She gave him a personal present of £25,000 when she left him, and told him that a wound on his little finger would pierce her heart. Amongst all these blandishments the real object appears when we learn that she urged him above all things to obtain help from his brother. If she could only bring France and Spain to loggerheads she would be safe. Leicester, by means of Hatton, tried at the last moment to shirk the voyage, but the Queen threatened them both with all sorts of penalties if such disrespect were “shown to the person she loved best in the world,” but the real reason why she was so anxious for Leicester to go was that he bore secret instructions to Orange to detain Alençon in Holland at any cost, and never let him come back to England, notwithstanding that the Queen had given him her word at parting that if he would only return to her in six weeks she would marry him on the conditions that Pinart had propounded. The scales, however, were gradually falling from the Prince’s eyes, for before he went Marchaumont, who stayed in England, was instructed to make approaches for his marriage with the wealthy daughter of the Duke of Florence. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XIV. Arrival of Alençon in the Netherlands--His investure as Duke of Brabant--Leicester’s suspicion and intrigues-- Alençon’s ceaseless demands for money--Henry III. refuses aid to his brother--The Queen’s attempts to revive the marriage negotiations--Universal distrust of her-- Attempted assassination of William of Orange--Danger of Alençon---Elizabeth’s fear of a French and Spanish understanding--To prevent it she again declares she will marry Alençon--Her renewed efforts to pledge the King of France before the marriage--She threatens France that she will make friends with Spain unless her terms are granted.