confess the fact; but the lady was firm and immovable.
Resolved at all risk to preserve her incognito, she found herself
compelled to bring the affair to a conclusion, by feigning extreme anger
at the pertinacity with which Moireau importuned her upon a subject
which she protested she knew nothing: her lover retaliated, and a
desperate quarrel ensued. Moireau rushed angrily from her presence,
vowing that he would publish his adventure thro'out Paris; an empty
threat, which his devotion to the princess would never have permitted
him to carry into execution.

Madame d'Egmont, however, was not so sure that her secret was safe, and
she lost not an instant in repairing to the house of M. de Sartines, to
obtain from him a _lettre de cachet_ against the aspiring shopman, who,
seized in the street, was conveyed away, and confined as a maniac in
a madhouse, where, but for a circumstance you shall hear, he would
doubtless be still.

I happened to be with the king when the lieutenant of police arrived
upon matters connected with his employment. According to custom, Louis
inquired whether he had anything very amusing to communicate to him?
"Many things, sire," replied he, "and amongst others an anecdote of
madame d'Egmont"; and he began to relate to us, word for word, what I
have written you. The king laughed till he cried; as for me, altho' I
could not help finding the tale sufficiently comic to induce risibility,
I listened with more coolness; and when it was completed, I exclaimed,

"Can it be, sire, that you will permit this unfortunate young man to be
the eternal victim of so unprincipled a woman?"

"What would you have me do?" said Louis; "how can I interfere without
compromising the reputation of madame d'Egmont?"

"Allow me to say," replied I, "that this fear ought not to prevent your
majesty's interference. You are father of your subjects; and the respect
you entertain for madame d'Egmont should not outweigh your duty, which
imperatively calls upon you to command the release of this wretched
young man."

"But," argued the king, "by such a step I shall for ever disoblige the
duc de Richelieu and his family."

"Fear it not," cried I, "if your majesty will trust to me, I will
undertake to bring the marechal and his nephew to approve of your
proceedings; and as for the rest of his family, let them go where
they will; for the empire of the world I should be sorry to bear them
company."

This manner of speaking pleased