Part 25 (1/2)
”You are the son of King Louis XIII, brother of Louis XIV, natural and legiti you near hier brother--the king reserved to hin The doctors only could dispute his legiti who is to the king who is not Providence has willed that you should be persecuted; this persecution to-day consecrates you king of France You had, then, a right to reign, seeing that it is disputed; you had a right to be proclai that you have been concealed; and you possess royal blood, since no one has dared to shed yours, as that of your servants has been shed Now see, then, what this Providence, which you have so often accused of having in every way thwarted you, has done for you It has given you the features, figure, age, and voice of your brother; and the very causes of your persecution are about to become those of your triumphant restoration To-al phanto shade of Louis XIV, you will sit upon his throne, whence the will of Heaven, confided in execution to the arm of man, will have hurled him, without hope of return”
”I understand,” said the prince, ”my brother's blood will not be shed, then”
”You will be sole arbiter of his fate”
”The secret of which they ainst hie of himself, you will defeat the conspiracy of Mazarin and Anne of Austria You,him, ill, as a prisoner, rese”
”I fall back on what I was saying to you Who will guard hiuarded _you?_”
”You know this secret--you have ard to myself
Who else knows it?”
”The queen-mother and Mada, if you choose”
”How is that?”
”How can they recognize you, if you act in such a nize you?”
”'Tis true; but there are grave difficulties”
”State them, prince”
”My brother is married; I cannot take my brother's wife”
”I will cause Spain to consent to a divorce; it is in the interest of your new policy; it is human morality All that is really noble and really useful in this world will find its account therein”
”The i will speak”
”To whom do you think he will speak--to the walls?”
”You mean, by walls, the men in whom you put confidence”
”If need be, yes And besides, your royal highness--”
”Besides?”
”I was going to say, that the designs of Providence do not stop on such a fair road Every scheeo, in prison, will not be for you the cause of e enthroned
His soul is naturally proud and i accustomed to honors, and by the license of supreme power The sa step in the geo to your royal highness should be your ascension to the throne, and the destruction of him who is hurtful to you, has also determined that the conquered one shall soon end both his own and your sufferings
Therefore, his soul and body have been adapted for but a brief agony