first place, that both your
life and that of the king is in imminent danger."

"Heavens!" cried I, "what do I hear?"

"That which I well know to be true," answered the female, with a firm
voice; "I repeat that your life and that of the king is in danger."

These words, pronounced in a low, solemn voice, froze me with terror; my
limbs tottered under me, and I almost sank to the ground. The stranger
assisted me to a bench, offered me her arm, and when she saw me a little
recovered, she continued,

"Yes, madam, a conspiracy is afoot against yourself and Louis XV. You
are to be made away with out of revenge, and Louis XV is to suffer,
in the hopes of his death effecting a change in the present face of
affairs."

"And who," inquired I, "are the conspirators?"

"The Jesuits and parliamentarians; these ancient rivals, equally
persecuted by the royal government, have determined to make common
cause against their mutual foe. The Jesuits flatter themselves that the
dauphin inherits the kind feelings entertained by his father for
their order, and the parliamentarians justly reckon upon the friendly
disposition of the young prince towards the old magistracy. Both parties
equally flatter themselves that a fresh reign would bring about their
re-establishment, and they are impatient to accelerate so desirable an
event: the conspiracy is directed by four Jesuits and the same number
of the ex-members of the parliament of Paris. The remainder of the two
corporations are not initiated in the secret of the enterprise. I am
not able at present to give you the names of the eight conspirators, the
person from whom I derive my information not having as yet confided them
even to myself, but I trust ere long to obtain such a mark of confidence."

The female ceased speaking, and I remained in a state of doubt, fear,
and alarm, impossible to describe. Still one thing appeared clear to me,
that information so mysteriously conveyed was not deserving of belief,
unless supported by more corroborating testimony. My unknown friend
evidently divined all that was passing in my mind, for she observed,

"I perceive that my recital appears to you improbable; one particular
which I will state may perhaps overcome your incredulity. Are you not
in the habit, madam, of taking every evening _eau sucree_ mixed with a
large proportion of orange-flower water?"

"I am," replied I.

"This day," continued my informant, "you will receive four bottles of
ora