CHAPTER VIII.
1616 Conference of Loudun--Venality of the Princes--Mutual concessions--Indisposition of M.de Conde--He signs the treaty--Concini is insulted by a citizen of Paris--The Court return to the capital--Schism in the cabal--The seals are transferred to M.du Vair--Disgrace of the ministers--Triumph of Concini--Mangot is appointed Secretary of State, and Barbin Minister of Finance--The young sovereigns---Court costumes--Anne of Austria and Marie de Medicis--Puerility of Louis XIII--The Marechal de Bouillon and the Duc de Mayenne return to Court--They seek to ruin Concini--The Prince de Conde effects a reconciliation with the Queen-mother--James I.sends an embassy to Paris to negotiate a marriage between the Prince of Wales and the Princesse Christine--Gorgeous reception at the Louvre--Court festivities--Concini returns to Paris--He is abandoned by the Prince de Conde--He is compelled to retire--His forebodings--He endeavours to induce Leonora to leave France--She refuses--Increasing influence of De Luynes--Death of Mademoiselle d'Ancre--Despair of Concini--Ambitious projects of the Prince de Conde--Devotion of Sully--His advice is disregarded--Popularity of Conde--Marie de Medicis resolves to arrest him--He disbelieves the rumour--The other Princes withdraw from the capital--The King is induced to sanction the arrest--Dissimulation of Louis XIII--Arrest of Conde--Fearless reply of M.du Vair--The Prince is conveyed to the Bastille--A batch of Marshals--Noble disinterestedness of Bassompierre--The Dowager Princess of Conde endeavours to excite the populace to rescue her son--The mob pillage the hotel of the Marechal d'Ancre--The Queen-mother negotiates with the Guises--The council of war--The seals are transferred from Du Vair to Mangot--Richelieu is appointed Secretary of State--Concini returns to Court--The Marechale d'Ancre becomes partially insane--Popular execration of the Italian favourites--Subtle policy of Richelieu--Threatening attitude assumed by the Princes..