The maliciousness of the cardinal did not leave much for theambassador to say; nevertheless, the word "restoration" hadstruck the king, who, addressing the comte, upon whom hiseyes had been fixed since his entrance, - "Monsieur," saidhe, "will you have the kindness to give us some detailsconcerning the affairs of England. You come from thatcountry, you are a Frenchman, and the orders which I seeglittering upon your person announce you to be a man ofmerit as well as a man of quality."

"Monsieur," said the cardinal, turning towards thequeen-mother, "is an ancient servant of your majesty's,Monsieur le Comte de la Fere."

Anne of Austria was as oblivious as a queen whose life hadbeen mingled with fine and stormy days. She looked atMazarin, whose evil smile promised her somethingdisagreeable; then she solicited from Athos, by anotherlook, an explanation.

"Monsieur," continued the cardinal, "was a Trevillemusketeer, in the service of the late king. Monsieur is wellacquainted with England, whither he has made several voyagesat various periods; he is a subject of the highest merit.

These words made allusion to all the memories which Anne ofAustria trembled to evoke. England, that was her hatred ofRichelieu and her love for Buckingham; a Treville musketeer,that was the whole Odyssey of the triumphs which had madethe heart of the young woman throb, and of the dangers whichhad been so near overturning the throne of the young queen.These words had much power, for they rendered mute andattentive all the royal personages, who, with very varioussentiments, set about recomposing at the same time themysteries which the young had not seen, and which the oldhad believed to be forever effaced.

"Speak, monsieur," said Louis XIV., the first to escape fromtroubles, suspicions, and remembrances.

"Yes, speak," added Mazarin, to whom the little maliciousthrust directed against Anne of Austria had restored energyand gayety.

"Sire," said the comte, "a sort of miracle has changed thewhole destiny of Charles II. That which men, till that time,had been unable to do, God resolved to accomplish."

Mazarin coughed while tossing about in his bed.

"King Charles II.," continued Athos, "left the Hague neitheras a fugitive nor a conqueror, but as an absolute king, who,after a distant voyage from his kingdom, returns amidstuniversal benedictions."

"A great miracle, indeed," said Mazarin; "for, if the newswas true, King Charles II., who has just returned amidstbenedictions, went away amidst musket-shots."

The king remained impassible. Philip, younger and morefrivolous, could not repress a smile, which flatteredMazarin as an applause of his pleasantry.

"It is plain," said the king, "there is a miracle; but God,who does so much for kings, monsieur le comte, neverthelessemploys the hand of man to bring about the triumph of Hisdesigns. To what men does Charles II. principally owe hisre-establishment?"

"Why," interrupted Mazarin, without any regard for theking's pride - "does not your majesty know that it is to M.Monk?"

"I ought to know it," replied Louis XIV., resolutely; "andyet I ask my lord ambassador the causes of the change inthis General Monk?"

"And your majesty touches precisely the question," repliedAthos, "for without the miracle of which I have had thehonor to speak, General Monk would probably have remained animplacable enemy of Charles II. God willed that a strange,bold, and ingenious idea should enter into the mind of acertain man, whilst a devoted and courageous idea tookpossession of the mind of another man. The combinations ofthese two ideas brought about such a change in the positionof M. Monk, that, from an inveterate enemy, he became afriend to the deposed king."

"These are exactly the details I asked for," said the king."Who and what are the two men of whom you speak?"

"Two Frenchmen, sire."

"Indeed! I am glad of that."

"And the two ideas," said Mazarin; - "I am more curiousabout ideas than about men, for my part."

"Yes," murmured the king.

"The second idea, the devoted, reasonable idea - the leastimportant, sir - was to go and dig up a million in gold,buried by King Charles I. at Newcastle, and to purchase withthat gold the adherence of Monk."

"Oh, oh!" said Mazarin, reanimated by the word million. "ButNewcastle was at the time occupied by Monk."

"Yes, monsieur le cardinal, and that is why I venture tocall the idea courageous as well as devoted. It wasnecessary, if Monk refused the offers of the negotiator, toreinstate King Charles II. in possession of this million,which was to be torn, as it were, from the loyalty and notthe royalism of General Monk. This was effected in spite ofmany difficulties: the general proved to be loyal, andallowed the money to be taken away."

"It seems to me," said the timid, thoughtful king, "thatCharles II. could not have known of this million whilst hewas in Paris."

"It seems to me," rejoined the cardinal, maliciously, "thathis majesty the king of Great Britain knew perfectly well ofthis million, but that he preferred having two millions tohaving one."

"Sire," said Athos, firmly, "the king of England, whilst inFrance, was so poor that he had not even money to take thepost; so destitute of hope that he frequently thought ofdying. He was so entirely ignorant of the existence of themillion at Newcastle, that but for a gentleman - one ofyour majesty's subjects - the moral depositary of themillion, who revealed the secret to King Charles II., thatprince would still be vegetating in the most cruelforgetfulness."

"Let us pass on to the strange, bold and ingenious idea,"interrupted Mazarin, whose sagacity foresaw a check. "Whatwas that idea?"

"This - M. Monk formed the only obstacle to there-establishment of the fallen king. A Frenchman imaginedthe idea of suppressing this obstacle."

"Oh! oh! but he is a scoundrel, that Frenchman," saidMazarin, "and the idea is not so ingenious as to prevent itsauthor being tied up by the neck at the Place de Greve, bydecree of the parliament."

"Your eminence is mistaken," replied Athos, dryly; "I didnot say that the Frenchman in question had resolved toassassinate M. Monk, but only to suppress him. The words ofthe French language have a value which the gentlemen ofFrance know perfectly. Besides, this is an affair of war;and when men serve kings against their enemies they are notto be condemned by a parliament - God is their judge. ThisFrench gentleman, then, formed the idea of gainingpossession of the person of Monk, and he executed his plan."

The king became animated at the recital of great actions.The king's younger brother struck the table with his hand,exclaiming, "Ah! that is fine!"

"He carried off Monk?" said the king. "Why, Monk was in hiscamp."

"And the gentleman was alone, sire."

"That is marvelous!" said Philip.

"Marvelous, indeed!" cried the king.

"Good! There are the two little lions unchained," murmuredthe cardinal. And with an air of spite, which he did notdissemble: "I am unacquainted with these details, will youguarantee their authenticity, monsieur?"

"All the more easily, my lord cardinal, from having seen theevents."

"You have?"

"Yes, monseigneur."

The king had involuntarily drawn close to the count, the Ducd'Anjou had turned sharply round, and pressed Athos on theother side.

"What next? monsieur, what next?" cried they both at thesame time.

"Sire, M. Monk, being taken by the Frenchman, was brought toKing Charles II., at the Hague. The king gave back hisfreedom to Monk, and the grateful general, in return, gaveCharles II. the throne of Great Britain, for which so manyvaliant men had fought in vain."

Philip clapped his hands with enthusiasm; Louis XIV., morereflective, turned towards the Comte de la Fere.

"Is this true," said he, "in all its details?"

"Absolutely true, sire."

"That one of my gentlemen knew the secret of the million,and kept it?"

"Yes, sire."

"The name of that gentleman?"

"It was your humble servant," said Athos, simply, andbowing.

A murmur of admiration made the heart of Athos swell withpleasure. He had reason to be proud, at least. Mazarin,himself, had raised his arms towards heaven.

"Monsieur," said the king, "I shall seek, and find means toreward you." Athos made a movement. "Oh, not for yourhonesty, to be paid for that would humiliate you, but I oweyou a reward for having participated in the restoration ofmy brother, King Charles II."

"Certainly," said Mazarin.

"It is the triumph of a good cause which fills the wholehouse of France with joy," said Anne of Austria.

"I continue," said Louis XIV. "Is it also true that a singleman penetrated to Monk, in his camp, and carried him off?"

"That man had ten auxiliaries, taken from a very inferiorrank."

"And nothing but them?"

"Nothing more."

"And he is named?"

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, formerly lieutenant of the musketeersof your majesty."

Anne of Austria colored; Mazarin became yellow with shame;Louis XIV. was deeply thoughtful, and a drop of moisturefell from his pale brow. "What men!" murmured he. And,involuntarily, he darted a glance at the minister whichwould have terrified him, if Mazarin, at the moment, had notconcealed his head under his pillow.

"Monsieur," said the young Duc d'Anjou, placing his hand,delicate and white as that of a woman, upon the arm ofAthos, "tell that brave man, I beg you, that Monsieur,brother of the king, will to-morrow drink his health beforefive hundred of the best gentlemen of France." And, onfinishing these words, the young man, perceiving that hisenthusiasm had deranged one of his ruffles, set to work toput it to rights with the greatest care imaginable.

"Let us resume business, sire," interrupted Mazarin whonever was enthusiastic, and who wore no ruffles.

"Yes, monsieur," replied Louis XIV. "Pursue yourcommunication, monsieur le comte," added he, turning towardsAthos.

Athos immediately began and offered in due form the hand ofthe Princess Henrietta Stuart to the young prince, theking's brother. The conference lasted an hour; after whichthe doors of the chamber were thrown open to the courtiers,who resumed their places as if nothing had been kept fromthem in the occupations of that evening. Athos then foundhimself again with Raoul, and the father and son were ableto clasp each other's hands.