"Oh, there are many--many--many!" replied Richelieu, withdrawing the thin pale hand he had stretched over his face as he finished the last desponding words "too late," probably desirous of hiding the emotion produced by the conviction that his power was irretrievably gone. However, when that hand was removed, his countenance showed no traces of any remaining agitation. "There are many, Chavigni," he said: "there are Vendome, and Bouillon, and noisy Beaufort, and turbulent Gaston of Orleans, and witty Marsillac, and cool, moralizing De Thou, who has so often dared to pry into my actions and condemn them;--then there is, above all, sly Fontrailles, and Cinq Mars, whom I----" "Ha!" exclaimed Chavigni, as the Cardinal's words recalled to his mind the conversation between Cinq Mars and Fontrailles--"I had forgot--like an idiot, I had forgot!" and he struck his clenched hand violently against his brow, as if he sought to punish his own folly. "But it is not yet too late," he cried, "it is not yet too late." "Forgot what, Chavigni?" demanded the Cardinal, seeing with astonishment the emotion which was called up in his friend by the remembrance of so great an oversight. "Forgot what? Too late for what? What is it moves you so deeply?" "Pardon me, your Eminence," replied Chavigni, "I have not time to explain; only I have to ask two favours. The first is, that you will let me take a stout horse from your stables; mine will go no farther. The next," he added, in a tone of greater composure, but still one of earnest entreaty--"the next is, if you had ever a regard for me--if ever I served you well and faithfully, that you will promise me to take no step in the business we have spoken of, till my return; which shall be before to-morrow evening." "It can make but little difference waiting till that time," answered the Cardinal. "But what is the matter, Chavigni? What is it agitates you thus?" "Have I your promise, Monseigneur?" asked Chavigni quickly. "You have," said Richelieu. "Out of regard for you, and solely because you ask it, I will suspend my resolution till your return."