“Young man, you are violent,” answered the mysterious intruder, in a low voice.  “Two months’ imprisonment ought to have been enough to calm you.  I come to tell you things of great importance.  Listen to me!  I have thought much of you; and I do not hate you so much as you imagine.  The moments are precious.  I will tell you all in a few words:  in two hours you will be interrogated, tried, and condemned to death with your friend.  It can not be otherwise, for all will be finished the same day.”

“I know it,” answered Cinq-Mars; “and I am prepared.”

“Well, then, I can still release you from this affair.  I have reflected deeply, as I told you; and I am here to make a proposal which can but give you satisfaction.  The Cardinal has but six months to live.  Let us not be mysterious; we must speak openly.  You see where I have brought you to serve him; and you can judge by that the point to which I would conduct him to serve you.  If you wish it, we can cut short the six months of his life which still remain.  The King loves you, and will recall you with joy when he finds you still live.  You may long live, and be powerful and happy, if you will protect me, and make me cardinal.”

Astonishment deprived the young prisoner of speech.  He could not understand such language, and seemed to be unable to descend to it from his higher meditations.  All that he could say was: 

“Your benefactor, Richelieu?”

The Capuchin smiled, and, drawing nearer, continued in an undertone: 

“Policy admits of no benefits; it contains nothing but interest.  A man employed by a minister is no more bound to be grateful than a horse whose rider prefers him to others.  My pace has been convenient to him; so much the better.  Now it is my interest to throw him from the saddle.  Yes, this man loves none but himself.  I now see that he has deceived me by continually retarding my elevation; but once again, I possess the sure means for your escape in silence.  I am the master here.  I will remove the men in whom he trusts, and replace them by others whom he has condemned to die, and who are near at hand confined in the northern tower—­the Tour des Oubliettes, which overhangs the river.  His creatures will occupy their places.  I will recommend a physician—­an empyric who is devoted to me—­to the illustrious Cardinal, who has been given over by the most scientific in Paris.  If you will unite with me, he shall convey to him a universal and eternal remedy.”

“Away!” exclaimed Cinq-Mars.  “Leave me, thou infernal monk!  No, thou art like no other man!  Thou glidest with a noiseless and furtive step through the darkness; thou traversest the walls to preside at secret crimes; thou placest thyself between the hearts of lovers to separate them eternally.  Who art thou?  Thou resemblest a tormented spirit of the damned!”

“Romantic boy!” answered Joseph; “you would have possessed high attainments had it not been for your false notions.  There is perhaps neither damnation nor soul.  If the dead returned to complain of their fate, I should have a thousand around me; and I have never seen any, even in my dreams.”