style. When the party at length set out,
their baggage was so enormous, and their
train so numerous, that six great boats were
filled. They did all their cooking on board.
With them they took a band of fiddlers,
engaged by the marquis to amuse him on
the river, and alleviate the ennui of the lady
for the loss of her husband. They embarked
on the Loire at Ronanne, and sent by land
the horses and mules, which arrived as soon
as they did at Briare.

M. de Vieilleville had news of their
movements nearly every day, by the couriers who
constantly passed on their way from Piedmont
to the court; he went out from Paris
as far as Corbeil, with about eighty horse,
on the evening when the travellers arrived
at Ersonne. He sent a messenger directly to
Madame Philippes, informing her of his
movements, and got back an answer not to
show himself until the next day, at the
dinner that was to take place at Juirzy. The
lady appears to have been afraid that if the
slightest suspicion of his intention had come
to the marquis, he would have seized her
and married her by force.

Vieilleville politely kept out of the way
until the dinner was over, and then rode up
with his troop. There were great reverence
and salutations; and all those men began to
talk as well about the good cheer they had
enjoyed by the road, as about the adventures
that necessarily happen in so long a journey.
At a fitting opportunity, however, the lady
slipped away; and, secretly calling the Sieur
Plessis-au-Chat, a Breton gentleman in her
service, ordered him as soon as they reached
the Porte Saint Marceau, to disentangle her
train from that of her suite, and move along
the moat, in the direction of the Porte Saint-
Gagnes, where they were to stop whilst she
bade adieu to the marquis.

Soon afterwards every one mounted, ladies
and all; and this gorgeous brilliant train
arrived in good time at Paris. At the gate
Plessis-au-Chat carried out his instructions,
and dextrously separated the lady's people
from the others. The marquis, surprised,
called out that they mistook the way. But
now, Madame Philippes pulling up, said:
"Sir, they are going where they ought; for
your lodging is in the Hostel des Ursins, in
the Cloister of Notre Dame, and mine is in
the Hostel Saint Denys, near the Augustines.
My honour commands me not to lodge in
your house, but to separate myself from you,
which is why I now bid you adieu; but not,
sir, without thanking you very humbly for
your good company by the road. As to my
part of the expense, I have it all down in
writing. Your Maistre d'Hôtes and Plessis-
au-Chat will settle matters so well together,
that before a week is over we shall be quits;
I mean as far as regards money; for, my
obligation to you will be eternal. Now, I
beg you to consider that this separation is
only a bodily separation; I leave you my
heart, which you will be pleased to keep."
So saying, she kissed him and said, "Adieu,
sir, we shall meet to-morrow at the king's
lodging."

The marquis was so astonished at this
sudden change, that for a long time he could
not utter a single word. His sighs and sobs,
however, showed his anguish and his
sadness. At last his presence of mind returned,
and, looking at the lady in anything but a
loving manner, he said: " Madam, your adieu
gave my heart a pang; but your last words,
and the kiss with which you have honoured
me, have somewhat revived me, though
this sudden change and prompt resolution
seem strange. To-morrow, as you say, we
shall meet; but bear in mind the promises
you have given me. Adieu, madam!"

Then the two companions parted; and
Madame Philippes joyfully took her way in
liberty to the Hotel Saint Denys. The same
evening, Vieilleville brought to her and
introduced as a suitor the Prince de la
Rochesuryon, who was of royal blood, being brother
of the Duke of Montpensier, " If you will
believe me, make this gentleman, as soon as
possible, master of your person and your wealth,
for all delay will be perilous," said he.
The prince and Madam Philippes were
pleased with one another, and exchanged
promises.

Meanwhile the Marshal Dannebund, who
had succeeded Marshal Monte-Jan in his
governorship, had formed the project of
succeeding also to his widow and property.
He therefore had written to the dauphine to
plead his cause, and to represent that by
putting their revenues together they might
make up a hundred thousand livres a-year,
a very rare thing in France for any one but
a prince. The dauphine came with this
proposal, and strongly spoke in favour of
Dannebund. " I know," said she, " that the
Marquis of Saluce is three times as rich, but his
position is more uncertain. Besides, he is
very disagreeable in person, with a big belly,
fat, dirty, swarthy, and awkward. Whereas
my candidate, as you know, is a very
presentable fellow."

To this, Madame Philippes replied by
confirming her engagements with the prince,
and the dauphine accordingly withdrew her
proposal, and recommended her to marry as
fast as possible, because the king laid great
stress on the alliance, and might exercise his
absolute authority.

The marquis never passed a day without
calling to see his mistress; instead of finding
her alone, he always met the Prince de
la Rochesuryon, who thus became a very
thorn in his side. By no means whatever
could he obtain a tête-à-tête interview. So
at last, unable to put up with his annoying
position any longer, he suddenly began a
legal action, and arraigned the lady before
the parliament of Paris. This he did by
express command of the king, who had the