arcourt, Falaise and Caen, and
of many others who wished his ruin because at our advice he
purposely took the farm on our estate, that he might there save
your persecuted followers. He is well known to M. de Frotte whose
esteem he enjoyed, and whom he received with twenty-four of his
faithful friends, knowing they would be safe in his house. All this
anxiety has greatly impaired his health and that of his wife, who
was pregnant at the time, and consequently their son, aged eleven,
is in very delicate health. The Dartenet (_sic_) family have caused
many of our misfortunes by daily denunciations, which they renewed
with all their might in January, 1806. It was only by a special
providence that we, as well as M. le Vicomte d'Ache, escaped
imprisonment. My son hastened to warn him not to return to our
cottage, which was part of my dowry, and offended the Dartenets,
who wanted this tavern that they might turn it into a special inn
for their castle, which is the fruit of their iniquity.

"My son and I both crave your Majesty's protection and that of the
princes of the blood.

"I respectfully remain,

"Your Majesty's very humble and obedient servant,

"De Combray."

It was, as we see, a general confession. What must have been the
Marquise's grief and rage on learning that she had been deceived? At
what moment did Licquet cease to play a double part with her? With what
invectives must she not have overwhelmed him when he ceased? How did
Mme. de Combray learn that her noblest illusions had been worked upon to
make her give up her daughter and betray all her friends? These are
things Licquet never explained, either because he was not proud of the
dubious methods he employed, or, more probably, because he did not care
what his victims thought of them. Besides, his mind was occupied with
other things. Mme. de Combray had hinted to Delaitre that d'Ache usually
stayed in the neighbourhood of Bayeux, without stating more precisely
where, as she was certain he would easily be found beside the newly
landed King. Licquet, therefore, went in search of him, and his men
scoured the neighbourhood. Placene, for his part, annoyed at finding
that Allain did not keep his word and made no attempt to deliver his
imprisoned comrades, gave some hints. In order to communicate with
Allain and d'Ache, one was, according