I am resolved to marry her to my nephew the Prince of Conde, and keep her near my family.

That shall be the consolation and the support of the old age which is coming upon me.

I shall give my nephew, who is young and loves hunting ten thousand times better than women, a hundred thousand francs a year to pass his time, and I want no other favor from her but her affection, without looking for anything more." Thoroughly astounded and put out as he was, Bassompierre reflected that it was, so far as he was concerned, "an amour modified by marriage," and that it would be better to give way to the king with a good grace: and, "I withdraw, sir," he said, on very good terms as regarded Mdlle.

de Montmorency as well as himself.

The king embraced him, wept, promised to love him dearly, saw him again in the evening in company with Mdlle.