astounded by this returning courage.

"I will tell you all," replied Anne. "Listen: there were in
truth, at that epoch, four devoted hearts, four loyal
spirits, four faithful swords, who saved more than my life
-- my honor ---- "

"Ah! you confess it!" exclaimed Mazarin.

"Is it only the guilty whose honor is at the sport of
others, sir? and cannot women be dishonored by appearances?
Yes, appearances were against me and I was about to suffer
dishonor. However, I swear I was not guilty, I swear it by
---- "

The queen looked around her for some sacred object by which
she could swear, and taking out of a cupboard hidden in the
tapestry, a small coffer of rosewood set in silver, and
laying it on the altar:

"I swear," she said, "by these sacred relics that Buckingham
was not my lover."

"What relics are those by which you swear?" asked Mazarin,
smiling. "I am incredulous."

The queen untied from around her throat a small golden key
which hung there, and presented it to the cardinal.

"Open, sir," she said, "and look for yourself."