The brow of Mazarin again became clouded, and he grumbled a few words that the king could not catch.
CHAPTER 11.
Mazarin’s Policy
Instead of the hesitation with which he had accosted the cardinal a quarter of an hour before, there might be read in the eyes of the young king that will against which a struggle might be maintained, and which might be crushed by its own impotence, but which, at least, would preserve, like a wound in the depth of the heart, the remembrance of its defeat.
“This time, my lord cardinal, we have to deal with something more easily found than a million.”
“Do you think so, sire?” said Mazarin, looking at the king with that penetrating eye which was accustomed to read to the bottom of hearts.
“Yes, I think so; and when you know the object of my request——”
“And do you think I do not know it, sire?”
“You know what remains for me to say to you?”
“Listen, sire; these are King Charles’s own words——”
“Oh, impossible!”