Thisladyhadapeculiarskillinphysiognomy，and
　　thecloseattentionshealwayspaidtominewasfrequentlyextremely
　　embarrassinganddisagreeableSheseemedasusualonthepresent
　　occasiontoreadallthatwaspassinginmymind；however，less
　　penetratingeyesthanhersmighteasilyhaveperceived，bymy
　　suddenagitation，thatthepaperIheldinmyhandcontained
　　somethingmorethanusual。
　　“Whatailsyou？“
　　askedshe，withthefamiliarityourclose
　　intimacywarranted；“doesthatnotebringyouanybadnews？“
　　“No，“saidI；“ittellsmenothing；butitleavesmeampleroom
　　formuchuneasinessandalarm:but，afterall，itmaybemerely
　　somehoax，somefoolishjestplayedoffatmyexpense；butjudge
　　foryourself。“
　　Sosaying，Ihandedhertheletter:whenshehad
　　perusedit，shesaid，
　　“Uponmyword，ifIwereinyourplace，Iwouldclearupthis
　　mystery；goodadviceisnotsoeasilymetwithastomakeita
　　matterofdifficultytogoasfarastheBathsofApollotoseek
　　it。
　　Itisbynomeansimpossiblebutthat，asthispapertells
　　you，somegreatperilishangingoveryou。
　　Themarquisede
　　Pompadour，“continuedmadamedeMirepoix，“receivedmorethan
　　onceinvitationssimilartothis，whichsheneverfailedtoattend；
　　andIrecollectonecircumstance，inwhichshehadnocauseto
　　regrethavingdoneso:withoutthekindofficesofoneofthese
　　anonymouswritersitisverypossiblethatshemighthaveexpired
　　heartbroken，andperhapsforsakeninsomestateprison，instead
　　ofendingherdaysinthechateauofVersailles，honoredevento
　　thetombbythefriendshipandregardofthekingofFrance。“
　　Iaskedmyfriendtoexplainherlastobservation，andshereplied
　　asfollows:——
　　“Onedayananonymousbillet，similartothis，wasleftfor
　　madamedePompadour:itrequestedhertorepair，ataspecified
　　hour，tothechurchoftheJacobins，rueSaintHonore，inParis，
　　whereshewaspromisedsomehighlyimportantcommunications。
　　Themarchionesswaspunctualtotherendezvous；and，asshe
　　enteredthechurch，aJacobite，soentirelywrappedinhiscapuchin
　　astoconcealhisfeatures，approachedher，tookherbythehand，
　　andconductedhertoanobscurechapel；where，requestingherto
　　sitdown，hetookaseathimself，andbeganasfollows:——
　　“’Madam，youareabouttolosethefavoroftheking；apartyis
　　atworktogiveanewmistresstotheking；theladyisyoung，
　　beautiful，witty，andpossessedofaninsatiableambition；forthe
　　lastsixmonthsshehasbeeninthedailyhabitofseeingtheking，
　　unknowntoyouandallthecourt，andthishasbeenaccomplished
　　inthefollowingmanner:herfatheristohis
　　majesty，andshehasanonlybrother，twoyearsyoungerthan
　　herself，whoseastonishingresemblancetoherhascreatedcontinual
　　mistakes；thisbrotherispromisedtheinheritanceofhisfather’s
　　office；and，underpretextofacquiringthedueinitiationfor
　　futurepost，hasbeenpermittedeverymorningtoattendthe
　　king’srising。
　　“’However，thisembryopageisthesister，whocomeseachmorning
　　disguisedinherbrother’sclothes。
　　Thekinghashadmanyprivate
　　conversationswiththedesigningbeauty；and，seducedbyher
　　manycharmsofmindandperson，aswellasdazzledbythehidden
　　andconcealednatureoftheirintrigue，findshispassionforher
　　increasesfromdaytoday。
　　Manyarethedesigningpersonsready
　　toprofitbythetransferoftheking’saffectionsfromyoutothis
　　freshfavorite；andtheyflatterthemselvesthedesiredeventis
　　closeathand。
　　Youaretobeconfinedbya
　　totheisleofSt。Margaret，fortheplaceofyourexileisalready
　　chosen。
　　Theprincipalconspiratorsaretwopowerfulnoblemen，
　　oneofwhomisreputedyourmostintimatefriend。
　　Ilearnedall
　　theseparticulars，’continuedtheJacobite，’fromayoungpenitent，
　　butnotunderthesealofconfession。
　　Thispenitentisthe
　　particularfriendofthefemaleinquestion，whoconfidedthe
　　secrettoher，fromwhomIreceivedit，accompaniedbythemost
　　flatteringpromisesoffutureprotectionandadvancement。
　　These
　　splendidprospectsexcitedherjealousenvy，andshecamehere
　　toconfessthewholetome，requestingIwouldseekyououtand
　　informyouofthewholeaffair。
　　Hereisalettersheobtained
　　unknowntoheraspiringfriend，whichshewishesyoutosee，as
　　apledgeoftheveracityofherstatement。’Themarchionesscast
　　hereyesoverthepaperheldouttoherbytheJacobite。
　　Itwas
　　aletteraddressedbythekingtohisnewmistress。
　　“YoumayimaginetheterrorofmadamedePompadour，heranxiety
　　andimpatiencetoreturntoVersailles。
　　However，ereshequitted
　　thefriendlymonksheassuredhimofherlastinggratitude，and
　　beggedofhimtopointouthowshecouldbestproveit。
　　’For
　　myself，’repliedhe，’Iasknothing；butifyouwouldrenderme
　　yourdebtor，conferthefirstvacantbishopriconamanwhomI
　　greatlyesteem，theabbedeBarral。’Youwilleasilysupposethat
　　theabbedeBarralhadnotlongtowaitforhispreferment:as
　　fortheJacobitethemarchionessneveragainsaworheardanything
　　ofhim。
　　Shementionedhimtothenewlyappointedbishop，who
　　couldnotevenunderstandtowhatshealluded。
　　Sherelatedthe
　　affair，whenhecalledheaventowitnessthatheknewnothingof
　　anyJacobiteeitherdirectlyorindirectly。“
　　“Andhowdidthemarchionessgetridofherrival？“
　　inquiredI
　　ofmadamedeMirepoix。
　　“Byaverysimpleandeffectiveexpedient。
　　Shesentfortheduc
　　deSaintFlorentin，whomsherequestedimmediatelytoexpedite
　　two；oneforthe，whowas
　　shutupinthechateaudeLectoure，andtheotherforthedaughter，
　　whomthemarchionesssenttotheisleofSt。Marguerite，to
　　occupytheplaceshehadsoobliginglydestinedforherself。“
　　“Andnow，“askedI，“didtheseunfortunatepeopleevergetout
　　ofprison？“
　　“ThatIknownot，“answeredthemarechale；“and，Godforgiveme，
　　foraughtIeverinquiredtheymaybetherenow。“
　　“Ifso，“criedI，“theconductofboththekingandtheducdela
　　Vrilliereisabominableandunpardonable。“
　　“Why，blessyourheart，mydear，“exclaimedthemarechale，“do
　　youexpectthathismajestyshouldrecollectallthepretty
　　womenhehasintriguedwith，anymorethanthepoordukecanbe
　　expectedtokeepalistinhismemoryofthedifferentpersons
　　hehassenttoaprison？
　　Hewouldrequireaprodigiousrecollection
　　forsuchapurpose。“
　　Thisunfeelingreplyfilledmewithindignation，
　　andredoubledthepityIalreadyfeltforthepoorprisoners。
　　I
　　immediatelydespatchedanotetotheducdeSaintFlorentin，
　　requestinghewouldcometomewithoutdelay:hehastenedtoobey
　　mysummons。
　　Whenhehadheardmyrecitalheremainedsilent
　　someminutes，asthoughcollectinghisrecollectionsuponthe
　　subject，andthenreplied，
　　“Idoindeedrememberthatsomeobscurefemalewasconfinedin
　　thechateauoftheisleSainteMargueriteattherequestofmadame
　　dePompadour，butIcannotnowsay，whetheratthedeathofthe
　　marchionessanypersonthoughtofintercedingforherrelease。“
　　“ThatispreciselywhatIwishtoascertain，“criedI；“returnto
　　youroffices，monsieurleduc，anduseyourbestendeavorsto
　　discoverwhetherthisunfortunategirlandherparentarestill
　　inconfinement；norventureagaininmypresenceuntilyouhave
　　despatchedtheorderfortheirdeliverance:youwillprocurea
　　conveyanceforthemfromtheirprisontoParisattheexpenseof
　　government。
　　Youunderstand，mylord？“
　　Thefollowingmorningthedukebroughtmethedesiredinformation。
　　Hetoldme，thatthefatherhadbeendeadsevenyears，
　　butthe
　　daughterstillremainedaprisoner:theorderforrestoringher
　　tolibertyhadbeenforwardedthenightpreceding。
　　Iwillnow
　　brieflyrelatetheendofthismournfulstory。
　　ThreeweeksafterthisIreceivedanearlyvisitfrom
　　theducde
　　laVrilliere，whocametoapprizeme，that
　　myprotegeefromthe
　　isleof
　　St。Margueritewasinmy
　　antechamberawaitingpermission
　　tooffermehergratefulthanks。
　　Idesiredshemightinstantlybe
　　admitted；herappearanceshockedme；notasingletraceofthat
　　beautywhichhadprovedsofataltoitspossessornowremained。
　　Shewaspale，emaciated，andhercountenance，onwhichcareand
　　confinementhadimprintedthewrinklesofprematureoldage，was
　　sadanddejectedeventoidiocy。
　　Icouldhavewishedthatmadame
　　dePompadour，bywayofpunishmentforhercruelty，couldbut
　　haveseentheobjectofherrelentlesspersecution。
　　Ithinkshe
　　wouldhaveblushedforherself。
　　Whenthepoorgirlenteredmy
　　apartmentshelookedwildlyaroundher，andcastingherselfat
　　myfeet，inquiredwithmanytearstowhatmotiveshewasindebted
　　formygenerousinterferenceinherbehalf。
　　Theducdela
　　Vrillierecontemplatedwiththeutmostthespectacle
　　ofamiseryhehadsolargelycontributedto。
　　Irequestedofhim
　　toleaveustoourselves。
　　Ithenraisedmyweeping，
　　consoledhertothebestofmyability，andthenrequestedher
　　togivemethehistoryofhercaptivity。
　　Herstorywassoon
　　told:shehadbeenaninhabitantofthesameprisonforseventeen
　　yearsandfivemonths，withouteitherseeingahumanbeing，or
　　hearingthesoundofahumanvoice。
　　Herrecitalmademeshudder，
　　andIpromisedherthathenceforwardherlifeshouldberendered
　　ashappyasithadhithertobeenmiserable。
　　Thekingsuppedwithmethatevening。
　　Bysomesingularchancehe
　　wasonthisoccasioninthehappiesttemperpossible:helaughed，
　　sung，jokedwithsuchunusualspirits，thatIhesitatedereI
　　disturbedagaietytowhichLouisXVwassolittleprone。
　　However，Itookhimaside，saying，“Sire，Ihavetoaskatonement
　　andreparationforamosthorriblepieceofinjustice。“
　　Afterwhich，