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Rh head of my army. I envy Turenne every victory he gains in my cause."

"It is a grave fault," answered the Cardinal, "for a King thus rashly to expose his life. Think of all the evils France has suffered from the imprudent valour of her monarch."

"Imprudent, if you please," rejoined Louis; "but this very imprudence has ranked him among our greatest heroes." And saying this, he passed on, as if unwilling to continue the conversation.

"Ay," exclaimed Mazarin, looking after him with an expression of almost affection, "He has in him stuff enough for four kings, and an honest man beside."

A landscape, with a palace in the distance, somewhat resembling that of La Franchini's, attracted Francesca; and while she was observing a scene which seemed so familiar to her, she dropped the flowers which Evelyn had given her. Before she even perceived her loss, the King had picked them up, and was about to give them to her, when he perceived the note, and also observed that the seal was yet unbroken.

"Mademoiselle has not had time to read a letter so surrounded by sweets—pray use no ceremony."