CHAPTER V

Bassompierre goes to Prague, where the Imperial Court is in residence--He is presented by Rossworm to the lords of the Council--He dines at the house of Prestowitz, Burgrave of Karlstein, and falls in love with his widowed daughter, “Madame Esther”--Bassompierre and Rossworm engage in an amorous adventure, from which they narrowly escape with their lives--Bassompierre plays tennis with Wallenstein, with the Emperor Maximilian an interested spectator--He is presented to the Emperor, who receives him very graciously and commissions him to raise troops in Lorraine for service against the Turks--Bassompierre, Rossworm and other nobles parade the streets masked and have an affray with the police--Singular sequel to this affair--Bassompierre spends the Carnival with the Prestowitz family at Karlstein--Amorous escapade with “Madame Esther”--Bassompierre sets out for Lorraine--He engages in a drinking-bout with the canons of Saverne which very nearly has a fatal termination--Death of his brother Jean, Seigneur de Removille, at the siege of Ostend--Grievances of Bassompierre against the French Government--Henri IV promises that “justice shall be done him” and invites him to return to his Court--Bassompierre renounces his intention of entering the Imperial service and sets out for France.....pp. 50-63