All these different cabals were full of emulation and envy towards one
another; the ladies, who composed them, had their jealousies also among
themselves, either as to favour or lovers: the interests of ambition
were often blended with concerns of less importance, but which did not
affect less sensibly; so that in this Court there was a sort of tumult
without disorder, which made it very agreeable, but at the same time
very dangerous for a young lady. Madam de Chartres perceived the
danger, and was careful to guard her daughter from it; she entreated
her, not as a mother, but as her friend, to impart to her all the
gallantry she should meet withal, promising her in return to assist her
in forming her conduct right, as to things in which young people are
oftentimes embarrassed.
The Chevalier de Guise was so open and unguarded with respect to his
passion for Mademoiselle de Chartres, that nobody was ignorant of it:
nevertheless he saw nothing but impossibilities in what he desired; he
was sensible that he was not a proper match for Mademoiselle de
Chartres, by reason of the narrowness of his fortune, which was not
sufficient to support his dignity; and he was sensible besides, that
his brothers would not approve of his marrying, the marriages of
younger brothers being looked upon as what tends to the lessening great
families; the Cardinal of Loraine soon convinced him, that he was not
mistaken; he condemned his attachment to Mademoiselle de Chartres with
warmth, but did not inform him of his true reasons for so doing; the
Cardinal, it seems, had a hatred to the Viscount, which was not known
at that time, but afterwards discovered itself; he would rather have
consented to any other alliance for his brother than to that of the
Viscount; and he declared his aversion to it in so public a manner,
that Madam de Chartres was sensibly disgusted at it. She took a world
of pains to show that the Cardinal of Loraine had nothing to fear, and
that she herself had no thoughts of this marriage; the Viscount
observed the same conduct, and resented that of the Cardinal more than
Madam de Chartres did, being better apprised of the cause of it.
The Prince of Cleves had not given less public proofs of his love, than
the Chevalier de Guise had done, which made the Duke of Nevers very
uneasy; however he thought that he needed only to speak to his son, to
make him change his conduct; but he was very much surprised to find him
in a settled design of marrying Mademoiselle de Chartres, and flew out
into such excesses of passion on that subject, that the occasion of it
was soon known to the whole Court, and among others to Madam de
Chartres: she never imagined that the Duke of Nevers would not think
her daughter a very advantageous match for his son, nor was she a
little astonished to find that the houses both of Cleves and Guise
avoided her alliance, instead of courting it. Her resentment on this
account put her upon finding out a match for her daughter, which would
raise her above those that imagined themselves above her; after having
looked about, she fixed upon the Prince Dauphin, son of the Duke de
Montpensier, one of the most considerable persons then at Court. As
Madam de Chartres abounded in wit, and was assisted by the Viscount,
who was in great consideration, and as her daughter herself was a very
considerable match, she managed the matter with so much dexterity and
success, that Monsieur de Montpensier appeared to desire the marriage,
and there was no appearance of any difficulties in it.