The two Princesses were at Chantilly, and rumours reached us that the
younger lady was about to attempt something for the deliverance of he
husband, and thereupon M. d'Aubepine became frantic to join them, and
to share in their councils. We tried to convince her that she could
be of no use, but no--suppose they were going to raise their vassals,
she could do the same by those of d'Aubepine, and she, who had
hitherto been the most timid and helpless of beings, now rose into
strong resolution and even daring. It was in vain that I represented
to her that to raise one's vassals to make war on the King was rank
rebellion. To her there was only one king--the husband who deserved
so little from her. She had given him her whole devotion, soul and
body, and was utterly incapable of seeing anything else. And Madame
Croquelebois, being equally devoted to M. le Comte, was thus more in
her confidence than we were. She told us at last with a thousand
thanks that she had resolved on offering her services to the
Princesses, and that she should send the children with Madame
Croquelebois into Anjou; where she thought they would be safer than
at Paris. We were sorry, but there was a determination now in our
little Cecile that made her quite an altered woman. So she repaired
to Montroud, where the younger Princess of Conde had retired, and was
acting by the advice of M. Lenet, the Prince's chief confidant.
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