“Monsieur mon fils, I do not doubt that had you been sooner apprised of my illness, you would not have failed to give me proofs of your good disposition.  Those which I formerly received have so confirmed this belief, that even my present misfortunes cannot weaken it.  I am extremely obliged by your having sent to visit me when the rumour of my indisposition reached you.  If your goodness has led you to regret that you were not sooner made acquainted with so public a circumstance, my affection induces me willingly to receive the intelligence which you send me, at any time.  Your envoy will inform you that he reached me on the fortieth day of a continuous fever, which augments throughout the night.  I was anxious that he should see me out of my bed, in order that he might assure you that the attack was not so violent, and that my strength is not so much exhausted, as to deprive me, with God’s help, of all hope of recovery.  Having been out of health for the last year, and the fever from which I formerly suffered every third week having changed and become continuous, the physicians apprehend that it may become more dangerous.  I am resigned to the will of God, and I shall not regret life if I am assured of your favour before my death; and if you love me as much as I love you, and shall always love you.”

As regarded the proposals of reconciliation brought by the royal envoy, the best-judging among the friends of the Queen-mother were of opinion that she should accept them; but Chanteloupe earnestly opposed the measure.

“Many of your attendants, Madame,” he said coldly, “desire to see you once more in France, even should you be shut up in the fortress of Vincennes.  They only seek to enjoy their own property in peace.”  The reverend father made no mention of his own enjoyment of a pension of a thousand livres a month, paid to him by Spain during his residence in the Low Countries, and which must necessarily cease should Marie de Medicis withdraw from the protection of that power.

Before the departure of the King’s messenger, he informed the Queen-mother that he was authorized by his sovereign to offer her pecuniary aid should she require it; insinuating at the same time that, in the event of her consenting to dismiss certain of her attendants who were displeasing to the monarch, their misunderstanding might be at once happily terminated.

“I am perfectly satisfied with the liberality of my son-in-law, the King of Spain,” was her brief and cold reply.  “He is careful that I shall feel no want.”

The Abbe de St. Germain, on ascertaining the terms offered to his royal protectress, earnestly urged her not to reject them.  “It is not just, Madame,” he said frankly and disinterestedly, “that you should suffer for us.  When your Majesty is once more established in France, you will find sufficient opportunities of serving us, and of enabling us to reside either here or elsewhere.  Extricate yourself, Madame, from your painful situation, and spend the remainder of your life in your adopted country, where you will be independent of the aid of foreigners.”