Chapter XVI

Condé proceeds to Bordeaux, where he is rejoined
by his relatives--He opens the campaign with
success, but is soon obliged to remain on the
defensive--Return of Mazarin--Condé on the Loire--Battle
of Bléneau--He leaves his army and proceeds to
Paris--His futile negotiations--Battle of the Faubourg
Saint-Antoine--Massacre of the Hôtel de Ville--The Fronde
grows daily more discredited--Condé quits Paris and joins
the Spaniards on the Flemish frontier--The Fronde at
Bordeaux--Sanguinary affrays between the _Ormée_ and the
_Chapeau Rouge_--Courage and presence of mind displayed
by the Princesse de Condé and Madame de Longueville in
separating the combatants--Surrender of Bordeaux--The
princess sails for Flanders to rejoin her husband--Her
reception at Valenciennes--She is cruelly neglected by
Condé--She removes from Valenciennes to Malines--Her
miserable existence--Condé applies to the Spanish Court
for financial assistance--Brilliant military qualities
displayed by him in the service of his country’s
enemies--The princess gives birth to a daughter--Peace of
the Pyrenees--Return of Condé and his wife to France 225–234

CHAPTER XVII

Arrival of Condé at the Court--His reception--He returns
to Paris--His ingratitude towards his wife--Dignified
behaviour of _Madame la Princesse_--Affectionate relations
between Condé and his son--Indifference of the young prince
towards his mother--Marriage of the Duc d’Enghien and Anne
of Bavaria--The affair of Poland--Condé’s conquest of
Franche-Comté--The mind of the Princesse de Condé becomes
affected--The footman Duval--Mysterious affair at the
Hôtel de Condé: the princess is wounded in a brawl between
Duval and the Comte de Bussy-Rabutin--Singular attitude of
_Monsieur le Prince_--Trial of Duval--Calumnies against
the Princesse de Condé: letter of Madame de Sevigné--The
princess is exiled to the Château of Châteauroux, in
Berry--Her departure: a touching scene--Her captivity--Her
hallucinations--Visit of Père Tixier 235–250

CHAPTER XVIII

Termination of Condé’s military career--His retirement at
Chantilly--His improvements of the château and estate--His
son, the Duc d’Enghien (_Monsieur le Duc_)--Portrait of
this prince by Saint-Simon--His tyrannical treatment of
his wife--His singular habits--Malicious practical joke
which he perpetrates on the Duc de Luxembourg--His amours
with the Duchesse de Nevers, the Marquise de Richelieu,
and the Comtesse de Marans--His natural daughter by Madame
de Marans legitimated and married to the Marquis de
Lassay--His lack of military capacity--His children--The
education of his only son, the Duc de Bourbon,
superintended by Condé--Marriage of the young prince to
Mlle. de Nantes, elder daughter of Louis XIV. and Madame de
Montespan--The wedding-night--Conversion of Condé--His last
illness--His death--His funeral oration by Bossuet--The
Princesse de Condé remains in captivity--Her death 251–268