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onsequences that would inevitably attend such measures。
The Queen； who neither feared nor foresaw dangers； made no account of his remonstrances； for she was glad in the main of the dangers which seemed to be so near at hand。 When Bertet and Brachet； who crept up to the garrets of the Palais Royal for fear of having their throats cut in the general commotion； had made her sensible that if the Prince and myself should perish in such a juncture it would occasion such a confusion that the very name of Mazarin might become fatal to the royal family； she yielded rather to her fears than to her convictions； and consented to send an order in the King's name to forbid both the Prince and me to go to the House。 The First President； who was well assured that the Prince would not obey an order of that nature； which could not be forced upon him with justice； because his presence was necessary in the Parliament； went to the Queen and made her sensible that it would be against all justice and equity to forbid the Prince to be present in an assembly where he went only to clear himself from a crime laid to his charge。 He showed her the difference between the first Prince of the blood； whose presence would be necessary in that conjuncture； and a Coadjutor of Paris； who never had a seat in the Parliament but by courtesy。
The Queen yielded at last to these reasons and to the entreaties of all the Court ladies； who dreaded the noise and confusion which was likely to occur next day in the Parliament House。
The Parliament met next day； and resolved that all the papers； both of the Queen； the Duc d'Orleans； and the Prince de Conde； should be carried to the King and Queen； that her Majesty should be humbly entreated to terminate the affair； and that the Duc d'Orleans should be desired to make overtures towards a reconciliation。
As the Prince was coming out of the Parliament House； attended by a multitude of his friends； I met him in his coach as I was at the head of a procession of thirty or forty cures of Paris； followed by a great number of people。 Upon my approach； three or four of the mob following the Prince cried out； 〃A Mazarin！〃 but the Prince alighted and silenced them。
＇M。 de La Rochefoucault； in his Memoirs； says that the people abused the Coadjutor with scurrilous language； and would have torn him in pieces if the prince had not ordered his men to appease the tumult。＇
He then fell on his knees to receive my blessing； which I gave him with my hat on； and then pulled it off in obeisance。
The Queen was so well pleased with my prudent conduct that I can truly say I was a favourite for some days。 Madame de Carignan was telling her one day that I was very homely； to which the Queen replied； 〃He has a very fine set of teeth； and a man cannot be called homely who has this ornament。〃 Madame de Chevreuse remembered that she had often heard the Queen say that the beauty of a man consisted chiefly in his teeth； because it was the only beauty which was of any use。 Therefore she advised me to act my part well； and she should not despair of success。 〃When you are with the Queen；〃 said she； 〃be serious； look continually on her hands； storm against the Cardinal； and I will take care of the rest〃 I asked two or three audiences of the Queen upon very trifling occasions； followed Madame de Chevreuse's plan very closely； and carried my resentment and passion against the Cardinal even to extravagance。 The Queen； who was naturally a coquette； understood those airs； and acquainted Madame de Chevreuse therewith； who pretended to be surprised； saying； 〃Indeed； I have heard the Coadjutor talk of your Majesty whole days with delight； but if the conversation happened to touch upon the Cardinal； he was no longer the same man； and even raved against your Majesty； but immediately relented towards you； though never towards the Cardinal。〃
Madame de Chevreuse； who was the Queen's confidante in her youth； gave me such a history of her early days as I cannot omit giving you； though I should have done it sooner。 She told me that the Queen was neither in body nor mind truly Spanish； that she had neither the temperament nor the vivacity of her nation； but only the coquetry of it； which she retained in perfection； that M。 Bellegarde； a gallant old gentleman； after the fashion of the Court of Henri III。； pleased her till he was going to the army； when he begged for one favour before his departure； which was only to put her hand to the hilt of his sword； a compliment so insipid that her Majesty was out of conceit with him ever after。 She approved the gallant manner of M。 de Montmorency much more than she loved his person。 The aversion she had to the pedantic behaviour of Cardinal de Richelieu； who in his amours was as ridiculous as he was in other things excellent； made her irreconcilable to his addresses。 She had observed from the beginning of the Regency a great inclination in the Queen for Mazarin； but that she had not been able to discover how far that inclination went； because she （Madame de Chevreuse） had been banished from the Court very soon after； and that upon her return to France； after the siege of Paris； the Queen was so reserved at first with her that it was impossible for her to dive into her secrets。 That since she regained her Majesty's favour she had sometimes observed the same airs in her with regard to Cardinal Mazarin as she used to display formerly in favour of the Duke of Buckingham； but at other times she thought that there was no more between them than a league of friendship。 The chief ground for her conjecture was the impolite and almost rude way in which the Cardinal conversed with her Majesty。 〃But； however；〃 said Madame de Chevreuse； 〃when I reflect on the Queen's humour； all this may admit of another interpretation。 Buckingham used to tell me that he had been in love with three Queens； and was obliged to curb all the three； therefore I cannot tell what to think of the matter。〃
To resume the history of more public affairs。 I did not so far please myself with the figure I made against the Prince （though I thought it very much for my honour）； but I saw clearly that I stood on a dangerous precipice。
〃Whither are we going？〃 I said to M。 Bellievre； who seemed to be overjoyed that the Prince had not been able to devour me； for whom do we labour？ I know that we are obliged to act as we do； I know； too； that we cannot do better； but should we rejoice at the fatal necessity which pushes us on to exert an action comparatively good and which will unavoidably end in a superlative evil？〃
〃I understand you；〃 said the President； 〃and will interrupt you for one moment to tell you what I learned of Cromwell〃 （whom he had known in England）。 〃He told me one day that it is then we are mounting highest when we ourselves do not know whither we are going。〃
〃You know； monsieur；〃 said I to Bellievre； 〃that I abhor Cromwell； and whatever is commonly reported of his great parts； if he is of this opinion； I must pronounce him a fool。〃
I mentioned this dialogue for no other purpose than to observe how dangerous it is to talk disrespectfully of men in high positions； for it was carried to Cromwell； who remembered it