"
"You really are the most audacious of men," replied I, laughing;
"I shall be obliged to solicit a
to hold you
a prisoner in Guienne. Upon my word, your nephew and myself
have a valuable and trustworthy friend in you."
"Hark ye, madam," rejoined the marechal. "I know not, in the
first place, whether his majesty would very easily grant you
this , which most certainly I do not deserve.
You have served my nephew and neglected me; I wished to try the
strength of my poor wings, and I find, like many others, that I
must not hope to soar to any height."
While we were thus talking the marechale de Mirepoix was announced.
I was still much agitated, and she immediately turned towards the
duke, as if to inquire of him the cause of my distress: upon which,
M. de Richelieu related all that had passed with a cool exactitude
that enraged me still further. When he had finished, I said,
"Well, madame la marechale, and what is your opinion of all this?"
"Upon my word, my dear countess," answered madame de Mirepoix,
"you have ample cause for complaint, but still this poor duke is
not so culpable as you imagine him to be. He has large expenses
to provide for: and to obtain the money requisite for them he is
compelled to look to his majesty, whose favor he desires to win
by administering to his pleasures.
Pages:
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459