Mazarin rose.  Athos replaced his dispatch in its bag, bowed gravely, and made several steps towards the door.  This coolness exasperated Mazarin.  “What strange diplomatic proceedings are these!” cried he.  “Have we returned to the times when Cromwell sent us bullies in the guise of charges d’affaires? You want nothing, monsieur, but the steel cap on your head, and a Bible at your girdle.”

“Monsieur,” said Athos, dryly, “I have never had, as you have, the advantage of treating with Cromwell; and I have only seen his charges d’affaires sword in hand; I am therefore ignorant of how he treated with prime ministers.  As for the king of England, Charles II., I know that when he writes to his majesty King Louis XIV., he does not write to his eminence the Cardinal Mazarin.  I see no diplomacy in that distinction.”

“Ah!” cried Mazarin, raising his attenuated hand, and striking his head, “I remember now!” Athos looked at him in astonishment.  “Yes, that is it!” said the cardinal, continuing to look at his interlocutor; “yes, that is certainly it.  I know you now, monsieur.  Ah! diavolo! I am no longer astonished.”

“In fact, I was astonished that, with your eminence’s excellent memory,” replied Athos, smiling, “you had not recognized me before.”

“Always refractory and grumbling — monsieur — monsieur — What do they call you?  Stop — a name of a river — Potamos; no — the name of an island — Naxos; no, per Giove! — the name of a mountain — Athos! now I have it.  Delighted to see you again, and to be no longer at Rueil, where you and your damned companions made me pay ransom.  Fronde! still Fronde! accursed Fronde!  Oh, what grudges!  Why, monsieur, have your antipathies survived mine?  If any one has cause to complain, I think it could not be you, who got out of the affair not only in a sound skin, but with the cordon of the Holy Ghost around your neck.”

“My lord cardinal,” replied Athos, “permit me not to enter into considerations of that kind.  I have a mission to fulfill.  Will you facilitate the means of my fulfilling that mission, or will you not?”

“I am astonished,” said Mazarin, — quite delighted at having recovered his memory, and bristling with malice, — “I am astonished, Monsieur — Athos — that a Frondeur like you should have accepted a mission for the Perfidious Mazarin, as used to be said in the good old times — " And Mazarin began to laugh, in spite of a painful cough, which cut short his sentences, converting them into sobs.

“I have only accepted the mission near the king of France, monsieur le cardinal,” retorted the comte, though with less asperity, for he thought he had sufficiently the advantage to show himself moderate.

“And yet, Monsieur le Frondeur,” said Mazarin, gayly, “the affair which you have taken in charge must, from the king — "

“With which I have been given in charge, monseigneur.  I do not run after affairs.”