“Friends, my lord! friends!”
“Well, then, tell me at once what you want, that I may see if any arrangement be possible. Speak, Comte de la Fere!”
“My lord,” replied Athos, “for myself I have nothing to demand. For France, were I to specify my wishes, I should have too much. I beg you to excuse me and propose to the chevalier.”
And Athos, bowing, retired and remained leaning against the mantelpiece, a spectator of the scene.
“Speak, then, chevalier!” said the cardinal. “What do you want? Nothing ambiguous, if you please. Be clear, short and precise.”
“As for me,” replied Aramis, “I have in my pocket the very programme of the conditions which the deputation—of which I formed one—went yesterday to Saint Germain to impose on you. Let us consider first the ancient rights. The demands in that programme must be granted.”
“We were almost agreed on those,” replied Mazarin; “let us pass on to private and personal stipulations.”
“You suppose, then, that there are some?” said Aramis, smiling.
“I do not suppose that you will all be quite so disinterested as Monsieur de la Fere,” replied the cardinal, bowing to Athos.
“My lord, you are right, and I am glad to see that you do justice to the count at last. The count has a mind above vulgar desires and earthly passions. He is a proud soul—he is a man by himself! You are right—he is worth us all, and we avow it to you!”