It was, however, very far from certain that he would succeed in defeating them. During the King’s convalescence the two Queens were unremitting in their attentions, and Marie de’ Medici took advantage of his weakness to launch all kinds of accusations against the Cardinal, whom she charged with deliberately fomenting dissensions in the Royal family and prejudicing the King’s mind against his mother, wife, and brother, in order that he might dominate it entirely, and of prolonging the war for the purpose of rendering himself necessary, and of sacrificing his Majesty’s health to his ambition. The danger through which Louis had just passed, and the solicitude which Anne of Austria showed for him, had brought about a sort of reconciliation between the royal pair, and the young Queen profited by this to second the admonitions and entreaties of her mother-in-law. The latter gave her unfortunate son no rest, and, at length, to free himself from her obsessions, the King promised her that the Cardinal should be dismissed so soon as peace in Italy had been re-established, or, according to another version, that he would come to a decision on the matter after his return to Paris. CHAPTER XL Peace is signed with the Emperor at Ratisbon--The Queen-Mother deprives Richelieu’s niece Madame de Combalet of her post of _dame d’atours_ and demands of Louis XIII the instant dismissal of the Cardinal--The Luxembourg interview--“The Day of Dupes”--Triumph of Richelieu--Bassompierre’s explanation of his own part in this affair--His visit to Versailles--“He has arrived after the battle!”--He gives offence to Richelieu by refusing an invitation to dinner--He finds himself in semi-disgrace--_Monsieur_ quarrels with the Cardinal and leaves the Court--The King again treats Bassompierre with cordiality--Departure of the Court for Compiègne--Bassompierre learns that the Queen-Mother has been placed under arrest and the Princesse de Conti exiled and that he himself is to be arrested--The marshal is advised by the Duc d’Épernon to leave France--He declines and announces his intention of going to the Court to meet his fate--He burns “more than six thousand love-letters”--His arrival at the Court--Singular conduct of the King towards him--The marshal is arrested by the Sieur de Launay, lieutenant of the Gardes du Corps, and conducted to the Bastille.