keeper of the seals, and her fearless enmity to the cardinal, despite the deference with which she treated him:—
"Madame de Chevreuse complains to M. de Châteauneuf of her servant, who has so little faith in the generosity and friendship of his master,[1] and who does very wrong when he asks whether Madame de Chevreuse neglects him to pledge herself to the cardinal. You do wrong to have this thought; the mind of Madame de Chevreuse is too noble for treacherous sentiments ever to enter it. This is why I regard the favor of the cardinal no more than his power, and I shall never do any thing unworthy of myself, either for the good which I may gain from the one, or the evil which I may suffer from the other. Believe this if you would do me justice. I shall devote my whole life to you; and remember that you have the advantage here, for I shall take great pleasure in pleasing you, and shall suffer much in displeasing you. These, conscientiously, are my sentiments, and you have no share in them if ever you displease your master.
"Madame de Chevreuse has seen the cardinal, who remained two hours at the palace of the queen. He paid her extravagant compliments, and uttered the most extraordinary flatteries in the presence of Madame de Chevreuse, to whom he spoke very coldly, affecting great negligence and indifference, while she treated him in her usual manner, without seeming to notice his mood. Upon his attempting to taunt her, Madame de Chevreuse jested at him in open defiance of his power. This surprised rather than irritated him, for he then changed his tone, and attempted courtesies and the greatest humility. I do not know whether he acted thus to conceal his ill-humor in the presence of the queen, or whether he did
- ↑ The reader will note that these letters are translated almost verbatim from the original, and that the frequent changes which occur in person and tense are designed to throw a veil—transparent enough, it is true-over the correspondence.—Note by the Translator.
