her he had won.  Scarcely could he restrain the burst of joy, when
informed that the fair object, glittering with jewels and radiant
in beauty, was the daughter of Richelieu, and the wife of one of
the princes of the noble houses of Egmont.

A thousand tumultuous and flattering ideas rushed in crowds to
the brain of young Moireau, and he saw in anticipation a long
and brilliant vista opening before him.  Poor inexperienced
youth!  He mistook the wisest and safest path, which would have
been to have appeared ignorant of the high rank of his mistress,
and to have induced her, from motives of affection, to preside
over his fortunes, and to rise by her means without allowing her
to suspect he guessed her ability to bestow riches and preferment.
He, on the contrary, hastened to her with the account of his
having discovered her real rank and station.  Madame d'Egmont,
whose self-possession enabled her to conceal the terror and
uneasiness his recital inspired her with, listened calmly and
silently till he had ceased speaking, and then asked him, with a
playful smile, if he was quite sure of being in his right senses?
"For how otherwise could you," said she, "confuse a poor obscure
widow like myself with the rich and powerful princess you speak
of?  My friend, you are under the influence of a dream; believe
me, I am neither more nor less than poor widow Rossin, and can
boast of no claim to the illustrious name of Egmont or Richelieu."

But the more she spoke the less she persuaded, and young Moireau
was not to be reasoned out of his conviction.  of her identity
with the high-born princess of Egmont, and he alternately employed
threats and promises to induce her to confess the fact; but the
lady was firm and immovable.  Resolved at all risk to preserve
her incognito, she found herself compelled to bring the affair
to a conclusion, by feigning extreme anger at the pertinacity
with which Moireau importuned her upon a subject which she
protested she knew nothing: her lover retaliated, and a desperate
quarrel ensued.  Moireau rushed angrily from her presence, vowing
that he would publish his adventure thro'out Paris; an empty
threat, which his devotion to the princess would never have
permitted him to carry into execution.

Madame d'Egmont, however, was not so sure that her secret was
safe, and she lost not an instant in repairing to the house of M.
de Sartines, to obtain from him a  against the
aspiring shopman, who, seized in the street, was conveyed away,
and confined as a maniac in a madhouse, where, but for a
circumstance you shall hear, he would doubtless be still.

I happened to be with the king when the lieutenant of police
arrived upon matters connected with his employment.  According
to custom, Louis inquired whether he had anything very amusing
to communicate to him?  "Many things, sire," replied he, "and
amongst others an anecdote of madame d'Egmont"; and he began to
relate to us, word for word, what I have written you.  The king
laughed till he cried; as for me, altho' I could not help finding
the tale sufficiently comic to induce risibility, I listened with
more coolness; and when it was completed, I exclaimed,

"Can it be, sire, that you will permit this unfortunate young man
to be the eternal victim of so unprincipled a woman?"

"What would you have me do?"  said Louis; "how can I interfere
without compromising the reputation of madame d'Egmont?"

"Allow me to say," replied I, "that this fear ought not to prevent
your majesty's interference.  You are father of your subjects;
and the respect you entertain for madame d'Egmont should not
outweigh your duty, which imperatively calls upon you to command
the release of this wretched young man."

"But," argued the king, "by such a step I shall for ever disoblige
the duc de Richelieu and his family."

"Fear it not," cried I, "if your majesty will trust to me, I will
undertake to bring the marechal and his nephew to approve of
your proceedings; and as for the rest of his family, let them go
where they will; for the empire of the world I should be sorry
to bear them company."

This manner of speaking pleased the king; and, turning to M. de
Sartines, "Lieutenant of police," said he, "you have heard my
fair chancellor; you will act in strict conformity with the orders
she will transmit you from me."

"Then take these orders now, sir," said I: "in the first place,
this ill-treated young Moireau must immediately be set at liberty,
and my own police (for I must tell you I had them) will give me
the faithful account of all your proceedings in this affair."

The king comprehended my meaning.  "You will keep a careful watch,"
added he to M. de Sartines, "that no harm befalls this unfortunate
youth, whom, I beg, you will discreetly recommend to quit France
ere the malice of those who have reason to fear his reappearance
works him some evil."

"And who, sire," asked I, "shall dare injure one whom your
majesty deigns to honor with your protection?"

"Madame," replied M. de Sartines, "even his majesty's high patronage
cannot prevent a secret blow from some daring hand; a quarrel
purposely got up; a beverage previously drugged; a fall from any
of the bridges into the river; or, even the supposition of one
found dead, having destroyed himself."

"You make me shudder," said I, "in thus unveiling the extent of
human depravity.  So, then, this young man, whose only fault
appears to have been that captivating the eyes of a noble lady,
should perish in a dungeon, or save his life at the sacrifice of
country, friends, connections; and all this for having listened to
the passion of a woman, as licentious in manners as illustrious
by birth: this frightful injustice rouses all my indignation.
Well, then, since the power of the monarch of France is insufficient
to protect his oppressed subject in his own realms, let him
shield him from want in a foreign land, by allowing him a pension
of one hundred louis.  I will take upon myself to defray the
expenses of his journey."

Thus saying, I was hastening to the adjoining room, where stood
my , to take from it a thousand crowns I wished to
give for the purpose.  The king held me back by my arm, saying
to me,

"You are the most excellent creature I know of, but you see I am
always master.  I will undertake to provide for this young man.
M. de Sartines," pursued he, "I wish to secure to him a thousand
crowns yearly; and, further, you will supply him with six thousand
francs ready money, which M. de la Borde will repay to your order.
" said the king, turning to me.

My only reply was to throw my arms around his neck without ceremony,
spite of the presence of a witness, who might blush at my familiarity.
"You are indeed," said I, "a really good prince; it is only a pity
you will not assert your right to rule alone."

"You are a little rebel," cried he, "to doubt my absolute power."
This tone of playful gaiety was kept up some time after the
departure of the lieutenant of police.

M. de Sartines returned next day to tell me that everything had
been accomplished to my desire.  "M. Moireau," said he, "has left
prison, and departs for Spain to-morrow morning: his intention
is to join some friends of his at Madrid.  He is informed of all
he owes you, and entreats your acceptance of his most grateful
and respectful acknowledgments.  Will you see him?"



"That would be useless," answered I; "say to him only, that I
request he will write to me upon his arrival at Madrid, and give
me the history of his late adventure in its fullest details."

Moireau did not disappoint me; and so soon as his letter reached
me I hastened to copy it, merely suppressing the date of the place
from which it was written, and forwarded it immediately to the
comtesse d'Egmont, with the following note:--

"The many proofs of tender attachment with which the widow
Rossin honored young Moireau make me believe that she will learn
with pleasure of my having the good fortune to rescue the ill-fated
youth from the cruelty of the comtesse d'Egmont.  This interesting
young man no longer groans a wretched prisoner in the gloomy
abode that haughty lady had selected for him, but is at this minute
safe in a neighboring kingdom, under the powerful patronage of
king of France, who is in possession of every circumstance relative
to the affair.  I likewise know the whole of the matter, and have in
my keeping the most irrefragable proofs of all that took place and
should I henceforward have any reason to complain of the comtesse
d'Egmont, I shall publish these documents with permission of those
concerned.

"The public will then be enabled to judge of the virtue and
humanity of one who affects to treat me with a ridiculous disdain.
There exists no law against a fair lady having lovers and admirers,
but a stern one forbids her to command or procure their destruction.
I KNOW ALL; and madame d'Egmont's future conduct will decide my
silence and discretion.  The affair with Moireau is not the only one,
others of even a graver sin preceded it.  I can publish the whole
together; and, I repeat, my determination on this head depends
wholly and entirely upon the manner in which madame d'Egmont shall
henceforward conduct herself towards me.  I beg madame de Rossin
will allow me to subscribe myself, with every feeling she so well,
merits,

"Her very humble and most obedient servant,

"THE COMTESSE DU BARRY"

I had communicated to no one the secret of this vengeance; I wished
to keep the delight of thus exciting the rage of the princesse
d'Egmont all to myself.  I was certain, that whatever might
henceforward be her line of conduct towards me, that whenever
she found herself in my presence, she would bitterly feel the
stings of an accusing conscience, and the gnawings of that worm
which dieth not in the heart of hypocritical and wicked persons,
more especially when compelled to meet the eye of those who
could unmask them in a minute.

On the following day I received a visit from the duc de Richelieu.

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