“But, like all true Englishmen, you prefer England?”
“I prefer my own native land to France,” replied the duke; “but if your majesty were to ask me which of the two cities, London or Paris, I should prefer as a residence, I should be forced to answer, Paris.”
Anne of Austria observed the ardent manner with which these words had been pronounced. “I am told my lord, you have rich possessions in your own country and that you live in a splendid and time-honored palace.”
“It was my father’s residence,” replied Buckingham, casting down his eyes.
“Those are indeed great advantages and souvenirs,” replied the queen, alluding, in spite of herself, to recollections from which it is impossible voluntarily to detach one’s self.
“In fact,” said the duke, yielding to the melancholy influence of this opening conversation, “sensitive persons live as much in the past or the future, as in the present.”
“That is very true,” said the queen, in a low tone of voice. “It follows, then, my lord,” she added, “that you, who are a man of feeling, will soon quit France in order to shut yourself up with your wealth and your relics of the past.”
Buckingham raised his head and said, “I think not, madame.”
“What do you mean?”
“On the contrary, I think of leaving England in order to take up my residence in France.”