On arriving at Blois with the queen-mother, he began by dividing his life between that petty court in disgrace and his diocese of Lucon.  He wished to set Albert de Luynes at rest as to his presence at the court of Mary de’ Medici, the devotion he showed her, and the counsels he gave her.  He had but small success, however.  The new favorite was suspicious and anxious.  Richelieu appeared to be occupied with nothing but the duties of his office; he presided at conferences; and he published, against the Protestants, a treatise entitled The Complete Christian (De la Perfection du Chretien).  Luynes was not disposed to believe in these exclusively religious preoccupations; he urged upon the king that Richelieu should not live constantly in the queen-mother’s neighborhood, and in June, 1617, he had orders given him to retire to the courtship of Avignon.  Pope Paul V. complained that the Bishop of Lucon was exiled from his diocese.  “What is to be done about residence,” said he, “which is due to his bishopric? and what will the world say at seeing him prohibited from going whither his duty binds him to go?” The king answered that he was surprised at the pope’s complaint.  “An ecclesiastic,” said he, “could not possibly be in any better place than Avignon, church territory; my lord the Bishop of Lucon is far from finding time for nothing but the exercises of his profession; I have discovered that he indulged in practices prejudicial to my service.  He is one of those spirits that are carried away far beyond their duty, and are very dangerous in times of public disorder.”

Richelieu obeyed without making any objection; he passed two years at Avignon, protesting that he would never depart from it without the consent of Luynes and without the hope of serving him.  The favor and fortune of the young falconer went on increasing every day.  He had, in 1617, married the daughter of the Duke of Montbazon, and, in 1619, prevailed upon the king to have the estate of Maille raised for him to a duchy-peerage under the title of Luynes.  In 1621 he procured for himself the dignity of constable, to which he had no military claim.  Louis XIII. sometimes took a malicious pleasure in making fun of his favorite’s cupidity and that of his following.  “I never saw,” said he, “one person with so many relatives; they come to court by ship-loads, and not a single one of them with a silk dress.”  “See,” said he one day to the Count of Bassompierre, pointing to Luynes surrounded by a numerous following:  “he wants to play the king, but I shall know how to prevent it; I will make him disgorge what he has taken from me.”  Friends at court warned Luynes of this language; and Luynes replied with a somewhat disdainful impertinence, “It is good for me to cause the king a little vexation from time to time:  it revives the affection he feels for me.”  Richelieu kept himself well informed of court-rumors, and was cautious not to treat them with indifference.  He took great pains