So anxious was _Monsieur le Prince_ to be reconciled with the Minister whom he had failed to conquer, and to convert his former adversary into a complaisant ally--or rather a beneficent patron, that he had already taken the precaution to assure himself of the consent of Louis XIII. The Cardinal, on his side, who saw in this union the most dazzling proof of his influence and of the triumph of his policy, received his Highness’s overtures very graciously, and, early in 1633, gave him the promise he desired. The joy of _Monsieur le Prince_ was such that Richelieu had all the difficulty in the world to prevent him from confirming the rumours of the Court and publicly announcing his good fortune; but the Cardinal insisted that it should remain a secret between them until the bride-elect had reached a marriageable age, and, very reluctantly, the other consented. As for the Maréchal de Brézé, Richelieu did not even think it worth while to mention the arrangement to him, deeming that the right of disposing of his niece’s hand belonged to himself alone. Thus matters remained until the end of the year 1640, when Condé, having gone through the form of obtaining the consent of the Maréchal de Brézé, acquainted his son with the honour in store for him. The Duc d’Enghien, as might be supposed, protested strongly against the sacrifice that was demanded of him, but _Monsieur le Prince_, always terribly in earnest when it was a question of pleasing those in power, was inexorable; and eventually the duke gave a reluctant consent, somewhat consoled by the reflection that, as the Cardinal’s nephew by marriage, advancement in his profession must be both sure and speedy. Under date 11 February, 1640, we find Condé writing to Richelieu from Dijon: “My son, who burns with the same desire as myself to be allied to you, will write to you on the instant, and will set out with me to-morrow for Paris, to offer his services to his mistress. I have spoken to him about it, and have received from him not only the proofs of the obedience that he owes me, but also those of very great joy on this subject.”[178] The Duchesse d’Aiguillon, the Cardinal’s beloved niece, conducted Mlle. de Brézé to Paris, where the Duc d’Enghien and his father arrived shortly afterwards. The young duke was “presented to his mistress,” as was said then, and authorized to visit and to write to her, while awaiting their marriage, which, much to the disappointment of _Monsieur le Prince_, Richelieu had decided to postpone until the following year, on account of the extreme youthfulness of the bride-elect.