I pardon you this time, but never address to me a similar discourse again if you wish that I should continue to love you." This was a thunderbolt for my father; the scales fell from his eyes; the idea of the King's timidity in love disappeared before the display of a virtue so pure and so triumphant.
My father's career was for a long time very successful, but unfortunately he had an enemy who brought it to an end.

This enemy was M.de Chavigny: he was secretary of state, and had also the war department.

Either from stupidity or malice he had left all the towns in Picardy badly supported; a circumstance the Spaniards knew well how to profit by when they took Corbie in 1636.

My father had an uncle who commanded in one of these towns, La Capelle, and who had several times asked for ammunition and stores without success.

My father spoke upon this subject to Chavigny, to the Cardinal de Richelieu, and to the King, but with no good effect.
La Capelle, left without resources, fell like the places around.