按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sorry；〃 said she regretfully； 〃but； alas； I have no other name to give him！ 〃His majesty took the hint； and soon after bestowed on him that of Charles Beauclerk； and created him Baron of Heddington； in Oxon； and Earl of Burford in the same county； and finally； when he had reached the age of ten years； raised him to the dignity of Duke of St。 Albans。
After a reign of five years in the court of the merry monarch； her Grace of Portsmouth was destined to encounter a far more formidable rival than Nell Gwynn； in the person of the Duchess of Mazarine。 This lady； on her arrival in England in 1675； possessed most of the charms which had rendered her notable in youth。 To the attraction they lent was added an interest arising from her personal history； in which King Charles had once figured； and to which fate had subsequently added many pages of romance。
Hortensia Mancini； afterwards Duchess of Mazarine； was descendant of a noble Roman family； and niece of the great Julius Mazarine； cardinal of the church； and prime minister of France。 Her parents dying whilst she； her sister and brother were young； they had been reared under the care of his eminence。 According to the memoirs of the duchess； the cardinal's peace must have frequently been put to flight by his charges； whose conduct； he declared； exhibited neither piety nor honour。 Mindful of this； he placed his nieces under the immediate supervision of Madame de Venelle； who was directed to have the closest guard over them。 A story related by the duchess shows in what manner this lady's duty was carried out； and what unexpected results attended it on one occasion。
When the court visited Lyons； in the year 1658； the cardinal's nieces and their governess lodged in a commodious mansion in one of the public squares。 〃Our chamber windows； which opened towards the market…place；〃 writes Hortensia； 〃were low enough for one to get in with ease。 Madame de Venelle was so used to her trade of watching us； that she rose even in her sleep to see what we were doing。 One night； as my sister lay asleep with her mouth open； Madame de Venelle； after her accustomed manner； coming； asleep as she was； to grope in the dark； happened to thrust her finger into her mouth so far that my sister； starting out of her sleep； made her teeth almost meet in her finger。 Judge you the amazement they both were in to find themselves in this posture when they were thoroughly awake。 My sister was in a grievous fret。 The story was told the king the next day； and the court had the divertisement of laughing at it。〃
Whilst the great minister's nieces were yet extremely young； Louis XIV。 fell passionately in love with the elder； Maria； and his marriage with her was frustrated only by the united endeavours of the queen mother and the cardinal。 A proposal to raise Hortensia to the nominal dignity of queen was soon after made on behalf of Charles II。； who sought her as his bride。 But he being at the time an exile； banished from his kingdom； and with little hope of regaining his throne； the offer was rejected by Cardinal Mazarine as unworthy of his favourite niece。
His eminence was； however； anxious to see her married； and accordingly sought amongst the nobility of France a husband suitable to her merits and equal to her condition； she being not only a beautiful woman but； through his bounty； the richest heiress in Christendom。 It happened the cardinal's choice settled upon one who had fallen in love with Hortensia； and who had declared； with amorous enthusiasm； that if he had but the happiness of being married to her； it would not grieve him to die three months afterwards。
The young noble was Armand Charles de la Porte； Duke de Meilleraye； who had the sole recommendation of being one of the richest peers of France。 On condition that he and his heirs should assume the name of Mazarine and arms of that house； the cardinal consented to his becoming the husband of his niece。 And the great minister's days rapidly approaching their end； the ceremony was performed which made Hortensia； then at the age of thirteen； Duchess of Mazarine。 A few months later the great cardinal expired； leaving her the sum of one million six hundred and twenty…five thousand pounds sterling。 Alas that she should have died in poverty； and that her body should have been seized for debt！
Scarce had the first weeks of her married life passed away； when the young wife found herself mated to one wholly unsuited to her character。 She was beautiful； witty； and frivolous； he jealous； dull； and morose。 The incompatibility of their dispositions became as discernible to him； as they had become intolerable to her； and； as if to avenge the fate which had united them； he lost no opportunity of thwarting her desires； by such means striving to bend her lissom quality to the gnarled shape of his unhappy nature。
With such a purpose in view no opportunity was neglected to curb her pleasures or oppose her inclinations。 He continually forced her to leave Paris； and even when her condition required rest and care； compelled her to accompany him on long and weary journeys； undertaken by him in consequence of his diplomatic missions。 If she received two successive visits from one man； he was instantly forbidden the house。 If she called her carriage； the coachman received orders not to obey。 If she betrayed a preference for one maid more than another； the favourite was instantly dismissed； moreover； the duchess was surrounded by spies； her movements being rigorously watched； and invariably reported。 Nor would the duke vouchsafe an explanation to his young wife regarding the cause of this severe treatment； but continued the even course of such conduct without intermission or abatement。
After displaying these eccentricities for some years； they suddenly associated themselves with religion； when he became a fanatic。 Her condition was now less endurable than before； his whims more ludicrous and exasperating。 With solemnity he declared no one could in conscience visit the theatre； that it was a sin to play blind man's buff； and a heinous crime to retire to bed late。 And presently； his fanaticism increasing； he prohibited the woman who nursed his infant to suckle it on Fridays or Saturdays； that instead of imbibing milk； it might； in its earliest life； become accustomed to fasting and mortification of the flesh。
The young duchess grew hopeless of peace。 All day her ears were beset by harangues setting forth her wickedness； by exortations calling her to repentance； and by descriptions of visions vouchsafed him。 By night her condition was rendered scarcely less miserable。 〃No sooner；〃 says St。 Evremond； 〃were her eyes closed； than Monsieur Mazarine （who had the devil always present in his black imagination） wakes his best beloved； to make her partakeryou will never be able to guess of whatto make her partaker of his nocturnal visions。 Flambeaux are lighted； and search is made everywhere； but no spectre does Madame Mazarine find； except that which lay by her in the bed。〃
The distresses to which she was subjected were increased by the knowledge that her husband was squandering her vast fortune。 In what manner the money was spent she does