The next morning the Duke invited Bassompierre to play tennis with him that afternoon, and, on his arrival at the palace, led him into the gallery of the tennis-court and told him that he was “fully resolved to conform to the wishes of the King and accept the honour which he wished to do him”; stipulating, however, that he should be allowed time to dispose his subjects favourably to the idea of such an alliance and to overcome the objections of his relatives. And he requested Bassompierre to beg the King very humbly on his behalf to observe the most absolute secrecy in regard to the affair, until the time should come to reveal it. Bassompierre had, however, all the difficulty in the world to get this decision committed to writing and signed by the Duke. The poor prince appeared convinced that, if this were done, some unauthorised use would be made of the document. He feared his subjects; he feared his relatives; above all, he feared the ill-will of the Courts of Vienna and Madrid; and he protested that he would prefer to die rather than the affair should become known. At last, however, he yielded, and at the beginning of September Bassompierre returned to France with his answer duly signed and sealed. CHAPTER XII Return of Bassompierre to the French Court--Frenzied passion of Henri IV for the young Princesse de Condé--His extravagant conduct--Condé flies with his wife to Flanders--Grief and indignation of the King, who summons his most trusted counsellors to deliberate upon the affair--Sage advice of Sully, which, however, is not followed--The Archduke Albert refuses to surrender the fugitives--Condé retires to Milan and places himself under the protection of Spain--Failure of an attempt to abduct the princess--Henri IV and his Ministers threaten war if the lady is not given up--The “Great Design”--Bassompierre appointed Colonel of the Light Cavalry and a Counsellor of State--His account of the last days and assassination of Henri IV. On Bassompierre’s return to Court, Henri IV expressed himself highly satisfied with the results of his mission and “gave him very great proofs of his good-will.” Scarcely, however, had he concluded his account of his diplomatic activities than the King “requested an audience of _him_, in order to tell him of his passion for _Madame la Princesse_ and of the unhappy life that he was leading separated from her.” “And assuredly,” adds Bassompierre, “this love of his was a frenzied one, which could not be contained within the bounds of decorum.”