Chapter 2

CHAP. I.--Anne of Austria's Prime Minister and his policy 43

II.--The Duchess de Montbazon--Affair of the dropped letters--The Quarrel of the rival Duchesses 66

III.--The _Importants_ 77

IV.--Conspiracy of the Duchess de Chevreuse and the Duke de Beaufort to get rid of Mazarin 82

V.--Failure of the plot to assassinate Mazarin--Arrest of Beaufort--Banishment of Madame de Chevreuse and dispersion of the _Importants_ 99

VI.--Results of the quarrel between the Duchesses--Fatal duel between the Duke de Guise and Count Maurice de Coligny 110