He could not help feeling as if he wronged those he left still in doubt as to their fate: but following the officer through an ante-room, he entered the audience closet, and immediately perceived Richelieu seated at a table, over which were strewed a multitude of papers of different dimensions, some of which he was busily engaged in examining;--reading them he was not, for his eye glanced so rapidly over their contents, that his knowledge of each could be but general. He paused for a moment as De Blenau entered, bowed his head, pointed to a seat, and resumed his employment. When he had done, he signed the papers, and gave them to a dull-looking personage, in a black silk pourpoint, who stood behind his chair. "Take these three death-warrants," said he, "to Monsieur Lafemas, and then these others to Poterie at the Bastille. But no--stop," he continued after a moment's thought; "you had better go to the Bastille first, for Poterie can put Caply to the torture, while you are gone to Lafemas; and you can bring me back his confession as you return." De Blenau shuddered at the _sang froid_ with which the Minister commanded those things that make one's blood curdle even to imagine. But the attendant was practised in such commissions; and taking the packets, as a mere matter of course, he bowed in silence, and disappearing by a door on the other side, left De Blenau alone with the Cardinal. "Well, Monsieur de Blenau," said Richelieu, looking up with a frank smile, "your pardon for having detained you. There are many things upon which I have long wished to speak to you, and this caused me to desire your company. But I have no doubt that we shall part perfectly satisfied with each other." The Cardinal paused, as if for a reply. "I hope so too, my Lord," said De Blenau. "I can, of course, have no cause to be dissatisfied with your Eminence; and for my own part, I feel my bosom to be clear." "I doubt it not, Monsieur le Comte," replied the Minister, with a gracious inclination of the head--"I doubt it not; I know your spirit to be too frank and noble to mingle in petty faction and treasonable cabal. No one more admires your brave and independent bearing than myself. You must remember that I have marked you from your youth. You have been educated, as it were, under my own eye; and were it now necessary to trust the welfare of the State to the honour of any one man, I would confide it to the honour of De Blenau." "To what, in the name of Heaven, can this lead?" thought De Blenau; but he bowed without reply, and the Cardinal proceeded. "I have, for some time past," he continued, "been thinking of placing you in one of those high stations, to which your rank and consideration entitle you to aspire. At present, none are vacant; but as a forerunner to such advancement, I propose to call you to the Council, and to give you the government of Poitou."