"This gentleman is the bearer of a letter in which King Charles II., completely restored to his throne, demands an alliance between Monsieur, the brother of the king, and Mademoiselle Henrietta, grand-daughter of Henry IV.

Will you remit your letter of credit to the king, monsieur le comte ?" Athos remained for a minute stupefied.

How could the minister possibly know the contents of the letter, which had never been out of his keeping for a single instant?
Nevertheless, always master of himself, he held out the dispatch to the young king, Louis XIV., who took it with a blush.

A solemn silence reigned in the cardinal's chamber.

It was only troubled by the dull sound of the gold, which Mazarin, with his yellow, dry hand, piled up in a casket, whilst the king was reading..