"Forgotten him, Cinq Mars!" cried the King. "I think he has done enough to make himself remembered." "He has indeed, Sire," replied Cinq Mars, "and his memory will long last coupled with curses in the heart of every true Frenchman. But there he lies; I trust, like the Tarasque, hideous but harmless, for the present." "What do you mean by the Tarasque?" demanded Louis; "I never heard of it." "It is merely a whimsical stone dragon, Sire," replied Cinq Mars, "that lies carved in the Church of St. Marthe, at Tarascon on the Rhone--a thing of no more real use than the Cardinal de Richelieu." "Of no use, Sir!" exclaimed the King, his eye flashing fire. "Do you think that we would repose such trust, and confide our kingdom's weal to one who is of no use? Silence, Sir!" he continued, seeing Cinq Mars about to reply: "No more of this subject--we have heard too much of it." Cinq Mars was too wise to add another word, and the King rode on to Narbonne, maintaining a sullen silence towards all around him. Of the conversation which had passed not one word had escaped the ears of Fontrailles; and the moment the _cortège_ had dismounted, he followed the Master of the Horse towards a distant part of the grounds which lay behind the Chateau. Cinq Mars walked on as if he did not see him, and at last finding that he persisted in following, he stopped abruptly, exclaiming, "Well, Fontrailles! well! what now? What would you say? I can guess it all, so spare yourself the trouble." "You mistake me, Cinq Mars," replied Fontrailles, "if you think I would blame you. You did your best, though the time was not the best chosen; but all I wish to press upon you is, not to let this dispirit you. Let the subject die away for the present and seem forgotten, till the King is in a better mood. Every hour of his neglect is death to Richelieu; and besides, the King's consent is not absolutely necessary to us." "To me, absolutely necessary," replied Cinq Mars, "for I stir not one step without it." "Nay, the King's private consent to you is of course necessary," answered Fontrailles; "but you surely do not think of informing him of the treaty with Spain. After the affair is finished, and Richelieu's power at an end, Louis will see the necessity of it; but such, you must know, is his hatred towards Spain, that he would consider the very proposal as little better than high treason." "I am not yet determined in that respect," answered Cinq Mars; "my conduct will of course be decided by how I find the King inclined. I like no concealments, where they can be avoided. But in the first place, Villa Grande must carry the treaty to----"