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С˵£º the princess de montpensier ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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attitude¡¡to¡¡suitors¡¡and¡¡above¡¡all¡¡to¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡he¡¡owed¡¡to¡¡the
confidence¡¡and¡¡friendship¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡her¡¡husband¡£¡¡The¡¡Comte
was¡¡overwhelmed¡¡by¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡distress¡£¡¡She¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡console¡¡him
by¡¡assuring¡¡him¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡forget¡¡entirely¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just
said¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡would¡¡always¡¡look¡¡on¡¡him¡¡as¡¡her¡¡best¡¡friend£»
assurances¡¡which¡¡were¡¡small¡¡consolation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Comte¡¡as¡¡one¡¡might
imagine¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡disdain¡¡which¡¡was¡¡implicit¡¡in¡¡all¡¡that¡¡the
Princess¡¡had¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡her¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡with¡¡her¡¡customary
untroubled¡¡looks¡¡redoubled¡¡his¡¡misery¡£

The¡¡Princess¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡show¡¡him¡¡the¡¡same¡¡goodwill¡¡as¡¡before
and¡¡even¡¡discussed¡¡her¡¡former¡¡attachment¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise£»
saying¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡pleased¡¡that¡¡his¡¡increasing¡¡fame¡¡showed¡¡that
he¡¡was¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡affection¡¡she¡¡had¡¡once¡¡had¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡These
demonstrations¡¡of¡¡confidence£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡once¡¡so¡¡dear¡¡to¡¡the
Comte£»¡¡he¡¡now¡¡found¡¡insupportable£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡say¡¡as
much¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Princess£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡did¡¡sometimes¡¡remind¡¡her¡¡of¡¡what
he¡¡had¡¡so¡¡rashly¡¡confessed¡¡to¡¡her¡£

After¡¡an¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡two¡¡years£»¡¡peace¡¡having¡¡been¡¡declared£»¡¡the
Prince¡¡de¡¡Montpensier¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡his¡¡renown¡¡enhanced
by¡¡his¡¡behaviour¡¡at¡¡the¡¡siege¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡and¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡of
St¡£Denis¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Princess
blooming¡¡in¡¡such¡¡perfection£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡of¡¡a¡¡naturally¡¡jealous
disposition¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡put¡¡out¡¡of¡¡humour¡¡by¡¡the¡¡realisation
that¡¡this¡¡beauty¡¡would¡¡be¡¡displayed¡¡to¡¡others¡¡beside¡¡himself¡£¡¡He
was¡¡delighted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡once¡¡more¡¡the¡¡Comte£»¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡his¡¡affection
was¡¡in¡¡no¡¡way¡¡diminished¡£¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡for¡¡confidential¡¡details
about¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡character¡¡and¡¡temperament£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡a
stranger¡¡to¡¡him¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡time¡¡during¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had
lived¡¡together¡£¡¡The¡¡Comte£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡sincerity£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he
himself¡¡were¡¡not¡¡enamoured£»¡¡told¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡everything¡¡he¡¡knew
about¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡which¡¡would¡¡encourage¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡love¡¡of
her£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡also¡¡suggested¡¡to¡¡Madame¡¡de¡¡Montpensier¡¡all¡¡the
measures¡¡she¡¡might¡¡take¡¡to¡¡win¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡her
spouse¡£¡¡The¡¡Comte's¡¡devotion¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡what
would¡¡increase¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡and¡¡well¡­being¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡and
to¡¡forget¡¡without¡¡difficulty¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡which¡¡lovers¡¡usually
have¡¡in¡¡stirring¡¡up¡¡trouble¡¡between¡¡the¡¡objects¡¡of¡¡their
affection¡¡and¡¡their¡¡marital¡¡partners¡£

The¡¡peace¡¡was¡¡only¡¡shortlived¡£¡¡War¡¡soon¡¡broke¡¡out¡¡again¡¡by¡¡reason
of¡¡a¡¡plot¡¡by¡¡the¡¡King¡¡to¡¡arrest¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡de¡¡Condee¡¡and¡¡Admiral
Chatillon¡¡at¡¡Noyers¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡military¡¡preparations¡¡the
Prince¡¡de¡¡Montpensier¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡report¡¡for
duty¡£¡¡Chabannes£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡restored¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡favour£»
went¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡without¡¡much¡¡sorrow¡¡that¡¡he¡¡left¡¡the
Princess£»¡¡while¡¡she£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡part£»¡¡was¡¡distressed¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the
perils¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡war¡¡might¡¡expose¡¡her¡¡husband¡£

The¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Huguenots¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡La¡¡Rochelle¡£¡¡They¡¡held
Poitou¡¡and¡¡Saintongne£»¡¡the¡¡war¡¡flared¡¡up¡¡again¡¡and¡¡the¡¡King
assembled¡¡all¡¡his¡¡troops¡£¡¡His¡¡brother£»¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou£»¡¡who¡¡later
became¡¡Henri¡¡III£»¡¡distinguished¡¡himself¡¡by¡¡his¡¡deeds¡¡in¡¡various
actions£»¡¡amongst¡¡others¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡of¡¡Jarnac£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Prince
de¡¡Condee¡¡was¡¡killed¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡during¡¡this¡¡fighting¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de
Guise¡¡began¡¡to¡¡play¡¡a¡¡more¡¡important¡¡part¡¡and¡¡to¡¡display¡¡some¡¡of
the¡¡great¡¡qualities¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡expected¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡Prince¡¡de
Montpensier£»¡¡who¡¡hated¡¡him£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡as¡¡a¡¡personal¡¡enemy¡¡but¡¡as
an¡¡enemy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family£»¡¡the¡¡Bourbons£»¡¡took¡¡no¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡his
successes¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡friendliness¡¡shown¡¡toward¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Duc
d'Anjou¡£

After¡¡the¡¡two¡¡armies¡¡had¡¡tired¡¡themselves¡¡out¡¡in¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of
minor¡¡actions£»¡¡by¡¡common¡¡consent¡¡they¡¡were¡¡stood¡¡down¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡£
The¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡stayed¡¡at¡¡Loches¡¡to¡¡restore¡¡to¡¡order¡¡all¡¡the
places¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡attacked¡£¡¡The¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise¡¡stayed¡¡with¡¡him
and¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡de¡¡Montpensier£»¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Comte¡¡de
Chabannes£»¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Champigny£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡not¡¡far¡¡away¡£

The¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡frequently¡¡went¡¡to¡¡inspect¡¡places¡¡where
fortifications¡¡were¡¡being¡¡constructed¡£¡¡One¡¡day¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was
returning¡¡to¡¡Loches¡¡by¡¡a¡¡route¡¡which¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡well£»
the¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise£»¡¡who¡¡claimed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡head
of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡to¡¡act¡¡as¡¡guide£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡¡he¡¡became¡¡lost¡¡and
arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡river¡¡which¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡recognise¡£
The¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡had¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡him¡¡for¡¡leading¡¡them
astray£»¡¡but¡¡while¡¡they¡¡were¡¡held¡¡up¡¡there¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡little¡¡boat
floating¡¡on¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡in¡¡whichthe¡¡river¡¡not¡¡being¡¡very¡¡wide
they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡figures¡¡of¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡women£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡whom£»
very¡¡pretty¡¡and¡¡sumptuously¡¡dressed£»¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡with¡¡interest
the¡¡activities¡¡of¡¡two¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡fishing¡¡nearby¡£

This¡¡spectacle¡¡created¡¡something¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sensation¡¡amongst¡¡the
Princes¡¡and¡¡their¡¡suite¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡them¡¡like¡¡an¡¡episode¡¡from¡¡a
romance¡£¡¡Some¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡fate¡¡that¡¡had¡¡led¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de
Guise¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡them¡¡there¡¡to¡¡see¡¡this¡¡lovely¡¡lady£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they
should¡¡now¡¡pay¡¡court¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡maintained¡¡that¡¡it
was¡¡he¡¡who¡¡should¡¡be¡¡her¡¡suitor¡£

To¡¡push¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡further£»¡¡they¡¡made¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horsemen
go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡and¡¡shout¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡that
it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡who¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡bank¡¡and
who¡¡begged¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡in¡¡her¡¡boat¡£¡¡The¡¡lady£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡of
course¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡de¡¡Montpensier£»¡¡hearing¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Duc
d'Anjou£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡when¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡his¡¡suite
that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡him£»¡¡took¡¡her¡¡boat¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡where¡¡he
was¡£¡¡His¡¡fine¡¡figure¡¡made¡¡him¡¡easily¡¡distinguishable¡¡from¡¡the
others£»¡¡she£»¡¡however£»¡¡distinguished¡¡even¡¡more¡¡easily¡¡the¡¡figure
of¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise¡£¡¡This¡¡sight¡¡disturbed¡¡her¡¡and¡¡caused¡¡her¡¡to
blush¡¡a¡¡little¡¡which¡¡made¡¡her¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Princes¡¡to¡¡have¡¡an
almost¡¡supernatural¡¡beauty¡£

The¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise¡¡recognised¡¡her¡¡immediately¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the
changes¡¡which¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡her¡¡appearance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡three
years¡¡since¡¡he¡¡had¡¡last¡¡seen¡¡her¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡who¡¡she
was¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡was¡¡at¡¡first¡¡embarrassed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡liberty¡¡he¡¡had
taken£»¡¡but¡¡then£»¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Princess's¡¡beauty£»¡¡he¡¡decided¡¡to
venture¡¡a¡¡little¡¡further£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡excuses¡¡and¡¡a
thousand¡¡compliments¡¡he¡¡invented¡¡a¡¡serious¡¡matter¡¡which¡¡required
his¡¡presence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡bank£»¡¡and¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡offer¡¡which
she¡¡made¡¡of¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡in¡¡her¡¡boat¡£¡¡He¡¡got¡¡in£»¡¡accompanied¡¡only¡¡by
the¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise£»¡¡giving¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡his¡¡suite¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡river
elsewhere¡¡and¡¡to¡¡join¡¡him¡¡at¡¡Champigny£»¡¡which¡¡Madame¡¡de
Montpensier¡¡told¡¡him¡¡was¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡leagues¡¡from¡¡there¡£

As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡what
they¡¡owed¡¡this¡¡so¡¡pleasant¡¡encounter¡£¡¡Madame¡¡de¡¡Montpensier
replied¡¡that¡¡¡¡having¡¡left¡¡Champigny¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡her¡¡husband
with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡following¡¡the¡¡hunt£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡become¡¡tired
and¡¡having¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bank¡¡she¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡to
watch¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡of¡¡a¡¡salmon¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡caught¡¡in¡¡a¡¡net¡£¡¡The
Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise¡¡did¡¡not¡¡take¡¡part¡¡in¡¡this¡¡conversation£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was
conscious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡re¡­awakening¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡emotions¡¡which¡¡the
Princess¡¡had¡¡once¡¡aroused¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he
would¡¡have¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡escaping¡¡from¡¡this¡¡meeting¡¡without
falling¡¡once¡¡more¡¡under¡¡her¡¡spell¡£

They¡¡arrived¡¡shortly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡where¡¡they¡¡found¡¡the¡¡Princess's
horses¡¡and¡¡her¡¡attendants¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡two
noblemen¡¡helped¡¡her¡¡onto¡¡her¡¡horse¡¡where¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡with¡¡the
greatest¡¡elegance¡£¡¡During¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Champigny¡¡they
talked¡¡agreeably¡¡about¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡subjects¡¡and¡¡her¡¡companions
were¡¡no¡¡less¡¡charmed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡conversation¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡by
her¡¡beauty¡£¡¡They¡¡offered¡¡her¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡compliments¡¡to¡¡which¡¡she
replied¡¡with¡¡becoming¡¡modesty£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡coolly¡¡to¡¡those
from¡¡M¡£de¡¡Guise£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡which
would¡¡prevent¡¡him¡¡from¡¡founding¡¡any¡¡expectations¡¡on¡¡the¡¡feelings
she¡¡had¡¡once¡¡had¡¡towards¡¡him¡£

When¡¡they¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡courtyard¡¡of¡¡Champigny¡¡they
encountered¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡de¡¡Montpensier£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡just¡¡returned¡¡from
the¡¡hunt¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡astonished¡¡to¡¡see¡¡two¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡company
of¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡even¡¡more¡¡astonished¡¡when£»¡¡on¡¡coming
closer£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡these¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de
Guise¡£¡¡The¡¡hatred¡¡which¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡for¡¡the¡¡latter£»¡¡combined¡¡with¡¡his
naturally¡¡jealous¡¡disposition¡¡made¡¡him¡¡find¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡these
two¡¡Princes¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡without¡¡knowing¡¡how¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡be
there¡¡or¡¡why¡¡they¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡his¡¡house£»¡¡so¡¡disagreeable¡¡that¡¡he
was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡his¡¡annoyance¡£¡¡He£»¡¡however£»¡¡adroitly¡¡put
this¡¡down¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡receive¡¡so¡¡mighty¡¡a¡¡Prince
as¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡brother¡¡in¡¡a¡¡style¡¡befitting¡¡his¡¡rank¡£¡¡The¡¡Comte¡¡de
Chabannes¡¡was¡¡even¡¡more¡¡upset¡¡at¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡de¡¡Guise¡¡and
Madame¡¡de¡¡Montpensier¡¡together¡¡than¡¡was¡¡her¡¡husband£»¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to
him¡¡a¡¡most¡¡evil¡¡chance¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡together
again£»¡¡an¡¡augury¡¡which¡¡foretold¡¡disturbing¡¡sequels¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡this
new¡¡beginning¡£

In¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡Madame¡¡de¡¡Montpensier¡¡acted¡¡as¡¡hostess¡¡with¡¡the
same¡¡grace¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡did¡¡everything¡£¡¡In¡¡fact¡¡she¡¡pleased¡¡her
guests¡¡a¡¡little¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡The¡¡Duc¡¡d'Anjou¡¡who¡¡was¡¡very¡¡handsome
and¡¡very¡¡much¡¡a¡¡ladies¡¡man£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡a¡¡prize¡¡so¡¡much¡¡worth
winning¡¡without¡¡wishing¡¡ardentl

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