“Do not distress yourself, Madame,” replied the skilful courtier, eager to avail himself of so favourable an opportunity of serving his friends; “you can always command the means of recalling them to their allegiance; and, did I dare to proffer a counsel to your Majesty, I would suggest that you should employ them.”

“We will talk no more at present,” said Marie; “return here when I have risen from table, and by that time I shall have had leisure to reflect upon your advice.”

She then advanced once more to the centre of the apartment, and commenced a trivial conversation, which she maintained until the departure of the two Dukes, thus effectually preventing all recurrence to the obnoxious subject; but she was not destined to escape so readily as she had hoped from this new persecution.  Concini and his wife had alike pledged themselves to M. de Conde that they would support his pretensions with all their influence, and their vanity was consequently enlisted in the cause as much as their interests.  The Queen-mother, therefore, no sooner found herself alone with Leonora than the subject was renewed; and that with so much pertinacious resolution that the dignity of the Regent took alarm, and she expressed herself with considerable bitterness to the presumptuous favourite.  At this crisis Concini entered the apartment; and with as little caution as his wife had previously exhibited, persisted in urging upon his harassed mistress the same unpalatable advice; until, utterly wearied, and deeply indignant at an interference which exceeded all the bounds of courtesy and respect, Marie commanded them both to quit her presence, and gave instant orders that they should not again be admitted until she had signified her pleasure to that effect.

As the officers of the household were about to marshal the Regent to the mid-day meal, Bassompierre encountered the Duc de Guise, of whom he immediately inquired if he had abandoned the cause of the unfortunate La Rochefoucauld, who would inevitably die of ennui, should he be long exiled from the gaieties of the Court.

“No, no,” vehemently replied the Duke, “he shall return to share them; nor will I be under an obligation to the Queen for his reappearance.  I have served her with zeal, and have been repaid by coldness and neglect.  I have therefore made new interests, and now recognize no leader but M. de Conde, no coadjutors but his cabal; nor will I abandon them although I adopted their policy with reluctance; a determination, Monsieur,” he added pointedly, “which you at least will not condemn, as you are a member of the same party.”