by Alexandre Dumas

“ The letter bore the signature, not of "Charles, King," but of "Charles - still king."
"And let him be no longer king," cried the queen. "Let him be conquered, exiled, proscribed, provided he still lives. Alas! in these days the throne is too dangerous a place for me to wish him to retain it. But my lord, tell me," she continued, "hide nothing from me - what is, in truth, the king's position? Is it as hopeless as he thinks?"
"Alas! madame, more hopeless than he thinks. His majesty has so good a heart that he cannot understand hatred; is so loyal that he does not suspect treason! ”

“ The young people felt a mutual esteem; but the queen, who at first sanctioned their affection, changed her mind, and Monsieur, the Duc d'Orleans, who had encouraged the familiarity between them, has forbidden his daughter to think any more about the union. Oh, my lord!" continued the queen, without restraining her tears, "it is better to fight as the king has done, and to die, as perhaps he will, than live in beggary like me." ”

“ He is at Bergen, in Norway."
"Heaven preserve him!" said the queen. "It is at least a consolation to know that some who have so often risked their lives for us are safe. And now, my lord, that I see how hopeless the position of the king is, tell me with what you are charged on the part of my royal husband."
"Well, then, madame," said De Winter, "the king wishes you to try and discover the dispositions of the king and queen toward him."
"Alas! you know that even now the king is but a child and the queen a woman weak enough. Here, Monsieur Mazarin is everything." ”