iving me with every possible mark
of courtesy.

The duc de la Vauguyon hastened to communicate to me this happy state of
things; and my joy was so great, that I embraced him with the sincerest
warmth, assuring him that I should always look upon him as my best
friend, and seek to testify my regard at every opportunity that fell in
my way of forwarding his interests.

Some days afterwards the king brought me a splendid ring, worth
thirty-six thousand livres.

"You must send this jewel to your good friend the duke," said he.

"I dare not," replied I. "I fear lest it should draw forth his
displeasure."

"No, no," cried the king, "'tis not the fashion at court to construe
gifts like this into insults, but I should wish this trifle to be
presented in an indirect manner"; and, after having considered a moment,
"I have it," exclaimed he, "I have thought of a clever expedient; let
us put this ring upon the finger of that Chinese mandarin before us, and
give the figure with the ring, considering it merely an appendage to
it. Assuredly the most disinterested man cannot refuse to accept a china
figure."

I extolled the king's idea as being a most happy one; and he immediately
fitted the ring upon the little finger of the mandarin, which I caused
to be carried to the duc de la Vauguyon with the following billet:--

"MONSIEUR LE DUC,--You have been my best friend; 'tis to your kind
offices that I owe the confirmation of my happiness; but I would secure
the continuance of your valuable friendship, and for that purpose I send
you a little magical figure, which, placed in your cabinet, will compel
your thoughts to occupy themselves with me in spite of yourself. I am
superstitious enough to rely greatly upon the talismanic virtue of the
charmed porcelain; and further, I must tell you, that I was not its
purchaser in the first instance, neither did I adorn it for your
acceptance. I should not have ventured to offer more than the assurance
of my everlasting esteem and regard for your acceptance. The trifle sent
comes from a higher source; and the august hand so dear to both of us,
deigned to preside over the arrangement. Should there be in it anything
at all repugnant to your feelings, I beseech you bear me no ill will
for it; for truly, I may say, I should never have summoned courage to
do that which has just been done by him whom all unite in loving and
esteeming."

* The duke replied,--"Your talisman is welcome; yet its magic