The word "conspiracy," therefore, carried nothing harsh or disagreeable to the mind of Cinq Mars. What Fontrailles proposed to him, bore a plausible aspect. It appeared likely to succeed; and, if it did so, offered him that reward for which, of all others, his heart beat--Glory! But there was one point on which he paused: "You forget," said he,--"you forget that I owe all to Richelieu,--you forget that, however he may have wronged this country, he has not wronged me; and though I may wish that such a being did not exist, it is not for me to injure him." "True, most true!" replied his wily companion, who knew that the appearance of frank sincerity would win more from Cinq Mars than aught else: "if he has done as you say, be still his friend. Forget your country in your gratitude--though in the days of ancient virtue patriotism was held paramount. We must not hope for such things now--so no more of that. But if I can show that this proud Minister has never served you; if I can prove that every honour which of late has fallen upon you, far from being a bounty of the Cardinal, has proceeded solely from the favour of the King, and has been wrung from the hard Churchman as a mere concession to the Monarch's whim; if it can be made clear that the Marquis Cinq Mars would now have been a Duke and Constable of France, had not his kind friend the Cardinal whispered he was unfit for such an office:--then will you have no longer the excuse of friendship, and your Country's call must and shall be heard." "I can scarce credit your words, Fontrailles," replied Cinq Mars. "You speak boldly,--but do you speak truly?" "Most truly, on my life!" replied Fontrailles. "Think you, Cinq Mars, if I did not well know that I could prove each word I have said, that thus I would have placed my most hidden thoughts in the power of a man who avows himself the friend of Richelieu?" "Prove to me,--but prove to me, that I am not bound to him in gratitude," cried Cinq Mars vehemently,--"take from me the bonds by which he has chained my honour, and I will hurl him from his height of power, or die in the attempt." "Hush!" exclaimed Fontrailles, laying his finger on his lip as they turned into another alley, "we are no longer alone. Govern yourself, Cinq Mars, and I will prove every tittle of what I have advanced ere we be two hours older."