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wed a post which； by keeping both himself and his wife in the close vicinity of the castle； prevented my kind friend from quitting me。 However； my poor Henriette was not fated to enjoy a long connubial felicity； for her husband； being seized with a violent fever； in a fit of delirium threw himself from a window into the court below； and was taken up dead。 Slander availed herself even of this fatal catastrophe to whisper abroad； that the death of the unhappy man arose from his deep sense of his wife's misconduct and infidelity。 This I can positively assert was not the case； for Henriette was warmly and truly attached to him； and conducted herself as a wife with the most undeviating propriety。 The fact was； that Henriette had drawn upon herself a general hatred and ill will； because she steadily refused all gossiping invitations； where my character would have been pulled to pieces； and the affairs of my household discussed and commented upon： there； indeed； she had sinned beyond all hope of pardon。
She it was who pointed out to me the perfidious conduct of the duc de Villeroi。 This gentleman； from the very beginning of my rise in the royal favour； had demonstrated the most lively friendship for me； of which he sought to persuade me by the strongest protestations； which； weak and credulous as I was； I implicitly believed； until one day that Henriette； availing herself of my being quite alone； let me into the secrets of my establishment and furnished me with a key to the assiduities of M。 de Villeroi。
Amongst the females in my service was one named Sophie； young； beautiful both in face and form； of a sweet disposition； and every way calculated to inspire the tender passion。 M。 de Villeroi felt the full force of her charms； and became the whining； sighing loverher very shadow。 Up to this period I had had no cause of complaint against M。 de Villeroi； and certainly I should not have interfered with his plebeian flame had he not thought proper； when questioned by my enemies as to his continual presence at the castle； and great assiduities there； to protest that his visits thither were not in honour of my charms； but for those of my waiting…maid。 However； my vanity had rendered me his constant dupe。
I felt perfectly astonished as I listened to Henriette's recital； and when she had ceased； I conjured her to tell me candidly； whether she had not invented the whole tale either out of spite to Sophie or with a design to make me break off further friendship with the duke。 This she most solemnly denied； and recommended me to make inquiries amongst my friends； who would be compelled to bear testimony to the truth of all she had asserted。 I determined to do so； and the first person whom I was enabled to interrogate respecting the affair was the bishop de Senlis。 This prelate came frequently to see me； and I found his society each day more pleasing。 He served me as a kind of gazette of all that passed with the princesses； in whose opinion I had still the misfortune not to be in the very highest estimation。 When occasion required it； M。 de Roquelaure would venture to take my part； and that without making a single enemy； for who could be offended with one so affable； so good； so full of kindness towards all？ In fact； the worthy bishop was so fortunate as to obtain the love of every person who knew him； and； in the most select society of opposing parties； each would reserve a place for good M。 de Roquelaure。
When I questioned him as to his knowledge of the affair； his embarrassment was evident。
〃What a world is this！ 〃cried he。 〃Why； let me ask； do you listen to those who repeat such mortifying tales to you？〃
〃Because； my lord； my friends will not see me made the sport of a heartless and perfidious friend； and； if you entertain the slightest regard for me； I conjure you to tell me all you know upon the subject。〃
〃And do you； my good madam； conceive that it would become my
sacred calling to speak ill of my neighbour？ besides； surely you would not attach any belief to the idle reports spread about the castle by ill…disposed persons？〃
〃All this has nothing to do with my question； my lord；〃 resumed I。 〃I ask you once again； whether you ever heard the duc de Villeroi assign his passion for one of my women as the reason for his visits to me？ Have you； my lord bishop？ I entreat you to answer。〃
〃Madam； I have not；〃 said the good prelate； colouring deeply。
〃Ah； monsieur de Roquelaure；〃 cried I； 〃you must not say mass to…morrow； for I greatly fear you have just committed a certain fault which is styled fibbing。〃
The bishop made no reply； and his silence spoke volumes of confirmation。
Scarcely had he quitted me than the duc d'Aiguillon entered； to whom I put the same question； and he frankly confessed； that the excuse alleged to have been used by the duc de Villeroi was strictly the expression of that gentleman。
〃I was wrong；〃 said the duke； 〃not to have mentioned it to you； but I was silent from a desire to preserve peace between you。 Now that the affair has been revealed to you； I will not sully my lips with a falsehood for the pleasure of upholding an unprincipled man。〃
〃I will not ask you to tell me more；〃 replied I。 〃I know enough to make me despise the cowardly spirit of him whom I reject as unworthy of my friendship。〃 So saying； I ran to my writing…table； and wrote to the duc de Villeroi the following note：
〃MONSIEUR LE DUC；I love my friends with all their faults； but I cannot pardon their perfidy； and； since from what I have heard I am left to conclude； that but for the charms of my attendant Sophie； I should not have been favoured with so many of your visits； I now write to warn you； that I this day dismiss the unfortunate object of your admiration from my service； and therefore recommend you to cease all further communication。 Your presence in my house would be any thing but agreeable to me； and since the fair object which has hitherto attracted you will no longer dwell under my roof； I presume your presenting yourself before me would only be more painful than you have hitherto found it。 The frankness of my conduct may offend you； but it cannot surprise or grieve you more than your duplicity has me。
〃I remain with befitting sentiments； monsieur le duc；
〃Your most humble and obedient servant。〃
When I had completed my letter； I rang； and a footman attended。 〃Go； 〃said I to him；〃 carry this note immediately to the duc de Villeroi； and wait； if it be necessary； the whole day； until you can return with the assurance that you have delivered it into his own hand。〃
Whilst I was thus speaking to the man； who had been engaged by my steward； and very recently entered into my service； I chanced to look at him inadvertently； when my attention was arrested by seeing him rapidly change colour。 I could not at the moment conceive what could thus agitate him； and making a sign for him to depart immediately upon his commission； he slowly left the room； regarding me as he went in such a manner； that I could not fail recognising him： and here； my friend； I must lay aside every particle of self…love and vanity ere I can make you a complete confession； the retrospect of my life brings many ev