of that the Letter was written in Givry's Name and the Master of the Horse being his particular Friend had perhaps no other intention but to discover his Love to you without exposing him to your displeasure Either thou hast no wit replys Mademoiselle de Guise or thou dost not believe as thou say'st Call to mind the Actions of Bellegard during the Treaty remember his looks and the Messages he sent me every day and those Verses of the Unknown Lover every day on my Toillette or among my Cloaths It was not Givry that wrote them therefore it was Bellegard There is not one of our Party pretends any engagements being all my Kindred or my inferiours and either cannot or dare not love me Bellegard and Givry are the sole Persons of the Kings Party have declar'd themselves engag'd the one confessing he is in Love with me the other having written me a mysterious Letter Whatever comes under the Character of Passion proceeds doubtless from one of them It is not Givry hath made the Declaration of Love to me therefore it must be Bellegard who had the dexterity to learn by anothers experience how I might be inclin'd to entertain his affection Mademoiselle de Guise as she was speaking these words came into a Walk where Madam Maugiron could not follow her without being perceived but she had heard enough and was impatient to let Givry know on the morrow the fruit of his unfaithfulness to her and fearing her Letters not of force to perswade him she pretended business at Court and arrived there as Givry was coming out of the Duke de Bellegard's Lodgings Madam de Maugiron's thoughts being all fixt on Givry she went in search of him only and easily found him He received a Billet from her to inform him of her arrival and desire the favour of seeing him presently This News troubled him he dreaded the sight of her and could have found in his heart to return strait to his Government but bethinking himself how uncivil it would appear to use a Person thus who had not given occasion for it he master'd his reluctance and went to the place where Madam de Maugiron had assign'd him Never did the appear so handsom and so fine as that Evening and Givry was astonisht that with so many Charms and so much Love it had not been in her power to retain him her Captive and thinking she was come only to reproach him Save your self the trouble of telling me the occasion of your Journey Madam says he I partly guess at it and know before-hand what your just resentment may dictate to you But Madam I am a Wretch that cannot enjoy favours of this kind nor cure my self of my Apostacy though I blame my self for it Slight me as I deserve Madam and extend not your goodness so far as to reproach me for my inconstancy but give me over as lost to my lukewarmness and indifference I could really give you over to them answered Madam de Maugiron were they my only Rivals 'T is possible my affection might carry me so far as to rejoice at your happiness though attended with my misfortunes and I might pardon you for being in Love with Mademoiselle de Guise did she vouchsafe to answer it on her part but I cannot give you up to her slights and the treachery of your Friend Bellegard These are the Enemies you are to provide your defence against rather than the reproaches which the kindness I retain for you will not permit me to trouble you with Givry was surpriz'd at this discourse and was within little of letting her see the trouble he was in But bethinking himself that Madam Maugiron had peradventure by some Spyes discover'd something of the Adventure but knew not the whole truth he recover'd himself and answered coldly I cannot wonder Madam that a Lady of your merit should seek the cause of my indifference elsewhere than in your self and am sensible that suspecting the best of my Friends hath not sufficiently opposed the injustice I am guilty of towards you you would revenge your self of him by engaging us in a quarrel But Madam I am not susceptible of such ill impressions and what I know of your mistakes as to Mademoiselle de Guise makes me think you no less mistaken as to the Duke de Bellegard No no says Madam de Maugiron you need not affect these disguises with me I know what I say and heard it from the Mouth of Mademoiselle de Guise And so telling him of what past at Bourbon and Nemours she put him into so furious a jealousie that he could not conceal it from her Pardon me Madam says he confessing it that I make you the Witness of a transport which cannot but be troublesome to you Had I power enough over my self to moderate it I should have had power enough to master the cause of it and I should love you again as ardently as formerly If swear to you by that which I hold most sacred that I wish at the cost of the best part of my blood I had continued constant to my first Passion But Madam Love goes not by choice the humours of affection tyranize over Reason And since 't is in vain to deny my inconstancy I must declare I love Mademoiselle de Guise even to madness and am capable of the worst effects of despair if I see her prefer before me a Rival of my Quality Perhaps I should not grudge to see her marry some great Prince but it will be certain death to me to see her pleas'd with the addresses of another Man of my Quality if it be true she is pleas'd with them you will not be long unreveng'd but shall see the effects of the unhappy News you have brought me so far As he said this he went out and having tormented himself all night went in the morning to the Duke de Bellegard before he was awake You have reason says he opening the Curtain to sleep quietly you may enjoy the pleasure of sound rest and repose I must bid it farewel But perfideous Friend why did you not deprive me of it the ordinary way or what have I done to make you so treacherous as to render me the Instrument of my own torment 'T was by the blindness of my confidence you had the opportunity to see the first effects of the Excellencies of Mademoiselle de Guise 'T was I first brought you to Paris during the Treaty 'T was by the permission I obtained of the King you had the convenience of treating her in the Camp 'T is my Name you made use of for declaring your Love 'T was by the mistake you ingag'd her in you obliged me to tell her first that Letter was yours Was she the only Person you could affect or if it was impossible to see her without falling in Love with her had you no other way to discover your love but by using my name The Duke de Bellegard might if he had pleas'd have baffled
to that danger and had he believed it would have taken effect he had certainly made some rash attempt for the recovery of the Box. But being as witty as he was amorous he came to a resolution to think no more of that accident when News was brought him that a Trumpet from the Duke of Mayenne desired to speak with him and brought with him a Box very like his The Box indeed was in truth the very same he had lost and when the Trumpeter delivered it him he told him That the Holy League intended not to manage any intrigue of Gallantry that they had without scruple made use of such pieces of his Equipage as might be serviceable for Religion and the Publick Good But conceiving Love-Letters useless for advancement of those ends they had faithfully sent him back all those that belong'd to him Givry smil'd at the irony of the Complement and having told the Trumpet that the hearts of Heroes were large enough to entertain at once the thoughts of love and of War he dismist him with a present and lock'd himself up to peruse his Letters again but was extremely surpriz'd to find on a fold of the first Letter he look'd upon Verses written in an unknown Character a Copy whereof follows Although the tenderness of love Insensibly the sense improve And lovers need a quick and tender sense To raise their love above indifference Yet oft poor Lovers ravishing sweets do prove Effects of humour not of love Givry very desirous to know what to apply this Maxim to opened the Letter which was to this effect Madam de Maugiron's Letter to Givry NO Givry I shall never be pleased with you while I find you fully perswaded I am so You are diligent faithful and passionate But an entire confidence agrees not with the fineness and delicacy of my affection and perfect love expects so much duty that he is a stranger to it who thinks he has fully performed it It must be your part to render your self a little more capable of fear it shall be my care to revive your courage and settle your confidence It is not my desire you should be ignorant of your happiness but that I should by degrees convince you of it as I please and not find you convinced of it already When Givry opened this Letter he did did it rather of curiosity to see whether the Verses had been written there by chance than out of any suspicion they contained a censure of the Letter He lov'd Madam Maugiron too well to impute her affection to meer humour or fancy or to think her humour predominant over her love but comparing the sense of the Verses with that of the Letter he thought it not so altogether exempt from being subject to blame as he had formerly believ'd it He asked himself whether it savoured not more of humour than love to declare ones self unsatisfied with a person who in the same period is acknowledged constant diligent faithful and passionately in love He did not yet give sentence in favour of the Verses but the defence he made for his Mistress against them was very weak And tumbling over the rest of the Papers in the Box he found on another Letter these Verses Think not by long Discourses to express Your passions height or tenderness That love that grief the greater is Which in the heart close Pris'ner lies Givry reproach'd himself as guilty of unfaithfulness to his Mistress for passing so favourable a judgment of these Maxims as he did but notwithstanding this reproaah he searched for more of them and was glad when he found them Upon a Letter where Madam Maugiron applauded her self for the choice of her love he found written Such is love's mighty influence It spoils the judgment and corrupts the sense That often we enamour'd are Indifferently of foul and fair Happy the man who by that power mov'd Loves only what is worthy to be lov'd And is reputed wise for loving that Which the strong impulse of his fate Not his discretion did incline him to 'T is not by Choice but Chance we woe To another Letter containing many fantastical reproaches there was added When the kind fates for Lovers choose The hour each other to enjoy Who would the pretious minutes loose In fruitless railing them t' imploy The Verses on the former Letters had only perswaded Givry that Madam Maugiron's Letters were liable to censure but these last carried his reflections a little further he fancied he had discovered a Lady in love who made her advantages of all the innocent pleasures of it and reduced all the mysteries and intrigues of it under the severity of rules and exactness of Laws And representing to himself the good fortune of a man who could affect a heart of that Character he could hardly forbear envying his happiness and permitting himself that moment to be perswaded that Madam Maugiron was not the sole person in the world capable to make him happy Givry was then at Amboise where part of the Troops under his Command were quartered The Marquess de Bellegard Master of the Horse to the King in his return from the Army at Soulogne past through that Town partly to see Givry They were intimate friends and had no reserve for each other Givry acquainted him with the adventure of the Box which they sent for that they might view it together the Marquess de Bellegard had scarce cast his Eye on the Character of the Verses but he thought he knew it and told his Friend he was very much mistaken if it was not the hand of Mademoiselle de Guise Of Mademoiselle de Guise says Givry Yes replies the Master of the Horse I knew at Piemont where I was bred with my Unele a Daughter of the Baron de Vins whom he married and to whom Mademoiselle de Guise writ very often I have seen some of those Letters and dare swear the Verses you have shewed me were written by the same hand Givry was a great admirer of Mademoiselle de Guise when a Child and easily imagin'd what a height of perfection her Charms were by this time arriv'd to And what sweeter temptation for a man of one and twenty years of age than to see a great and beautiful Princess begin to him in Gallantry and encourage him to come on by advancing first towards him He asked the Marquess what he thought of the meaning of those Verses whether without vanity he might not look on them as a favour and expect a good issue What good can you expest from them answer'd the Marquess a person engaged as you are should rather fear than wish for good fortune in this kind there is nothing more trouble some nor can the pleasure be great which is deriv'd from a happiness that reaches not the heart Do you think then reply'd Givry that favourable prevention from Mademoiselle de Guise cannot reach my heart I believe you in love with Madam Maugiron answered the Marquess and were I so
Religion There was then so great a Force in arms against him that had certainly taken the Crown from him if those foreign oppositions had been seconded by any domestick disorders Givry alone appeased the Seditious and encouraged the Fearful The new King being sensible of it thank'd him in expressions so tender and kind that the Court look'd upon Givry as a declared Favourite The first troubles occasion'd by the change being somewhat appeased the King took his Quarters at Meudon where he received the Deputies of his Parliament and Uuniversity of Paris who conjured him to render his Religion consistent with his Rights A Conference was agreed to be held for that purpose and that things might be debated with the greater freedom he granted a Cestation of Arms for fifteen dayes Givry received the news from the King's mouth as he came out of the Council the King added smiling That during the Truce he might go and receive thanks for the succours he had sent Mademoiselle de Guise This was licence enough for a young Man of his Curiosity a curiosity that well might be called a passionate Love He went from Meudon the same instant with his Friend Rellegard who would not let him go alone and mingling themselves with the Guard appointed the Deputies they were received together with them into the Town They went immediately to the Hostel de Guise to discover where the young Princess usually walked that they might see her without being taken notice of They were told she was at the Tuilleries with the rest of the Princesses of of the Family to know the success of the Deputies journey who were to have Audience there The two Adventurers got thither and were so fortunate to learn from the first Livery-men they asked That Mademoiselle de Guise being apparently too young to enter into deliberations of State was walking alone in the Garden Thither they went and had not walked thirthy paces but they perceived her coming towards them they drew off at some distance that they might look upon her with more liberty Givry thought her then a thousand times more charming than the Baron de Vins had described her The Marquess de Bellegarde had never seen her before He had met his Uncle at the Expedition of the Marquisate of Saluces follow'd him to his death and came not to Court till after the death of the late Duke of Guise who had removed all his Family thence He was surpris'd at the Beauty and Majesty of this Princess and confessed that Madam de Maugiron was not to be compared to her Givry was but too much confirmed in the same opinion the sight of the Princess had now persected what the Verses and the Descriptions of Vins had but begun Givry was seiz'd with a strange heat of affection he look'd on Princess with so much attention that he could not hear Monsieur Bellegarde And both advancing to see her at a nearer distance they were observed and gave her the curiosity to enquire who they were that appeared so handsom and of so haughty a meen She sent a Gentleman to ask them if they came to engage in a Party and whether they wanted one to present them to the General the Duke of Mayenne her Uncle We are not now to engage in a Party for the War Mademoiselle sayes Givry approaching her but should esteem our selves happy if protection were offered us to engage here in a Party of Love Whatever we see at Paris invites us to such an Engagement The Ladies here are admirable and the Conjuncture of the Siege furnishes frequent occasions to do them service But there are so many Competitors ambitious of this Honour that as for me I fear I have spoken too late and am not likely to find any place void Mademoiselle de Guise knew Givry as soon as he spoke but resolved for her diversion to use him as an Adventurer unknown Those of your Age says she are seldom exposed to want of Employment they engage and disengage with so much ease that Love never fails to find them business at the worst they may list themselves Volunteers which is not the worst Employment in the Militia of Love The Employment of a Volunteer hath not business enough for a Soul like mine Mademoiselle reply'd Givry I have more experience than my age promiseth and I must take it as an injury if Love allow me not a place among his tryed Souldiers The experience you may have gain'd elsewhere says Mademoiselle will perhaps not be valued among the Ladies of the League they possibly may be afraid the mysteries of Love are altered among you as those of Religion and that being accustomed to maintain the Party of Heresie they may not find in you a Faith so pure as they expect in their Servants The Marquess de Bellegarde had hitherto been silent having given his Friend the honour of speaking first But hearing the Lovers of the Royal Party taxed of Heresie he thought himself obliged to defend them We are very willing to make proof of our faithfulness against the Lovers of the League Mademoiselle said he and this kind of Combat would be more advantageous for us than Combats of War it being more easie to be perfectly in Love with the Ladies of the League than to conquer the Princes of that Party As Monsieur de Bellegarde was saying that word Madam de Guise came to them and with her Madam de Nemours her Mother in-Law Madam the Dutchess of Mayenne the Lady Marchionesse Villars her Daughter by a former Husband Madam d'Aumale formerly Mademoiselle d'Elhoeuf and several other Ladies who came from the Audience of the Deputies to take the Air in the Garden They all knew Givry and Madam de Guise having the Story of the Convoy and Givry's Complement fresh in her memory ran to him with open Arms and embraced him as if he had been then as formerly he was her Childrens Companion in the Exercises of their Youth She beckned to Mademoiselle her Daughter to do the like and the young Princess not expecting a second Command Think not said she saluting him that I knew you not till my Mothers arrival you were not so much out of my memory But adds she leaning towards his Ear you serve a Mistress so delicate that I held my self obliged to be cautious Givry could not answer these obliging expressions being prevented by the Questions and Caresses of the other Ladies One ask'd him if he came to render himself up to his old Friends another reproached him for having forsaken them He return'd his Answer in deep Reverences made to them or in ambiguous terms and letting them know that his Friend there present was the Marquess de Bellegarde Master of the Horse to the King they acquainted the Ladies that their Visit was a Fruit of the Truce and that it should not be their fault if they should not be allowed by a good Peace to wait on them oftner These Discourses held till Sun-set Givry had
by a third hand Or can you imagine the Princes of the holy Union are not able to offer you as good Employments as those you aspire to with the King of Navarr For 't is he is the soul of your Party and the Kings name is but the colour you make use of to authorize your protecting of Heresie I have told you already reply'd Givry rising up we are too far engaged in contrary Parties to expect belief from one another of what we can say to the advantage of the several Interests we have espoused A Peace or an absolute Victory will unite us better than our discourses if in the mean time you are permitted to write to the Princes and Mademoiselle de Guise I conjure you to assure them that all the good offices a Man can do in their favour without rendring himself unworthy of their esteem they may alwayes expect and promise themselves from Givry With that he went out and passing to the Kings Lodgings met there the Marquess de Bellegard and went with him to take a turn in the Malle at Tours where he told his Friend the discourse newly had with the Baron de Vins I could have sufficiently assured you said the Marquess that these Verses were Mademoiselle de Guise's and I believe I am not much more mistaken in the Judgment I past on the Adventure You will withdraw your love from Madam Maugiron and feed your self with fancies about Mademoiselle de Guise and I know by the air of your Countenance in speaking to me that part of my Prophecy is already fulfilled But my dear Friend yield not at the first onset rally your Forces if you find them disordered remember that Mademoiselle de Guise is among a party not ready to be vanquish'd 't is possible you may not see her while you live But could you flatter your self with the hopes of a peace or such an absolute victory that might gain you the convenience of seeing her she is the Daughter of an imperious House and will have a Soveraign stranger or a Prince of the Blood to her Husband Never think she will forego these hopes in complaisance to you and consider what a miserable case it is for a Person accustomed to the kindest endearments of his Mistress to tire himself out with making love to one who only feeds him with fancies Givry had reflected on all these particulars before he heard them from his Friend but by a fate he could not avoid he mus'd incessantly of Mademoiselle de Guise and scarce thought any more of Madam de Maugiron He resolved without the least scruple to conceal from her the recovery of the Box and no longer thought her Conversation charming as formerly When she spoke kindly to him he remembred the Maxim in Verse where Mademoiselle de Guise found fault with expressions that are strong and became clearly of opinion he should have had more love for his Mistress had she not too much assured him of his happiness he was displeas'd to find it so publickly known and fancied that a more private intrigue would have been more pleasant And when to all this he added the conceit of being allowed by a great and beautiful Princess to pretend a right grounded on what had already past from her to entertain her with the discourses of Love and perhaps make her forget that Tyranny her high Blood seem'd to oblige her to against inferiour Lovers he gave himself up to be intirely possest with fancies and illusions he could never get rid of It was long e're Madam Maugiron apprehended the mischief that threatned her Givry made constant visits to no other Lady and if at any time she found him melancholy and discomposed she imputed it to his ambition of Glory and Renown But the season being come for opening the Campagne and Givry at parting entertaining his Mistress with no other discourse than of clearing the Loyre and reducing to the obedience of the King all the Towns the League possest upon that River Have you no other discourse to entertain me with Givry says she or can you think me no otherwise concern'd at your departure than to be told only what Conquests you design for the King He blush'd at this reproach but not being able to confess he deserved it he excus'd himself by telling her his discourse proceeded from his earnest desire to render himself more worthy of her 'T is not enough for so charming a beauty as yours says he that your Servant be deeply in Love but his Love must be such you need not be ashamed of and that his reputation of being a great Captain may countenance and support his pretensions of Love Ah Givry cryes Madam Maugiron it is a noble ambition but unseasonable here it may afford a Lover some comfort against troubles absence produces but is not a fit subject of discourse at parting if there be true Love in the case the Love you have had for me I see is at an end and whether any displeasure you have taken against me or your immoderate desire of glory hath possest your heart I find my self now wholly excluded it Givry was not yet fully assured whether Madam Maugiron were in the right Love at the beginning appears in disguise and though his thoughts for Mademoiselle de Guise might well be called Love his mind could not yet yield them that Character He did all in his power to perswade Madam Maugiron her suspicions were ill-grounded and having great power over her left her somewhat better satisfi'd Having left Madam Maugiron he went to the Baron de Vins whom by the advice of Bellegard he visited seldomer than he could have wish'd The Baron passionately devoted to the service of the House of Guise incessantly prest Givry to join again with that Family The Marquess de Bellegard from whom he conceal'd nothing observing the great progress Mademoiselle de Guise made in Givry's affections was not a little afraid lest Vins should debauch Givry from his allegiance but not thinking it fit to make the discovery of so offensive a doubt he told him that his frequent enterviews with the Prisoner gave those who envy'd him great advantage against him that he would do well to forbear them Givry had for some time follow'd the advice but being ready to take the Field and not knowing but an exchange of Prisoners or some fatal blow might deprive him for ever of an opportunity to see the Baron a-again he resolved to take leave of him I am going says Givry smiling to the Baron to add new Crimes to those you have reproached me with and if I dye not in the first rencounter there shall few Actions pass this Campagne but I will have a small share in them but I hope this part of my duty may be consistent with the rest of it and that if upon the general occasion I am forced to bear the Character of an Enemy to the League I may in particular occurrences assume that of a faithful
a desire to continue them longer and to lye that night at Paris but Bellegarde though charm'd with the sight and Conversation of Mademoiselle de Guise thought it not fit to hazard so long a stay without particular leave from his Majesty He drew his Friend as it were from the Garden where he staid above an hour after the Ladies were gone and taking the way to the Kings Quarters they had no other Discourse as they went but of the Beauty and Charms of Mademoiselle de Guise Givry had till this time observed some measure of civility towards Madam de Maugiron He was sensible he loved her not as he had formerly done yet he made some scruple of betraying the hopes of a Lady in Love with him who never gave him any cause of complaint She staid at Chinon with Queen Louise and writ to Givry by every Courier and he as punctually answered her Letters He had gain'd her the protection of the new King and loved her still as an obliging acquaintance but with so much indifference the Love he retained for her could not disturb the peace of his spirits Yet the sight of Mademoiselle de Guise had utterly destroy'd those small Reliques of Kindness for Madam de Maugiron At his return from Paris he found at his Quarters a Letter from Madam Maugiron and forgot to read it two or three more had the same fortune Mademoiselle de Guise had so intirely possest both his affection and fancy What Charms she has says he to the Marquess de Belleogarde what a mixture of Majesty and sweetness appears in her How quick yet how pleasing and agreeable she is Did you ever see a Physiognomy so witty and so open and clear as hers is Her Eyes have a Lustre ours can hardly endure to behold it Smiles seem to dwell on her Lips and what can be more delicate and easie than her Conversation She is I fear answers Bellegarde every way too perfect for your repose and your Friends could have wished the Baron of Vins had not drawn her Picture so much to the Life Givry stirr'd not out of his Quarters the night he return'd from Paris His spirits were in disorder and his affections in too great a heat to be adventured into the company of Persons unconcern'd and one nights reflection was little enough to put him into a condition to appear at Court The King no sooner saw him but he took him aside and with the familiarity which gain'd him so many hearts Well Givry says he have you seen Mademoiselle de Guise and do you find her worthy of what she made you do against the interests of your Party Mademoiselle de Guise Sir replyes Grvry is a Person of so admirable perfections that your Majesty shall permit me if you please to forbear the description I know your heart susceptible of amorous impressions and mine is so inflamed I should certainly dye should any accident cross my desire Fear no such accident from me says the King you are more than one way sufficiently Guarded on that side I have kindness for you and understand very well what Love can do in a Man of your temper As for me I am so prepossest with another Object that all other Beauties in the World cannot reach my affection With that as a new evidence of his favour he trusted him with the secret of his passion for Gabrielle d'Estree afterwards Dutchess of Beaufort This Amour of the Kings was then in its first heat and he spoke of his Mistress to Givry with such transport that Givry could no longer suspect danger on that side but made the King a faithful relation of all the passages at Paris To which he added an humble Petition that the King would allow him the liberty to make his advantage of the conveniences of the Truce The King left him absolute Master of his actions so that he went back the same day to Paris where Mademoiselle de Guise exprest a desire to see the Kings Camp which they agreed should be done on the morrow Mademoiselle de Guise came in company of the Princess her Mother and Givry having received them at the foot of the Retrenchments conducted them under certain Tents adorned with Flowers and with Greens He treated them there at a magnificent Collation served in by Boys in the habits of Slaves The Collation being over Givry brought the Ladies to a little Plain where with the Kings leave he had caused some Troops to be drawn up in Battalia and Exercised them before the Ladies The Princesses were very much delighted with the sight and in their return to Paris were attended by a Company of German Trumpeters who made an excellent Consort of Military Musick and led them as triumphant to the Walls of the City The Marquess de Bellegarde who under pretence of seconding the intentions of his Friend was glad of the occasion to make his Court to Mademoiselle de Guise entertain'd the Ladies of the League with a false attack of a Fort. The King was not displeas'd at these Entertainments in hopes they might conduce to sweetning and mollifying the spirits exasperated and improve the Truce into a lasting Peace But these hopes soon vanish'd for the Duke of Mayenne had proposed the Truce for no other end than to give the Duke of Parma who had promised him aid the convenience of advancing to the relief of Paris and as soon as he knew the Duke of Parma was on his March he briskly broke off all further Conference and the War became more obstinate than ever The King was extremely incensed at this Juggle and Givry was no less afflicted He had discoursed several times to his great satisfaction with Mademoiselle de Guise but had not declared to her his passion He had the sense to think more time and more services necessary to make way for so high an attempt but conceived he had observed in the young Princess that freedom of spirit that gave cause to believe she would be more taken with beight of merit supported with excess of affection than with height of birth void of qualities suitable They had often spoken of Madam Maugiron Givry assured the young Princess that the Verses she had sent him had dissipated those mists of affection that blinded him and that ever since he look'd on that Lady with a great deal of indifference Mademoiselle de Guise took pleasure in making him repeat this protestation and the day before the Conferrences were broken of she carryed on this discourse so far as to tell Givry he deserved better Fortune than to be the Knight-Errant of a Provincial Dame Had he desired her to explain her self 't is possible he had found she spoke this at random But he was so willing to be deceived that he found matter in her general and ambiguous expressions to flatter himself into hopes his reason declared groundless however he thought he could never be angry enough with the Duke of mayenne for hindring him to
him the meaning of the Letter and found him honoured with a new Dignity the King having made him Duke and Peer for which he was receiving the Complements of his Friends as Givry arrived The new Duke ran to him with open Arms and though Givry was not satisfied with his proceedings he forbore not to make his Caresses an obliging return They fell in discourse The Duke told his Friend that they expected at Gisors the Princess Katherine the Kings Sister who having been under his Majesties displeasure for having design'd a marriage with Count Soissons contrary to his Majesties Command had newly received pardon for her disobedience and came as was reported to give her consent to another marriage All the discourse at Court was of the reception prepared for her But after this general Conversation Givry finding himself alone with the new Duke I have News to tell you too sayes he to the Duke Madam and Mademoiselle de Guise coming within my Province the latter charged me with an Answer to a a Letter you had written to her The Duke de Bellegard redden'd and Givry having observed it I did not think says he I had so considerable a Person as you to my Secretary and should have done my utmost to avoid giving you that trouble had it been in my power to fancy you would have vouchsafed to have taken it upon you Do you find my Letter did you any harm answered the Duke or think you it was not the Office of a Friend to put you in condition of speakiag to Mademoiselle de Guise as a declared Lover I am not yet satisfied reply'd Givry coldly whether that Declaration was to my advantage or prejudice But my Lord Duke I know it the part of a true Friend not to have done any thing of this nature without my consent and I have cause to believe you were willing to make me try a dangerous Foord rather than save me another kind of peril This in tuth is ingeniously turn'd says the Duke de Bellegard ironically how many Lovers have you seen carry on their amours with the Ladies they Court by acquainting them with the passion of their Rivals What then did you design by it replys Givry confirm'd in his suspicion by the trouble he saw the Duke in being of a temper too frank and open for disguise What right had you to discover my secret or what excuse can you make to the dearest of your Friends for having drawn upon him the indignation of a Person he had confest to you he was in Love with When I considered says the Duke de Bellegard the Circumstances of your Love I was of opinion you might long languish without knowing your destiny and esteeming uncertainty the most miserable condition of a Lover I was willing to bring you out of it and perswade you to desist or pursue your Amour according to occasion if Mademoiselle de Guise hath favourably received the Declaration of your flames you are ungrateful to entertain my service with so much coldness if she be really angry with you I have left you at liberty to disavow the Letter and you may either make use of your reason for your Cure or continue to love her without telling her of it as if I had not written Givry was very good-natur'd and a great lover of the Duke de Bellegard he was ready to beg his pardon for having suspected him and had done it but that they were interrupted by a multitude of Courtiers who came pouring in upon them and that very Evening he became sensible that his friendship blinded him and that the Duke de Bellegard was really his Rival Madam de Maugiron faithfully executed the threats she had exprest of loving Givry all her Life whether he would or not The slights of her Lover and the homage she received every day from several others could not alter her affection She made so diligent inquiry among those that went to Moulins whither Queen Louise was retired upon the death of the late King and had placed so many spyes about Givry that she made discovery of his Love for Mademoiselle de Guise there was some discourse of it upon the setting at liberty the Chevalier d'Oyse and the story of the Letter which Givry averred he had not written could not be kept so close but this jealous Lover knew something of it And in the journey the Duchesse Dowager of Nemours made to Bourbon Madam de Maugiron who saw her there gain'd her Love so far that when Queen Louise changed the Gloryes of the world for the Solitudes of a Cloyster Madam de Nemours took Madam Maugiron into her family She was there when Madam and Mademoiselle de Guise came to Nemours The young Princess and Madam de Maugiron look'd upon one another with a great deal of Earnestness and attention and this latter being possest with jealousie was so diligent to spy out an occasion to discover the sentiments of her Rival that she learnt them from her own mouth The sickness of Madam de Nemours was rather tedious than dangerous and Mademoiselle de Guise being not obliged to any great appearances of sorrow took the liberty frequently to leave the Duchesse her Mother to take care of the sick Lady Being retir'd timely one evening to her Chamber and going thence to take a walk in the Garden without other company but a Maid who was her confident Madam de Maugiron follow'd them and having slipp'd in behind the Pales heard Mademoiselle de Guise say No la Mothe I do not think the Master of the Horse handsomer than Givry and I have confest to you more than once that I had retained such an Idea of this latter as might have inclined me to much tenderness for him had he been of Quality suitable to mine But whether this humor of mine were over when I saw him again or that his friend being a newer Object to me had the happiness to discern better the weakness of our Sex and make his attack with greater success I was more attentive to him than to Givry in the Tuilleries What he did during the Truce pleas'd me more than what Givry did though I gave Givry marks of kindenesses and familiarity I durst not have given Bellegard without trouble and scruple When I received the Letter you know of I thought I had seen him that brought it in Bellegard's Train I believed it had come from him and was so vext to find another Name subscribed it angred me more against Givry than the Crime he appear'd guilty of Not that I could have been willing Bellegard should have spoken to me of Love without resentment on my part but that the Rules of Respect and Decency observ'd it would have pleas'd me better to discover Bellegard than Givry in Love with me And I must confess I found in my self a more than ordinary joy when I thought at Melun I was Mistress of his affection But Mademoiselle says la Mothe what assurance have you