"Never!" "Sire, I entreat you to do so." "Besides, in what manner can I make advances first ?" "By doing a thing which you know will be agreeable to her." "What is that ?" "Give a ball; you know how much the queen loves dancing.

I will answer for it, her resentment will not hold out against such an attention." "Monsieur Cardinal, you know that I do not like worldly pleasures." "The queen will only be the more grateful to you, as she knows your antipathy for that amusement; besides, it will be an opportunity for her to wear those beautiful diamonds which you gave her recently on her birthday and with which she has since had no occasion to adorn herself." "We shall see, Monsieur Cardinal, we shall see," said the king, who, in his joy at finding the queen guilty of a crime which he cared little about, and innocent of a fault of which he had great dread, was ready to make up all differences with her, "we shall see, but upon my honor, you are too indulgent toward her." "Sire," said the cardinal, "leave severity to your ministers.

Clemency is a royal virtue; employ it, and you will find that you derive advantage therein." Thereupon the cardinal, hearing the clock strike eleven, bowed low, asking permission of the king to retire, and supplicating him to come to a good understanding with the queen.
Anne of Austria, who, in consequence of the seizure of her letter, expected reproaches, was much astonished the next day to see the king make some attempts at reconciliation with her.

Her first movement was repellent.

Her womanly pride and her queenly dignity had both been so cruelly offended that she could not come round at the first advance; but, overpersuaded by the advice of her women, she at last had the appearance of beginning to forget.