TEN YEARS LATER. 117 and of compassion; you are the first person in this kingdom, not only by your rank, but the first person in the world on account of your angelic attributes. I have said nothing, madame. Have I, indeed, said anything for which you could answer me by such a cruel remark? Can I have be- trayed myself?" "You have betrayed yourself," said the queen, in a low tone of voice. "I have said nothing — I know nothing." "You forget you have spoken and thought in the presence of a woman; and besides- " "Besides," said the duke, "no one knows you are listen- ing to me." "On the contrary, it is known; you have all the defects and all the qualities of youth." "I have been betrayed or denounced, then!" "By whom?" "By those who, at Havre, had, with infernal perspicacity, read my heart like an open book." "I do not know whom you mean." "Monsieur de Bragelonne, for instance." "I know the name without being acquainted with the person to whom it belongs. Monsieur de Bragelonne has said nothing." "Who can it be, then? If any one, madame, had had the boldness to notice in me that which I do not myself wish to behold " "What would you do duke?" "There are secrets which kill those who discover them." "He, then, who has discovered your secret, madman that you are, still lives; and, what is more, you will not slay him, for he is armed on all sides; he is a husband, a jealous man — he is the second gentleman in France — he is my son, the Due d' Orleans." The duke turned pale as death. "You are very cruel, madame," he said. "You see, Buckingham," said Anne of Austria sadly, "how you pass from one extreme to another, and fight with shadows, when it would seem so easy to remain at peace with yourself." "If we fight, madame, we die on the field of battle," re- plied the young man gently, abandoning himself to the most gloomy depression. Anne ran toward him and took him by the hand. "Villiers," she said, in English, with a vehemence of
