The king, half dressed, the queen and Laporte remained each in the same state and almost in the same place, where they were listening and waiting. Comminges, who was on guard that night at the Palais Royal, ran in. He had about two hundred men in the courtyards and stables, and he placed them at the queen’s disposal. “Well,” asked Anne of Austria, when D’Artagnan reappeared, “what does it mean?” “It means, madame, that the report has spread that the queen has left the Palais Royal, carrying off the king, and the people ask to have proof to the contrary, or threaten to demolish the Palais Royal.” “Oh, this time it is too much!” exclaimed the queen, “and I will prove to them I have not left.” D’Artagnan saw from the expression of the queen’s face that she was about to issue some violent command. He approached her and said in a low voice: “Has your majesty still confidence in me?” This voice startled her. “Yes, sir,” she replied, “every confidence; speak.” “Will the queen deign to follow my advice?” “Speak.” “Let your majesty dismiss M. de Comminges and desire him to shut himself up with his men in the guardhouse and in the stables.” Comminges glanced at D’Artagnan with the envious look with which every courtier sees a new favorite spring up. “You hear, Comminges?” said the queen. D’Artagnan went up to him; with his usual quickness he caught the anxious glance. “Monsieur de Comminges,” he said, “pardon me; we both are servants of the queen, are we not? It is my turn to be of use to her; do not envy me this happiness.” Comminges bowed and left. “Come,” said D’Artagnan to himself, “I have got one more enemy.” “And now,” said the queen, addressing D’Artagnan, “what is to be done? for you hear that, instead of becoming calmer, the noise increases.” “Madame,” said D’Artagnan, “the people want to see the king and they must see him.” “What! _must_ see him! Where—on the balcony?” “Not at all, madame, but here, sleeping in his bed.” “Oh, your majesty,” exclaimed Laporte, “Monsieur d’Artagnan is right.” The queen became thoughtful and smiled, like a woman to whom duplicity is no stranger. “Without doubt,” she murmured. “Monsieur Laporte,” said D’Artagnan, “go and announce to the people through the grating that they are going to be satisfied and that in five minutes they shall not only see the king, but they shall see him in bed; add that the king sleeps and that the queen begs that they will keep silence, so as not to awaken him.” “But not every one; a deputation of two or four people.” “Every one, madame.” “But reflect, they will keep us here till daybreak.” “It shall take but a quarter of an hour, I answer for everything, madame; believe me, I know the people; they are like a great child, who only wants humoring. Before the sleeping king they will be mute, gentle and timid as lambs.” “Go, Laporte,” said the queen. The young king approached his mother and said, “Why do as these people ask?”