Produced by David Widger
Written by Herself
Being the Historic Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV.
M. de Lauzun and Mademoiselle de Montpensier.—Marriage of the One and
Passion of the Other.—The King Settles a Match.—A Secret Union.—The
King Sends M. de Lauzun to Pignerol.—The Life He Leads
There.—Mademoiselle's Liberality.—Strange Way of Acknowledging It.
They are forever talking about the coquetry of women; men also have theircoquetry, but as they show less grace and finesse than we do, they do notget half as much attention.
The Marquis de Lauzun, having one day, noticed a certain kindly feelingfor him in the glances of Mademoiselle, endeavoured to seem to her everyday more fascinating and agreeable. The foolish Princess completely fellinto the snare, and suddenly giving up her air of noble indifference,which till then had made her life happy, she fell madly in love with aschemer who despised and detested her.
Held back for some months by her pride, as also by the exigencies ofetiquette, she only disclosed her sentimental passion by glances and amutual exchange of signs of approval; but at last she was tired ofself-restraint and martyrdom, and, detaining M. de Lauzun one day in arecess, she placed her written offer of marriage in his hand.
The cunning Marquis feigned astonishment, pretending humbly to renouncesuch honour, while increasing his wiles and fascinations; he even went sofar as to shed tears, his most difficult feat of all.
Mademoiselle de Montpensier, older than he by twelve or fourteen years,never suspected that such a disparity of years was visible in her face.When one has been pretty, one imagines that one is still so, and willforever remain so. Plastered up and powdered, consumed by passion, andabove all, blinded by vanity, she fancied that Nature had to obeyprinces, and that, to favour her, Time would stay his flight.
Though tired and bored with everything, Lauzun, the better to excite herpassion, put on timid, languid airs, like those of some lad fresh fromschool. Quitting the embraces of some other woman, he played the lonely,pensive, melancholy bachelor, the man absorbed by this sweet, new mysteryof love.
Having made mutual avowal of their passion, which was fill of esteem,Lauzun inquired, merely from motives of caution, as to the Princess'sfortune; and she did not fail to tell him everything, even about herplate and jewels. Lauzun's love grew even more ardent now, for she hadat least forty millions, not counting her palace.
He asked if, by the marriage, he would become a prince, and she repliedthat she, herself, had not sufficient power to do this; that she was mostanxious to arrange this, if she could; but anyhow, that she could makehim Duc de Montpensier, with a private uncontrolled income of fivehundred thousand livres.
He asked if, on the family coat-of-arms, the husband's coronet was tofigure, or the wife's; but, as she would not change her name, her arms,she decided, could remain as heretofore,—the crown, the fleur-de-lis,and so forth.
He inquired if the children of the marriage would rank as princes, andshe said that she saw nothing to prevent this. He also asked if he wouldbe raised higher in the peerage, and might look to being made a prince atlast, and styled Highness as soon as the contract had been signed.
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