d at once obtained an interview.

Little accustomed to indulge in a prodigality so reckless, Henry had
flattered himself that the affair was concluded; but such was by no
means the intention of the young lady and her family. Henriette, indeed,
received her royal lover with the most exaggerated assurances of
affection and gratitude; but she nevertheless persisted in declaring
that she was so closely watched as to be no longer mistress of her own
actions, and so intimidated by the threats of her father that she dared
not act in opposition to his will. In vain did the King remonstrate,
argue, and upbraid; the lady remained firm, affecting to bewail the
state of coercion in which she was kept, and entreating Henry to exert
his influence to overcome the repugnance of her family to their mutual
happiness. To his anger she opposed her tears; to his resentment, her
fascinations; and when at length she discovered that the royal patience
was rapidly failing, although her power over his feelings remained
unshaken, she ventured upon the last bold effort of her ambition, by
protesting to the infatuated sovereign that her father had remained deaf
to all her entreaties, and that the only concession which she could
induce him to make was one which she had not courage to communicate to
his Majesty. As she had, of course, anticipated, Henry at once desired
her to inform him of the nature of the fresh demand which was to be made
upon his tenderness; when, with well-acted reluctance, Mademoiselle
d'Entragues repeated a conversation that she had held with the Marquis,
at the close of which he had assured her that he would never consent to
see her the mistress of the King until she had received a written
promise of marriage under the royal hand, provided she became, within a
year, the mother of a son.

"In vain, Sire," she pursued hurriedly, as she perceived a cloud gather
upon the brow of the monarch--"in vain did I seek to overcome the
scruples of my parents, and represent to them the utter inutility of
such a document; they declared that they sought only to preserve the
honour of their house. And you well know, Sire," she continued with an
appealing smile, "that, as I ventured to remind them, your word is of
equal value with your signature, as no mere subject could dare to summon
a great king like yourself to perform any promise--you, who have fifty
thousand men at your command to enforce your will! But all my reasoning
was vain. Upon th