"May it please your majesty," said the young man, kneeling and addressing the Queen," and you, monseigneur, to listen. Let whatever punishment await my presumption, I am guiltless of treason. I am too happy in the recent discovery that it was my felicity to be of trifling service to my liege lady. And your majesty is not dishonoured by my attendance, for I am noble by birth, and my ancestors have performed offices of honour to their sovereign. My name is Henri St. Maur, son of Etienne St. Maur of Dauphiny, who fell a victim to the anger of the Cardinal Richelieu, through his friendship for the Constable Montmorenci. My father, noble lady, believed Richelieu your enemy, and would have helped to relieve you from his thraldom. He died for attempting it; and his son has nothing left of his possessions but his loyalty."

"This may be well," exclaimed the Cardinal; "but why here— why track our secret council? You are, I remember now, a partisan of that dishonoured child of France, the Prince of Condé.”

St. Maur started and looked confused, not so much at the imputation of partisanship, as that the Cardinal should be aware of his slight connexion with the prince; he who had deemed himself of such insignificance, that he did not suppose his existence in Paris known except to Condé, the several officers of the household, and the miserable company at the Golden Angel. He had yet to learn, that one in Mazarin's position would make himself fully acquainted with the history of every human being who entered the portal of the Hôtel de Condé, or was any ways connected with the leaders of the faction.

The Cardinal noticed this confusion, and believed it sprung from a darker cause than what we have just explained. He doubted not but that there was yet some plot of Condé's to unravel, and perceiving the youth's timidity, deemed it the readiest course to harass him into confession.

"You spoke but now of your poverty," said Mazarin, " that was known to me before this night. Though I sleep on the northern bank of the Seine, my ear is ever present when Condé gives audience to his followers!"

The Italian paused a few seconds, as though he were endeavouring to recollect some communication or intelligence relating to the youth. He then continued as follows:

"You have, if I recollect aright, some notion of claim on the patronage of the prince. That may be. He looks for plunder soon, to satisfy the cravings of his satellites, and he may have promised you a share-but, young man "—and Mazarin in speaking these

words approached the youth, almost menacing violence, “have you not been already paid the wages of treason, and are now caught in the act of earning the price of treachery? Whence came the gold you lost in the rooms above? You look guilty, Monsieur St. Maurnay, do not answer; I have answered that question for you myself —but tell me, tell her majesty, if you have any thought of mercy, what led you to this house-what made you dog me among the masquers ?"

To speak truly, St. Maur looked as confused and abashed as though he had been really guilty of the high crimes laid to his charge. He saw that, to confess the truth, he must implicate the fair object of his love-dream-she had, indeed, invited him to the Place Royale-she had unwittingly brought him into danger, but she had preserved his life--but what he prized above all, the fair Sybil had, as he perhaps too flatteringly believed, given evidence of her preference. Honour and love forbade bringing upon her the wrath of the prelate; and he was silent and embarrassed.

For the first time, Anne appeared to exhibit an interest in his fate. Seeing the confusion of the youth, she declared to his Eminence, that she did not believe Condé would make use of such an instrument. "And it belongs not to us," continued she, rather haughtily, "to give credence to anything so vile in a son of France. Be the Prince ever so much our enemy, neither our son nor ourself can forget Lens or Rocroi, or the brave fight at Nordlingen !"

The Cardinal was here made sensible of the delicate ground he trod on-how perilous it was for one of his origin to censure a prince of the blood in the presence of the sovereign, however deserving of blame. He saw that it touched too much on the self-love of those who rule by divine right, for a subject to dare assert dishonour of the blood royal. Experience taught him readily to retrace his steps; and though inwardly sighing at this and similar checks, a penalty which even his greatness was forced to pay, he bent to the humour of the Queen, and prepared to question anew the youth.

Isoline remained a silent though deeply interested spectator of the scene; and as she reclined against the chair which the Queen had forsook since the alarm, she presented a picture which St. Maur might be excused for gazing at, despite the peril which threatened him. Her mask was thrown aside, and in the struggle to arrest the weapon of the Cardinal, her hair had escaped, falling wildly over her neck and shoulders. Scarcely twenty years of age, her features regular, though piquant and expressive, and under other aspects coquettish

and playful, strongly marked with the national characteristics, were heightened by her emotion, and she looked like a youthful prophetess or sybil of old.

The silence of St. Maur taught her it was now her turn to speak, and she confessed to the eccentric invitation which she had given at parting at the convent gate, and that she had dictated the costume, that she might be certain of knowing his disguise, and so please herself with the actions of one whom, from his air and converse, she deemed a stranger to such scenes. By this contrivance also, Isoline was enabled to give such orders to the domestics, as ensured the admission of the noviciate. How St. Maur had at length penetrated her disguise, she could not guess; but his having done so was doubtless the cause why he watched so closely monseigneur, whom he had seen talking with her.

The Queen, who had listened to this explanation with some surprise, evinced not the slightest displeasure; she appeared rather pleased, and reminded the Cardinal, that even Isoline, whom he had so often praised for her sagacity, had been fully as imprudent as herself. Then turning to St. Maur, who was still bent on one knee, she upbraided him good-humouredly for parting so lightly with a lady's gift, which she presumed he had done, commanding him to rise and relate what mystery there yet remained in his adventure.

He readily but modestly obeyed the command; and the poverty to which he confessed, and his inability even to attend the masquerade without parting with the bracelet, won him pardon in the eyes of the Queen.

But the Cardinal meanwhile, who took no part in this discourse, exhibited signs of moodiness and distrust, which St. Maur, who watched all parties by turns, could not regard without alarm. At length breaking silence, he signified very respectfully to the Queen, that it was fitting Isoline should wait on her majesty till she saw her in safety; and in the meantime, the security of the state required that he should have some further conversation with St. Maur.

Isoline seemed unwilling to depart, lingering while she adjusted the mantle and fastened the mask of the Queen, who, as it appeared to St. Maur, was to mingle with the departing guests; once or twice she seemed about to address the Cardinal, but refrained. Anne received the salutation of the youth graciously, and bidding the prelate remember that he was under her protection, withdrew with the Sybil, who on her part seemed reassured by these words, and left the chamber with her mistress.

CHAPTER VI.

Ministre avare et lache, esclave malheureux,
Qui gémis sous le poids des affairs publiques;
Victime devouée aux chagrins politiques,
Fantôme révéré sous un titre onéreux.

HAINAULT.

THE youth and Italian thus left together, there was a pause of some moments' duration, in which neither spoke. St. Maur was embarrassed at his situation, and with the conflict and disorder of his reflections; he was in the Cardinal's power, and had wit enough to know that it would be a work of great difficulty to escape from the toils, being unfortunately the depositary of more than one statesecret. Mazarin was perplexed from the very abundance of means which cunning suggested to rid himself of the youth; but to each suggestion there was some hinderance or impediment, which rendered the course injudicious or dangerous. The Bastille-removal on board a vessel bound for the New World-placing him within the reach of Algerine cruisers or dooming the youth to a more sudden exit near home-were each thought of, and inwardly discussed. But the Queen had unfortunately interposed her word, and what was done must therefore appear the result of accident; for Anne, who in matters of state of the highest importtance yielded almost implicitly to the wisdom of the Cardinal, yet in minor affairs, those affecting her own pursuits and partialities, she was as headstrong and obstinate, acting against the wishes of his Eminence in many court affairs, as she had displayed herself to the nation in so closely allying the royal dignity with this hated foreigner.

The Cardinal was never more to be feared than when displaying an extreme complacency; for his nature assimilated to that of the feline tribe. Gradually losing reserve, he catechised St. Maur on his history-his connexion with Condé-and finally proposed that he should quit so barren a field, and take service with himself--that is, with the Queen; for the Italian thought, that if he first ruined him with the prince, the youth would then be totally in his power. But this proposal was peculiarly distasteful to St. Maur. Condé had taken strong hold of his imagination, in spite of the penury in

which he suffered him to exist; and he also thought himself bound by a principle of honour, and of feudal service, not to forsake the representative of the Montmorenci family.

These objections were at first laughed to scorn by the Italian; but when he found this mode only hardened the youth, and was creating the spirit of defiance exhibited at the gaming-table, he changed the mode of attack, and represented that, according to his own feudal principle of honour, if the Queen commanded his services, he was bound to forsake the subject for the sovereign. He added, that he had evidently found favour in her eyes, and did not seem much less a favourite with the young sorceress who had been the cause of all their misfortune.

St. Maur was perplexed, was even dazzled with the prospect which the prelate had conjured up, of being united in the same service with Isoline, and he proposed to the Cardinal that he should solve the difficulty by laying the matter before the prince, and asking his permission.

This exhibition of simplicity so amused the Italian, that he could not forbear laughing outright. It was not often, however, that he was known to laugh sincerely; and on the present occasion the sudden mirth soon gave place to angrier feelings. A covetous or avaricious man, or one guided by a sense of his own interest, he knew how to deal with; but here was what appeared a born fool, emitting some sparks of fire and courage when struck hard, but totally blind to the paths of fortune, and insensible to the allurements which attracted men of the world.

At fault himself, he grew angry, and totally changed his tone, telling the youth very plainly, in terms and with gesture not to be misunderstood, that there was no medium course of safety-that he was either his friend or his enemy and that he knew too much to be trusted at large.

It is very probable, as the young man afterwards conjectured, that some portion of their discourse had been overheard by Isoline, who presented herself at this juncture before the Cardinal, announcing her majesty's safety, and that she was the bearer of the Queen's request, that Monsieur St. Maur should be left in her charge, as her prisoner, and at her risk.

The Cardinal darted an angry glance at the lady; but was evidently forced to submit, for he withdrew, reminding the youth that they should meet on the morrow, and to beware of treasonable practises for his own sake, and for her who had become his surety.