Anne of Austria, who was more a Christian and a mother than a diplomatic woman, found it very painful to appreciate these arguments of the Cardinal; but after some reflection she recognised their importance, and things remained as they were.

Madame de Beauvais had a son, whom the husband (whether overconfident or not) saw brought into the world with much delight, and whom, with a wealth of royalist respect, they baptised under the agreeable name of Louis.  This child, who had a fine figure and constitution, received a particularly careful education.  He has something of the King about him, principally in his glance and smile.  He presents, however, only the intellectual habit of his mother, and even a notable absence of grandeur and elevation.  He is a very pretty waiting-woman, dressed out as a cavalier; in a word, he is that pliant and indefatigable courtier, whom we see everywhere, and whom town and Court greet by the name of Baron de Beauvais.

His sister is the Duchesse de Richelieu, true daughter of her father, as ugly, or rather as lacking in charm, as he is; but replete with subtilty and intelligence,—­with that intelligence which perpetually suggests a humble origin, and which wearies or importunes, because of its ill-nature.  At the age of seventeen, her freshness made her pass for being pretty.  She accused the young Duc de Richelieu of having seduced her, and made her a mother; and he, in his fear of her indignation and intrigues, and of the reproaches of the Queen, hastened to confess his fault, and to repair everything by marrying her.

Baron Louis, her brother, to whom the King could hardly refuse anything, made her a lady of honour to the Dauphine.  Madame de Richelieu delighted to spread a report in the world that I had procured her this office; she was deceived, and wished to be deceived.  I had asked this eminent position for the Marquise de Thianges, in whom I was interested very differently.  His Majesty decided that a marquise was inferior to a duchess, even when that duchess was born a De Beauvais.  Another son of the monarch, well known at the Court as such, is M. l’Abbe de Rohan-Soubise, to whom the cardinal’s hat is already promised.  His figure, his carriage, his head, his attitude, his whole person infallibly reveal him; and the Prince de Soubise has so thoroughly recognised and understood the deceit, that he honours the young churchman with all his indifference and his respect.  He acts with him as a sort of guardian; and that is the limitation of his role.

The Princesse de Soubise, who had resolved to advance her careless husband, either to the government of Brittany or to some ministry, persuaded herself that it is only by women that men can be advanced; and that in order to advance a husband, it is necessary to advance oneself.  Although a little thin, and lacking that of which the King is so fond, we saw in her a very pretty woman.  She knew how to persuade