I'm having trouble making out what this section means:

"...and as soon as her daughter was in a condition, sent her to a monastery in France, the abbess of which had been her particular friend. And thus ended an intrigue which, considering the time it lasted, was as full of variety as any, perhaps, that many ages has produced."

I'm not too sure of what the abbess is. The entire last sentence is confusing to me.

http://www.google.com/#q=abbess

Do you know what "intrigue" means?

A plan to trick someone?

Yes or it could be something that arouses curiosity.

So it ended the curiosity.

What does the author mean by "...that many ages has produced"?

a long time

Thank you.

You're welcome.