The king took advantage of this favorable moment to tell her that her had the intention of shortly giving a fete.
A fete was so rare a thing for poor Anne of Austria that at this announcement, as the cardinal had predicted, the last trace of her resentment disappeared, if not from her heart at least from her countenance.

She asked upon what day this fete would take place, but the king replied that he must consult the cardinal upon that head.
Indeed, every day the king asked the cardinal when this fete should take place; and every day the cardinal, under some pretext, deferred fixing it.

Ten days passed away thus.
On the eighth day after the scene we have described, the cardinal received a letter with the London stamp which only contained these lines: "I have them; but I am unable to leave London for want of money.
Send me five hundred pistoles, and four or five days after I have received them I shall be in Paris." On the same day the cardinal received this letter the king put his customary question to him.
Richelieu counted on his fingers, and said to himself, "She will arrive, she says, four or five days after having received the money.

It will require four or five days for the transmission of the money, four or five days for her to return; that makes ten days.

Now, allowing for contrary winds, accidents, and a woman's weakness, there are twelve days." "Well, Monsieur Duke," said the king, "have you made your calculations ?" "Yes, sire.