Page:Secret History of the French Court under Richelieu and Mazarin.djvu/128

114 its spirit of false honor, of transcendental devotion, and of extravagant courage. Mazarin, who, like Richelieu, had an admirable police, warned by it of the movements of Madame de Chevreuse, understood the danger to which he was exposed. He well knew that she had not joined herself without design to men like these. He was perfectly informed of every thing that was said and done in their cabals. "They talk only among themselves of generosity and devotion," says he, in the notes which he wrote for the queen and himself; "they repeat without ceasing that one must know how to sacrifice himself for his cause; and it is Madame de Chevreuse who sustains and strengthens them in maxims so dangerous to the State."—"Saint-Ybar (one of those who, with Montrésor and Varicarville, had proposed to Monsieur and to Count de Soissons to rid them of Richelieu) is extolled by Madame de Chevreuse as a hero."—"Visit of Campion, a devoted servant of the lady."—"Madame de Chevreuse wishes to purchase one of the isles of the Loire in order to establish Campion on it, and to go there from time to time to have a secret interview with the Spanish agent, Sarmiento."—"Madame de Chevreuse animates them all. She says that, if they do not resolve to rid themselves of me, affairs will never be any better, that the nobles will be quite as much enthralled as formerly, that my power with the queen will continually increase, and that it is necessary to hasten to bring matters to a crisis before the Duke d'Enghien returns from the army."

One could not be better informed, and the plan of Madame