All these different cabals were full of emulation and envy towards one

another; the ladies, who composed them, had their jealousies also among

themselves, either as to favour or lovers: the interests of ambition

were often blended with concerns of less importance, but which did not

affect less sensibly; so that in this Court there was a sort of tumult

without disorder, which made it very agreeable, but at the same time

very dangerous for a young lady. Madam de Chartres perceived the

danger, and was careful to guard her daughter from it; she entreated

her, not as a mother, but as her friend, to impart to her all the

gallantry she should meet withal, promising her in return to assist her

in forming her conduct right, as to things in which young people are

oftentimes embarrassed.

The Chevalier de Guise was so open and unguarded with respect to his

passion for Mademoiselle de Chartres, that nobody was ignorant of it:

nevertheless he saw nothing but impossibilities in what he desired; he

was sensible that he was not a proper match for Mademoiselle de

Chartres, by reason of the narrowness of his fortune, which was not

sufficient to support his dignity; and he was sensible besides, that

his brothers would not approve of his marrying, the marriages of

younger brothers being looked upon as what tends to the lessening great

families; the Cardinal of Loraine soon convinced him, that he was not

mistaken; he condemned his attachment to Mademoiselle de Chartres with

warmth, but did not inform him of his true reasons for so doing; the

Cardinal, it seems, had a hatred to the Viscount, which was not known

at that time, but afterwards discovered itself; he would rather have

consented to any other alliance for his brother than to that of the

Viscount; and he declared his aversion to it in so public a manner,

that Madam de Chartres was sensibly disgusted at it. She took a world

of pains to show that the Cardinal of Loraine had nothing to fear, and

that she herself had no thoughts of this marriage; the Viscount

observed the same conduct, and resented that of the Cardinal more than

Madam de Chartres did, being better apprised of the cause of it.

The Prince of Cleves had not given less public proofs of his love, than

the Chevalier de Guise had done, which made the Duke of Nevers very

uneasy; however he thought that he needed only to speak to his son, to

make him change his conduct; but he was very much surprised to find him

in a settled design of marrying Mademoiselle de Chartres, and flew out

into such excesses of passion on that subject, that the occasion of it

was soon known to the whole Court, and among others to Madam de

Chartres: she never imagined that the Duke of Nevers would not think

her daughter a very advantageous match for his son, nor was she a

little astonished to find that the houses both of Cleves and Guise

avoided her alliance, instead of courting it. Her resentment on this

account put her upon finding out a match for her daughter, which would

raise her above those that imagined themselves above her; after having

looked about, she fixed upon the Prince Dauphin, son of the Duke de

Montpensier, one of the most considerable persons then at Court. As

Madam de Chartres abounded in wit, and was assisted by the Viscount,

who was in great consideration, and as her daughter herself was a very

considerable match, she managed the matter with so much dexterity and

success, that Monsieur de Montpensier appeared to desire the marriage,

and there was no appearance of any difficulties in it.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024