I was promptly made acquainted with this affair; for Madame de Lesdiguieres and Madame de Saint-Simon were on the most intimate terms.  I did everything in my power to persuade Madame de Lesdirguieres to content to the match, insisting at once on her family position, on the reason of state, and on the pleasure of ousting Madame d’Elboeuf,—­but it was all in vain.  I never saw such firmness.  Pontchartrain, who came and reasoned with her, was even less successful than I, for he excited her by threats and menaces.  M. le Prince himself supported us—­having no longer any hope for himself, and fearing, above all things, M. de Mantua’s marriage with a Lorraine—­and did all he could to persuade Madame de Lesdiguieres to give in.  I renewed my efforts in the same direction, but with no better success than before.  Nevertheless, M. de Mantua, irritated by not being able to see Madame de Lesdirguieres, resolved to go and wait for her on a Sunday at the Minimes.  He found her shut up in a chapel, and drew near the door in order to see her as she went out.  He was not much gratified; her thick crape veil was lowered; it was with difficulty he could get a glance at her.  Resolved to succeed, he spoke to Torcy, intimating that Madame de Lesdiguieres ought not to refuse such a slight favour as to allow herself to be seen in a church.  Torcy communicated this to the King, who sent word to Madame de Lesdiguieres that she must consent to the favour M. de Mantua demanded.  She could not refuse after this.  M. de Mantua went accordingly, and waited for her in the same place, where he had once already so badly seen her.  He found her, in the chapel, and drew near the door, as before.  She came out, her veil raised, passed lightly before him, made him a sliding courtesy as she glided by, in reply to his bow, and reached her coach.

M. de Mantua was charmed; he redoubled his efforts with the King and M. de Duras; the matter was discussed in full council, like an affair of state—­indeed it was one; and it was resolved to amuse M. de Mantua, and yet at the same time to do everything to vanquish this resistance of Madame de Lesdiguieres, except employing the full authority of the King, which the King himself did not wish to exert.  Everything was promised to her on the part of the King:  that it should be his Majesty who would make the stipulations of the marriage contract; that it should be his Majesty who would give her a dowry, and would guarantee her return to France if she became a widow, and assure her his protection while she remained a wife; in one word, everything was tried, and in the gentlest and most honourable manner, to persuade her.  Her mother lent us her house one afternoon, in order that we might speak more at length and more at our ease there to Madame de Lesdiguieres than we could at the Hotel de Duras.  We only gained a torrent of tears for our pains.