the most charming
creature in all France: though she was as witty as an angel, she was as
capricious as a devil. This beauty having made me an appointment, a whim
seized her to put me off, and to give it to another; she therefore wrote
me one of the tenderest billets in the world, full of the grief and
sorrow she was in, by being obliged to disappoint me; on account of a
most terrible headache, that obliged her to keep her bed, and deprived
her of the pleasure of seeing me till the next day. This headache coming
all of a sudden, appeared to me very suspicious; and, never doubting but
it was her intention to jilt me: 'Very well, mistress coquette,' said I
to myself, 'if you do not enjoy the pleasure of seeing me this day, you
shall not enjoy the satisfaction of seeing another.'

"Hereupon, I detached all my servants, some of whom patrolled about
her house, whilst others watched her door; one of the latter brought me
intelligence that no person had gone into her house all the afternoon;
but that a foot-boy had gone out as it grew dark; that he followed him
as far as the Rue Saint Antoine, where this boy met another, to whom
he only spoke two or three words. This was sufficient to confirm my
suspicions, and make me resolve either to make one of the party, or to
disconcert it.

[Marion de l'Orme, born at Chalons, in Champagne, was esteemed the
most beautiful woman of her times. It is believed that she was
secretly married to the unfortunate Monsieur Cinqmars. After his
death, she became the mistress of Cardinal Richelieu, and, at last,
of Monsieur d'Emery, superintendent of the finances.]

"As the bagnio where I lodged was at a great distance from the Marais,
as soon as the night set in I mounted my horse, without any attendant.
When I came to the Place-Royale, the servant, who was sentry there,
assured me that no person was yet gone into Mademoiselle de l'Orme's
house: I rode forward towards the Rue Saint Antoine; and, just as I was
going out of the Place-Royale, I saw a man on foot coming into it, who
avoided me as much as he possibly could; but his endeavour was all to no
purpose; I knew him to be the Duke de Brissac, and I no longer doubted
but he was my rival that night: I then approached towards him, seeming
as if I feared I mistook my man; and, alighting with a very busy air
'Brissac, my friend,' said I, 'you must do me a service of the very
greatest importance: I have an appointment, for the first