Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/238

226 Suddenly the Due d'Orléans entered her room. "Dear mother," he exclaimed hurriedly, closing the door, "things cannot go on as they now are."

Anne of Austria raised her beautiful eyes toward him, and with an unmoved gentleness of manner said: "What things do you allude to?"

"I wish to speak of madame."

"Your wife?"

"Yes, madame."

"I suppose that silly fellow Buckingham has been writing a farewell letter to her."

"Oh! yes, madame; of course, it is a question of Buckingham."

"Of whom else could it be, then? for that poor fellow was, wrongly enough, the object of your jealousy, and I thought "

"My wife, madame, has already replaced the Duke of Buckingham."

"Philip, what are you saying? You are speaking very heedlessly."

"No, no. Madame has so managed matters that I am still jealous."

"Of whom, in Heaven's name?"

"Is it possible you have not remarked it? Have you not noticed that Monsieur de Guiche is always in her apartments — always with her?"

The queen clapped her hands together, and began to laugh. "Philip," she said, "your jealousy is not merely a defect, it is a positive disease."

"Whether a defect or a disease, madame, I am the sufferer from it."

"And do you imagine that a complaint which exists only in your own imagination can be cured? You wish it to be said you are right in being jealous, when there is no ground whatever for your jealousy."

"Of course, you will begin to say for this one what you already said on behalf of the other."

"Because, Philip," said the queen dryly, "what you did for the other, you are going to do for this one."

The prince bowed, slightly annoyed. "If I were to give you facts," he said, "would you believe me?"

"If it regarded anything else but jealousy I would believe you without your bringing facts forward; but as jealousy is in the case, I promise nothing."

"It is just the same as if your majesty were to desire me to hold my tongue, and sent me away unheard."