ll in the aid of the devil himself to
dispossess you of your elevated seat; you are lost if you do not twist
both their necks."

"How, monsieur le marechal, shall I mark my career by a murder?"

"You take me too literally; I only mean that in your place I would not
be at the trouble of keeping any terms with them."

"Ah, monsieur le duc, I understand you now; yet it seems a bad augury to
have to begin my reign by cabals and intrigues."

"Alas! my fair comtesse, you are too good, too guileless for a court
life; between ourselves we are all hypocrites more or less; mistrust
every one, even those make the finest protestations."

"In that case the first object of my suspicion would be my old and
esteemed friend the marechal de Richelieu."

"Ah, madame! this is not fair usage, thus to turn my weapons against
myself, and to fight me with my own arms."

Upon this the duke quitted me, and scarcely had he left the room, when
the duc la Vauguyon entered. This gentleman offered me no advice; he
contented himself by styling the Jesuits his "very good friends," and
continually turning the conversation upon their merits. I allowed him
to express his attachment, without interruption, for these disagreeable
men, whom I determined in my own mind to have nothing to do with,
recollecting all I had heard of their dislike to our sex. After an hour
passed in amusing talk, the duc de la Vauguyon retired, well pleased
with his visit, and his place was immediately supplied by comte Jean,
to whom I communicated all that had passed between my late visitors and
myself.

"For heaven's sake," said he, "let us not be the dupes of these great
lords; before we range ourselves under the banners of either of them let
us secure our own footing; let us wait till you are presented."

"But, my good friend, I must be a married lady to obtain that honor."

"And so you will be shortly, do not be uneasy about that. I have written
to my brother William to set out without delay for Paris. Your swain
will be easily induced to marry you. What do you think of that?"

I gave comte Jean to comprehend, by signs, that I left my destiny in his
hands, and he kissed my hands and withdrew. The king managed to steal a
few minutes to converse with me.

"You did not intrust me, my sweet friend," said he, "with the
circumstance of your having formerly known the duc de Richelieu; less
reserved on the subject than you were, he told me he had seen you at the
house of