The Duke of Savoy refused a passage to the royal army, which found the defile of Suza Pass fortified with three barricades.
[Illustration: The Defile of Suza Pass----278] Marshal Bassompierre went to the king, who was a hundred paces behind the storming party, ahead of his regiment of guards.

"'Sir,' said he, 'the company is ready, the violins have come in,'and the masks are at the door; when your Majesty pleases, we will commence the ballet.' 'The king came up to me, and said to me angrily, "Do you know, pray, that we have but five hundred pounds of lead in the park of artillery ?" 'I said to him, 'It is a pretty time to think of that.

Must the ballet not dance, for lack of one mask that is not ready?
Leave it to us, sir, and all will go well.' "Do you answer for it ?" said he to me.

'Sir,' replied.
the cardinal, 'by the marshal's looks I prophesy that all will be well; rest assured of it.'" [_Memoires de Bassompiere._] The French dashed forward, the marshals with the storming party, and the barricades were soon carried.

The Duke of Savoy and his son had hardly time to fly.
"Gentlemen," cried the Duke to some Frenchmen, who happened to be in his service, "gentlemen, allow me to pass; your countrymen are in a temper." With the same dash, on debouching from the mountains, the king's troops entered Suza.