perhaps the liberty, of the lady of his thoughts, as he says, I will answer for it he will look twice.”

“And yet,” said Milady, with a persistence that proved she wished to see clearly to the end of the mission with which she was about to be charged, “if he persists?”

“If he persists?” said the cardinal. “That is not probable.”

“It is possible,” said Milady.

“If he persists — ” His Eminence made a pause, and resumed: “If he persists — well, then I shall hope for one of those events which change the destinies of states.”

“If your Eminence would quote to me some one of these events in history,”