He almost thought he had succeeded in this, and, sustained by the joyous air surrounding him, he already privately congratulated himself on having been able to assume the supreme empire, and for the moment enjoyed all the power of which he fancied himself possessed.

An involuntary agitation in the depth of his heart had warned him indeed that, the hour passed, all the burden of the State would fall upon himself alone; but he talked in order to divert the troublesome thought, and, concealing from himself the doubt he had of his own inability to reign, he set his imagination to work upon the result of his enterprises, thus forcing himself to forget the tedious roads which had led to them.

Rapid phrases succeeded one another on his lips.
"We shall soon take Perpignan," he said to Fabert, who stood at some distance.
"Well, Cardinal, Lorraine is ours," he added to La Vallette.

Then, touching Mazarin's arm: "It is not so difficult to manage a State as is supposed, eh ?" The Italian, who was not so sure of the Cardinal's disgrace as most of the courtiers, answered, without compromising himself: "Ah, Sire, the late successes of your Majesty at home and abroad prove your sagacity in choosing your instruments and in directing them, and--" But the Duc de Beaufort, interrupting him with that self-confidence, that loud voice and overbearing air, which subsequently procured him the surname of Important, cried out, vehemently: "Pardieu! Sire, it needs only to will.

A nation is driven like a horse, with spur and bridle; and as we are all good horsemen, your Majesty has only to choose among us." This fine sally had not time to take effect, for two ushers cried, simultaneously, "His Eminence!" The King's face flushed involuntarily, as if he had been surprised en flagrant delit.