been, alike for himself and for the
nation generally, had he suffered his better judgment on this occasion
to assume the ascendant, and misdoubted, as he well might, the tears and
protestations of so interested a person; particularly, when he could not
fail to remember that he had been deceived even by Gabrielle d'Estrees,
whom he had overwhelmed with riches and honours, and who had voluntarily
given herself to him when he was young and handsome; whereas he was now
in the decline of life, and was suing for the love of one so much his
junior. Unfortunately, however, reason waged a most unequal warfare with
passion in the breast of the French sovereign; and voluntarily
overlooking alike the enormity of the demand, and the circumstances
under which it was made, he at once despatched an order to the
finance-minister to supply the required sum. Sully had no alternative
save obedience; he did not even venture upon expostulation; but he did
better. When admitted to the royal closet, he alluded in general terms
to the extreme difficulty which he anticipated in raising the required
amount of four millions for the renewal of the Swiss alliance; and then,
approaching the table beside which the King was seated, he proceeded
slowly and ostentatiously to count the hundred thousand crowns destined
to satisfy the cupidity of Mademoiselle d'Entragues. He had been careful
to cause the whole amount to be delivered in silver; and it was not,
therefore, without an emotion which he failed to conceal, that Henry saw
the numerous piles of money which gradually rose before him and
overspread the table.

Nevertheless, although he could not control an exclamation of
astonishment, he made no effort to retrieve his error; but, after the
departure of M. de Sully, placed the required amount in the hands of the
Comte de Lude, who hastened to transfer it to those of the frail beauty.
It was not until after the receipt of this enormous present that the
Marquis d'Entragues and his step-son[71] affected to suspect the design
of the King, and upbraided M. de Lude with the part which he had acted,
desiring him never again to enter a house which he sought only to
dishonour; an accusation which, from the lips of the husband of Marie
Touchet, was a mere epigram. He, however, followed up this demonstration
by removing his daughter from Malesherbes to Marcoussis, although with
what intention it is difficult to determine, as the King at once
proceeded thither, an