court of Rome, whether such a marriage, contracted against her will,
would be valid. Oh, if I were but twenty-five! If I had by my side
those I no longer have! If I did not despise the whole world most
profoundly, I would embroil Mazarin with the queen-mother, France with
Spain, and I would make a queen after my own fashion. But let that
pass." And the lieutenant snapped his fingers in disdain.

"This miserable Italian - this poor creature - this sordid wretch - who
has just refused the king of England a million, would not perhaps give
me a thousand pistoles for the news I would carry him. _Mordioux!_ I
am falling into second childhood - I am becoming stupid indeed! The idea
of Mazarin giving anything! ha! ha! ha!" and he laughed in a subdued
voice.

"Well, let us go to sleep - let us go to sleep; and the sooner the
better. My mind is wearied with my evening's work, and will see things
to-morrow more clearly than to-day."

And upon this recommendation, made to himself, he folded his cloak around
him, looking with contempt upon his royal neighbor. Five minutes after
this he was asleep, with his hands clenched and his lips apart, giving
escape, not to his secret, but to a sonorous sound, which rose and spread
freely beneath the majestic roof of the ante-chamber.


Chapter XIII:
Mary de Mancini.

The sun had scarcely shed its first beams on the majestic trees of the
park and the lofty turrets of the castle, when the young king, who had