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eavens！ how unfortunate I am！〃
〃Really； my dear；〃 replied the marechale； 〃I cannot advise you； but I can quote a powerful example。 In such a case madame de Pompadour would have admitted a rival near the throne。〃
〃Madame de Pompadour was very amiable； my dear；〃 I replied； 〃and I would have done so once or twice； but the part of Mother Gourdan does not suit me； I prefer that of her young ladies。〃
At these words the marechale laughed； whilst I made a long grave face。 At this instant comte Jean entered； and exclaimed；
〃Really； ladies； you present a singular contrast。 May I ask you； sister； what causes this sorrow？ What ails you？〃
〃Oh； brother！〃 was my response； 〃the king is dying of ennui。〃
〃That is no marvel；〃 said my brother…in…law。
〃And to rouse him；〃 I added； 〃it is necessary； the marechale says； that I must take a pretty girl by the hand； and present her to the king with these words： 'Sire； having found that you grow tired of me； I present this lady to you； that you may amuse yourself with her。〃
'That would be very fine；〃 replied comte Jean； 〃it would show him that you had profited by my advice。〃 Then； whispering in my ear； 〃You know； sister； I am capable of the greatest sacrifices for the king。〃
〃What are you saying； Comte Jean？〃 asked the marechale； who had heard some words。
〃I said to my sister；〃 answered he； coolly； 〃that she ought to be executed to please the king。〃
〃And you； too； brother；〃 I cried。
〃Yes； sister；〃 said he； with a theatrical tone； 〃I see the dire necessity； and submit to it unrepiningly。 Let us yield to fate； or rather； let us so act as to make it favorable to us。 The king requires some amusement； and let us find him a little wench。 We must take heed not to present any fine lady： no； no； by all the devils！ Excuse me； marechale； 'tis a habit I have。〃
〃It is nature； you mean；〃 replied the marechale： 〃the nightingale is born to sing； and you； comte Jean； were born to swear； is it not true？〃
〃； madam； you are right。〃
After this conversation the marechale went out； and Comte Jean departed to arrange his plans for the king's amusement。
However； the ennui of Louis XV was somewhat dissipated by the
tidings of the various incidents which occurred at the grand entry of the dauphin and dauphiness into Paris。 We learnt that the duc de Brissac； as governor of Paris； on receiving the dauphiness； said；
〃Madam； you see about you two hundred thousand lovers。〃 He was right； the princess looked like an angel。 I had taken a mortal aversion to her。 Alas！ circumstances have too fully avenged me： this unfortunate queen loses popularity daily； her perfidious friends have sacrificed her to their interests。 I pity her。
CHAPTER XXXVI
Visit from a strangerMadame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical monkContinuation of this historyDeliverance of a state prisoner A meeting with the stranger
One day； at an hour at which I was not accustomed to see any person； a lady called and requested to see me； she was informed that I was visible to no person。 No matter； she persisted in her request； saying that she had to speak to me upon matters of the first importance； and declared； that I should be delighted with her visit。 However； my servants； accustomed to the artifices practised by persons wishing to see me for interested purposes； heeded very little the continued protestations of my strange applicant； and peremptorily refused to admit her； upon which the unknown retired with the indication of extreme anger。
Two hours afterwards a note； bearing no signature； was brought me； in which the late scene was described to me； and I was further informed； that the lady； so abruptly repulsed by my servants； had presented herself to communicate things which concerned not only my own personal safety but the welfare of all France； a frightful catastrophe was impending； which there was still time to prevent； the means of so doing were offered me； and I was conjured not to reject them。 The affair； if treated with indifference； would bring on incalculable misfortunes and horrors； to which I should be the first victim。 All this apparent mystery would be cleared up； and； the whole affair explained； if I would repair on the following day； at one o'clock； to the Baths of Apollo。 A grove of trees there was pointed out as a safe place of rendezvous； and being so very near my residence； calculated to remove any fears I might entertain of meeting a stranger； who； as the note informed me； possessed the means of entering this secluded spot。 I was again conjured to be punctual to the appointed hour as I valued my life。
The mysterious and solemn tone of this singular epistle struck me with terror。 Madame de Mirepoix was with me at the moment I received it。 This lady had a peculiar skill in physiognomy； and the close attention she always paid to mine was frequently extremely embarrassing and disagreeable She seemed （as usual） on the present occasion to read all that was passing in my mind； however； less penetrating eyes than hers might easily have perceived； by my sudden agitation； that the paper I held in my hand contained something more than usual。
〃What ails you？〃 asked she； with the familiarity our close intimacy warranted； 〃does that note bring you any bad news？〃
〃No；〃 said I； 〃it tells me nothing； but it leaves me ample room for much uneasiness and alarm： but； after all； it may be merely some hoax； some foolish jest played off at my expense； but judge for yourself。〃 So saying； I handed her the letter： when she had perused it； she said；
〃Upon my word； if I were in your place； I would clear up this mystery； good advice is not so easily met with as to make it a matter of difficulty to go as far as the Baths of Apollo to seek it。 It is by no means impossible but that； as this paper tells you； some great peril is hanging over you。 The marquise de Pompadour；〃 continued madame de Mirepoix； 〃received more than once invitations similar to this； which she never failed to attend； and I recollect one circumstance； in which she had no cause to regret having done so： without the kind offices of one of these anonymous writers it is very possible that she might have expired heart broken； and perhaps forsaken in some state prison； instead of ending her days in the chateau of Versailles； honored even to the tomb by the friendship and regard of the king of France。〃
I asked my friend to explain her last observation； and she replied as follows：
〃One day an anonymous billet； similar to this； was left for madame de Pompadour： it requested her to repair； at a specified hour； to the church of the Jacobins； rue Saint Honore； in Paris； where she was promised some highly important communications。 The marchioness was punctual to the rendezvous； and； as she entered the church； a Jacobite； so entirely wrapped in his capuchin as to conceal his features； approached her； took her by the hand； and conducted her to an obscure chapel； where； requesting her to sit down； he took a seat himself； and began as follows：
〃'Madam； you are about to lose the favor of the king； a party is at work to give a new mistress to the king； the lady is young； beautiful； witty； and p