Page:Secret History of the French Court under Richelieu and Mazarin.djvu/171

Rh but that notwithstanding she deemed it proper that she should quietly retire to Dampierre, and after a brief stay there, should withdraw to Touraine." Madame de Chevreuse was really forced to go to Dampierre, but instead of remaining tranquil there, she moved heaven and earth to save those who were compromised in her behalf. She received Alexandre de Campion at her house, and furnished him with money and every thing necessary to conceal him safely from the pursuit of the cardinal. Fearless for herself and accustomed to dangers, she troubled herself chiefly concerning the fate of her friends, and knowing that several of them were at Anet, she continually communicated with them. She even commenced to knot new intrigues, and found means of forwarding a letter to the queen. Message upon message was addressed to her to hasten her departure. Both Montagu and La Porte were sent to her. She received them haughtily, and delayed under various pretexts. We have seen that on going to meet her, on her return from Brussels, Montagu had offered, in behalf of the queen and of Mazarin, to pay the debts which she had contracted during so many years of exile; she had already received large sums for this purpose, and she would not depart until after the queen had performed all her promises. She