"Your Majesty may be perfectly easy in your mind, for your man shows not the least inclination to leave the neighborhood. I made inquiries, and found that he is domiciled at the inn of one Biscarros, within three hundred yards of this house."
"And has he gone thither?"
"No, madame; he had gone to the top of a hill near by, and is watching Monsieur de La Meilleraie's preparations for forcing the intrenchments. That spectacle seems to possess great interest for him."
"What of the rest of the army?"
"It is coming up, madame, and drawing up in line of battle as fast as it arrives."
"In that case the marshal proposes to attack at once?"
"In my opinion, madame, it would be much better to give the troops a night's rest before risking an attack."
"A night's rest!" cried the queen; "the royal army to be delayed a night and day by such a paltry affair as this! Impossible! Guitaut, go and order the marshal to attack the fort at once. The king proposes to lie tonight at Vayres."
"But, madame," murmured Mazarin, "it seems to me that the marshal's precaution—"
"And it seems to me," retorted Anne of Austria, "that when the royal authority has been outraged, it cannot be avenged too swiftly. Go, Guitaut, and say to Monsieur de La Meilleraie that the queen's eye is upon him."