"I came, madame, intending to complain energetically, and to inform you that I will not submit to such behavior from the Duke of Buckingham.""What do you intend to do, then?"
"I shall complain to the king."
"And what do you expect the king to reply?""Very well, then," said Monsieur, with an expression of stern determination on his countenance, which offered a singular contrast to its usual gentleness."Very well.Iwill right myself!"
"What do you call righting yourself?" inquired Anne of Austria, in alarm.
"I will have the Duke of Buckingham quit the princess, Iwill have him quit France, and I will see that my wishes are intimated to him.""You will intimate nothing of the kind, Philip," said the queen, "for if you act in that manner, and violate hospitality to that extent, I will invoke the severity of the king against you.""Do you threaten me, madame?" exclaimed Philip, almost in tears; "do you threaten me in the midst of my complaints!""I do not threaten you; I do but place an obstacle in the path of your hasty anger.I maintain that, to adopt towards the Duke of Buckingham, or any other Englishman, any rigorous measure -- to take even a discourteous step towards him, would be to plunge France and England into the most disastrous disagreement.Can it be possible that a prince of the blood, the brother of the king of France, does not know how to hide an injury, even did it exist in reality, where political necessity requires it?" Philip made a movement.
"Besides," continued the queen, "the injury is neither true nor possible, and it is merely a matter of silly jealousy.""Madame, I know what I know."
"Whatever you may know, I can only advise you to be patient.""I am not patient by disposition, madame."The queen rose, full of severity, and with an icy ceremonious manner."Explain what you really require, monsieur," she said.
"I do not require anything, madame; I simply express what Idesire.If the Duke of Buckingham does not, of his own accord, discontinue his visits to my apartments I shall forbid him entrance.""That is a point you will refer to the king," said Anne of Austria, her heart swelling as she spoke, and her voice trembling with emotion.
"But, madame," exclaimed Philip, striking his hands together, "act as my mother and not as the queen, since Ispeak to you as a son; it is simply a matter of a few minutes' conversation between the duke and myself.""It is that very conversation I forbid," said the queen, resuming her authority, "because it is unworthy of you.""Be it so; I will not appear in the matter, but I shall intimate my will to Madame.""Oh!" said the queen-mother, with a melancholy arising from reflection, "never tyrannize over a wife -- never behave too haughtily or imperiously towards your own.A woman unwillingly convinced is unconvinced.""What is to be done, then? -- I will consult my friends about it.""Yes, your double-dealing advisers, your Chevalier de Lorraine -- your De Wardes.Intrust the conduct of this affair to me.You wish the Duke of Buckingham to leave, do you not?""As soon as possible, madame."
"Send the duke to me, then; smile upon your wife, behave to her, to the king, to every one, as usual.But follow no advice but mine.Alas! I too well know what any household comes to that is troubled by advisers.""You shall be obeyed, madame."
"And you will be satisfied at the result.Send the duke to me.""That will not be difficult."
"Where do you suppose him to be?"
"At my wife's door, whose levee he is probably awaiting.""Very well." said Anne of Austria, calmly."Be good enough to tell the duke that I shall be charmed if he will pay me a visit."Philip kissed his mother's hand, and started off to find the Duke of Buckingham.
