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Rh but I will venture on laying before Monsieur the bearings of his present position. Our difficulty is to avoid being blamed as a faction, willing to draw out the civil war to all eternity, or stigmatised as traitors, ready to betray their party for their own advantage. We have to advise you between peace and war; but with yourself the choice must rest. If peace, you must submit at once to the Queen, and allow the unconditional return of the court, involving that of Mazarin—with all Paris at his mercy. He, however, will not be vindictive; punishment suits neither with his temper nor his interest. But you know Anne of Austria, and may guess how her native bitterness will be excited by the violence of Servien, the harshness of Tettier, the impetuosity of Fouquet, and the foolishness of Oudedey. And all this, it will be said, the Duke of Orleans might have prevented by an effective treaty, securing an act of indemnity."

"But how am I to obtain such treaty?" asked Monsieur, in a querulous tone.

"By active and defensive measures; which brings us to the second question of war. If war there be, it must be made as if there was no such thing as peace. You must arouse the good city of Paris by a personal appeal—recall the Prince de Condé, and act together in strict unity. You