Cauvignac evidently guessed that a compliment was intended, for he bowed a second time. "What is your price, monsieur?" she asked. "Oh! _mon Dieu,_ madame!--five hundred livres for each doorkeeper; those are the wages I pay my men." "You shall have them." "And for myself?" "Ah! you must have something for yourself also?" "I should be proud to hold a commission by virtue of your Majesty's munificence." "What rank do you demand?" "I should love to be governor of Braune. I have always longed to be a governor." "Granted." "In that case, save for a trifling formality, the bargain is concluded." "What is that formality?" "Will your Majesty deign to sign this bit of paper, which I prepared in advance, hoping that my services would be acceptable to my magnanimous sovereign?" "What is the paper?" "Read it, madame." With a graceful movement of his arm, and bending his knee with the utmost deference, Cauvignac presented a paper to the queen, who read as follows:-- "'On the day that I enter Vayres, without striking a blow, I will pay to Captain Cauvignac the sum of seventy-five thousand livres, and will make him governor of Braune.' "And so," the queen continued, restraining her indignation, "Captain Cauvignac has not sufficient confidence in our royal word, but demands a written promise!" "In matters of importance, madame, a written promise seems to me most desirable," rejoined Cauvignac, with a bow. '_Verba volant,_' says an old proverb; 'words fly away,' and, saving your Majesty's presence, I have been robbed."[1] "Insolent knave!" exclaimed the queen, "begone!" "I go," said Cauvignac, "but you will not have Vayres." Again the captain turned upon his heel and walked toward the door; and Anne of Austria, whose irritation was far deeper than before, did not recall him. Cauvignac left the room. "See to it that that man is secured," said the queen. Guitaut started to execute the order. [Footnote 1: There is a play upon words here which cannot be reproduced in a translation,--the same French word, _voler,_ meaning to fly, and to steal or rob.] "Pardon, madame," said Mazarin, "but I think that your Majesty is wrong to yield to an angry impulse." "Why so?" "But I fear that we may need this man later, and that, if your Majesty molests him in any way, you will then have to pay double for his services." "Very well," said the queen, "we will pay him what we must; but meanwhile let him be kept in sight." "Oh! that's another matter, and I am the first to approve that precaution." "Guitaut, see what becomes of him," said the queen. Guitaut went out, and returned half an hour later. "Well! what has become of him?" the queen demanded. "Your Majesty may be perfectly easy in your mind, for your man shows not the least inclination to leave the neighborhood. I made inquiries, and found that he is domiciled at the inn of one Biscarros, within three hundred yards of this house." "And has he gone thither?"