“I would, however, beg Your Majesty to observe—”
“Do you, then, also join in betraying me, Monsieur Cardinal, by thus always opposing my will? Are you also in accord with Spain and England, with Madame de Chevreuse and the queen?”
“Sire,” replied the cardinal, sighing, “I believed myself secure from such a suspicion.”
“Monsieur Cardinal, you have heard me; I will have those letters.”
“There is but one way.”
“What is that?”
“That would be to charge M. de Séguier, the Keeper of the Seals, with this mission. The matter enters completely into the duties of the post.”
“Let him be sent for instantly.”
“He is most likely at my hotel. I requested him to call, and when I came to the Louvre I left orders if he came, to desire him to wait.”
“Let him be sent for instantly.”
“Your Majesty’s orders shall be executed; but—”
“But what?”
“But the queen will perhaps refuse to obey.”
“My orders?”
“Yes, if she is ignorant that these orders come from the king.”
“Well, that she may have no doubt on that head, I will go and inform her myself.”