Serious situation of affairs in Italy--Trouble with _Monsieur_--Richelieu entrusted with the command of the Army in Italy--It is decided to send Bassompierre on a special embassy to Switzerland--The marshal buys the Château of Chaillot--His departure for Switzerland--Mazarin at Lyons--Bassompierre’s reception at Fribourg--He arrives at Soleure and convenes a meeting of the Diet--His discomfiture of the Chancellor of Alsace--Success of his mission--He receives orders from Richelieu to mobilise 6,000 Swiss--The Cardinal as generalissimo--Pinerolo surrenders--Bassompierre joins the King at Lyons--Louis XIII and Mlle. de Hautefort--Successful campaign of Bassompierre in Savoy--His mortification at having to resign his command to the Maréchal de Châtillon--Increasing rancour of the Queen-Mother against Richelieu--Visit of Bassompierre to Paris--An unfortunate coincidence--Louis XIII falls dangerously ill at Lyons--Intrigues around his sick-bed--Perilous situation of Richelieu--Recovery of the King--Arrival of Bassompierre at Lyons--Suspicions of Richelieu concerning the marshal--The latter endeavours to disarm them--Question of Bassompierre’s connection with the anti-Richelieu cabal considered--His secret marriage to the Princesse de Conti.....pp. 583-596 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.....pp. 597-613 CHAPTER XLI