find ways to
restore my fortune; at the same time he complimented me upon my being
very handsome, as he was pleased to call it, and that I could not fail
of admirers. I stood up and humbly thanked his Highness, but told him I
had no expectations of that kind; that I thought I should be obliged to
go over to England, to look after my husband's effects there, which, I
was told, were considerable, but that I did not know what justice a poor
stranger would get among them; and as for Paris, my fortune being so
impaired, I saw nothing before me but to go back to Poictou to my
friends, where some of my relations, I hoped, might do something for me,
and added that one of my brothers was an abbot at ----, near Poictiers.

He stood up, and taking me by the hand, led me to a large looking-glass,
which made up the pier in the front of the parlour. "Look there, madam,"
said he; "is it fit that that face" (pointing to my figure in the glass)
"should go back to Poictou? No, madam," says he; "stay and make some
gentleman of quality happy, that may, in return, make you forget all
your sorrows;" and with that he took me in his arms, and kissing me
twice, told me he would see me again, but with less ceremony.

Some little time after this, but the same day, his gentleman came to me
again, and with great ceremony and respect, delivered me a black box
tied with a scarlet riband and sealed with a noble coat-of-arms, which,
I suppose, was the prince's.

There was in it a grant from his Highness, or an assignment--I know not
which to call it--with a warrant to his banker to pay me two thousand
livres a year during my stay in Paris, as the widow of Monsieur ----,
the jeweller, mentioning the horrid murder of my late husband as the
occasion of it, as above.

I received it with great submission, and expressions of being infinitely
obliged to his master, and of my showing myself on all occasions his
Highness's most obedient servant; and after giving my most humble duty
to his Highness, with the utmost acknowledgments of the obligation, &c.,
I went to a little cabinet, and taking out some money, which made a
little sound in taking it out, offered to give him five pistoles.

He drew back, but with the greatest respect, and told me he humbly
thanked me, but that he durst not take a farthing; that his Highness
would take it so ill of him, he was sure he would never see his face
more; but that he would not fail to acquaint his Highness what respect