"A miserable Italian priest!"
"A grasping, covetous miser!"
"He fancies that the French people were made for the purpose of keeping his nieces like princesses!"
"Well, that is settled!" interrupted the first speaker. "Then, after hanging Mazarin, I would put the Queen in a convent—she has done the country enough mischief."
"That's a grand idea," exclaimed one of the group. "How can a woman rule a country? And, besides, Anne of Austria is only a foreigner!"
I marvelled that Mazarin continued to listen to such stuff, especially as he was risking his life, but he seemed in no hurry to depart, and, indeed, craned his neck forward quite eagerly.
"Next," continued the orator, "we shall require a new regent until the little King is able to take the reins into his own hands."
"True," interrupted one of his listeners, "and who better than the Duke of Orleans?"
"Pouf! Gaston is no use! He blows hot and cold with the same breath. He would send the Queen to a convent, and alter his mind while they were unlocking the gates. No, my friends, we need a man with a strong arm and a stout heart; a leader whom the soldiers love; a general whom the Spaniards fear; a prince of the blood who would make France great, powerful, glorious; the hero of Locroi and Lens, the finest soldier in the world, the great Condé."
The orator finished amidst an outburst of cheering, which was renewed again and again, till hundreds of people were shouting for Condé.