Page:Secret History of the French Court under Richelieu and Mazarin.djvu/137

Rh Notwithstanding, Mazarin had profited by the blunders of his adversaries. At an early period he had joyfully seen, and had artfully increased, the enmity of the houses of Condé and Vendôme. In proportion as the Vendômes declared themselves more openly against him, he grew on better terms with the Condés. He had put to himself the question: "What must be done if the Vendômes and the Condés come to a rupture, presuming that the interest of the state be not involved in the quarrel?" —a problem which he had evidently no difficulty in resolving, for the interest of the State and that of the cardinal were now united on the side of the Condés. At the same time that Madame de Montbazon and Beaufort offered this insult to Madame de Longueville, news came to Paris that the conqueror of Rocroy had just terminated the difficult siege of Thionville, and opened to France one of the gates of Germany. The sword of the young duke seemed everywhere to carry victory with it. The Marquis de Gèvres, who promised so fair, was slain; Gassion was grievously wounded; Turenne and Praslin were occupied in Italy; and Guébriant, closely pressed by Mercy, had just recrossed the Rhine. The Duke d'Enghien, with his boldness and his constantly increasing popularity, alone could exercise sufficient ascendency over the army to bring it back to Germany, and to dissipate the terror inspired by the memory of the defeat of Nortlingen. In the council, M. the Prince lent to Mazarin a selfish and wavering, yet essential and useful support. Madame the Princess was the best friend of the queen; she had openly declared herself in favor of the cardinal and against his rival