"I know not what you call a conspiracy, Sir," answered Louis, his mind reverting to the plans of Cinq Mars, to which, as we have seen, he had given his own sanction only a few nights before, and for the discovery of which he felt as much alarm as if Richelieu possessed the power of punishing him also. "The conspiracy I speak of, Sire," rejoined the Statesman, "is formed not only to oblige your Majesty to change your Ministers, but--" "I can conceive no plan for _obliging_ me to change my Ministers," interrupted the King. "You must have mistaken, Monsieur de Chavigni; perhaps the persons whom you style conspirators, have only in view to make me dutiful petition and remonstrance, in which case I should give their arguments all due weight and consideration. Therefore, if this be the information you bring, I wish to hear no more." Long accustomed to observe every particular point of weakness in the King's mind, Chavigni at once conceived the whole train of Louis's thoughts, and judged from the very alarm which he saw in the Monarch's countenance, that if the Cardinal's power could once be re-established, it would be more unbounded than ever; and as these ideas passed through his mind, they called a transient smile upon his lip. "Why do you smile, Sir?" demanded the King, sharply. "Pardon me, Sire," answered Chavigni. "But it was, that you should think me so weak as to trouble you upon such a subject. If leaguing with the enemies you have fought and conquered, be humble petition; if bringing foreign troops to invade your dominions, be dutiful remonstrance; if promising to deliver the strong places of France into the hands of Spain, be loyalty and faith,--then have I unnecessarily disturbed your repose." Chavigni's speech worked upon the King, as he expected. "How say you!" exclaimed Louis, his eyes flashing fire. "Who has dared to conceive such a thought? Who has had the hardihood to unite himself to Spain--our sworn enemy--our mortal foe?--Prove your assertion, Sir--Prove that such a traitor exists in our dominions; and were he our own brother, we would doom him to death." Chavigni instantly caught at the idea. "Sorry I am to say, Sire," he replied, "that your Majesty has but too truly divined the person. The Duke of Orleans, unhappily, is the chief of this dangerous conspiracy. Behold, my Liege, his name to this treaty with Spain;" and artfully contriving to conceal the greater part of the names with his hand in holding it before the King, he pointed out the great sprawling "_Gaston_," which stood the first on the list of signatures. Louis instantly recognised his brother's hand-writing. "Gaston of Orleans! Gaston of Orleans!" he exclaimed, "will nothing satisfy you? Must you betray your country to her enemies, as well as plot against your brother's life with magicians and astrologers?"