CHAPTER XI

The body of a man who has been assassinated opposite Marie d’Entragues’s house mistaken for that of Bassompierre--Bassompierre wins a wager of a thousand crowns from the King--Marriage of the Prince de Condé and Mlle. de Montmorency--Henri IV informs Bassompierre of his intention to send him on a secret mission to Henri II, Duke of Lorraine, to propose an alliance between that prince’s elder daughter and the Dauphin--Departure of Bassompierre--He arrives at Nancy and challenges a gentleman to a duel, but the affair is arranged--His first audience of Duke Henri II--Irresolution of that prince, who desires to postpone his answer until he has consulted his advisers--Negotiations of Bassompierre with the Margrave of Baden-Durlach--He returns to Nancy--Continued hesitation of the Duke of Lorraine--Memoir of Bassompierre: his prediction of the advantages which Lorraine would derive from being incorporated with France abundantly justified by time--The Duke gives a qualified acceptance of Henri IV’s propositions--Difficulty which Bassompierre experiences in inducing him to commit his reply to writing.....pp. 119-131