“Mademoiselle la Duchesse de Rohan,” answered the Pole.
The insinuating Mazarin, who availed himself of every opportunity to worm out secrets, and to make himself necessary by forced confidences, said, approaching the Queen:
“That comes very apropos, just as we were speaking of the crown of Poland.”
Marie, who was listening, could not hear this, and said to Madame de Guemenee, who was at her side:
“Is Monsieur de Chabot, then, King of Poland?”
The Queen heard that, and was delighted at this touch of pride. In order to develop its germ, she affected an approving attention to the conversation that ensued.
The Princesse de Guemenee exclaimed:
“Can you conceive such a marriage? We really can’t get it out of our heads. This same Mademoiselle de Rohan, whom we have seen so haughty, after having refused the Comte de Soissons, the Duc de Weimar, and the Duc de Nemours, to marry Monsieur de Chabot, a simple gentleman! ‘Tis really a sad pity! What are we coming to? ‘Tis impossible to say what it will all end in.”
“What! can it be true? Love at court! a real love affair! Can it be believed?”
All this time the Queen continued opening and shutting and playing with the new crown.