night； as my sister lay asleep with her mouth open； Madame de Venelle； after her accustomed manner； coming； asleep as she was； to grope in the dark； happened to thrust her finger into her mouth so far that my sister； starting out of her sleep； made her teeth almost meet in her finger。 Judge you the amazement they both were in to find themselves in this posture when they were thoroughly awake。 My sister was in a grievous fret。 The story was told the king the next day； and the court had the divertisement of laughing at it。〃
Whilst the great minister's nieces were yet extremely young； Louis XIV。 fell passionately in love with the elder； Maria； and his marriage with her was frustrated only by the united endeavours of the queen mother and the cardinal。 A proposal to raise Hortensia to the nominal dignity of queen was soon after made on behalf of Charles II。； who sought her as his bride。 But he being at the time an exile； banished from his kingdom； and with little hope of regaining his throne； the offer was rejected by Cardinal Mazarine as unworthy of his favourite niece。
His eminence was； however； anxious to see her married； and accordingly sought amongst the nobility of France a husband suitable to her merits and equal to her condition； she being not only a beautiful woman but； through his bounty； the richest heiress in Christendom。 It happened the cardinal's choice settled upon one who had fallen in love with Hortensia； and who had declared； with amorous enthusiasm； that if he had but the happiness of being married to her； it would not grieve him to die three months afterwards。
The young noble was Armand Charles de la Porte； Duke de Meilleraye； who had the sole recommendation of being one of the richest peers of France。 On condition that he and his heirs should assume the name of Mazarine and arms of that house； the cardinal consented to his becoming the husband of his niece。 And the great minister's days rapidly approaching their end； the ceremony was performed which made Hortensia； then at the age of thirteen； Duchess of Mazarine。 A few months later the great cardinal expired； leaving her the sum of one million six hundred and twenty…five thousand pounds sterling。 Alas that she should have died in poverty； and that her body should have been seized for debt！
Scarce had the first weeks of her married life passed away； when the young wife found herself mated to one wholly unsuited to her character。 She was beautiful； witty； and frivolous； he jealous； dull； and morose。 The incompatibility of their dispositions became as discernible to him； as they had become intolerable to her； and； as if to avenge the fate which had united them； he lost no opportunity of thwarting her desires； by such means striving to bend her lissom quality to the gnarled shape of his unhappy nature。
With such a purpose in view no opportunity was neglected to curb her pleasures or oppose her inclinations。 He continually forced her to leave Paris； and even when her condition required rest and care； compelled her to accompany him on long and weary journeys； undertaken by him in consequence of his diplomatic missions。 If she received two successive visits from one man； he was instantly forbidden the house。 If she called her carriage； the coachman received orders not to obey。 If she betrayed a preference for one maid more than another； the favourite was instantly dismissed； moreover； the duchess was surrounded by spies； her movements being rigorously watched； and invariably reported。 Nor would the duke vouchsafe an explanation to his young wife regarding the cause of this severe treatment； but continued the even course of such conduct without intermission or abatement。
After displaying these eccentricities for some years； they suddenly associated themselves with religion； when he became a fanatic。 Her condition was now less endurable than before； his whims more ludicrous and exasperating。 With solemnity he declared no one could in conscience visit the theatre； that it was a sin to play blind man's buff； and a heinous crime to retire to bed late。 And presently； his fanaticism increasing； he prohibited the woman who nursed his infant to suckle it on Fridays or Saturdays； that instead of imbibing milk； it might； in its earliest life； become accustomed to fasting and mortification of the flesh。
The young duchess grew hopeless of peace。 All day her ears were beset by harangues setting forth her wickedness； by exortations calling her to repentance； and by descriptions of visions vouchsafed him。 By night her condition was rendered scarcely less miserable。 〃No sooner；〃 says St。 Evremond； 〃were her eyes closed； than Monsieur Mazarine （who had the devil always present in his black imagination） wakes his best beloved； to make her partakeryou will never be able to guess of whatto make her partaker of his nocturnal visions。 Flambeaux are lighted； and search is made everywhere； but no spectre does Madame Mazarine find； except that which lay by her in the bed。〃
The distresses to which she was subjected were increased by the knowledge that her husband was squandering her vast fortune。 In what manner the money was spent she does not state。 〃If〃 she writes； 〃Monsieur Mazarine had only taken delight in overwhelming me with sadness and grief； and in exposing my health and my life to his most unreasonable caprice； and in making me pass the best of my days in an unparalleled slavery； since heaven had been pleased to make him my master； I should have endeavoured to allay and qualify my misfortunes by my sighs and tears。 But when I saw that by his incredible dilapidations and profuseness； my son； who might have been the richest gentleman in France； was in danger of being the poorest； there was no resisting the force of nature； and motherly love carried it over all other considerations of duty； or the moderation I proposed to myself。 I saw every day vast sums go away： moveables of inestimable prices； offices； and all the rich remains of my uncle's fortune； the fruits of his labours； and the rewards of his services。 I saw as much sold as came to three millions； before I took any public notice of it； and I had hardly anything left me of value but my jewels； when Monsieur Mazarine took occasion to seize upon them。〃
She therefore sought the king's interference； but as the duke had interest at court； she received but little satisfaction。 Then commenced disputes； which； after months of wrangling； ended by the duchess escaping in male attire out of France； in company with a gay young cavalier； Monsieur de Rohan。 After various wanderings through Italy and many adventures in Savoy； she determined on journeying to England。 That her visit was not without a political motive； we gather from St。 Evremond； who； referring to the ascendancy which the Duchess of Portsmouth had gained over his majesty； and the uses she made of her power for the interests of France； tells us； 〃The advocates for liberty； being excluded from posts and the management of affairs； contrived several ways to free their country from that infamous commerce； but finding them ineffectual； they at last concluded that there was no other course to take than to work the Duchess of Portsmouth out of the king's favour； by setting up against her a rival who should be in their interest。 The Duchess of Mazarine was thought very fit for their purpose； for she outshined the other； both in wit and beauty。〃
Charles de St。 Denis； Seigneur de St。 Evremond； was a soldier； philosopher； and courtier； who had distinguished himself by his bravery； learning； and politeness。 Having fallen under the displeasure of the French court； he had； in the year 1662； sought refuge in England； where he had been welcomed with the courtesy due to his rank； and the esteem which befitted his merits。 Settling in the capital； he mixed freely in the companionship of wits； gallants； and courtiers who constituted its society； and delighted with London as a residence； he determined on making England his country by adoption。 An old friend and fervent admirer of the Duchess of Mazarine； he had received the news of her visit with joy； and celebrated her arrival in verse。
The reputation of her loveliness and the history of her life having preceded her； the court became anxious to behold her； the king； mindful of the relationship he had once sought； with the duchess； grew impatient to welcome her。 After a few days' rest； necessary to remedy the fatigue of her journey； she appeared at Whitehall。 By reason of her beauty； now ripened rather than impaired by time； and those graces which attracted the more from the fascination they had formerly exercised； she at once gained the susceptible heart of the monarch。 St。 Evremond tells us her person 〃contained nothing that was not too lovely。〃 In the 〃Character of the Duchess of Mazarine；〃 which he drew soon after her arrival in London； he has presented a portrait of her worth examining not only for sake of the object it paints； but for the quaint workmanship it contains。 〃An ill…natured curiosity；〃 he writes； 〃makes me scrutinize every feature in her face； with a design either to meet there some shocking irregularity； or some disgusting disagreeableness。 But how unluckily do I succe