Page:Secret History of the French Court under Richelieu and Mazarin.djvu/40

26 result of the visit of Madame de Chevreuse to the cardinal. He spoke of his passion, which, he said, was so great as to have caused his illness by reason of his displeasure at Madame de Chevreuse's conduct towards him. He expatiated in a long and querulous harangue upon the actions of Madame de Chevreuse, particularly respecting M. de Châteauneuf, and concluded by saying that he could no longer entertain his present sentiments for Madame de Chevreuse if she did not express her friendship for him differently from her past manner; to which Madame de Chevreuse replied that she had always endeavored to give the cardinal reason to be satisfied with her, and that she was now more anxious to please him than ever. The cardinal pressed Madame de Chevreuse in the strongest manner to discover how M. de Châteauneuf stood with her, saying that every one believed them to be extremely intimate, which I positively denied. I will say no more to you now, but believe that I esteem you as much as I despise him, and that I shall never have any secrets from M. de Châteauneuf, nor any confidence for the cardinal.

"I sacredly confirm the promise that I made you. If I have seemed to hesitate, it was not because I had since changed my mind, but merely to see if you were firm in yours. It is true that on this occasion you ask of me that which I desire to grant in order to make you more culpable if you fail in it, and me more excusable in what I shall have done.

"Should your affection be as perfect as is the ring you have sent me, you will never have cause to blush for having made an unworthy gift to your master, nor he for having received one from you.

"I share in the regret of departing without seeing you. My hatred of the cardinal's tyranny exceeds your own, but I wish to surmount rather than complain of it, since that would be the result of courage, and this of weakness. Never have I wished to converse with you so much as at this moment. The cardinal declares that Madame de Chevreuse will soon be