The War of Women Volume 2

that they were at liberty to choose between a peaceable and a forcible entry. The important question to be decided was whether it was better to have immediate possession of Bordeaux at a

ch men were to be used only to do the fighting. But Madame la Princesse declared that as Lenet was saddled upon her by her husband, she could not exclude him from the delib

passed in bringing Madame la Princesse around to the bellicose ideas which she was only too anxious to adop

should come up secretly with their army, that they should procure, by force or by persuasion, a go

e Tourville, by a détour, would accomplish her famous project of taking forcible possession of Bordeaux,

dame de Tourville with admiring exclamations. When s

e good enough now to su

er of rage or affection, of the people, a handful of weak women will be seen, intrepidly fulfilling their noble mission; a child in its mother's arms will appeal to the Parliament for protection.

a flag of truce to ?le Saint-Georges became more and more earnest, applauded; the captain of the guards, whose business it was to thirst f

by intuition and study, with the great civil and military question which engages our attention, I should assuredly be

ree with her entirely. Come, Vialas, give Monsieur le Duc d'Enghien t

e de Tourville, who was all swollen up with pride, began to lose confidence, in view of her v

he princess, "

ed more in harmony with the character of an august princess l

t anew, and brought back the smile to the lips of

orn foe, "while I adopt, I will not say simply without repugnance, but with enthusiasm, this p

and prepared for defence. Madame

ion with his hand as if as

nging of the bells, and the joyous acclamations of the people. But I haven't the confi

Lenet bowed even lower than before, and c

, which is so magnificent in other respects. I am of the opinion, expressed so eloquently by Madame de Tourville, that the young prince and his august mother should open up the way to the Parliament-house for us,-but by petition, not by arms. I think, in short, that it will be much better to move in that way the most savage hearts, than to co

sieur proposes, as usual, to demolish my plan, bit by

s Majesty's service named Dalvimar has arrived in the city from Blaye, whose mission is to arouse the officials and the people against her Highness. And I say that if Monsieur de Mazarin can put

eemed to make Madame

r Lenet," retorted Madame de Tourvil

ing himself up and marking time with his foot as if he were on the parade ground; he was

looking at him the while

Duc d'Enghien is necessary to our cause, and that with him dead or

upon a prince of seven years made himself, in reality, the commander-in-chief of the

lking with her in an undertone. Lenet saw that the battle was not yet wo

ould be so bent upon demolishin

o you, your Highness still desires to seek death with your son, you are at liberty to do so, and we will face death at your side; that is a very simple thing to do, and the first footman in your retinue, or the meanest scoundrel in the city will do as much.

, where we have on the one hand the name of Condé, and on the other two thousand of the men of Rocroy, Nordlingen, and Lens; and if we

nd Campania clad in mourning, holding a child by each hand, pale-cheeked, eyes red with tears and bent upon the ground, while the children sobbed and gazed imploringly around; whereat all who saw-and from Brundisium to Rome there were above two million people-burst into tears, broke forth in threats and imprecations, and her cause was won, not at Rome alone, but before all Italy; not only in the judgment of her contemporaries, but in that of posterity; for she met with no shadow of resistance to her tears and lamentations

urville took refuge in a corner of the room, veiling herself like an antique statue. Madame de Cambes, who had found a friend in Lenet, repaid him for hi

ld my hand, and dre

et, that it has always been my intention to present

ambes, "as black is so wondrou

dame de Tourville will cry it loud enough,

adies of the escort were ordered to make their preparations. The young prince was dressed in a

icity. In order to resemble Agrippina, by whom she was determined to take

h partisans of Madame la Princesse, who were anxious to know, before she entered the city, what sort of entry would be most agreeable to her. Lenet, like a modern theatrical manager, suggested

t, on the other hand, the partisans of the Condés were not idle, and early in the morning the people, at their instigation, assembled in crowds amid shouts of, "Vive Madame la Princesse! Vive Monsieur le Duc d'Enghien!" and cut down the gates with axes; so that there was, finally, no opposition to this famous e

e city replied. Plowers fell in showers from the windows, and were stretched in festoons across the street, so that the pavements were strewn with them and the air laden with their perfume. Loud acclamat

er because she feared to weary him, or so that he might not be buried under the roses; he was carried by his gentleman-in-wai

the lovely child who wept so charmingly, and the old magistrates were moved to tears by the words of the litt

ion; fists, stones, and even halberds enjoined discretion upon them, a

t might bring forgetfulness of the resolution of the preceding day. She was walking along, as we have said, hustled and crowded by the adoring people, inundated with flowers and respectful caresses, shuddering with the fear of being t

wn thought. "You succeed always in enforcing your opinion, and your advice is al

at you have no reason to complain, as the onl

w s

t you should try to t

ll I be allowed to

if you promi

oo likely to fulfil your

h the b

fully unde

or our two dukes and their army, who, I am free to say, although my opinion on that point comes dangerous

the art of war as Madame de Tourville, I had the impression that a p

ay is perfe

a flag of truce to

cert

leave to carry t

s dilated i

Why, have all our la

him, dear Mon

can happen to us would be

agreed

es

ise me on

is t

r sex or rank of the flag of truce

et, giving Madame

hall I

you ch

morr

row let

absence to her Highness on the ground of indisposition. Bid the coachman drive me to the apartments assigned me. I will make my preparations, and reflect upon how I can best accomp

auld was upon the point of deserting Madame de Longueville for you; yo

ave any influence over Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld, dear Monsieur Lenet, I beg you

t, with a smile. "This evening I

to let me take Sai

since you

ut the dukes

another means of br

the coachman, Lenet smilingly took leave of he