In 1675, in consequence of some rumours which had reached her that her sister-in-law was being ill-treated by those to whose care she had been entrusted, Madame de Longueville, more compassionate than the rest of her family, requested Père Tixier, a Benedictine monk in whom she had every confidence, to proceed to Châteauroux and ascertain if there were any justification for these reports. The monk, however, before undertaking this mission, considered it advisable to inquire if it would be agreeable to _Monsieur le Prince_, who was likewise a valued patron of his. Condé raised no objection. “You will go to Châteauroux,” said he, “since my sister wishes it, and will see whether _Madame la Princesse_ has everything she requires; for, such as she is, she is my wife, and I do not wish her to want for anything. But do not speak of me to her at all, you understand.” On his arrival at Châteauroux, Père Tixier was presented to the princess, who was about to sit down to dinner. “Father,” said she, “you belong to _Monsieur le Prince_, who sends you to see me.” “No, Madame,” replied the good man, “I am a monk, and the monks belong to God.” “Oh!” rejoined the princess, “I understand;” and she declared her conviction that Condé had sent him to confess her, because he intended to have her made away with. Tixier endeavoured to reassure her, and the officer whom Condé had placed in charge of his wife, and “who I saw clearly,” says the monk, “treated her very roughly,” exclaimed: “_Morbleu!_ Madame, at your usual fables again! Will you never be sensible?” Dinner was served, and, after the soup, a dish of cod was brought in. The princess partook of it with relish, and asked for a second helping. The dish, however, had just been removed, and, when it was brought back, she declined to touch it, saying that it had been to the kitchen and that there had been sufficient time to mix with it some fatal ingredient. The officer remonstrated. “But,” said he, “does not everything that is served you, Madame, come from the kitchen?” Nevertheless, the unfortunate woman refused to listen to reason. The princess, having at length been persuaded by Père Tixier that he had merely come, at Madame de Longueville’s request, to inquire as to her welfare, begged him to convey her most grateful thanks to her sister-in-law. For her husband, she had no message and spoke of him with aversion. “_Monsieur le Prince_,” said she, “greatly despised me, but I greatly despised him also.”[217] CHAPTER XVIII