May God be your eternal joy and consolation! The Bishop of Chalons has written to tell me what a comfort it has been to him to have had you near him for a little while, and his only regret is that you could not have stayed longer. He is most kind-hearted.... M. Coulon, at the request of M. de Coulanges, has brought me all the contracts, in order to let me see just how things have been, which indeed I knew already, and an account of which I have given in a memorandum to M. de Bussy for you, so that M. de Saint-Satur may make up his mind either to relinquish his claim or to make it good: for M. de Coulanges wishes to hear our side of the matter before putting my son's property in order. This is, dearest daughter, my reason for begging of you to settle how you intend to act, for if this business is dragged on, the property will be spent to the ruin of the little de Chantal child. I hope Our Lord in His goodness will let us see clearly the truth, and that seeing it we may preserve that blessed peace and harmony which is more precious in families than all the goods of the world. M. Coulon will have told you how greatly M. de Coulanges and my daughter de Chantal desire that this union amongst us should be maintained, and that things should be arranged amicably and without delay; of this I can assure you, dearest daughter, so pray think the matter over; for to tell me that you will give it all up if I so desire is not the point at all. If you have a just claim I have no wish that it should not be satisfied, this being only reasonable; but if you have none, which I think is the case, and that the title-deeds show it as plain as day, I would wish you to put in no claim, so that the affairs of this poor little child may be arranged in peace. Should God take her to Himself you will then have wherewith to be satisfied. While awaiting the great comfort of seeing you, you ought, I think, to act conclusively in the matter. Praying God to spread in abundance His holiest blessings upon you and upon our poor child, I remain, very dear daughter, notwithstanding all surmises to the contrary, in very truth and with my whole heart your Mother, who has for you that incomparable maternal love which God has given me and which by His grace will never grow less. I salute M. de Saint-Satur, whose most humble servant I am. Good-bye, my dearest daughter. LXXIX. _Extract from a letter to Mother Favre._