not know what justice a poorstranger would get among them; and as for Paris, my fortune being soimpaired, I saw nothing before me but to go back to Poictou to myfriends, where some of my relations, I hoped, might do something for me,and added that one of my brothers was an abbot at ----, near Poictiers.
He stood up, and taking me by the hand, led me to a large looking-glass,which made up the pier in the front of the parlour. "Look there, madam,"said he; "is it fit that that face" (pointing to my figure in the glass)"should go back to Poictou? No, madam," says he; "stay and make somegentleman of quality happy, that may, in return, make you forget allyour sorrows;" and with that he took me in his arms, and kissing metwice, told me he would see me again, but with less ceremony.
Some little time after this, but the same day, his gentleman came to meagain, and with great ceremony and respect, delivered me a black boxtied with a scarlet riband and sealed with a noble coat-of-arms, which,I suppose, was the prince's.
There was in it a grant from his Highness, or an assignment--I know notwhich to call it--with a warrant to his banker to pay me two thousandlivres a year during my stay in Paris, as the widow of Monsieur ----,the jeweller, mentioning the horrid murder of my late husband as theoccasion of it, as above.
I received it with great submission, and expressions of being infinitelyobliged to his master, and of my showing myself on all occasions hisHighness's most obedient servant; and after giving my most humble dutyto his Highness, with the utmost acknowledgments of the obligation, &c.,I went to a little cabinet, and taking out some money, which made alittle sound in taking it out, offered to give him five pistoles.
He drew back, but with the greatest respect, and told me he humblythanked me, but that he durst not take a farthing; that his Highnesswould take it so ill of him, he was sure he would never see his facemore; but that he would not fail to acquaint his Highness what respect Ihad offered; and added, "I assure you, madam, you are more in the goodgraces of my master, the Prince of ----, than you are aware of; and Ibelieve you will hear more of him."
Now I began to understand him, and resolved, if his Highness did comeagain, he should see me under no disadvantages, if I could help it. Itold him, if his Highness did me the honour to see me again, I hoped hewould not let me be so surprised as I was before; that I would be gladto have some little notice of it, and would be obliged to him if hewould procure it me. He told me he was very sure that when his Highnessintended to visit me he should be sent before to give me notice of it,and that he would give me as much warning of it as possible.
He came several times after this on the same errand, that is, about thesettlement, the grant requiring several things yet to be done for makingit payable without going every time to the prince again for a freshwarrant. The particulars of this part I did not understand; but as soonas it was finished, which was above two months, the gentleman came oneafternoon, and said his Highness designed to visit me in the evening,but desired to be admitted without ceremony.
I prepared not my rooms only, but myself; and when he came in there wasnobody appeared in the house but his gentleman and my maid Amy; and ofher I bid the gentleman acquaint his Highness that she was anEnglishwoman, that she did not understand a word of French, and that shewas one also that might be trusted.
When he came into my room, I fell down at his feet before he could cometo salute me, and with words that I had prepared, full of duty andrespect, thanked him for his bounty and goodness to a poor, desolatewoman, oppressed under the weight of so terrible a disaster; and refusedto rise till he would allow me the honour to kiss his hand.
"_Levez vous donc_," says the prince, taking me in his arms; "I designmore favours for you than this trifle;" and going on, he added, "Youshall for the future find a friend where you did not look for it, and Iresolve to let you see how kind I can be to one who is to me the mostagreeable creature on earth."
I was dressed in a kind of half mourning, had turned off my weeds, andmy head, though I had yet no ribands or lace, was so dressed as failednot to set me out with advantage enough, for I began to understand hismeaning; and the prince professed I was the most beautiful creature onearth. "And where have I lived," says he, "and how ill have I beenserved, that I should never till now be showed the finest woman inFrance!"
This was the way in all the world the most likely to break in upon myvirtue, if I had been mistress of any; for I was now become the vainestcreature upon earth, and particularly of my beauty, which as otherpeople admired, so I became every day more foolishly in love with myselfthan before.
He said some very kind things to me after this, and sat down with me foran hour or more, when, getting up and calling his gentleman by his name,he threw open the door: "_Au boire_," says he; upon which his gentlemanimmediately brought up a little table covered with a fine damask cloth,the table no bigger than he could bring in his two hands, but upon itwas set two decanters, one of champagne and the other of water, sixsilver plates, and a service of fine sweetmeats in fine china dishes, ona set of rings standing up about twenty inches high, one above another.Below was three roasted partridges and a quail. As soon as his gentlemanhad set it all down, he ordered him to withdraw. "Now," says the prince,"I intend to sup with you."
When he sent away his gentleman, I stood up and offered to wait on hisHighness while he ate; but he positively refused, and told me, "No;to-morrow you shall be the widow of Monsieur ----, the jeweller, butto-night you shall be my mistress; therefore sit here," says he, "andeat with me, or I will get up and serve."
I would then have called up my woman Amy, but I thought that would notbe proper neither; so I made my excuse, that since his Highness wouldnot let his own servant wait, I would not presume to let my woman comeup; but if he would please to let me wait, it would be my honour to fillhis Highness's wine. But, as before, he would by no means allow me;so we sat and ate together.
THE VISIT OF THE PRINCE
_And refused to rise till he would allow me the honour to kiss hishand_]
"Now, madam," says the prince, "give me leave to lay aside my character;let us talk together with the freedom of equals. My quality sets me at adistance from you, and makes you ceremonious. Your beauty exalts you tomore than an equality. I must, then, treat you as lovers do theirmistresses, but I cannot speak the language; it is enough to tell youhow agreeable you are to me, how I am surprised at your beauty, andresolve to make you happy, and to be happy with you."
I knew not what to say to him a good while, but blushed, and looking uptowards him, said I was already made happy in the favour of a person ofsuch rank, and had nothing to ask of his Highness but that he wouldbelieve me infinitely obliged.
After he had eaten, he poured the sweetmeats into my lap; and the winebeing out, he called his gentleman again to take away the table, who, atfirst, only took the cloth and the remains of what was to eat away; and,laying another cloth, set the table on one side of the room with a nobleservice of plate upon it, worth at least two hundred pistoles. Then,having set the two decanters again upon the table, filled as before, hewithdrew; for I found the fellow understood his business very well, andhis lord's business too.
About half-an-hour after, the prince told me that I offered to wait alittle before, that if I would now take the trouble he would give meleave to give him some wine; so I went to the table, filled a glass ofwine, and brought it to him on a fine salver, which the glasses stoodon, and brought the bottle or decanter for water in my other hand, tomix as he thought fit.
He smiled, and bid me look on that salver, which I did, and admired itmuch, for it was a very fine one indeed. "You may see," says he, "Iresolve to have more of your company, for my servant shall leave youthat plate for my use." I told him I believed his Highness would nottake it ill that I was not furnished fit to entertain a person of hisrank, and that I would take great care of it, and value myselfinfinitely upon the honour of his Highness's visit.
It now began to grow late, and he began to take notice of it. "But,"says he, "I cannot leave you; have you no
t a spare lodging for onenight?" I told him I had but a homely lodging to entertain such a guest.He said something exceeding kind on that head, but not fit to repeat,adding that my company would make him amends.
About midnight he sent his gentleman of an errand, after telling himaloud that he intended to stay here all night. In a little time hisgentleman brought him a nightgown, slippers, two caps, a neckcloth, andshirt, which he gave me to carry into his chamber, and sent his manhome; and then, turning to me, said I should do him the honour to be hischamberlain of the household, and his dresser also. I smiled, and toldhim I would do myself the honour to wait on him upon all occasions.
About one in the morning, while his gentleman was yet with him, I beggedleave to withdraw, supposing he would go to bed; but he took the hint,and said, "I'm not going to