nge-flower water contained in a box bearing the usual appearances of
having come from the perfumers', but it is sent by other hands, and the
liquor contained in the flasks is mingled with a deadly poison."

These last words made me tremble. "You must complete your kind offices,"
cried I to my visitor, "by bringing me acquainted with the person
from whom you have derived your intelligence: that individual must be
acquainted with the whole of the plot; and, believe me, I will not be
unmindful of either of you."

"Stay one instant," replied the lady, without evincing the slightest
emotion; "the man who was my informant is assuredly aware of the names
of those concerned in the conspiracy, but he has charged me not to state
who he is but upon certain conditions; a recommendation I shall most
certainly attend to."

"Be assured," interrupted I, "that your demands shall be acceded to;
you shall yourself fix the price of your entire disclosure of every fact
connected with the business."

"It will not be an exorbitant one," replied the lady; "merely 600,000
francs, to be equally divided between the friend you desire to know and
myself; for this sum, which is not a very large one, you may command the
services of both of us. One word more, madam, and I am gone. Observe
a strict silence upon all I have told you; or, if you must have a
counsellor in such perilous circumstances, confide merely in some tried
friend; say the duc d'Aiguillon or the chancellor, or both should
you deem it necessary; but have a care how you admit a third to a
participation of the affair; you could scarcely select another person
without choosing one already corrupted by your enemies. It is said that
they are in correspondence with even those persons immediately about the
person of the king. Adieu, madam; I will see you at your own apartments
the day after to-morrow, when I trust you will have ready 100,000
francs, on account of the 600,000 I have stipulated for."

So saying, she curtsied and left me, overcome with surprise. A thousand
fearful ideas pressed upon my brain, and my heart sickened at the long
train of gloomy images which presented themselves. I had had sufficient
proofs since my elevation of the deadly hatred borne me by those whom
my good fortune had rendered my enemies: yet, hitherto, my strongest
apprehensions had never been directed to anything more terrible than
being supplanted in the favor of the king, or being confined in
my chateau