“Foreigners, my sister! could we imagine that a princess of Spain would use that word?” said Gaston.

Anne of Austria rose, taking the Dauphin by the hand; and, leaning upon Marie:  “Yes, sir,” she said, “I am a Spaniard; but I am the grand-daughter of Charles V, and I know that a queen’s country is where her throne is.  I leave you, gentlemen; proceed without me.  I know nothing of the matter for the future.”

She advanced some steps, but seeing Marie pale and bathed in tears, she returned.

“I will, however, solemnly promise you inviolable secrecy; but nothing more.”

All were mentally disconcerted, except the Duc de Bouillon, who, not willing to lose the advantages he had gained, said to the Queen, bowing respectfully: 

“We are grateful for this promise, Madame, and we ask no more, persuaded that after the first success you will be entirely with us.”

Not wishing to engage in a war of words, the Queen courtesied somewhat less coldly, and quitted the apartment with Marie, who cast upon Cinq-Mars one of those looks which comprehend at once all the emotions of the soul.  He seemed to read in her beautiful eyes the eternal and mournful devotion of a woman who has given herself up forever; and he felt that if he had once thought of withdrawing from his enterprise, he should now have considered himself the basest of men.

As soon as the two princesses had disappeared, “There, there!  I told you so, Bouillon, you offended the Queen,” said Monsieur; “you went too far.  You can not certainly accuse me of having been hesitating this morning.  I have, on the contrary, shown more resolution than I ought to have done.”

“I am full of joy and gratitude toward her Majesty,” said M. de Bouillon, with a triumphant air; “we are sure of the future.  What will you do now, Monsieur de Cinq-Mars?”

“I have told you, Monsieur; I draw not back, whatever the consequences.  I will see the King; I will run every risk to obtain his assent.”

“And the treaty with Spain?”

“Yes, I—­”

De Thou seized Cinq-Mars by the arm, and, advancing suddenly, said, with a solemn air: 

“We have decided that it shall be only signed after the interview with the King; for should his Majesty’s just severity toward the Cardinal dispense with it, we have thought it better not to expose ourselves to the discovery of so dangerous a treaty.”

M. de Bouillon frowned.

“If I did not know Monsieur de Thou,” said he, “I should have regarded this as a defection; but from him—­”

“Monsieur,” replied the counsellor, “I think I may engage myself, on my honor, to do all that Monsieur le Grand does; we are inseparable.”

Cinq-Mars looked at his friend, and was astonished to see upon his mild countenance the expression of sombre despair; he was so struck with it that he had not the courage to gainsay him.

“He is right, gentlemen,” he said with a cold but kindly smile; “the King will perhaps spare us much trouble.  We may do good things with him.  For the rest, Monseigneur, and you, Monsieur le Duc,” he added with immovable firmness, “fear not that I shall ever draw back.  I have burned all the bridges behind me.  I must advance; the Cardinal’s power shall fall, or my head.”