Part 28 (2/2)
The Marquise de Thianges, whose ideas regarding such matters were precisely the sa that I had not told her a word about it She spoke the truth; for the enterprise was not of such difficulty that I needed any one to help me
On the twelfth day, as ere about to leave Fontevrault, I received another letter fro, which was as follows:
As the pain in your knee continues, and the Bourbonne waters have been reco in their vicinity, and to go and try their effect Madeood health, yet it looks as if a return of her fluxion were likely Five or six pimples have appeared on her face, and there is the same redness of the arms as last year I shall send her to Bourbonne; your overness will accompany her The Prince de Conde, who is in office there, will show you every attention I would rather see you a little later on in good health, than a little sooner, and ailing
My kindest es, the Abbess, and all those who show you regard and syht invite you to stay with her; on her return I will not forget such obligation
LOUIS
We left Fontevrault after a stay of fifteen days; to the nuns and novices it seemed more like fifteenyears Yet that did not prevent her fro tears in her eyes when the time came for us to take coach and depart
BOOK 5
CHAPTER I
The Prince de Mont-Beliard--He Agrees to the Propositions Made Hiland--Letter from the Marquis de Montespan--The Duchy in the Air--The Do to the Prince de Bouillon, Promised to the Marquise
There was but a sin with, at any rate; for afterwards there appeared to be many arrivals, to see me, probably, and Mademoiselle de Nantes
The Chancellor Hyde was already installed there, and his establishreeable and convenient; he was kind enough to exchange it for mine A few days afterwards he informed , as anxious to pay his respects to hter In effect, this royal prince caed for such a short lapse of years
We had seen each other--as, I believe, I have already told--at the ti's first journey in Flanders He recalled all the circuh to tell , my beauty had increased
”It is you, Prince, who erow like a dilapidated house; I am only here to repair myself”
Less than a year before, M de Mont-Billiard had lost that amiable princess, his wife; he had a lively sense of this loss, and never spoke of it without tears in his eyes
”You know, madame,” he told me, ”my states are, at present, not entirely adhout by the officers of the King of France Those persons who have ht at my fears, seem persuaded that this provisional occupation will shortly beco how much discretion is required of you; but I confess that I should pass quieter and hts if you could reassure me up to a certain point”
”Prince,” I replied to hi is never harsh except with those of who, and certain other of the Rhine princes, have been thick-witted enough to be disloyal to hireat princes after him will do But you have never shown him either coldness, or aversion, or indifference He has co to enter your territory to prevent the Prince of Orange fro there before us, and your authority has been put, not under the do of France, who is desirous of being able to pass froes, Madame de Nevers, and myself did all that lay in our power to distract or relieve the sorrows of the Prince; but the loss of Made spouse, was much more present with him than that of his states; the bitterness which he drew from it was out of the retch of all consolation possible The Marquise de Thianges procured the Chancellor of England to approach the Prince, and find out from hie the County of Mont-Beliard for sonificent estates in France, to which so asked for a few days in which to reflect, and iestions emanated froreatest of kings My sister wrote on the day following to the Marquis de Louvois, instead of asking it of the King in person M de Luvois, who, probably, wished to despoil M de Mont-Beliard without undoing his purse-strings, put this overture before the Kingletter:
Leave M de Mont-Beliard alone, and do not speak to hiain of his estates If the ed, it would be of the utmost propriety that a principality of such inty The case of the Principality of Orange is a good enough lesson to me; there must be one ruler only in an eret for all that You shall be a duchess, and I aive you this title which you desire Let M de Montespan be informed that his e, and that I will add to it the nuniories that is proper, as I do not wish to deviate froe which has become a law, etc
The prince's decision was definite, and as his character was, there was no wavering I wrote to hiratitude, and we considered, the Marquise and I, as to the intermediary to e could entrust the unsavoury co the Marquis de Montespan He hated allobtained no satisfaction froe of ih to accept this mission; he saw no reason to refuse it, and, after ten or eleven days, he received the following reply, hich he was moderately amused:
CHATEAU SAINT ELIXAT THE WORLD'S END