dispute; you were seen to go out of town in the morning, and the Marquis
soon after; was not this sufficient to make her Royal Highness think
herself obliged to take these precautions? The Marquis is in custody;
they have only required your parole; so far, therefore, from taking
the affair in the sense you do, I should send very humbly to thank her
Highness for the kindness she has manifested towards you in putting
you under arrest, since it is only on your account that she interests
herself in the affair. I shall take a walk to the palace, where I will
endeavour to unravel this mystery; in the mean time, as there is but
little probability that the matter should be settled this evening,
you would do well to order supper; for I shall come back to you
immediately."

Matta charged him not to fail to express to her Royal Highness the
grateful sense he had of her favour, though in truth he as little feared
the Marquis as he loved him; and it is impossible to express the degree
of his fortitude in stronger terms.

The Chevalier de Grammont returned in about half an hour, with two or
three gentlemen whom Matta had got acquainted with at the chase, and
who, upon the report of the quarrel, waited upon him, and each offered
him separately his services against the unassisted and pacific Marquis.
Matta having returned them his thanks, insisted upon their staying
supper, and put on his robe de chambre.

As soon as the Chevalier de Grammont perceived that every thing
coincided with his wishes, and that towards the end of the entertainment
the toasts went merrily round, he knew he was sure of his man till
next day: then taking him aside with the permission of the company, and
making use of a false confidence in order to disguise a real treachery,
he acquainted him, after having sworn him several times to secrecy, that
he had at last prevailed upon the little Saint Germain to grant him an
interview that night; for which reason he would take his leave, under
pretence of going to play at Court; he therefore desired him fully
to satisfy the company that he would not have left them on any other
account, as the Piedmontese are naturally mistrustful. Matta promised he
would manage this point with discretion; that he would make an apology
for him, and that there was no occasion for his personally taking leave:
then, after congratulating him upon the happy posture of his affairs, he
sent him away with all the expedition and secrecy imaginab