The will of Richelieu had indeed proved omnipotent.  Not one of those whom he had doomed to disgrace was suffered to escape without submitting to humiliations degrading to their rank.  The unfortunate Princesse de Conti, the sister of the Duc de Guise, whose only crime was her attachment to her royal mistress, and her love for Bassompierre, was exiled to Eu; where her separation from the Queen, and the imprisonment of the Marechal, so preyed upon her mind that she died within two months of a broken heart; while all was alarm and consternation in the capital, where the greatest and the proudest in the land trembled alike for their lives and for their liberties.

Of all the victims of the Cardinal the Queen-mother was, however, the most wretched and the most hopeless.  So soon as Anne of Austria had quitted her apartment, feeling herself overcome by the suddenness of the shock to which she had been subjected, she caused her physician M. Vautier to be summoned, and was abruptly informed that he had been arrested, and conveyed a prisoner to Senlis.

“Another!” she murmured piteously.  “Another in whom I might have found help and comfort.  But all who love me are condemned; and Richelieu triumphs!  My history is written in tears and blood.  Heaven grant me patience, for I am indeed an uncrowned Queen, and a childless mother.”

Her lamentations were interrupted by the announcement of the Marechal d’Estrees, who having been admitted, communicated to her the will of the King that she should await his further orders at Compiegne.

“Say rather, M. le Marechal,” she exclaimed with a burst of her habitual impetuosity, “that I am henceforth a prisoner, and that you have been promoted to the proud office of a woman’s gaoler.  What are the next commands which I am to be called on to obey?  What is to be my ultimate fate?  Speak boldly.  There is some new misfortune in reserve, but I shall not shrink.  ’While others suffer for me, I shall find courage to suffer for myself.”  “His Majesty, Madame, will doubtless inform you—­” commenced the mortified noble.

“So be it then, M. le Marechal,” said Marie haughtily, as she motioned him to retire; “I will await the orders of the King.”

Those orders were not long delayed, for on the ensuing morning the Comte de Brienne presented to the imprisoned Princess an autograph letter from Louis XIII, of which the following were the contents: 

* * * * *

“I left Compiegne, Madame, without taking leave of you in order to avoid the annoyance of making a personal request which might have caused you some displeasure.  I desired to entreat you to retire for a time to the fortress of Moulins, which you had yourself selected as your residence after the death of the late King.  Conformably to your marriage contract, you would there, Madame and mother, be at perfect liberty; both yourself and your household.  Your absence causes me sincere regret, but the welfare of my kingdom compels me to separate myself from you.