es to wait on the
older nuns, replacing their own servants.

For a year and a half Angelique struggled patiently to soften the hearts
of the Maubuisson 'ladies,' but without success, and her courage and
spirits began to fail her. Then, in September 1619, an event occurred
which, unpleasant though it was, brought her back to her old self, and
this was the sudden return of madame d'Estrees.

At six o'clock one morning the late abbess, who had managed to escape
from the convent where she had been imprisoned, unexpectedly appeared as
the nuns were on their way to church, having been let in secretly by one
of the sisters.

'Madame,' she said to Angelique, 'I have to thank you for the care you
have taken of my abbey, and to request that you will go back to yours.'

'There is nothing I long for more, madame,' replied Angelique, 'but I
have been placed here by the abbot of Citeaux, our superior, and I
cannot leave without his permission.' Upon this madame d'Estrees
declared that she was abbess and would take her proper position; but
Angelique, merely asserting that the king and the abbot had placed her
there, and there she must stay, walked calmly to her own seat, while
madame d'Estrees, not having made up her mind what to do, went off to
see her own nuns, who seldom were present at the early service.

By command of Angelique, everything went on as usual in the abbey,
except that the keys of all the doors had been given up to her. But
after dinner, to her great surprise, the chaplain came to her and
informed her that it was her duty to give way to force, and that if she
did not do so quietly the armed men whom madame d'Estrees had left
outside the walls would thrust her out. The abbess replied that she
could not forsake her charge; but she had hardly spoken when, to her
amazement, five soldiers with naked swords advanced towards her, and
threatened her with violence if she did not do as they wished. But no
Arnauld ever submitted to bullying, and Angelique repeated her words,
and said that nothing but force could make her quit her post.

While this conversation was going on the novices, terrified at what
might be happening to their abbess, crowded round in order to protect
her. They were all very much excited, and when madame d'Estrees, who had
entered also, happened to touch Angelique's veil, one of the young nuns
turned to her and cried out indignantly:

'Wretched woman! Would you dare to pull off the veil of madame de