The Duc de Rohan and the Huguenots of the South continue their resistance--Opposition of Marie de’ Medici and the High Catholic party to Richelieu’s Italian policy--The Cardinal’s memorial to Louis XIII--_Monsieur_ appointed to the command of the army which is to enter Italy--The King, jealous of his brother, decides to command in person--Twelve thousand crowns for a dozen of cider--Combat of the Pass of Susa--Treaty signed with Charles Emmanuel of Savoy--Problem of the reception of the Genoese Ambassadors--Anger of Louis XIII at a jest of Bassompierre--Peace with England--Campaign against the Huguenots of Languedoc--Massacre of the garrison of Privas--“_La Paix de Grâce_”--Surrender of Montauban--Richelieu and d’Épernon--Bassompierre returns to Paris with the Cardinal--Their frigid reception by the Queen-Mother--Richelieu proposes to retire from affairs and the Court, but an accommodation is effected. Although the great bulwark of Protestantism had fallen, Richelieu did not have his hands entirely free. The obstinate Rohan, by great exertions, prevented the Huguenot party from dissolving beneath this staggering blow; and it was decided by a General Assembly which met at Nîmes not to submit unless their rights were preserved to them by a treaty guaranteed by the King of England. However, the continued resistance of the Huguenots of the South was not a matter of urgent importance, since the Royal troops already engaged there were well able to hold Rohan in check, until such time as the Cardinal was at leisure to undertake a vigorous offensive against him; and he therefore decided to bend all his energies to the more pressing task of relieving Casale. The duchy of Mantua had not been seriously attacked, the Spaniards and the Piedmontese having concentrated their efforts on the conquest of Montferrato. Charles Emmanuel had promptly seized upon his share of the spoil; but the governor of Milan, Don Gonzalez de Cordoba, had shown little skill and less energy in the conduct of his operations, and had been unable to prevent Casale, gallantly defended by the French volunteers, from being revictualled on several occasions. However, the town was now being closely besieged, and though the garrison, ably seconded by the citizens, could be trusted to offer a stubborn resistance, it was imperative that help should arrive with as little delay as possible.