They were
in a strait between the King and their Duke's daughter, and they
proposed to her to go to some neighbouring house and pretend illness
until the royal forces should have passed by, when they would gladly
admit her.
Mademoiselle was not at all charmed by this proposal, and she
answered with spirit: 'I shall go straight to Orleans. If they shut
the gates I shall not be discouraged. Perseverance will gain the
day. If I enter the town my presence will restore the courage of all
who are well affected to His Royal Highness. When persons of my rank
expose themselves, the people are terribly animated, and they will
not yield to people of small resolution.'
So into the carriage she got, taking me with her, and laughing at all
who showed any alarm. Message upon message met us, supplicating her
not to come on, as she would not be admitted; but her head only went
higher and higher, all the more when she heard that the Keeper of the
Seals was actually at the gates, demanding entrance in the name of
the King.
About eleven o'clock we reached the Porte Banniere, and found it
closed and barricaded. The guards were called on to open to
Mademoiselle d'Orleans Montpensier, the daughter of their lord; but
all in vain, though she had not a soldier with her, and promised not
to bring in either of the Dukes of Nemours or Beaufort.
We waited three hours. Mademoiselle became tired of sitting in the
carriage, and we went to a little inn, where we had something to eat,
and, to our great amusement, the poor, perplexed Governor of the town
sent her some sweetmeats, by way, I suppose, of showing his helpless
good-will.
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