352 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERB. "I don't deny it, my dear duke." "And that if he sees that his misfortune is certain, so much the worse for the author of it."
- 'I don't deny it; but what the deuce am I to do?"
Were it the king himself," cried Buckingham, '*I would not answer for him." "Oh, the king has his musketeers to take care of him," said Charles quietly; "I know that perfectly well, for I was kept dancing attendance in his antechamber at Blois. He has Monsieur d'Artagnan, and what better guardian could the king have than Monsieur d'Artagnan? I should make myself perfectly easy with twenty stonns of passion, such as Bragelonne might display, if I had four guardians like D'Artagnan." "But I entreat your majesty, who is so good and kind, to reflect a little." "Stay," said Charles II., presenting the letter to the duke, "read, and answer yourself what you would do in my place." Buckingham slowly took hold of madame's letter, and> trembling with emotion, read the following words: "For your own sake, for mine, for the honor and safety of every one, send Monsieur de Bragelonne back to France immediately. Your devoted sister, "Henriette." "Well, Villiers, what do you say?" "Eeally, sire, I have nothing to say?" replied the duke, stupefied. "Nay, would you, of all persons," said the king artfully, "advise me not to listen to my sister when she writes so urgently?" "Oh, no, no, sire; and yet " "You've not read the postscript, Villiers; it is under the fold of the letter, and escaped me at first; read it." And as the duke turned down a fold of the letter, he read: "A thousand kind remembrances to those who love me." The duke's head sank gradually on his breast; the paper trembled in his fingers, as if it had been changed to lead. The king paused for a moment, and, seeing that Buckingham did not speak:
