D'Artagnan saw from the expression of the queen's face that she was about to issue some violent command. He approached her and said in a low voice:
"Has your majesty still confidence in me?"
This voice startled her. "Yes, sir," she replied, "every confidence; speak."
"Will the queen deign to follow my advice?"
"Speak."
"Let your majesty dismiss M. de Comminges and desire him to shut himself up with his men in the guardhouse and in the stables."
Comminges glanced at D'Artagnan with the envious look with which every courtier sees a new favorite spring up.
"You hear, Comminges?" said the queen.
D'Artagnan went up to him; with his usual quickness he caught the anxious glance.
"Monsieur de Comminges," he said, "pardon me; we both are servants of the queen, are we not? It is my turn to be of use to her; do not envy me this happiness."
Comminges bowed and left.
"Come," said D'Artagnan to himself, "I have got one more enemy."
"And now," said the queen, addressing D'Artagnan, "what is to be done? for you hear that, instead of becoming calmer, the noise increases."
"Madame," said D'Artagnan, "the people want to see the king and they must see him."
"What! must see him! Where -- on the balcony?"
"Not at all, madame, but here, sleeping in his bed."
"Oh, your majesty," exclaimed Laporte, "Monsieur d'Artagnan is right."
The queen became thoughtful and smiled, like a woman to whom duplicity is no stranger.
"Without doubt," she murmured.
"Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan, "go and announce to the people through the grating that they are going to be satisfied and that in five minutes they shall not only see the king, but they shall see him in bed; add that the king sleeps and that the queen begs that they will keep silence, so as not to awaken him."
"But not every one; a deputation of two or four people."
"Every one, madame."
"But reflect, they will keep us here till daybreak.
"It shall take but a quarter of an hour, I answer for everything, madame; believe me, I know the people; they are like a great child, who only wants humoring. Before the sleeping king they will be mute, gentle and timid as lambs."
"Go, Laporte," said the queen.
The young king approached his mother and said, "Why do as these people ask?"
"It must be so, my son," said Anne of Austria.
"But if they say, `it must be' to me, am I no longer king?"
The queen remained silent.
"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "will your majesty permit me to ask you a question?"
Louis XIV. turned around, astonished that any one should dare to address him. But the queen pressed the child's hand.
"Yes, sir." he said.
"Does your majesty remember, when playing in the park of Fontainebleau, or in the palace courts at Versailles, ever to have seen the sky grow suddenly dark and heard the sound of thunder?"
"Yes, certainly."
"Well, then, this noise of thunder, however much your majesty may have wished to continue playing, has said, `go in, sire. You must do so.'"
"Certainly, sir; but they tell me that the noise of thunder is the voice of God."
"Well then, sire," continued D'Artagnan, "listen to the noise of the people; you will perceive that it resembles that of thunder."
In truth at that moment a terrible murmur was wafted to them by the night breeze; then all at once it ceased.
"Hold, sire," said D'Artagnan, "they have just told the people that you are asleep; you see, you still are king."
The queen looked with surprise at this strange man, whose brilliant courage made him the equal of the bravest, and who was, by his fine and quick intelligence, the equal of the most astute.
Laporte entered.
"Well, Laporte?" asked the queen.
"Madame," he replied, "Monsieur d'Artagnan's prediction has been accomplished; they are calm, as if by enchantment. The doors are about to be opened and in five minutes they will be here."
"Laporte," said the queen, "suppose you put one of your sons in the king's place; we might be off during the time."
"If your majesty desires it," said Laporte, "my sons, like myself, are at the queen's service."
"Not at all," said D'Artagnan; "should one of them know his majesty and discover but a substitute, all would be lost."
"You are right, sir, always right," said Anne of Austria.
"Laporte, place the king in bed."
Laporte placed the king, dressed as he was, in the bed and then covered him as far as the shoulders with the sheet. The queen bent over him and kissed his brow.
"Pretend to sleep, Louis," said she.
"Yes," said the king, "but I do not wish to be touched by any of those men."
"Sire, I am here," said D'Artagnan, "and I give you my word, that if a single man has the audacity, his life shall pay for it."
"And now what is to be done?" asked the queen, "for I hear them."
"Monsieur Laporte, go to them and again recommend silence.
Madame, wait at the door, whilst I shall be at the head of the king's bed, ready to die for him."
Laporte went out; the queen remained standing near the hangings, whilst D'Artagnan glided behind the curtains.
Then the heavy and collected steps of a multitude of men were heard, and the queen herself raised the tapestry hangings and put her finger on her lips.
On seeing the queen, the men stopped short, respectfully.
"Enter, gentlemen, enter," said the queen.
There was then amongst that crowd a moment's hesitation, which looked like shame. They had expected resistance, they had expected to be thwarted, to have to force the gates, to overturn the guards. The gates had opened of themselves, and the king, ostensibly at least, had no other guard at his bed-head but his mother. The foremost of them stammered and attempted to fall back.
"Enter, gentlemen," said Laporte, "since the queen desires you so to do."
Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and to advance on tiptoe. This example was imitated by the rest, until the room filled silently, as if these men had been the humblest, most devoted courtiers. Far beyond the door the heads of those who were not able to enter could be seen, all craning to their utmost height to try and see.
