ss say to a letter written by his highness
Philippe himself?"

"Oh! it is more than I ever dared to hope for," cried Madame de Maine.

"Prince," said Valef, passing a paper to Cellamare, "you know his
majesty's writing. Assure her royal highness, who does not dare to
believe it, that this is from his own hand."

"It is," said Cellamare.

"And to whom is it addressed?" asked Madame de Maine, taking it from the
prince's hands.

"To the king, Louis XV., madame," said the latter.

"Good!" said the duchess; "we will get it presented by the Marshal de
Villeroy. Let us see what it says." And she read as rapidly as the
writing permitted:

"'The Escurial, 16th March, 1718.

"'Since Providence has placed me on the throne of
Spain, I have never for an instant lost sight of the
obligations of my birth. Louis XIV., of eternal memory,
is always present to my mind. I seem always to hear
that great prince, at the moment of our separation,
saying to me, 'The Pyrenees exist no longer.' Your
majesty is the only descendant of my elder brother,
whose loss I feel daily. God has called you to the
succession of this great monarchy, whose glory and
interests will be precious to me till my death. I can
never forget what I owe to your majesty, to my country,
and to the memory of my ancestor.

"'My dear Spaniards (who love me tenderly, and who are
well assured of my love for them, and not jealous of
the sentiments which I hold for you) are well assured
that our union is the base of public tranquillity. I
flatter myself that my personal interests are still
dear to a nation which has nourished me in its bosom,
and that a nobility who has shed so much blood to
support them will always look with love on a king who
feels it an honor to be obliged to them, and to have
been born among them.'

"This is addressed to you, gentlemen," said the duchess, interrupting
herself; and, looking round her, she continued, impatient to know the
rest of the letter:

"'What, then, can your faithful subjects think of a
treaty signed against me, or rather against yourself?

"'Since your exhausted finances can no longer support
the current expenses of peace, it is desired that you
should unite with my most mortal enemy, and should make
war on me, if I do not consent to give up Sicily to the
archduke. I will