"It is easily explained," returned the duchesse. "You know that I am living at Brussels with M. de Laicques?"
"I have heard so."
"You know that my children have ruined and stripped me of everything."
"How terrible, dear duchesse."
"Terrible indeed; this obliged me to resort to some means of obtaining a livelihood, and, particularly to avoid vegetating the remainder of my existence away, I had old hatreds to turn to account, old friendships to serve; I no longer had either credit or protectors."
"You, too, who had extended protection toward so many persons," said Aramis, softly.
"It is always the case, chevalier. Well, at the present time I am in the habit of seeing the king of Spain very frequently."
"Ah!"
"Who has just nominated a general of the Jesuits, according to the usual custom."
"Is it usual, indeed?"