"She will be doing an extra foolish thing some day," I said to myself, half asleep and half awake, "and the Cardinal will clap both her and Marie into the Bastille. I must warn Raoul; he may have some influence over her."
"Over whom?" exclaimed a merry voice, and, opening my eyes, I beheld Raoul himself standing close to me.
"A good thing for you that the truce still holds," cried he gaily, "or I could easily have deprived Mazarin of a supporter."
He laughed again quite merrily, and I laughed too; the idea of Raoul raising a hand against me seemed so ridiculous.
"Sit down a minute," I said, "while I explain. The affair is not a secret," and I repeated Mazarin't remarks to him.
"You are right, Albert," he exclaimed gravely; "this is a serious matter, but unfortunately I can do nothing. Madame Coutance grows more reckless every day, and at present is using all her influence to assist De Retz. To-morrow perhaps she will join Condé's party, for any side opposed to Mazarin is good enough for her."
"Does Marie side with her aunt?"
"She cannot help herself, though she has no liking for intrigue. But come, let us take a turn in the city; it will blow the cobwebs out of our brains."
We had reached the Pont Neuf when a gaily dressed gallant, calling to Raoul, caused us to stop.
"Armand!" exclaimed my comrade in surprise. "I understood you had gone to the Louvre!"