In 1605, the career of this gay deceiver was near being cut short by a serious accident. At a tournament, in front of the Louvre, where the king was present, Bassompierre was so severely wounded by the lance of the duke of Guise, his antagonist, that his life was long in danger. This tournament was the last which was exhibited in France; the dangerous amusement was discontinued, in consequence of this misadventure. People began to be of the same opinion as the Turkish sultan, that it was too much for a jest and too little for earnest. Bassompierre at last appears to have felt that it was time for him “to live cleanly as a nobleman should do,” and he resolved to marry. His choice fell on Charlotte de Montmorenci, one of the most rich and beautiful women in France, and neither she nor her father, the constable, was averse from the union. It has been seen, in the sketch of Condé’s career, that Henry IV. became excessively enamoured of her. In some cases her marriage would have made no difference; as Henry might have assented to it, and bound down the husband not to exercise his conjugal rights, as he had done with respect to Gabrielle d’Estrées and Jacqueline du Beuil. To such a restriction he probably thought that Bassompierre would not submit. Calling him therefore to his bed-side—for Henry was ill of the gout—he told him that he meant to unite him to Mdlle. d’Aumale, and revive for him the dukedom of Aumale. On Bassompierre asking with a smile, whether his majesty meant him to have two wives, the king sighed deeply, and said, “Bassompierre, I will speak to you as a friend. I am become not only in love with Mdlle. de Montmorenci, but absolutely beside myself for her. If you marry her, and she loves you, I shall hate you; if she loves me, you will hate me. It is much better that this should not occur, to disturb the good understanding between us; for I have the most affectionate regard for you.” The result was that the courtier resigned his mistress, and was rewarded for the sacrifice with the rank of colonel-general of the Swiss regiments. Bassompierre would fain make us believe that he was sorely grieved, at being thus deprived of the beautiful Montmorenci; but we may be sceptical on this head, since we have his confession, that, in order “not to be idle, and to console himself for his loss, he immediately made up his quarrel with three ladies, whom he had entirely quitted when he thought that he should be wedded.”