ntion
of questioning this mysterious visitor. We waited with extreme
impatience the return of my brother-in-law, but he came back alone,
nor had he been able to discover the least trace of the object of his
search. In vain had he employed the two footmen from behind the carriage
to examine the different avenues by which he might have retired. Nothing
could be heard of him, and I remained, more than ever, convinced that
the entire fulfilment of the prophecy was at hand, and that the fatal
hour would shortly strike, which would witness my fall from all my pomp
and greatness. We continued our route slowly and silently; the marechale
accompanied me to the door of my apartment, where I bade her adieu,
spite of her wish to remain with me; but even her society was now
fatiguing to me, and I longed to be alone with merely my own family.

My two sisters-in-law, the wife of comte d'Hargicourt and that of my
nephew, were speedily assembled to talk over with me the events of the
last twelve hours. I threw myself upon my bed in a state of mental and
bodily fatigue, impossible to describe. I strove in vain to collect my
ideas, and arm myself for what I well saw was approaching, and the exact
appearance of the singular predicter of my destiny prepared me for the
rapid accomplishing of all that had been promised.

Louis XV, during this fatal illness, was placed under the care of Bordeu
and Lemonnier. No particularly alarming symptoms appeared during that
day, and we remained in a state of suspense more difficult to bear
than even the most dreadful certainty. As soon as the king felt himself
sufficiently recovered from the fatigues of his removal he requested to
see me. After bestowing on me the most gratifying marks of the sincerest
attachment, he said,

"I am well punished, my dear countess, for my inconstancy towards you,
but forgive me. I pray and believe that, however my fancy may wander, my
heart is all your own."

"Is that quite true?" said I, smiling. "Have you not some reservations?
Does not a noble female in the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ come in for a share as
well as the baroness de New----k?"

The king pressed my hand, and replied,

"You must not believe all those idle tales; I met the baroness by
chance, and, for a time, I thought her pretty. As for the other, if
she renders you in any way uneasy, let her be married at once, and sent
where we need never see her again."

"This is, indeed, the language of sincerity," cried I,