of this intention, more than one plot was laid in order to provide him with a wife.  M. de Vaudemont, intent upon aggrandizing the house of Lorraine, wished.  M de Mantua to marry a member of that family, and fixed upon Mademoiselle d’Elboeuf for his bride.  The Lorraines did all in their power to induce M. de Mantua to accept her.  But M. le Prince had also his designs in this matter.  He had a daughter; whom he knew not how to get off his hands, and he thought that in more ways than one it would be to his advantage to marry her to the Duke of Mantua.  He explained his views to the King, who gave him permission to follow them out, and promised to serve him with all his protection.  But when the subject was broached to M. de Mantua, he declined this match in such a respectful, yet firm, manner that M. le Prince felt he must abandon all hope of carrying it out.  The Lorraines were not more successful in their designs.  When M. de Vaudemont had first spoken of Mademoiselle d’Elboeuf, M. de Mantua had appeared to listen favourably.  This was in Italy.  Now that he was in Paris he acted very differently.  It was in vain that Mademoiselle d’Elboeuf was thrust in his way, as though by chance, at the promenades, in the churches; her beauty, which might have touched many others, made no impression upon him.  The fact was that M. de Mantua, even long before leaving his state, had fixed upon a wife.

Supping one evening with the Duc de Lesdiguieres, a little before the death of the latter, he saw a ring with a portrait in it; upon the Duke’s finger.  He begged to be allowed to look at the portrait, was charmed with it, and said he should be very happy to have such a beautiful mistress.  The Duke at this burst out laughing, and said it was the portrait of his wife.  As soon as the Duc de Lesdiguieres was dead, de Mantua thought only of marrying the young widowed Duchess.  He sought her everywhere when he arrived in Paris, but without being able to find her; because she was in the first year of her widowhood.  He therefore unbosomed himself to Torcy, who reported the matter to the King.  The King approved of the design of M. de Mantua, and charged the Marechal de Duras to speak to the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres, who was his daughter.  The Duchess was equally surprised and afflicted when she learned what was in progress.  She testified to her father her repugnance to abandon herself to the caprices and the jealousy of an old Italian ‘debauche’ the horror she felt at the idea of being left alone with him in Italy; and the reasonable fear she had of her health, with a man whose own could not be good.