Cinq Mars -- Volume 6

t le plus gr

our vous,

ONTA

s vast opals detached from the treasury of the heavens, or glittering with whiteness, like snows from the mountains carried on the wings of the winds? Man is a slow traveller who envies those rapid journeyers; less rapid than his imagination, they have yet seen in a single day all the places he loves, in remembrance or in hope,-those that have witnessed his happiness or his misery, and those so b

hes, and leaving suspended behind them a long train of rain, like a vaporous robe. Freed by an effort from the rocky defiles that for a moment had arrested their course, they irrigate, in Bearn, the picturesque patrimony of Henri IV; i

ntua to the Queen, "do you see th

n, 'ma chere'," answered Anne of

rection of th

child; these clouds can bring no happiness to you. I would rather see

es, and their adventurous air-gave them a singular eclat to which the court had easily become accustomed. They paused for a moment, and the Prince made two salutes, while the light animal he rode passed gracefully sideways, keeping his front toward the princesses; prancing and snorting, he shook his ma

ides that beautiful horse! he

smiled,

of the head, and let but one glance from her great black almond-shaped eyes be turned o

e instantly sunk her head, reproaching herself, and resumed her sadness, which seemed gliding

thyself ill with weeping when thou shouldst be asleep, and with not eating. Thou passest the night in revery and in writing; but I warn thee, thou wilt

lcony, and feigned to be looking for some jewels at her toilet-table; she soon returned, slowly and gravely, to the window. Marie was

umed in a mor

willing to make great sacrifices, but fortunately they have not been accomplished as you expected. Innocence has saved you f

an you? Am I not unh

that he was the only person in France who, against the opinion of the Queen-mother and of the court, insisted upon war with the duchy of Mantua, which he recovered from the empire and from Spain, and returned to the Duc de Nevers, your father. Here, in this very chateau of Saint-Germain, was sig

such a deed. I swear to you th

uise. But can he prevent his assassination, if his troops make him prisoner? This we can not say, any more than he. God alone knows the future. It is, at all events, certain that it is for you he attacks him, and, to ove

, Ma

nticipated, has gone to consult the Cardinal. To consult him is to yield to him; but the treaty of Spain is signed. If it be discovered,

e! I am lost!" cried

, placing herself near Marie, at the e

be the least punishment, perpetual exile. Behold, then, the Duchesse de Nevers and Mantua, the

y duty; I am his wife!" exclaimed Marie, sobbing. "I

e good qualities of Monsieur de Cinq- Mars. He has a lofty character, a vast mind, and great courage;

, Madame-

eak your union? The phrases of your age, delicious chimeras of a moment, at which one day you will smile, happy at not having to lament them all your life. Of the many and brilliant women you see around me at court, there is not one but at your age had some beautiful dream of love, like this of yours, who did not form those ties, which they believed indissoluble, and who

ndent of men, more especially in an elevated condition. Alone, we think ourselves mistresses of our destiny; but the entrance of two or three people fastens on all our chains, by recalling our rank and our retinue. Nay; shut yourself up and abandon yourself to all the daring and extraordinary resolutions that the passions may

ned away

oquetry. It is said that the gloomiest hermits can not refrain from inquiring what men say of them. This need of public opinion is beneficial, in that it combats, almost always victoriously, that which is irregular in our imagination, and comes to the aid of duties which we too easi

s you; you have more than acquitted yourself toward him by refusing for more than two years past the royal hands offered you. And, after all, what has he done, this impassioned lover? He has elevated himself to reach you; but may not the ambition which here seems to you to have aided love have m

," answered Marie. "Whi

he Queen, with firmness, "

ame de Guemenee, and the Prince-Palatine had been awaiting her for a short time. The Queen walked up to them. Marie placed herself in the shade of a curtain in order to conceal the redness of her eyes. She

e future Queen of Poland. Who that is to be, we know not." Then turning towar

uchesse de Rohan,"

portunity to worm out secrets, and to make himself neces

os, just as we were sp

la

ng, could not hear thi

who was at

Chabot, then,

of pride. In order to develop its germ, she affected a

e de Guemene

een so haughty, after having refused the Comte de Soissons, the Duc de Weimar, and the Duc de Nemours, to marry Monsieur de

e at court! a real love af

inued opening and shutting a

id. "Let us see. Let me put it on you,

ad been made for Madame

din

y blood for it to remain on that

ine and involuntary smile, like a ray of sunshine through rain. Then,

er eyes, smiled, presented her hand for the Polish