treasure and used it in the construction of Chenonceaux, that
marvellous chateau which, in spite of the wealth of several kings and
the taste of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici for building,
remains unfinished to the present day.

Happily for Marie de Sassenage, the Comte de Saint-Vallier died, as we
know, in his embassy. The family did not become extinct. After the
departure of the count, the countess gave birth to a son, whose career
was famous in the history of France under the reign of Francois I. He
was saved by his daughter, the celebrated Diane de Poitiers, the
illegitimate great-granddaughter of Louis XI., who became the
illegitimate wife, the beloved mistress of Henri II.--for bastardy and
love were hereditary in that family of nobles.