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I have dwelt too long perhaps upon this matter。 It appeared to me to
merit attention by its singularity； and still more so because it is by
facts of this sort that is shown what was the composition of the Court of
the King。
About this time the Comtesse d'Auvergne finished a short life by an
illness very strange and uncommon。 When she married the Comte d'Auvergne
she was a Huguenot； and he much wanted to make her turn Catholic。
A famous advocate of that time； who was named Chardon； had been a
Huguenot； and his wife also； they had made a semblance； however； of
abjuring； but made no open profession of Catholicism。 Chardon was
sustained by his great reputation； and by the number of protectors he had
made for himself。
One morning he and his wife were in their coach before the Hotel…Dieu；
waiting for a reply that their lackey was a very long time in bringing
them。 Madame Chardon glanced by chance upon the grand portal of Notre
Dame； and little by little fell into a profound reverie； which might be
better called reflection。 Her husband； who at last perceived this； asked
her what had sent her into such deep thought； and pushed her elbow even
to draw a reply from her。 She told him then what she was thinking about。
Pointing to Notre Dame； she said that it was many centuries before Luther
and Calvin that those images of saints had been sculptured over that
portal； that this proved that saints had long since been invoked； the
opposition of the reformers to this ancient opinion was a novelty； that
this novelty rendered suspicious other dogmas against the antiquity of
Catholicism that they taught； that these reflections； which she had never
before made； gave her much disquietude； and made her form the resolution
to seek to enlighten herself。
Chardon thought his wife right； and from that day they laid themselves
out to seek the truth； then to consult； then to be instructed。 This
lasted a year； and then they made a new abjuration； and both ever
afterwards passed their lives in zeal and good works。 Madame Chardon
converted many Huguenots。 The Comte d'Auvergne took his wife to her。
The Countess was converted by her； and became a very good Catholic。 When
she died she was extremely regretted by all the relatives of her husband；
although at first they had looked upon her coldly。
In the month of this September； a strange attempt at assassination
occurred。 Vervins had been forced into many suits against his relatives；
and was upon the point of gaining them all； when one of his cousins…
german； who called himself the Abbe de Pre； caused him to be attacked as
he passed in his coach along the Quai de la Tournelle； before the
community of Madame de Miramion。 Vervins was wounded with several sword
cuts； and also his coachman； who wished to defend him。 In consequence of
the complaint Vervins made； the Abbe escaped abroad； whence he never
returned； and soon after； his crime being proved； was condemned to be
broken alive on the wheel。 Vervins had long been menaced with an attack
by the Abbe。 Vervins was an agreeable； well…made man； but very idle。
He had entered the army； but quitted it soon； and retired to his estates
in Picardy。 There he shut himself up without any cause of disgust or of
displeasure； without being in any embarrassment； for on the contrary he
was well to do； and all his affairs were in good order； and he never
married； without motives of piety； for piety was not at all in his vein；
without being in bad health； for his health was always perfect； without a
taste for improvement； for no workmen were ever seen in his house； still
less on account of the chase； for he never went to it。 Yet he stayed in
his house for several years； without intercourse with a soul； and； what
is most incomprehensible； without budging from his bed； except to allow
it to be made。 He dined there； and often all alone； he transacted what
little business he had to do there； and received while there the few
people he could not refuse admission to； and each day； from the moment he
opened his eyes until he closed them again； worked at tapestry； or read a
little； he persevered until his death in this strange fashion of
existence； so uniquely singular； that I have wished to describe it。
CHAPTER XXXI
There presents itself to my memory an anecdote which it would be very
prudent perhaps to be silent upon； and which is very curious for anybody
who has seen things so closely as I have； to describe。 What determines
me to relate it is that the fact is not altogether unknown； and that
every Court swarms with similar adventures。 Must it be said then？ We
had amongst us a charming young Princess who； by her graces； her
attentions； and her original manners； had taken possession of the hearts
of the King； of Madame de Maintenon； and of her husband； Monseigneur le
Duc de Bourgogne。 The extreme discontent so justly felt against her
father； M。 de Savoie； had not made the slightest alteration in their
tenderness for her。 The King； who hid nothing from her； who worked with
his ministers in her presence whenever she liked to enter； took care not
to say a word in her hearing against her father。 In private； she clasped
the King round the neck at all hours； jumped upon his knees； tormented
him with all sorts of sportiveness； rummaged among his papers； opened his
letters end read them in his presence； sometimes in spite of him； and
acted in the same manner with Madame de Maintenon。 Despite this extreme
liberty； she never spoke against any one： gracious to all； she
endeavoured to ward off blows from all whenever she could； was attentive
to the private comforts of the King； even the humblest： kind to all who
served her； and living with her ladies； as with friends； in complete
liberty； old and young； she was the darling of the Court； adored by all；
everybody； great and small； was anxious to please her； everybody missed
her when she was away； when she reappeared the void was filled up； in a
word； she had attached all hearts to her； but while in this brilliant
situation she lost her own。
Nangis； now a very commonplace Marshal of France； was at that time in
full bloom。 He had an agreeable but not an uncommon face； was well made；
without anything marvellous； and had been educated in intrigue by the
Marechale de Rochefort； his grandmother； and Madame de Blansac； his
mother； who were skilled mistresses of that art。 Early introduced by
them into the great world of which they were； so to speak； the centre；
he had no talent but that of pleasing women； of speaking their language；
and of monopolising the most desirable by a discretion beyond his years；
and which did not belong to his time。 Nobody was more in vogue than he。
He had had the command of a regiment when he was quite a child。 He had
shown firmness； application； and brilliant valour in war； that the ladies
had made the most of； and they sufficed at his age； he was of the Court
of Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne； about the same age； and well treated
by him。
The Duc de Bourgogne； passionately in love with his wife； was not so well
made as Nangis； but the Princess reciprocated his ardor so perfectly that
u