in such angry profusion that all he could gather was that he was
accused of infidelity and treachery. Dismayed at finding himself
in this unhappy situation when he had hoped for consolation, and
being so much in love with the Princess that he could not bear to
be unsure if he was loved in return, he took a sudden decision.
"I shall lay your doubts at rest," he said. "I am going to do
what all the royal power could not make me do. It will cost me my
fortune but that is of little account if it makes you happy."

He went straight from his sister's house to that of his uncle,
the cardinal. He convinced him that having fallen into the King's
disfavour, it was essential that it should be made quite clear
that he would not marry Madame, so he asked for his marriage to
be arranged with the Princess de Portien, a matter which had
previously been discussed. The news of this was soon all over
Paris and gave rise to much surprise. The princess de
Montpensier was both happy and sad. Glad to see the power she had
over the Duc, and sorry that she had caused him to abandon
something so advantageous as marriage to Madame. The Duc who
hoped that love would compensate him for his material loss,
pressed the Princess to give him a private audience so that he
could clear up the unjust accusations which she had made. He
obtained this when she found herself at his sister's house at a
time when his sister was not there and she was able to speak to
him alone. The Duc took the opportunity to throw himself at her
feet and describe all that he had suffered because of her
suspicions, and though the Princess was unable to forget what the
Duc d'Anjou had said to her, the behaviour of the Duc de Guise
did much to reassure her. She told him exactly why she believed
he had betrayed her which was because the Duc d'Anjou knew what