"Now, Sir!" continued the Cardinal, "once more let me advise you to give me all you possess upon this subject. From a feeling of personal regard, I have had too much patience with you already." "All I can reply to your Eminence," answered the Count, not a little embarrassed, "is, that no letter whatever has been conveyed by me, knowingly, to the Governor of the Low Countries." De Blenau's eyes naturally fixed on the paper, which still lay on the table, and from which the Cardinal had by this time withdrawn his hand; and feeling that both life and honour depended upon that document, he resolved to ascertain its authenticity, of which he entertained some doubt. "Stop," said he hastily, "let me look at the superscription," and before Richelieu could reply, he had raised it from the table and turned to the address. One glance was enough to satisfy him, and he returned it to the Cardinal with a cool and meaning smile, repeating the words--"To Madame de Chevreuse." At first the Cardinal had instinctively stretched out his hand to stop De Blenau in his purpose, but he instantly recovered himself, nor did his countenance betray the least change of feeling. "Well, Sir," replied he, "you said that you would dare any one to lay before you a letter from the Queen to the person I mentioned. Did I not mention Madame de Chevreuse, and is not there the letter?" "Your Eminence has mistaken me," replied De Blenau, bowing his head, and smiling at the Minister's art; "I meant, Don Francisco de Mello. I had answered what you said in regard to Madame de Chevreuse, before." "I did mistake you then, Sir," said the Cardinal; "but it was from the ambiguity of your own words. However, passing over your boldness, in raising that letter without my permission; I will show you that I know more of your proceedings than you suspect. I will tell you the very terms of the message you sent to the Queen, after you were wounded in the wood of Mantes, conveying to her, that you had not lost the packet with which you were charged. Did not Seguin tell her, on your part, that though the wound was in your side, your heart was not injured?" "I dare say he did, my Lord," replied De Blenau, coolly; "and the event has proved that he was quite right, for your Eminence must perceive that I am quite recovered, which, of course, could not have been the case, had any vital part been hurt. But I hope, your Eminence, that there is no offence, in your eyes, either in having sent the Queen, my mistress, an account of my health, or in having escaped the attack of assassins."