"Very well.

I will right myself!" "What do you call righting yourself ?" inquired Anne of Austria, in alarm.
"I will have the Duke of Buckingham quit the princess, I will have him quit France, and I will see that my wishes are intimated to him." "You will intimate nothing of the kind, Philip," said the queen, "for if you act in that manner, and violate hospitality to that extent, I will invoke the severity of the king against you." "Do you threaten me, madame ?" exclaimed Philip, almost in tears; "do you threaten me in the midst of my complaints ?" "I do not threaten you; I do but place an obstacle in the path of your hasty anger.

I maintain, that, to adopt towards the Duke of Buckingham, or any other Englishman, any rigorous measure--to take even a discourteous step towards him, would be to plunge France and England into the most disastrous disagreement.

Can it be possible that a prince of the blood, the brother of the king of France, does not know how to hide an injury, even did it exist in reality, where political necessity requires it ?" Philip made a movement.

"Besides," continued the queen, "the injury is neither true nor possible, and it is merely a matter of silly jealousy." "Madame, I know what I know." "Whatever you may know, I can only advise you to be patient." "I am not patient by disposition, madame." The queen rose, full of severity, and with an icy ceremonious manner.
"Explain what you really require, monsieur," she said.
"I do not require anything, madame; I simply express what I desire.
If the Duke of Buckingham does not, of his own accord, discontinue his visits to my apartments I shall forbid him entrance." "That is a point you will refer to the king," said Anne of Austria, her heart swelling as she spoke, and her voice trembling with emotion.
"But, madame," exclaimed Philip, striking his hands together, "act as my mother and not as the queen, since I speak to you as a son; it is simply a matter of a few minutes' conversation between the duke and myself." "It is that very conversation I forbid," said the queen, resuming her authority, "because it is unworthy of you." "Be it so; I will not appear in the matter, but I shall intimate my will to Madame." "Oh!" said the queen-mother, with a melancholy arising from reflection, "never tyrannize over a wife--never behave too haughtily or imperiously towards your own.