He tried to argue me
into it by assuring me that the Prince would henceforth be all-
powerful in France, and that M. de Lamont was his protege, and that I
was not consulting my own interest, those of my son, or of my family,
by my refusal. When he found this ineffectual, he assured me
peremptorily that it was the Prince's will, to which I replied, 'That
may be, Monsieur, but it is not mine,' to which he replied that I was
Mademoiselle, but that I should repent it. I said M. le Prince was
not King of France, and I trusted that he never would be, so that I
did not see why I should be bound to obey his will and pleasure. At
which he looked so much as if I were uttering blasphemy that I could
not help laughing. I really believe, poor fellow, that M. le Prince
was more than a king to him, the god of his idolatry, and that all
his faults might be traced to his blind worship and imitation.
I was not even exempt from the persuasions or commands of the great
man himself, who was at that time dominating the councils of France,
and who apparently could not endure that one poor woman should resist
him. But he, being a Bourbon and a great captain to boot, set about
the thing with a better grace than did the rest. It was in this
manner. When peace, such as it was, was agreed upon, the Princes
came in to Paris, and of course they came to pay their visit of
ceremony to Queen Henrietta. It was when I happened to be present,
and before leaving her apartment, the Prince came to me, and bending
his curled head and eagle face, said, with a look and gesture clearly
unaccustomed to opposition: 'Madame, I understand that you persist in
cruelty to my friend, M.
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