CHAPTER V

1613

State of France at the commencement of 1613--Characteristics of the Baron de Luz--His imprudence--He is challenged by the Chevalier de Guise, and killed--The Regent summons a council--The nobles assemble at the Hôtel de Guise--The Duke is forbidden to enter the Louvre, and ordered to disperse his friends--M. de la Rochefoucauld refuses to leave the Hôtel de Guise--He is exiled from the Court--Moderation of the Duc de Guise--Inflexibility of Marie de Medicis--Her anger against the Chancellor--She holds a secret council--The Prince de Condé is directed to demand the seals from M. de Sillery, and to command him to retire from the capital--Marie determines to arrest the Duc d'Epernon--Her designs are thwarted by Concini--The Marquis d'Ancre introduces the son of M. de Luz to the Regent--Marie promises him her protection-- Bassompierre endeavours to effect the recall of the Duc de Guise, and succeeds--His reception by the Regent--Arrogance of the Duchesse de Guise--The Prince de Condé forms an alliance with M. de Guise-- Influence of the Prince--He demands the captaincy of the Château Trompette--Over-zealous friends--Alarm of the Queen--She resolves to conciliate the Guises--The Marquis d'Ancre and his wife incur the displeasure of the Queen-Marie purchases the loyalty of the Duc de Guise--Dignified bearing of the Duc d'Epernon--A reconciliation--"Put not your faith in princes"--Exultation of the ministers--A private audience--Eavesdroppers--Mortification of the Prince de Condé--Concini endeavours to conciliate the Queen--He is repulsed--The young Baron de Luz challenges the Chevalier de Guise--Wounds his adversary, and is killed--Royal solicitude--Death of the Chevalier de Guise--Banquet at the Hôtel de Condé--Affront to Bassompierre--Concini retires to Amiens--The Duc de Vendôme joins the faction of the Prince de Condé--A new intrigue--Suspicions of the Regent--Midnight visitors--The Prince de Condé and the Duc de Vendôme leave the Court--The Regent refuses to sanction the departure of M. de Guise--The Queen and her favourite--The ministers pledge themselves to serve Concini--Peril of Bassompierre--He determines to leave France--Is dissuaded from his purpose by the Regent--Troubles in Mantua--Negotiation with the Duke of Savoy--James I. offers the hand of Prince Charles of England to the Princesse Christine--Satisfaction of Marie de Medicis--The Pope takes alarm--The Regent and the Papal Nuncio--Death of the Maréchal de Fervaques--Concini is made Maréchal de France--Ladies of Honour--The Queen and her foster-sister--The Princesse de Conti--A well-timed visit--The new Maréchal--A sensation at Court.