Bassompierre joins the Royal army in Champagne as Grand Master of the Artillery by commission--Surrender of Château-Porcien--Bassompierre is wounded before Rethel--He sets out for Paris in order to negotiate the sale of his office of Colonel-General of the Swiss to Concini--He visits the Royal army which is besieging Soissons--A foolhardy act--Singular conduct of the garrison--The Président Chevret arrives in the Royal camp with the news that Concini has been assassinated--Details of this affair--Bassompierre continues his journey to Paris--His adventure with the Liègeois cavalry of Concini.....pp. 208-218 CHAPTER XVIII Bassompierre arrives in Paris--Marie de’ Medici is exiled to Blois--Bassompierre’s account of the parting between Louis XIII and his mother--The rebellious princes return to Court and are pardoned, but Condé remains in the Bastille--His wife solicits and receives permission to join him there--Arrest of the Governor and Lieutenant of the Bastille, on a charge of conniving at a secret correspondence between Barbin and the Queen-Mother--Bassompierre is placed temporarily in charge of the fortress--The Prince and Princesse de Condé are transferred to the Château of Vincennes--Bassompierre goes to Rouen to attend the assembly of the Notables--A rapid journey.....pp. 219-224 CHAPTER XIX Luynes succeeds to the power and wealth of Concini--Trial and execution of Concini’s widow, Leonora Galigaï--Luynes begins to direct affairs of State--His marriage to Marie de Rohan--Conduct of the Duc d’Épernon--His quarrel with Du Vair, the Keeper of the Seals--His disgrace--He begins to intrigue with the Queen-Mother--Escape of the latter from Blois--Treaty of Angoulême--The Court at Tours--Arnauld d’Andilly’s account of Bassompierre’s lavish hospitality--Favours bestowed by the King on Bassompierre--Meeting between Louis XIII and the Queen-Mother--Liberation of Condé--Bassompierre entertains the King at Monceaux--He is admitted to the Ordre du Saint-Esprit.....pp. 225-234 CHAPTER XX The grandees, irritated by the increasing power and favour of Luynes, decide to make common cause with the Queen-Mother against him--Departure of Mayenne from the Court--He is followed by Longueville, Nemours, Mayenne and Retz--Formidable character of the insurrection--Bassompierre receives orders to mobilise a Royal army in Champagne--He informs the King that the Comte de Soissons, his mother, the Grand Prieur de Vendôme and the Comte de Saint-Aignan intend to leave Paris to join the rebels--Alarm and indecision of Luynes--Advice of Bassompierre--It is finally decided to allow them to go--Success of Bassompierre in mobilising troops in Champagne, despite great difficulties--The Duc de Bouillon sends a gentleman to him to endeavour to corrupt his loyalty--Reply of Bassompierre--The town and château of Dreux surrender to him--He joins the King near La Flèche with an army of 8,600 men--Combat of the Ponts-des-Cé--Peace of Angers.....pp. 235-254 CHAPTER XXI