“Her majesty would fain hear from your own lips, monsieur le baron, the statement that you have made to me.”

The queen sat down and listened intently while Hector repeated the story.

“There can be no doubt about it, cardinal; this keeping of a number of armed men within call for days, the summons to them to gather in the Rue St. Honore, while he himself with others took up his post at the convent of the Capuchins hard by, the moment his spies had discovered that you had left for Maisons, could but have been for one purpose.  But they shall learn that although a woman, Anne of Austria, Queen of France, is not to be deprived of her minister and faithful friend without striking back in return.  Monsieur de Villar, you have rendered me a great service.  Is there any boon that you would ask of me? it is granted beforehand.”

“I thank your majesty most humbly,” Hector said.  “Already I have received honours far beyond anything I deserve.  I had the honour when thanking your majesty, to hope some day to be able to give proof that they were not unworthily bestowed, and still hope to do so.”

“You have already shown yourself worthy,” the queen said, “by the manner in which you have in so short a time rendered the regiment to which we appointed you so efficient.  However, if there is at present no boon that we can bestow, then remember that the Queen of France holds herself your debtor, and that you have my royal word that any boon that you may hereafter ask for, that is in my power to grant, will be given you.  Take this as a pledge of my promise.”  And she took off a gold chain exquisitely worked, and gave it him.  He received it kneeling.  “Now, sir, we will keep you here no longer.  I have much to say to his excellency.  I trust that you will present yourself at the levee this evening.”

“One thing more, colonel,” Mazarin added; “I doubt not that some of Beaufort’s people will endeavour to find out how it was that you came to be behind my carriage.  If they do so you might carelessly mention that you and your officers had ridden out in a party at St. Germain, and that on your way back you chanced to fall in with my carriage.”

At the barracks Hector called the officers together.  “Gentlemen,” he said, “I have no doubt that your little ride today has somewhat puzzled you.  I am not at liberty to tell you the reason why I requested you to ride with me; but it is very probable that you may be asked the question, and I beg you all to remember that we have been on a little party of pleasure to St. Germain, and having dined there were on our way back when we overtook the carriage of the cardinal; and seeing that he had the Duke of Orleans with him, we reined back and followed him, deeming that it would not appear respectful were we to gallop past the carriage.  Please bear this story in mind.  Recall also that we dined at the Lion d’Or there, that our dinner was a good