She was nevertheless constantly in view of the Court;

she frequented the Courts of the two Queens, and of Madame: all the

people of gallantry saw her both there and at her brother-in-law the

Duke of Never's, whose house was open to the whole world; but she had

an air which inspired so great respect, and had in it something so

distant from gallantry, that the Mareschal de St. Andre, a bold man and

supported by the King's favour, became her lover without daring to let

her know it any otherwise than by his cares and assiduities. A great

many others were in the same condition: and Madam de Chartres had added

to her daughter's discretion so exact a conduct with regard to

everything of decorum, that everybody was satisfied she was not to be

come at. The Duchess of Loraine, while she was employed in negotiating the

peace, had applied herself to settle the marriage of the Duke her son:

a marriage was agreed upon between him and Madam Claude of France, the

King's second daughter; and the month of February was appointed for the

nuptials. In the meantime the Duke of Nemours continued at Brussels, his thoughts

being wholly employed on his design in England; he was continually

sending or receiving couriers from thence; his hopes increased every

day, and at last Lignerolly sent him word that it was time to finish by

his presence what was so well begun; he received this news with all the

joy a young ambitious man is capable of, who sees himself advanced to a

throne merely by the force of his personal merit; his mind insensibly

accustomed itself to the grandeur of a Royal State; and whereas he had

at first rejected this undertaking as an impracticable thing, the

difficulties of it were now worn out of his imagination, and he no

longer saw anything to obstruct his way.

He sent away in haste to Paris to give the necessary orders for

providing a magnificent equipage, that he might make his appearance in

England with a splendour suitable to the design he was to conduct; and

soon after he followed himself, to assist at the marriage of the Duke

of Loraine. He arrived the evening before the espousals, and that very evening

waited on the King to give him an account of his affair, and to receive

his orders and advice how to govern himself in it. Afterwards he waited

on the Queens; but the Princess of Cleves was not there, so that she

did not see him, nor so much as know of his arrival. She had heard

everybody speak of this celebrated Prince, as of the handsomest and

most agreeable man at Court; and the Queen-Dauphin had described him in

such a manner, and spoke of him to her so often, that she had raised in

her a curiosity and even impatience to see him.




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