myself to watching what he does, and that is well enough.  Now I believe — you observe the meaning of the word I believe? — I believe, with respect to Monk, ties one to nothing — I believe that he has a strong inclination to succeed Cromwell.  Your Charles II. has already caused proposals to be made to him by ten persons; he has satisfied himself with driving these ten meddlers from his presence, without saying anything to them but, ‘Begone, or I will have you hung.’  That man is a sepulcher!  At this moment Monk is affecting devotion to the Rump Parliament; of this devotion, I am not the dupe.  Monk has no wish to be assassinated, — an assassination would stop him in the middle of his operations; and his work must be accomplished; — so I believe — but do not believe what I believe, sire:  for as I say I believe from habit — I believe that Monk is keeping on friendly terms with the parliament till the day comes for dispersing it.  You are asked for swords, but they are to fight against Monk.  God preserve you from fighting against Monk, sire; for Monk would beat us, and I should never console myself after being beaten by Monk.  I should say to myself, Monk has foreseen that victory ten years.  For God’s sake, sire, out of friendship for you, if not out of consideration for himself, let Charles II. keep quiet.  Your majesty will give him a little income here; give him one of your chateaux.  Yes, yes — wait awhile.  But I forget the treaty — that famous treaty of which we were just now speaking.  Your majesty has not even the right to give him a chateau.”

“How is that?”

“Yes, yes; your majesty is bound not to grant hospitality to King Charles, and to compel him to leave France even.  It was on this account we forced him to quit you, and yet here he is again.  Sire, I hope you will give your brother to understand that he cannot remain with us; that it is impossible he should be allowed to compromise us; or I myself — "

“Enough, my lord,” said Louis XIV., rising.  “In refusing me a million, perhaps you may be right; your millions are your own.  In refusing me two hundred gentlemen, you are still further in the right; for you are prime minister, and you have, in the eyes of France, the responsibility of peace and war.  But that you should pretend to prevent me, who am king, from extending my hospitality to the grandson of Henry IV., to my cousin-german, to the companion of my childhood — there your power stops, and there begins my will.”

“Sire,” said Mazarin, delighted at being let off so cheaply, and who had, besides, only fought so earnestly to arrive at that, — “sire, I shall always bend before the will of my king.  Let my king, then, keep near him, or in one of his chateaux, the king of England; let Mazarin know it, but let not the minister know it.”

“Good-night, my lord,” said Louis XIV., “I go away in despair.”

“But convinced, and that is all I desire, sire,” replied Mazarin.