on, and
everything seemed to tend toward it. But the Lord gave me a sense that,
far from being willing to deliver me they were only laying new snares
to ruin me more effectually, and to make Father La Mothe known to the
king, and esteemed by him. On the day mentioned, which was my birthday,
being forty years of age, I awaked under an impression of Jesus Christ
in an agony, seeing the counsel of the Jews against Him. I knew that
none but God could deliver me out of prison, and I was satisfied that
He would do it one day by His own right hand, though ignorant of the
manner, and leaving it wholly to Himself.

In the order of Divine Providence my case was laid before Madame de
Maintenon, who became deeply interested in the account given her of my
sufferings, and at length procured my release. A few days afterward I
had my first interview with the Abbe Fenelon.

Coming out of St. Mary's I retired into the community of Mad. Miramion,
where I kept my bed of a fever three months, and had an imposthume in
my eye. Yet at this time I was accused of going continually out,
holding suspected assemblies, together with other groundless
falsehoods. In this house my daughter was married to Mons. L. Nicholas
Fouquet, Count de Vaux. I removed to my daughter's house, and on
account of her extreme youth, lived with her two years and an half.
Even there my enemies were ever forging one thing after another against
me, I then wanted to retire quite secretly, to the house of the
Benedictines at Montargis, (my native place) but it was discovered, and
both friends and enemies jointly prevented it.

The family in which my daughter was married being of the number of Abbe
Fenelon's friends, I had the opportunity of often seeing him at our
house. We had some conversations on the subject of a spiritual life, in
which he made several objections to my experiences therein. I answered
them with my usual simplicity, which, as I found, gained upon him. As
the affair of Molinos at that time made a great noise, the plainest
things were distrusted, and the terms used by mystic writers exploded.
But I so clearly expounded everything to him, and so fully solved all
his objections, that no one more fully imbibed my sentiments than he;
which has since laid the foundation of that persecution he has
suffered. His answers to the Bishop of Meaux evidently show this to all
who have read them.

I now took a little private house, to follow the inclination I had for
r