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lified for the office than yourself； or one in whom I could place more unlimited confidence。 Come； my friend； I pray of you； not to thank me； who have found sufficient reward in the pleasure of obliging you； but to acknowledge the extreme kindness and alacrity with which his majesty has forwarded your wishes。
〃Believe me； dear madam；
〃Yours； very sincerely；
〃THE COMTESSE Du Barry。〃
Madame de Forcalquier was not long in obeying the summons contained in my note； she embraced me with the warmest gratitude and friendship； delighted at finding herself so eligibly established at court； for at that period every person regarded the comte d'Artois as the only hope of the monarchy； and blinded by the universal preference bestowed on him； the young prince flattered himself that the crown would infallibly ornament his brows。 I have been told； that when first the queen's pregnancy was perceived； a general lamentation was heard throughout the castle； and all ranks united in deploring an event which removed the comte d'Artois from the immediate succession to the throne。
Up to the present moment I knew Madame de Forcalquier only as one whose many charms； both of mind and person； joined to great conversational powers and the liveliest wit； had rendered her the idol of society； and obtained for her the appellation of 。 I knew not that this woman； so light and trifling in appearance； was capable of one of those lively and sincere attachments； which neither time nor change of fortune could destroy or diminish。 She had a particular friend； a madame Boncault； the widow of a stockbroker； and she was anxious to contribute to her well…doing。 With this view she solicited of me the place of lady in waiting for this much…esteemed individual。 Astonished at the request I put a hasty negative on it。
〃If you refuse me this fresh favor；〃 said madame de Forcalquier； 〃you will prevent me from profiting by your kindness to myself。〃
〃And why so？〃 inquired I。
〃I owe to madame Boncault；〃 answered she； 〃more than my life； I am indebted to her for tranquillity； honor； and the high estimation in which the world has been pleased to hold me。 I have now an opportunity of proving my gratitude； and I beseech of you to assist my endeavors。〃
〃But tell me； first；〃 cried I； 〃what is the nature of this very important service you say madame de Boncault has rendered you； is it a secret； or may I hear it？〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied the countess； 〃although the recital is calculated to bring the blush of shame into my cheek。 Are we alone； and secure from interruption？〃
I rang and gave orders that no person should be suffered to disturb us； after which madame de Forcalquier proceeded as follows：
〃I was scarcely seventeen years old； when my parents informed me that they had disposed of my hand； and that I must prepare myself to receive a husband immediately。 My sentiments were not inquired into； nor； to confess the truth； was such an investigation usual； or deemed a matter of any import。 A young female of any rank has no voice in any transaction till the day which follows her marriage； until then her wishes are those of her family； and her desires bounded by the rules of worldly etiquette。 I had scarcely conversed twice or thrice with my future lord； and then only for a few minutes at a time； before he conducted me to the foot of the altar； there to pronounce the solemn vow which bound me his for life。 I had scarcely seen him； and barely knew whether he was agreeable or disagreeable。 He was neither young nor old； handsome nor ugly； pleasing nor displeasing； just one of those persons of whom the world is principally composed； one of those men who enter or leave a saloon without the slightest curiosity being excited respecting him。 I had been told that I ought to love my husband； and accordingly I taught myself to do so； but scarcely had the honeymoon waned； than my fickle partner transferred his affections from me to one of my attendants； and to such a height did his guilty passion carry him； that he quitted his home for Italy； carrying with him the unfortunate victim of his seductive arts。 It was during his absence that I first became acquainted with madame Boncault； she was my own age； and equally unfortunate in her domestic life； the same tests； griefs； and a great similarity of temper and disposition soon united us in the bonds of the firmest friendship； but as she possessed a stronger and more reasonable mind than I did； she forgot her own sorrows to administer to mine。 However； if the whole truth must be owned； I ought to confess that my chief consolation was derived from a young cousin of my own； who freely lavished upon me that unbounded affection I would fain have sought from my husband。
〃Meanwhile； wearied of his folly； this latter returned； and； after having transferred his capricious fancies to at least half a dozen mistresses； he finished where he should have begun by attaching himself to her； who； as his wife； had every claim to his homage。 Men are unaccountable creatures； but unfortunately for my husband his senses returned too late； my heart was too entirely occupied to restore him to that place he had so hastily vacated。 My affections were no longer mine to bestow； but equally shared by my estimable friend madame Boncault and my young and captivating cousin。 I was a bad hand at dissimulating； and M。 de Forcalquier perceived enough of my sentiments to excite his jealous suspicions； and immediately removed with me to one of his estates。
〃However； my cousin （whom my husband was far from suspecting） and madame Boncault accompanied me in my retreat； there myself and my admirer； more thrown together than we had been at Paris； began insensibly to lay aside the restraint we had hitherto imposed on our inclinations； and commenced a train of imprudences which would quickly have betrayed us had not friendship watched over us。 The excellent madame Boncault； in order to save my reputation； took so little care to preserve her own； that M。 de Forcalquier was completely caught by her manoeuvre。 One morning； finding me alone； he said；
〃' Madam； I am by no means satisfied with what is going on here。 Your friend is wholly devoid of shame and modesty； she has been with us but one short fortnight； and is now the open and confessed mistress of your cousin。'
〃'Sir；' exclaimed I； trembling for what was to follow； 'you are； you must be mistaken： the thing is impossible。 Madame Boncault is incapable'
〃'Nonsense； madam；' replied M。 de Forcalquier； 'I know what I am saying。 Several things have induced me to suspect for a long while what I now assert with perfect confidence of its truth； but if you are still incredulous； behold this proof of guilt which I found just now in your cousin's chamber。'
〃So saying； my husband put into my hands a letter written by my cousin evidently to some female in the chateau； whom he solicited to admit him that evening to the usual place of rendezvous； where he flattered himself their late misunderstanding would be cleared up。
〃After having read； or； to speak more correctly； guessed at the contents of this fatal letter； I conjured my husband to replace it where he had found it； lest his