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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。
A few days after this； I was very much astonished to hear Chamillart
relate to me all that had passed at this interview。 I learnt afterwards
that Madame de Lesdiguieres； fearing that if； entirely unsupported； she
persisted in her refusal； it might draw upon her the anger of the King；
had begged Chamillart to implore his Majesty not to insist upon this
marriage。 M。 de Mantua hearing this； turned his thoughts elsewhere； and
she was at last delivered of a pursuit which had become a painful
persecution to her。 Chamillart served her so well that the affair came
to an end； and the King； flattered perhaps by the desire this young
Duchess showed to remain his subject instead of becoming a sovereign；
passed a eulogium upon her the same evening in his cabinet to his family
and to the Princesses； by whom it was spread abroad through society。
I may as well finish this matter at once。 The Lorraines； who had watched
very closely the affair up to this point； took hope again directly they
heard of the resolution M。 de Mantua had formed to abandon his pursuit of
Madame de Lesdiguieres。 They； in their turn； were closely watched by
M。 le Prince； who so excited the King against them； that Madame d'Elboeuf
received orders from him not to continue pressing her suit upon M。 de
Mantua。 That did not stop them。 They felt that the King would not
interfere with them by an express prohibition； and sure； by past
experience； of being on better terms with him afterwards than before；
they pursued their object with obstinacy。 By dint of much plotting and
scheming； and by the aid of their creatures； they contrived to overcome
the repugnance of M。 de Mantua to Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf； which at bottom
could be only capriceher beauty； her figure； and her birth taken into
account。 But Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf； in her turn； was as opposed to
marriage with M。 de Mantua as Madame de Lesdiguieres had been。 She was；
however； brought round ere long； and then the consent of the King was the
only thing left to be obtained。 The Lorraines made use of their usual
suppleness in order to gain that。 They represented the impolicy of
interfering with the selection of a sovereign who was the ally of France；
and who wished to select a wife from among her subjects； and succeeded so
well； that the King determined to become neutral； that is to say； neither
to prohibit nor to sanction this match。 M。 le Prince was instrumental in
inducing the King to take this neutral position； and he furthermore
caused the stipulation to be made； that it should not be celebrated in
France； but at Mantua。
After parting with the King； M。 de Mantua； on the 21st of September； went
to Nemours； slept there； and then set out for Italy。 At the same time
Madame and Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf； with Madame de Pompadour； sister of
the former； passed through Fontainebleau without going to see a soul； and
followed their prey lest he should change his mind and escape them until
the road he was to take branched off from that they were to go by； he in
fact intending to travel by sea and they by land。 On the way their fears
redoubled。 Arrived at Nevers； and lodged in a hostelrie； they thought it
would not be well to commit themselves further without more certain
security： Madame de Pompadour therefore proposed to M。 de Mantua not to
delay his happiness any longer； but to celebrate his marriage at once。
He defended himself as well as he could； but was at last obliged to give
in。 During this indecent dispute； the Bishop was sent to。 He had just
died； and the Grand Vicar； not knowing what might be the wishes of the
King upon this marriage； refused to celebrate it。 The chaplain was
therefore appealed to； and he at once married Mademoiselle d'Elboeuf to
M。 de Mantua in the hotel。 As soon as the ceremony was over； Madame
d'Elboeuf wished to leave her daughter alone with M。 de Mantua； and
although he strongly objected to this； everybody quitted the room；
leaving only the newly married couple there； and Madame de Pompadour
outside upon the step listening to what passed between them。 But finding
after a while that both were very much embarrassed； and that M。 de Mantua
did little but cry out for the company to return； she conferred with her
sister； and they agreed to give him his liberty。 Immediately he had
obtained it； he mounted his horse； though it was not early； and did not
see them again until they reached Italythough all went the same road as
far as Lyons。 The news of this strange celebration of marriage was soon
spread abroad with all the ridicule which attached to it。
The King was very much annoyed when he learnt that his orders had been
thus disobeyed。 The Lorraines plastered over the affair by representing
that they feared an affront from M。 de Mantua； and indeed it did not seem
at all unlikely that M。 de Mantua； forced as it were into compliance with
their wishes； might have liked nothing better than to reach Italy and
then laugh at them。 Meanwhile； Madame d'Elboeuf and her daughter
embarked on board the royal galleys and started for Italy。 On the way
they were fiercely chased by some African corsairs； and it is a great
pity they were not taken to finish the romance。
However； upon arriving in Italy； the marriage was again celebrated； this
time with all the forms necessary for the occasion。 But Madame d'Elboeuf
had no cause to rejoice that she had succeeded in thus disposing of her
daughter。 The new Duchesse de Mantua was guarded by her husband with the
utmost jealousy。 She was not allowed to see anybody except her mother；
and that only for an hour each day。 Her women entered her apartment only
to dress and undress her。 The Duke walled up very high all the windows
of his house； and caused his wife to； be guarded by old women。 She
passed her days thus in a cruel prison。 This treatment； which I did not
expect； and the little consideration； not to say contempt； shown here for
M。 de Mantua since his departure； consoled me much for the invincible
obstinacy of Madame de Lesdiguieres。 Six months after； Madame d'Elboeuf
returned； beside herself with vexation； but too vain to show it。 She
disguised the misfortune of her daughter； and appeared to be offended if
it was spoken of； but all our letters from the army showed that the news
was true。 The strangest thing of all is； that the Lorraines after this
journey were as well treated by the King as if they had never undertaken
it； a fact which shows their art and ascendency。
I have dwelt too long perhaps upon this matter。 It appeared to me to
merit attention by its singularity； and still more so because it i