I think he must have made up his mind
beforehand. But it was a great shock to have that fine young man
thus cut down the day after he had been laughing and dancing in our
gallery. Yet all people seemed to think of, when everybody went to
condole with his young widow in her bed, was that she had set herself
off to the best advantage to captivate M. de Nemours!
And then came the great thunderbolt--the tidings of the death of the
King of England! I knew it would almost kill Eustace; I thought of
my poor godmother, Queen Henrietta, and there I was among people who
did not really care in the least! It was to them merely a great
piece of news, that enabled them to say, 'Yield an inch to the
Parliament and see what it will come to.'
That kind, dignified, melancholy countenance as I last saw it was
constantly before me. The babble of the people around seemed to me
detestable. I answered at haphazard, and begged permission of
Mademoiselle to keep my room for a day, as I thought I should be
distracted if I could not get out of reach of M. de Lamont.
She gave permission, but she said it was an affectation of mine, for
how could I care for a somber old prince whom I had not seen for ten
years?
CHAPTER XIX.
INSIDE PARIS
Annora's narrative.
My sister has asked me to fill up the account of the days of the
Fronde with what I saw within the city. She must permit me to do so
in English, for I have taken care to forget my French; and if I write
perilous stuff for French folk to read she need not translate it.
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