fall, in the spirit of John Knox's words, "Destroy the
nests and the crows will disappear." Now one of these nests was the
crenellated castle of Loudun, and Richelieu had therefore ordered its
demolition.

The person appointed to carry out this order was a man such as those whom
Louis XI. had employed fifty years earlier to destroy the feudal system,
and Robespierre one hundred and fifty years later to destroy the
aristocracy. Every woodman needs an axe, every reaper a sickle, and
Richelieu found the instrument he required in de Laubardemont, Councillor
of State.

But he was an instrument full of intelligence, detecting by the manner in
which he was wielded the moving passion of the wielder, and adapting his
whole nature with marvellous dexterity to gratify that passion according
to the character of him whom it possessed; now by a rough and ready
impetuosity, now by a deliberate and hidden advance; equally willing to
strike with the sword or to poison by calumny, as the man who moved him
lusted for the blood or sought to accomplish the dishonour of his victim.

M. de Laubardemont arrived at Loudun during the month of August 1633, and
in order to carry out his mission addressed himself to Sieur Memin de
Silly, prefect of the town, that old friend of the cardinal's whom Mignon
and Barre, as we have said, had impressed so favourably. Memin saw in
the arrival of Laubardemont a special intimation that it was the will of
Heaven that the seemingly lost cause of those in whom he took such a warm
interest should ultimately triumph. He presented Mignon and all his
friends to M. Laubardemont, who received them with much cordiality. They
talked of the mother superior, who was a relation, as we have seen, of M.
de Laubardemont, and exaggerated the insult offered her by the decree of
the archbishop, saying it was an affront to the whole family; and before
long the one thing alone which occupied the thoughts of the conspirators
and the councillor was how best to draw down upon Grandier the anger of
the cardinal-duke. A way soon opened.

The Queen mother, Marie de Medici, had among her attendants a woman
called Hammon, to whom, having once had occasion to speak, she had taken
a fancy, and given a post near her person. In consequence of this whim,
Hammon came to be regarded as a person of some importance in the queen's
household. Hammon was a native of Loudun, and had passed the greater
part of her youth there with her own p