the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第2节
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As I knew she had a sister worth above 80；000 livres a year； I； that very instant； thought of a double match。 I had no hopes they would think of me； knowing how things stood； so I was resolved to provide for myself。
Having got a hint that my father did not intend to carry me to the wedding； as； foreseeing； it may be； what happened； I pretended to be better pleased with my profession； to be touched by what my father had so often laid before me on that subject； and I acted my part so well that they believed I was quite another man。
My father resolved to carry me into Brittany； for the reason that I had shown no inclination that way。 We found Mademoiselle de Retz at Beaupreau； in Anjou。 I looked on the eldest only as my sister； but immediately considered Mademoiselle de Scepaux （so the youngest was called） as my mistress。
I thought her very handsome； her complexion the most charming in the world； lilies and roses in abundance； admirable eyes； a very pretty mouth； and what she wanted in stature was abundantly made up by the prospect of 80；000 livres a year and of the Duchy of Beaupreau； and by a thousand chimeras which I formed on these real foundations。
I played my game nicely from the beginning； and acted the ecclesiastic and the devotee both in the journey and during my stay there； nevertheless； I paid my sighs to the fair one；she perceived it。 I spoke at last； and she heard me； but not with that complacency which I could have wished。
But observing she had a great kindness for an old chambermaid； sister to one of my monks of Buzai； I did all I could to gain her； and by the means of a hundred pistoles down； and vast promises； I succeeded。 She made her mistress believe that she was designed for a nunnery； and I； for my part； told her that I was doomed to nothing less than a monastery。 She could not endure her sister； because she was her father's darling； and I was not overfond of my brother；＇Pierre de Gondi； Duc de Retz； who died in 1676。＇ for the same reason。 This resemblance in our fortunes contributed much to the uniting of our affections； which I persuaded myself were reciprocal； and I resolved to carry her to Holland。
Indeed； there was nothing more easy； for Machecoul； whither we were come from Beaupreau； was no more than half a league from the sea。 But money was the only thing wanting； for my treasury； was so drained by the gift of the hundred pistoles above mentioned that I had not a sou left。 But I found a supply by telling my father that； as the farming of my abbeys was taxed with the utmost rigour of the law； so I thought myself obliged in conscience to take the administration of them into my own hands。 This proposal； though not pleasing； could not be rejected； both because it was regular and because it made him in some measure believe that I would not fail to keep my benefices； since I was willing to take care of them。 I went the next day to let Buzai；＇One of his abbeys。＇ which is but five leagues from Machecoul。 I treated with a Nantes merchant； whose name was Jucatieres； who took advantage of my eagerness； and for 4；000 crowns ready money got a bargain that made his fortune。 I thought I had 4；000；000； and was just securing one of the Dutch pinks； which are always in the road of Retz； when the following accident happened； which broke all my measures。
Mademoiselle de Retz （for she had taken that name after her sister's marriage） had the finest eyes in the world； and they never were so beautiful as when she was languishing in love； the charms of which I never yet saw equalled。 We happened to dine at a lady's house； a league from Machecoul； where Mademoiselle de Retz； looking in the glass at an assembly of ladies； displayed all those tender； lively； moving airs which the Italians call 'morbidezza'； or the lover's languish。 But unfortunately she was not aware that Palluau； since Marechal de Clerambaut； was behind her； who observed her airs； and being very much attached to Madame de Retz； with whom he had in her tender years been very familiar； told her faithfully what he had observed。
Madame de Retz； who mortally hated her sister； disclosed it that very night to her father； who did not fail to impart it to mine。 The next morning； at the arrival of the post from Paris； all was in a hurry； my father pretending to have received very pressing news； and； after our taking a slight though public leave of the ladies； my father carried me to sleep that night at Nantes。 I was； as you may imagine； under very great surprise and concern； for I could not guess the cause of this sudden departure。 I had nothing to reproach myself with upon the score of my conduct； neither had I the least suspicion that Palluau had seen anything more than ordinary till I arrived at Orleans； where the matter was cleared up； for my brother； to prevent my escape； which I vainly attempted several times on my journey； seized my strong box； in which was my money； and then I understood that I was betrayed； in what grief； then； I arrived at Paris； I leave you to imagine。
I found there Equilli； Vasse's uncle； and my first cousin； who； I daresay； was one of the most honest men of his time； and loved me from his very soul。 I apprised him of my design to run away with Mademoiselle de Retz。 He heartily approved of my project； not only because it would be a very advantageous match for me； but because he was persuaded that a double alliance was necessary to secure the establishment of the family。
The Cardinal de Richelieu ＇Armand Jean du Plesais； Cardinal de Richelieu； was born in 1585； and died in 1642。＇ （then Prime Minister） mortally hated the Princesse de Guemenee； because he was persuaded she had crossed his amours with the Queen；＇Anne of Austria； eldest daughter of Philip HL； King of Spain； and wife of Louis XIII。； died 1666。＇ and had a hand in the trick played him by Madame du Fargis； one of the Queen's dressing women； who showed her Majesty （Marie de Medicis） a love… letter written by his Eminence to the Queen； her daughter…in…law。 The Cardinal pushed his resentment so far that he attempted to force the Marechal de Breze； his brother…in…law； and captain of the King's Life… guards； to expose Madame de Guemenee's letters； which were found in M。 de Montmorency's＇Henri de Montmorency was apprehended on the 1st of September； 1632； and beheaded in Toulouse in November of the same year。＇ coffer when he was arrested at Chateau Naudari。 But the Marechal de Breze had so much honour and generosity as to return them to Madame de Guemenee。 He was； nevertheless； a very extravagant gentleman； but the Cardinal de Richelieu； perceiving he had been formerly honoured by some kind of relation to him； and dreading his angry excursions and preachments before the King； who had some consideration for his person； bore with him very patiently for the sake of settling peace in his own family； which he passionately longed to unite and establish； but which was the only thing out of his power； who could do whatever else he pleased in France。 For the Marechal de Breze had conceived so strong an aversion to M。 de La Meilleraye； who was then Grand Master of the Artillery； and afterwards Marechal de La Meilleraye； that he could not endure him。 He did not imagine that the Cardinal would ever look upon a man who； though his first cousin； was of a mean extraction； had a most contemptible aspect； and； if fame says true； not one extraordinary good quality。
The Cardinal was of another mind； and had a great opinionindeed； with abundance of reasonof M。 de La Meilleraye's courage； but he esteemed his military capacity infinitely too much； though in truth it was not contemptible。 In a word； he designed him for that post which we have since seen so gloriously filled by M。 de Turenne。
You may； by what has been said； judge of the divisions that were in Cardinal de Richelieu's family； and how much he was concerned to appease them。 He laboured at them with great application； and for this end thought he could not do better than to unite these two heads of the faction in a close confidence with himself； exclusive of all others。 To this end he used them jointly and in common as the confidants of his amours； which certainly were neither suitable to the lustre of his actions nor the grandeur of his life； for Marion de Lorme； one of his mistresses； was little better than a common prostitute。 Another of his concubines was Madame de Fruges； that old gentlewoman who was so often seen sauntering in the enclosure。 The first used to come to his apartment in the daytime； and he went by night to visit the other； who was but the pitiful cast…off of Buckingham and Epienne。 The two confidants introduced him there in coloured clothes； for they had made up a hasty peace； to which Madame de Guemenee nearly fell a sacrifice。
M。 de La Meilleraye； whom they called the Grand Master； was in love with Madame de Guemenee； but she could not love him； and he being； both in his own nature and by reason of his great favour with the Cardinal； the most imperious man living； took it very ill that he was not beloved。 He complained； but the lady was insensible； he huffed and bounced； but was laughed to scorn。 He thought he had her in his power because the Cardinal； to whom he had declared
