retired to the Faubourg St. Denis, to a hotel where
Madame de Pompadour had once lived, and allowed it to be generally
believed that he had gone into the country for his health, Mary was one
of the few favored friends who knew of his whereabouts. She thus, through
him, was brought into close contact with the leading spirits of the day.
She also saw much of Helen Maria Williams, the poetess, already notorious
for her extreme liberalism, and who had numerous friends and
acquaintances among the Revolutionary party in Paris. Mrs. Christie was
still another friend of this period. Her husband's business having kept
them in France, they had become thoroughly nationalized. At their house
many Americans congregated, among others a Captain Gilbert Imlay, of whom
more hereafter. In addition to these English friends, Mary had letters of
introduction to several prominent French citizens.

She arrived in Paris just before Louis XVI.'s trial. The city was
comparatively quiet, but there was in the air an oppression which
betokened the coming storm. She felt the people's suspense as if she too
had been personally interested. Between her studies and her efforts to
obtain the proper clew by which she could in her own mind reduce the
present political chaos to order, she found more than enough wherewith to
fill her days. As always happened with her, the mental strain reacted
upon her physical health, and her old enemies, depression of spirits and
headaches, returned to harass her.

She wrote to Everina on the 24th of December:

To-morrow I expect to see Aline [Madame Filiettaz]. During her
absence the servants endeavored to render the house, a most
excellent one, comfortable to me; but as I wish to acquire the
language as fast as I can, I was sorry to be obliged to remain so
much alone. I apply so closely to the language, and labor so
continually to understand what I hear, that I never go to bed
without a headache, and my spirits are fatigued with endeavoring to
form a just opinion of public affairs. The day after to-morrow I
expect to see the King at the bar, and the consequences that will
follow I am almost afraid to anticipate.

I have seen very little of Paris, the streets are so dirty; and I
wait till I can make myself understood before I call upon Madame
Laurent, etc. Miss Williams has behaved very civilly to me, and I
shall visit her frequently because I _rathe