marriage with Mazarin's niece。 The idea was weled by the prince； to whom it was of little importance whom he married； so long as he married some one。
The Duc de Beaufort made his entrance at court； receiving ample reparation for the wrongs he had suffered； and all the honor due to his rank。 Full pardon was accorded to those who had aided in his escape。 He received also the office of admiral； which had been held by his father； the Duc de Vendome and an indemnity for his houses and castles； demolished by the Parliament of Bretagne。
The Duc de Bouillon received domains of a value equal to that of his principality of Sedan； and the title of prince； granted to him and to those belonging to his house。
The Duc de Longueville gained the government of Pont…de…l'Arche； five hundred thousand francs for his wife and the honor of seeing her son held at the baptismal font by the young king and Henrietta of England。
Aramis stipulated that Bazin should officiate at that ceremony and that Planchet should furnish the christening sugar plums。
The Duc d'Elbeuf obtained payment of certain sums due to his wife； one hundred thousand francs for his eldest son and twenty…five thousand for each of the three others。
The coadjutor alone obtained nothing。 They promised； indeed； to negotiate with the pope for a cardinal's hat for him； but he knew how little reliance should be placed on such promises； made by the queen and Mazarin。 Quite contrary to the lot of Monsieur de Conti； unable to be cardinal； he was obliged to remain a soldier。
And therefore； when all Paris was rejoicing in the expected return of the king； appointed for the next day； Gondy alone； in the midst of the general happiness； was dissatisfied； he sent for the two men whom he was wont to summon when in especially bad humor。 Those two men were the Count de Rochefort and the mendicant of Saint Eustache。 They came with their usual promptness； and the coadjutor spent with them a part of the night。
In which it is shown that it is sometimes more difficult for Kings to return to the Capitals of their Kingdoms； than to make an Exit
Whilst D'Artagnan and Porthos were engaged in conducting the cardinal to Saint Germain； Athos and Aramis returned to Paris。
Each had his own particular visit to make。
Aramis rushed to the Hotel de Ville； where Madame de Longueville was sojourning。 The duchess loudly lamented the announcement of peace。 War had made her a queen； peace brought her abdication。 She declared that she would never assent to the treaty and that she wished eternal war。
But when Aramis had presented that peace to her in a true light that is to say； with all its advantages； when he had pointed out to her； in exchange for the precarious and contested royalty of Paris； the viceroyalty of Font…de…l'Arche； in other words； of all Normandy； when he had rung in her ears the five hundred thousand francs promised by the cardinal； when he had dazzled her eyes with the honor bestowed on her by the king in holding her child at the baptismal font； Madame de Longueville contended no longer； except as is the custom with pretty women to contend； and defended herself only to surrender at last。
Aramis made a presence of believing in the reality of her opposition and was unwilling to deprive himself in his own view of the credit of her conversion。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃you have wished to conquer the prince your brother that is to say； the greatest captain of the age； and when women of genius wish anything they always succeed in attaining it。 You have succeeded； the prince is beaten； since he can no longer fight。 Now attach him to our party。 Withdraw him gently from the queen； whom he does not like； from Mazarin； whom he despises。 The Fronde is a edy； of which the first act only is played。 Let us wait for a denouement for the day when the prince； thanks to you； shall have turned against the court。〃
Madame de Longueville was persuaded。 This Frondist duchess trusted so confidently to the power of her fine eyes； that she could not doubt their influence even over Monsieur de Conde； and the chronicles of the time aver that her confidence was justified。
Athos； on quitting Aramis； went to Madame de Chevreuse。 Here was another frondeuse to persuade； and she was even less open to conviction than her younger rival。 There had been no stipulation in her favor。 Monsieur de Chevreuse had not been appointed governor of a province； and if the queen should consent to be godmother it co