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"L'hanno ammazzato" was shouted to his wife, Eleanora Galigai, the supposed sorceress. They were the words in which Concini had communicated to the Queen the murder of her husband seven years before. Eleanora, too, was burned after having been beheaded. Thus the Marshal d'Ancre and wife ceased to reign in France.
Somewhat encouraged by this declaration, Concini, whose vanity was only rivalled by his ambition, and who, despite daily experience, believed his own society to be as indispensable to the Regent as that of his wife, took measures to ascertain the precise moment at which the ministerial audience terminated, when, profiting by the opportunity, he threw himself upon his knees before the justly-offended Queen, and entreated her forgiveness of his involuntary offence.
The King, on ill terms with the Queen, who harassed him with scenes of affected jealousy, while engaged in permanent plots with her paramour and master, the Italian Concini, against his policy and his life; on still worse terms with his latest mistress in chief, the Marquise de Verneuil, who hated him and revenged herself for enduring his caresses by making him the butt of her venomous wit, had taken the festivities of a court in dudgeon where he possessed hosts of enemies and flatterers but scarcely a single friend.
The royal forces march against the insurgent Princes Indignities offered to the young sovereign Louis XIII and his favourite Arrogance of the Maréchal d'Ancre Indignation of the King Confiscation of the property of the rebel Princes Household of Louis XIII Cabal of De Luynes Infatuation of the Maréchal d'Ancre An evil counsellor Marie de Medicis resolves to withdraw from the Government, but is dissuaded from her purpose Popular discontent Precautions of Concini Alarm of Louis XIII The Duc de Nevers is declared guilty of Use-majesté Firmness of the Queen-mother Insolence of Concini and Richelieu Condé is refused permission to justify himself Success of the royal forces Louis XIII consents to the arrest of the Maréchal d'Ancre Bassompierre warns Marie de Medicis of her danger She disregards the warning Concini and Leonora prepare to leave France Old grievances renewed A diplomatic Janus Blindness of Marie and her ministers A new conspirator How to be made a marshal Incaution of De Luynes Treachery of Richelieu A narrow escape A morning mass Singular position of the Court Assassination of Concini Public rejoicings Imprisonment of the Queen-mother Barbin is sent to the Bastille The seals are restored to Du Vair A royal reception Anguish of Marie de Medicis She demands to see the King, and is refused Her isolation A Queen and her favourite A mother and her son Arrest of Madame d'Ancre The Crown jewels Political pillage The Maréchale in the Bastille.
But when she had withdrawn, and was traversing the gallery which communicated with the apartments of Marie, she began to entertain serious misgivings: the pretension of the Marquise was so monstrous, that, even conscious as she was of the extent of her own influence over her foster-sister, she almost dreaded to communicate the result of her interview, and nearly despaired of success; but with the resolute perseverance which formed so marked a feature in her character, she resolved to brave the utmost displeasure of the Queen rather than forego this last hope of a union with Concini.
It was France in struggle with Concini, the man who was audaciously sending princes of the blood and dukes to the Bastille. But a counter-influence was weaving about Louis. He was made to realize the indignity to himself in letting two vulgar Italians usurp his authority.
On this occasion, however, although every preparation had been made, Concini was saved by a mere accident. He chanced to be delayed as he was about to leave his house, and did not in consequence reach the Louvre until the King had quitted the palace in order to attend mass at the chapel of the Petit Bourbon.
The husband of Leonora Galigai, Concini, had amassed a great deal of money and purchased the Marquisate of Ancre; nay, more, he had been created Marshal of France, and he said to the Count of Bassompiere, "I have learned to know the world, and I am aware that a man, when he has arrived at a certain pitch of prosperity, comes down with a greater run the higher he has mounted.
Leonora knelt before the startled King, who suffered her in silence to perform the same ceremony; and then radiant with happiness she pressed the jewelled fingers of the Queen to her quivering lips. "And hark you, Leonora," pursued Marie, "cause Concini to be announced by his new title when he seeks admission here. This will at once put an end to a host of rivalries which are now unavailing."
How often he had been compelled to ask as a favour that which was his own by right, while Concini was himself daily risking thousands of pistoles at the gaming-table, all of which had been drawn from the royal treasury!
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