Page:The Man in the Iron Mask.djvu/448

Rh 434 THE MAN IN THE IKON MASK, that calm time when the king used to watch the eyes of his mother for the avowal or disavowal of what he had just done. Of mistresses there was no question at this dinner. The king addressed Aramis two or three times, calling him M. I'Ambassadeur, which increased the surprise already felt by D'Artagnan at seeing his friend the rebel so marvelously well received at court. The king, on rising from table, gave his hand to the queen, and made a sign to Colbert, whose eye watched that of his master. Colbert took D'Artagnan and Aramis on one side. The king began to chat with his sister, while Monsieur, very uneasy, entertained the queen with a preoc- cupied air, without ceasing to watch his wife and brother from the corner of his eye. The conversation between Aramis, D'Artagnan and Colbert turned upon indifferent subjects. They spoke of preceding ministers; Colbert re- lated the feats of Mazarin, and required those of Richelieu to be related to him. D'Artagnan could not overcome his surprise at finding this man, with heavy eyebrows and a low forehead, contain so much sound knowledge and cheerful spirits. Aramis was astonished at that lightness of character which permitted a serious man to retard with advantage the moment for a more important conversation, to which no- body made any allusion, although all three interlocutors felt the imminence of it. It was very plain from the embar- rassed appearance of Monsieur, how much the conversation of the king and madame annoyed him. The eyes of ma- dame were almost red; was she going to complain? Was she going to commit a little scandal in open court? The king took her on one side, and in a tone so tender that it must have reminded the princess of the time when she was loved for herself: '^Sister,'' said he, *%hy do I see tears in those beautiful eyes?'' "Monsieur is jealous, is he not, sister?'* She looked toward Monsieur, an infallible sign that they "were talking about him. mise you, it is not Monsieur's fault." He spoke these words with so much kindness that ma- dame, encouraged, she who had had so many griefs for so long a time, was near bursting, so full was her heart.
 * Why — sire — " said she.
 * Yes," said she.
 * 'Listen to me," said the king,* "if your friends compro-