CHAPTER X

Enviable position of Bassompierre at the Court of France--The Connétable de Montmorency offers him the hand of his beautiful daughter Charlotte, the greatest heiress in France--The marriage-articles are drawn up--The consent of Henri IV is obtained--The Duc de Bouillon, whom Bassompierre has offended, endeavours to persuade the King to withdraw his sanction and to marry Mlle. de Montmorency to the Prince de Condé (_Monsieur le Prince_)--Henri IV falls madly in love with the young lady--Singular conversation between the King and Bassompierre, in which his Majesty orders the latter to renounce his pretensions to Mlle. de Montmorency’s hand--Astonishment and mortification of Bassompierre, who, however, yields with a good grace--Bassompierre falls ill of chagrin and remains for two days “without sleeping, eating or drinking”--He is persuaded by his friend Praslin to return to the Louvre--Mlle. de Montmorency is betrothed to the Prince de Condé--Bassompierre falls ill of tertian fever, but rises from his sick-bed to fight a duel with a Gascon gentleman--The combatants are separated by friends of the latter--Serious illness of Bassompierre.....pp. 100-118