s book; and that on those accounts it
would be necessary to issue an order to put me in a convent, that they
might examine me. I was a dangerous person, it would be proper for me
to be locked up, to be allowed no commerce with any one; since I
continually held assemblies, which was very false. To support this
calumny my handwriting was counterfeited, and a letter was forged as
from me, importing, that I had great designs, but feared that they
would prove abortive, through the imprisonment of Father La Combe, for
which reason I had left off holding assemblies at my house, being too
closely watched; but that I would hold them at the houses of other
persons. This forged letter they showed the king, and upon it an order
was given for my imprisonment.

This order would have been put in execution two months sooner than it
was, had I not fallen very sick. I had inconceivable pains and a fever.
Some thought that I had a gathering in my head. The pain I suffered for
five weeks made me delirious. I had also a pain in my breast and a
violent cough. Twice I received the holy sacrament, as I was thought to
be expiring. One of my friends had acquainted Father La Mothe, (not
knowing him to have had any hand in F. La Combe's imprisonment) that
she had sent me a certificate from the inquisition in Father La Combe's
favor, having heard that his own was lost. This answered a very good
purpose; for they had made the king believe that he had run away from
the inquisition; but this showed the contrary.

Father La Mothe then came to me, when I was in excessive pain,
counterfeiting all the affection and tenderness in his power, and
telling me "that the affair of Father La Combe was going on very well,
that he was just ready to come out of prison with honor, that he was
very glad of it. If he had only this certificate, he would soon be
delivered. Give me it then," said he, "and he will be immediately
released." At first I made a difficulty of doing it. "What! said he,
will you be the cause of ruining poor Father La Combe, having it in
your power to save him, and cause us that affliction, for want of what
you have in your hands." I yielded, ordering it to be brought and given
him. But he suppressed it, and gave out that it was lost. It never
could be got from him again. The Ambassador from the Court of Turin
sent a messenger to me for this certificate, designing the proper use
of it to serve Father La Combe. I referred him to Father La Mothe. T