their nets, and at last one of the ripe beauties, who was now
resting there on her amorous laurels, after innumerable victories on the
hot floors of Viennese society, succeeded in taking him in her toils, but
only for a short time, for she had very nearly reached that limit in age
where, on the man's side, love ceases and esteem begins. But she had more
sense than most women, and she recognized the fact in good time, and as
she did not wish to give up the principal character which she played in
society there so easily, she reflected as to what means she could employ
to bind him to her in another manner. It is well known that the notorious
Marchioness de Pompadour, who was one of the mistresses of Louis XV. of
France, when her own charms did not suffice to fetter that changeable
monarch, conceived the idea of securing the chief power in the State and
in society for herself, by having a pavilion in the deer park, which
belonged to her, and where Louis XV. was in the habit of hunting, fitted
up with every accommodation of a harem, where she brought beautiful women
and girls of all ranks of life to the arms of her royal lover.

Inspired by that historical example, the baroness began to arrange
evening parties, balls, and private theatricals in the winter, and in the
summer excursions into the country, and thus she gave the Prince, who at
that time was still, so to say, at her feet, the opportunity of plucking
fresh flowers. But even this clever expedient did not avail in the long
run, for beautiful women were scarce in that provincial town, and the few
which the local aristocracy could produce were not able to offer the
Prince any fresh attractions, when he had made their closer acquaintance.
At last, therefore, he turned his back on the highly-born Messalinas, and
began to bestow marked attention on the pretty women and girls of the
middle classes, either in the streets or when he was in his box at the
theater.

There was one girl in particular, the daughter of a well-to-do merchant,
who was supposed to be the most beautiful girl in the capital, on to
whom his opera glass was constantly leveled, and whom he even followed
occasionally without being noticed. But Baroness Pompadour soon got wind
of this unprincely taste, and determined to do everything in her power to
keep her lover and the whole nobility, which was threatened, from such an
unheard-of disgrace, as an intrigue of a Prince with a girl of the middle
classes, wo