"I' faith!" I exclaimed, glancing at the viands, "if I am to play that part, there will be little for those who come after me. The night's ride has given me a wolf's appetite!"
"In that case," said Marie laughing, "we will be our own tasters. Sit down, Albert, and let us begin."
For some reason best known to herself, or perhaps for no reason at all, Madame Coutance had become reconciled to the situation. I was received into favour again. We laughed and joked merrily, and resumed the journey in the best of good humour. The leathern coverings were fastened back, and I rode beside the open carriage more as an attendant cavalier than as the officer of an escort. This was far more agreeable to me, though I found it rather awkward to answer some of the questions which madame asked concerning the Cardinal.
"It is a pity the plot was discovered," she said; "in a day or two at the outside Mazarin would have been lost."
"Condé is still in prison," I remarked meaningly.
"He will soon be free. The people are rising, and Mazarin will not dare to keep him in captivity. Ah, my friend, the tables will be turned then!"
"I wish these useless squabbles were at an end," said Marie.
"Have patience, child," exclaimed her aunt, "all will come right in time," and, turning to me, she added, "how long am I expected to remain at Aunay?"
"The Cardinal mentioned a month or two."
"Good faith!" she exclaimed with a toss of her head, "the Cardinal will be over the borders before then!"