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〃Well； what do you propose to do？〃 she； said at length； 〃e； speak。〃
〃I will go this instant and consult the queen； and we will refer the affair at once to parliament。〃
〃With which you are at war is it not so？ You will charge Broussel to report it。 Enough； sir； enough。 I understand you or rather； I am wrong。 Go to the parliament； for it was from this parliament； the enemy of monarchs； that the daughter of the great； the sublime Henry IV。； whom you so much admire； received the only relief this winter which prevented her from dying of hunger and cold！〃
And with these words Henrietta rose in majestic indignation； whilst the cardinal； raising his hands clasped toward her； exclaimed； 〃Ah； madame； madame； how little you know me； mon Dieu！〃
But Queen Henrietta； without even turning toward him who made these hypocritical pretensions； crossed the cabinet； opened the door for herself and passing through the midst of the cardinal's numerous guards； courtiers eager to pay homage； the luxurious show of a peting royalty； she went and took the hand of De Winter； who stood apart in isolation。 Poor queen； already fallen！ Though all bowed before her； as etiquette required； she had now but a single arm on which she could lean。
〃It signifies little；〃 said Mazarin； when he was alone。 〃It gave me pain and it was an ungracious part to play； but I have said nothing either to the one or to the other。 Bernouin！〃
Bernouin entered。
〃See if the young man with the black doublet and the short hair； who was with me just now； is still in the palace。〃
Bernouin went out and soon returned with minges； who was on guard。
〃Your eminence；〃 said minges； 〃as I was re…conducting the young man for whom you have asked； he approached the glass door of the gallery； and gazed intently upon some object； doubtless the picture by Raphael； which is opposite the door。 He reflected for a second and then descended the stairs。 I believe I saw him mount a gray horse and leave the palace court。 But is not your eminence going to the queen？〃
〃For what purpose？〃
〃Monsieur de Guitant； my uncle； has just told me that her majesty had received news of the army。〃
〃It is well； I will go。〃
minges had seen rightly； and Mordaunt had really acted as he had related。 In crossing the gallery parallel to the large glass gallery； he perceived De Winter； who was waiting until the queen had finished her negotiation。
At this sight the young man stopped short； not in admiration of Raphael's picture； but as if fascinated at the sight of some terrible object。 His eyes dilated and a shudder ran through his body。 One would have said that he longed to break through the wall of glass which separated him from his enemy； for if minges had seen with what an expression of hatred the eyes of this young man were fixed upon De Winter； he would not have doubted for an instant that the Englishman was his eternal foe。
But he stopped； doubtless to reflect； for instead of allowing his first impulse； which had been to go straight to Lord de Winter； to carry him away； he leisurely descended the staircase； left the palace with his head down； mounted his horse； which he reined in at the corner of the Rue Richelieu； and with his eyes fixed on the gate； waited until the queen's carriage had left the court。
He had not long to wait； for the queen scarcely remained a quarter of an hour with Mazarin； but this quarter of an hour of expectation appeared a century to him。 At last the heavy machine； which was called a chariot in those days； came out； rumbling against the gates； and De Winter； still on horseback； bent again to the door to converse with her majesty。
The horses started on a trot and took the road to the Louvre； which they entered。 Before leaving the convent of the Carmelites； Henrietta had desired her daughter to attend her at the palace； which she had inhabited for a long time and which she had only left because their poverty seemed to them more difficult to bear in gilded chambers。
Mordaunt followed the carriage； and when he had watched it drive beneath the sombre arches he went and stationed himself under a wall over which the shadow was extended； and remained motionless； amidst the moldings of Jean Goujon； like a bas…relievo； representing an equestrian statue。
How； sometimes； the Unhappy mistake Chance for Providence
〃Well； madame；〃 said De Winter； when the queen had dismissed her attendants。
〃Well； my lord； what I foresaw has e to pass。〃
〃What？ does the cardinal refuse to receive the king？ France refuse hospitality to an unfortunate prince？ Ay； but it is for the first time； madame！〃
〃I did not say France； my lord； I said the cardinal； and the cardinal is not even a Frenchman。〃
〃But did you see the queen？〃
〃It is useless；〃 replied Henrietta； 〃the queen will not say yes when the cardinal says no。 Are you not aware that this Italian directs everything； both indoors and out？ And moreover； I should not be surprised had we been forestalled by Cromwell。 He was embarrassed whilst speaking to me and yet quite firm in his determination to refuse。 Then did you not observe the agitation in the Palais Royal； the passing to and fro of busy people？ Can they have received any news； my lord？〃
〃Not from England； madame。 I made such haste that I am certain of not having been forestalled。 I set out three days ago； passing miraculously through the Puritan army； and I took post horses with my servant Tony； the horses upon which we were mounted were bought in Paris。 Besides； the king； I am certain； awaits your majesty's reply before risking anything。〃
〃You will tell him； my lord；〃 resumed the queen； despairingly； 〃that I can do nothing； that I have suffered as much as himself more than he has obliged as I am to eat the bread of exile and to ask hospitality from false friends who smile at my tears； and as regards his royal person； he must sacrifice it generously and die like a king。 I shall go and die by his side。〃
〃Madame； madame；〃 exclaimed De Winter； 〃your majesty abandons yourself to despair； and yet； perhaps； there still remains some hope。〃
〃No friends left； my lord； no other friends left