Certainly, Diane was a powerful factor in the politics of her time, though François himself soon tired of her. Undaunted by this, she forthwith set her cap for his son Henri, the Duc d'Orleans, and won him, too. Of her beauty the present generation is able to judge for itself by reason of the three well-known and excellent portraits of contemporary times. Diane's influence over the young Henri was absolute. At his death her power was, of course, at an end, and Chenonceaux, and all else possible, was taken from her by the orders of Catherine, the long-suffering wife, who had been put aside for the fascinations of the charming huntress. It must have been some satisfaction, however, to Diane, to know that, in his fatal joust with Montgomery, Henri really broke his lance and met his death in her honour, for the records tell that he bore her colours on his lance, besides her initials set in gold and gems on his shield. Catherine's eagerness to drive Diane from the court was so great, that no sooner had her spouse fallen--even though he did not actually die for some days--than she sent word to Diane, "who sat weeping alone," to instantly quit the court; to give up the crown jewels--which Henri had somewhat inconsiderately given her; and to "give up Chenonceaux in Touraine," Catherine's Naboth's vineyard, which she had so long admired and coveted. She had known it as a girl, when she often visited it in company with her father-in-law, the appreciative but dissolute François, and had ever longed to possess it for her own, before even her husband, now dead, had given it to "that old hag Diane de Poitiers, Duchesse de Valentinois." Diane paid no heed to Catherine's command. She simply asked: "Is the king yet dead?" "No, madame," said the messenger, "but his wound is mortal; he cannot live the day." "Tell the queen, then," replied Diane, "that her reign is not yet come; that I am mistress still over her and the kingdom as long as the king breathes the breath of life." Henri was more or less an equivocal character, devoted to Diane, and likewise fondone says it with caution--of his wife. He caused to be fashioned a monogram (seen at Chenonceaux) after this wise: [MONOGRAM DEPICTING TWO CAPITAL LETTERS "D", THE SECOND OF WHICH IS INVERTED; THE LETTERS ARE INTERWOVEN IN THEIR "(" AND ")" PARTS, AND THERE IS A HORIZONTAL BAR CROSSING THEM IN THE MIDDLE] supposedly indicating his attachment for Diane and his wife alike. The various initials of the cipher are in no way involved. Diane returned the compliment by decorating an apartment for the king, at her Château of Anet, with the black and white of the Medici arms.