Whilst Mazarin was endeavoring to recover from the seriousalarm he had just experienced, Athos and Raoul wereexchanging a few words in a corner of the apartment. "Well,here you are at Paris, then, Raoul?" said the comte.

"Yes, monsieur, since the return of M. le Prince."

"I cannot converse freely with you here, because we areobserved; but I shall return home presently, and shallexpect you as soon as your duty permits."

Raoul bowed, and, at that moment, M. le Prince came up tothem. The prince had that clear and keen look whichdistinguishes birds of prey of the noble species; hisphysiognomy itself presented several distinct traits of thisresemblance. It is known that in the Prince de Conde, theaquiline nose rose out sharply and incisively from a browslightly retreating, rather low than high, and according tothe railers of the court, - a pitiless race even forgenius, - constituted rather an eagle's beak than a humannose, in the heir of the illustrious princes of the house ofConde. This penetrating look, this imperious expression ofthe whole countenance generally disturbed those to whom theprince spoke, more than either majesty or regular beautycould have done in the conqueror of Rocroy. Besides this,the fire mounted so suddenly to his projecting eyes, thatwith the prince every sort of animation resembled passion.Now, on account of his rank, everybody at the courtrespected M. le Prince, and many even, seeing only the man,carried their respect as far as terror.

Louis de Conde then advanced towards the Comte de la Fereand Raoul, with the marked intention of being saluted by theone, and of speaking to the other. No man bowed with morereserved grace than the Comte de la Fere. He disdained toput into a salutation all the shades which a courtierordinarily borrows from the same color - the desire toplease. Athos knew his own personal value, and bowed to theprince like a man, correcting by something sympathetic andundefinable that which might have appeared offensive to thepride of the highest rank in the inflexibility of hisattitude. The prince was about to speak to Raoul. Athosforestalled him. "If M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne," said he,"were not one of the humble servants of your royal highness,I would beg him to pronounce my name before you - monprince."

"I have the honor to address Monsieur le Comte de la Fere,"said Conde instantly.

"My protector," added Raoul, blushing.

"One of the most honorable men in the kingdom," continuedthe prince; "one of the first gentlemen of France, and ofwhom I have heard so much that I have frequently desired tonumber him among my friends."

"An honour of which I should be unworthy," replied Athos,"but for the respect and admiration I entertain for yourroyal highness."

"Monsieur de Bragelonne," said the prince, "is a goodofficer, and it is plainly seen that he has been to a goodschool. Ah, monsieur le comte, in your time, generals hadsoldiers!"

"That is true, my lord, but nowadays soldiers havegenerals."

This compliment, which savored so little of flattery, gave athrill of joy to the man whom already Europe considered ahero; and who might be thought to be satiated with praise.

"I regret very much," continued the prince, "that you shouldhave retired from the service, monsieur le comte, for it ismore than probable that the king will soon have a war withHolland or England, and opportunities for distinguishinghimself would not be wanting for a man who, like you, knowsGreat Britain as well as you do France."

"I believe I may say, monseigneur, that I have acted wiselyin retiring from the service," said Athos, smiling. "Franceand Great Britain will henceforward live like two sisters,if I can trust my presentiments."

"Your presentiments?"

"Stop, monseigneur, listen to what is being said yonder, atthe table of my lord the cardinal."

"Where they are playing?"

"Yes, my lord."

The cardinal had just raised himself on one elbow, and madea sign to the king's brother, who went to him.

"My lord," said the cardinal, "pick up, if you please, allthose gold crowns." And he pointed to the enormous pile ofyellow and glittering pieces which the Comte de Guiche hadraised by degrees before him by a surprising run of luck atplay.

"For me?" cried the Duc d'Anjou.

"Those fifty thousand crowns; yes, monseigneur, they areyours."

"Do you give them to me?"

"I have been playing on your account, monseigneur," repliedthe cardinal, getting weaker and weaker, as if this effortof giving money had exhausted all his physical and moralfaculties.

"Oh, good heavens!" exclaimed Philip, wild with joy, "what afortunate day!" And he himself, making a rake of hisfingers, drew a part of the sum into his pockets, which hefilled, and still full a third remained on the table.

"Chevalier," said Philip to his favorite, the Chevalier deLorraine, "come hither, chevalier." The favorite quicklyobeyed. "Pocket the rest," said the young prince.

This singular scene was considered by the persons presentonly as a touching kind of family fete. The cardinal assumedthe airs of a father with the sons of France, and the twoyoung princes had grown up under his wing. No one thenimputed to pride, or even impertinence, as would be donenowadays, this liberality on the part of the first minister.The courtiers were satisfied with envying the prince. - Theking turned away his head.

"I never had so much money before," said the young prince,joyously, as he crossed the chamber with his favorite to goto his carriage. "No, never! What a weight these crownsare!"

"But why has monsieur le cardinal given all this money atonce?" asked M. le Prince of the Comte de la Fere. "He mustbe very ill, the dear cardinal!"

"Yes, my lord, very ill; without doubt; he looks very ill,as your royal highness may perceive."

"But surely he will die of it. A hundred and fifty thousandcrowns! Oh, it is incredible! But, comte tell me a reasonfor it?"

"Patience, monseigneur, I beg of you. Here comes M. le Ducd'Anjou, talking with the Chevalier de Lorraine; I shouldnot be surprised if they spared us the trouble of beingindiscreet. Listen to them."

In fact the chevalier said to the prince in a low voice, "Mylord, it is not natural for M. Mazarin to give you so muchmoney. Take care! you will let some of the pieces fall, mylord. What design has the cardinal upon you to make him sogenerous?"

"As I said," whispered Athos in the prince's ear; "that,perhaps, is the best reply to your question."

"Tell me, my lord," repeated the chevalier impatiently, ashe was calculating, by weighing them in his pocket, thequota of the sum which had fallen to his share by rebound.

"My dear chevalier, a wedding present."

"How a wedding present?"

"Eh! yes, I am going to be married," replied the Ducd'Anjou, without perceiving, at the moment, he was passingthe prince and Athos, who both bowed respectfully.

The chevalier darted at the young duke a glance so strange,and so malicious, that the Comte de la Fere quite started onbeholding it.

"You! you to be married!" repeated he; "oh! that'simpossible. You would not commit such a folly!"

"Bah! I don't do it myself; I am made to do it," replied theDuc d'Anjou. "But come, quick! let us get rid of our money."Thereupon he disappeared with his companion, laughing andtalking, whilst all heads were bowed on his passage.

"Then," whispered the prince to Athos, "that is the secret."

"It was not I that told you so, my lord."

"He is to marry the sister of Charles II.?"

"I believe so."

The prince reflected for a moment, and his eye shot forthone of its not unfrequent flashes. "Humph!" said he slowly,as if speaking to himself; "our swords are once more to behung on the wall - for a long time!" and he sighed.

All that sigh contained of ambition silently stifled, ofextinguished illusions and disappointed hopes, Athos alonedivined, for he alone had heard that sigh. Immediatelyafter, the prince took leave and the king left theapartment. Athos, by a sign made to Bragelonne, renewed thedesire he had expressed at the beginning of the scene. Bydegrees the chamber was deserted, and Mazarin was leftalone, a prey to suffering which he could no longerdissemble. "Bernouin! Bernouin!" cried he, in a brokenvoice.

"What does monseigneur want?"

"Guenaud - let Guenaud be sent for," said his eminence. "Ithink I'm dying."

Bernouin, in great terror, rushed into the cabinet to givethe order, and the piqueur, who hastened to fetch thephysician, passed the king's carriage in the Rue SaintHonore.