Anne of Austria was about to reply, when Mazarin stopped her.
“The truth, madame,” said he — ”in the name of Heaven, the truth! Do not flatter a dying man with a hope that may prove vain.” There he stopped, a look from Colbert telling him he was on the wrong track.
“I know,” said Anne of Austria, taking the cardinal’s hand, “I know that you have generously made, not a little donation, as you modestly call it, but a magnificent gift. I know how painful it would be to you if the king — ”
Mazarin listened, dying as he was, as ten living men could not have listened.
“If the king — ” replied he.
“If the king,”