“What besides?”
“In default of the fulfillment by me of any one of those conditions, those gentlemen enter upon their functions again. The king has been induced to sign that.”
“It is monstrous, incredible!”
“Such is the fact, however.”
“I do indeed pity you, Baisemeaux. But why, in the name of fortune, did M. Mazarin grant you this pretended favor? It would have been far better to have refused you altogether.”
“Certainly, but he was strongly persuaded to do so by my protector.”
“Who is he?”
“One of your own friends, indeed; M. d’Herblay.”
“M. d’Herblay! Aramis!”
“Just so; he has been very kind towards me.”