"The Duke of Buckingham ?" she murmured.
"Yes; one of those arm-chair soldiers--" "The Buckinghams are loyal and brave," said Anne of Austria, courageously.
"This is too bad; my own mother takes the part of my wife's lover against me," exclaimed Philip, incensed to such an extent that his weak organization was affected almost to tears.
"Philip, my son," exclaimed Anne of Austria, "such an expression is unworthy of you.

Your wife has no lover; and, had she one, it would not be the Duke of Buckingham.

The members of that family, I repeat, are loyal and discreet, and the rights of hospitality are sure to be respected by them." "The Duke of Buckingham is an Englishman, madame," said Philip, "and may I ask if the English so very religiously respect what belongs to princes of France ?" Anne blushed a second time, and turned aside under the pretext of taking her pen from her desk again, but in reality to conceal her confusion from her son.

"Really, Philip," she said, "you seem to discover expressions for the purpose of embarrassing me, and your anger blinds you while it alarms me; reflect a little." "There is no need for reflection, madame.

I can see with my own eyes." "Well, and what do you see ?" "That Buckingham never quits my wife.