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〃All this is very possible； despair may conduct the Jesuits and parliamentarians to the greatest extremities； but still this mysterious female may be nothing more than an impostor。 At any rate； I am anxious to learn whether the box she described has been left at your house； if so； it will be a strong corroboration； if not； a convincing proof of the falsehood of what she asserts。〃
We had by this time reached the bottom of the staircase which conducted to my apartments； we ascended the stairs rapidly； and the first person I met in the anteroom was Henriette。
〃Henriette；〃 said I； 〃has any thing been brought for me during my absence？〃
〃Nothing except a box of orange…flower water from Michel the perfumer's； which I presume you ordered； madam。〃
A glance of mutual surprise and consternation passed between the marechale and myself。 We entered my chamber； where madame de Mirepoix opened the fatal box； it contained the four bottles exactly as had been described。 We regarded each other in profound silence； not daring to communicate our reflections。 However； it was requisite to take some steps； and； catching up a pen； I hastily wrote the following billet to the duc d'Aiguillon；
〃MONSIEUR LE DUC； Whatever may be the affairs with which you are at present occupied； I pray of you to throw them aside； and hasten to me instantly upon receipt of this。 Nothing can equal in importance the subject upon which I wish to see you； I cannot now explain myself fully； but prepare for news of the most horrible description； and it refers to the safety and preservation of the most valuable life in the kingdom。 I cannot delay time by writing more； I can only beseech of you not to lose one moment in obeying this summons。 Adieu； fail not to come and bring me back this note。〃
The duke hastened to me full of terror and alarm。
〃Your letter has really frightened me；〃 said he； 〃what can be the matter？ Surely the life of his majesty is not in danger？〃
〃Too truly is it；〃 answered I； 〃but sit down； and you shall know all the affair。 The marechale is already aware of the matter and need not withdraw。〃
The duke listened with extreme attention to the recital of my interview in the grove surrounding the Baths of Apollo； as well as to the account of the discourse I had held there with the strange female。 I endeavoured to relate the conversation as minutely and accurately as possible； but still the duke sought further particulars。 He inquired the style of countenance； dress； manner； and tone of voice possessed by the 。 One might have supposed； by the closeness of his questions； that he already fancied he had identified this mysterious personage： he then examined the box； which stood on the table； and remarked； 〃This is a very serious affair； nor can I undertake the management of it alone； it involves a too great responsibility。 Spite of the lady's assertions； I am confident the fullest confidence might be placed in all the ministers。 However； I will first have a conference with M。 de Saint…Florentin and the chancellor； in whose presence I will send for the lieutenant of police； and the contents of these bottles shall be immediately analyzed。〃
The duke； without quitting me； wrote immediately to his two colleagues as well as to M。 de Sartines； requesting this latter to repair to my apartment without delay。 One of the ministers summoned by M。 d'Aiguillon was not at that moment at Versailles； having left at an early hour in the morning for Paris。 Neither he nor M。 de Sartines could possibly be with us before eight o'clock in the evening； it was therefore agreed to adjourn our conference till their arrival。 Meanwhile M。 d'Aiguillon； the marechale； and myself； remained in a state of the most cruel anxiety。 The duke first blamed me for not having caused the woman to be arrested； and afterwards he confessed to the marechale； that perhaps it was better the conspiracy should be allowed time to ripen into maturity。 Daring this time the liquid contained in the four bottles was being decomposed： M。 Quesnay； first physician； Messrs。 Thiebault and Varennes； visiting physicians； M。 de la Martiniere； counsellor of state； surgeon to his majesty； as well as Messrs。 Ducor and Prost； apothecaries to his majesty； had been collected together for this purpose by the duc d'Aiguillon。
These gentlemen came to report the termination of their experiments at the very moment when the chancellor and lieutenant of police entered the room； the duc de la Vrilliere had preceded them by about five minutes； the duc d'Aiguillon requested these gentlemen to be seated。 The doctors Quesnay and la Martiniere were introduced； and desired to make known the result of their operations。 My newly…arrived guests； who as yet understood nothing of what was going on； were struck with astonishment at hearing it said； that the four bottles of orange…flower water contained a considerable proportion of a most active poison； of which a few drops would be sufficient to cause instantaneous death。 Having thus executed their commission； the medical gentlemen bowed and retired。
M。 d'Aiguillon then explained to my wondering friends the horrible affair which had occasioned their being sent for so hastily。 I cannot tell you what effect this disclosure produced on M。 de la Vrilliere or M。 de Maupeou； my whole attention being fixed upon M。 de Sartines。 You may suppose that a lieutenant of police； particularly one who piqued himself upon knowing every thing； could not feel very much at his ease； when each word that was uttered convicted him either of incapacity or negligence。 His brow became contracted； he hemmed； choked； fidgeted about； and appeared as though he would have given every thing in the world f or liberty to justify himself； but etiquette forbade it； and he was only permitted to speak after the secretaries of state then present； or if called upon by either of them。
When M。 d'Aiguillon had ceased speaking； the chancellor in his turn took up the conversation。 M。 de Maupeou was by nature cold and sarcastic； delighting in annoying any person； but； on the present occasion； the ill…nature inherent in him was still excited by the decided hatred he bore to the unfortunate M。 de Sartines。 He began by saying； that the conspiracy was evident； and was easily explained by the state of exasperation in which the Jesuits and parliamentarians now were； both orders looking for no other prospect of amendment in their condition than such as might arise from some sudden convulsion of the kingdom。 He expressed his opinion of the necessity of instituting a rigorous inquiry into the conduct of these two bodies； and then； turning to M。 de Sartines； whose cheek grew pale at the movement； he charged him to lay before the council all those particulars which he must necessarily possess as head of the police； either respecting the present plot； or relating to any of the ancient members of parliament or the order of Jesuits。
This was a dagger to the heart of M。 de Sartines； who in vain sought to frame a suitable reply： but what could he say？ He did not in reality possess any of the information for which he had received credit； and after many awkward endeavours at explaining himsel