"Entire confidence, sir," was the reply.
"Then let your majesty send away M. de Comminges, and order him to shut himself up with his men in the guard-room and stables. The people wish to see the king, and the people must see him."
"See him! But how? On the balcony?"
"No, madam; here, in his bed, sleeping."
The queen reflected a moment, and smiled. There as a degree of duplicity in the course proposed that chimed in with her humour.
"Let it be as you will," said she.
"Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan; "go and announce to the people, that in five minutes they shall see the king in his bed. Say also that his majesty is sleeping, and that the queen requests them to be silent, in order not to awaken him."
"But they cannot all come," said Anne. "A deputation of two or four persons."
"All of them, madam."
"But it will last till to-morrow morning."