The cardinal smiled, and seeing that longer resistance might be badly interpreted by the lady, he took the place at the back which the old duke gave up to him. The prince wanted to dispute for the lesser place but the marshal was inflexible.
The countess’s team soon regained the lost time.
“May I ask your Eminence if you are fond of the chase again,” began the lady, “for this is the first time I have seen you out with the hounds.”
“I have been out before; but this time I come to Versailles to see the King on pressing business; and I went after him as he was in the woods, but thanks to my confounded driver, I shall lose the royal audience as well as an apartment in Paris.”
“The cardinal is pretty blunt—he means a love appointment,” remarked Richelieu.
“Oh, no, it is with a man—but he is not an ordinary man—he is a magician and works miracles.”
“The very one we are seeking, the duke and I,” said Jeanne Dubarry. “I am glad we have a churchman here to ask him if he believes in miracles?”
“Madam, I have seen things done by this wizard which may not be miraculous though they are almost incredible.”
“The prince has the reputation of dealing with spirits.”
“What has your Eminence seen?”