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ng as yet confided them even to myself； but I trust ere long to obtain such a mark of confidence。〃
The female ceased speaking； and I remained in a state of doubt； fear； and alarm； impossible to describe。 Still one thing appeared clear to me； that information so mysteriously conveyed was not deserving of belief； unless supported by more corroborating testimony。 My unknown friend evidently divined all that was passing in my mind； for she observed；
〃I perceive that my recital appears to you improbable； one particular which I will state may perhaps overcome your incredulity。 Are you not in the habit； madam； of taking every evening mixed with a large proportion of orange… flower water？〃
〃I am；〃 replied I。
〃This day；〃 continued my informant； 〃you will receive four bottles of orange…flower water contained in a box bearing the usual appearances of having come from the perfumers'； but it is sent by other hands； and the liquor contained in the flasks is mingled with a deadly poison。〃
These last words made me tremble。 〃You must complete your kind offices；〃 cried I to my visitor； 〃by bringing me acquainted with the person from whom you have derived your intelligence： that individual must be acquainted with the whole of the plot； and； believe me； I will not be unmindful of either of you。〃
〃Stay one instant；〃 replied the lady； without evincing the slightest emotion； 〃the man who was my informant is assuredly aware of the names of those concerned in the conspiracy； but he has charged me not to state who he is but upon certain conditions； a recommendation I shall most certainly attend to。〃
〃Be assured；〃 interrupted I； 〃that your demands shall be acceded to； you shall yourself fix the price of your entire disclosure of every fact connected with the business。〃
〃It will not be an exorbitant one；〃 replied the lady； 〃merely 600；000 francs； to be equally divided between the friend you desire to know and myself； for this sum； which is not a very large one； you may command the services of both of us。 One word more； madam； and I am gone。 Observe a strict silence upon all I have told you； or； if you must have a counsellor in such perilous circumstances； confide merely in some tried friend； say the duc d'Aiguillon or the chancellor； or both should you deem it necessary； but have a care how you admit a third to a participation of the affair； you could scarcely select another person without choosing one already corrupted by your enemies。 It is said that they are in correspondence with even those persons immediately about the person of the king。 Adieu； madam； I will see you at your own apartments the day after to…morrow； when I trust you will have ready 100；000 francs； on account of the 600；000 I have stipulated for。〃
So saying； she curtsied and left me； overcome with surprise。 A thousand fearful ideas pressed upon my brain； and my heart sickened at the long train of gloomy images which presented themselves。 I had had sufficient proofs since my elevation of the deadly hatred borne me by those whom my good fortune had rendered my enemies： yet； hitherto； my strongest apprehensions had never been directed to anything more terrible than being supplanted in the favor of the king； or being confined in my chateau du Lucienne。 The horrible ideas of murder； poison； or assassination by any means； had never presented themselves to me。 All at once I recollected the young man in the garden of the Tuileries； his predictions of my future greatness had been accomplished。 He had also announced to me fearful vicissitudes； and had threatened to appear to me when these catastrophes were about to occur。 Doubtless he would keep his word； now was the time for so doing； and I timidly glanced around as I caught the sound of a slight rustle among the branches； fully expecting to see my young prophet； but the figure which met my eye was that of madame de Mirepoix； who； tired of waiting； had come to rejoin me。
'What！ 〃said she； 〃are you alone？ I did not observe your visitor leave you。 Did she vanish into air？〃
〃Very possibly；〃 answered I。
〃So then；〃 replied the marechale； 〃she proved a fairy； or some beneficent ； after all？〃
〃If she were a spirit；〃 said I； 〃it certainly was not to the better sort she belonged。〃
〃Have a care；〃 cried the marechale； 〃I have already formed a thousand conjectures as to what this woman has been telling。〃
〃And all your suppositions；〃 replied I； 〃would fall short of the reality。 Listen； my dear marechale；〃 added I； rising； and taking her arm to proceed homewards； 〃I have been strictly prohibited from admitting any counsellor but the duc d'Aiguillon and the chancellor； still I can have no reserves with you； who I know； from the regard you bear both to the king and myself； will advise me to the best of your power。〃
As we walked towards the chateau； I explained to my companion the joint conspiracy of the Jesuits and ancient members of the parliament against the king's life and my own。 When I had ceased speaking； she replied；
〃All this is very possible； despair may conduct the Jesuits and parliamentarians to the greatest extremities； but still this mysterious female may be nothing more than an impostor。 At any rate； I am anxious to learn whether the box she described has been left at your house； if so； it will be a strong corroboration； if not； a convincing proof of the falsehood of what she asserts。〃
We had by this time reached the bottom of the staircase which conducted to my apartments； we ascended the stairs rapidly； and the first person I met in the anteroom was Henriette。
〃Henriette；〃 said I； 〃has any thing been brought for me during my absence？〃
〃Nothing except a box of orange…flower water from Michel the perfumer's； which I presume you ordered； madam。〃
A glance of mutual surprise and consternation passed between the marechale and myself。 We entered my chamber； where madame de Mirepoix opened the fatal box； it contained the four bottles exactly as had been described。 We regarded each other in profound silence； not daring to communicate our reflections。 However； it was requisite to take some steps； and； catching up a pen； I hastily wrote the following billet to the duc d'Aiguillon；
〃MONSIEUR LE DUC； Whatever may be the affairs with which you are at present occupied； I pray of you to throw them aside； and hasten to me instantly upon receipt of this。 Nothing can equal in importance the subject upon which I wish to see you； I cannot now explain myself fully； but prepare for news of the most horrible description； and it refers to the safety and preservation of the most valuable life in the kingdom。 I cannot delay time by writing more； I can only beseech of you not to lose one moment in obeying this summons。 Adieu； fail not to come and bring me back this note。〃
The duke hastened to me full of terror and alarm。
〃Your letter has really frightened me；〃 said he； 〃what can be the matter？ Surely the life of his majesty is not in danger？〃
〃Too truly is it；〃 answered I； 〃but sit down； and you shall know all the affair。 The marechale is already aware of the matter and need not withdraw。〃
The duke listened with extreme attention to the recital of my interview in the grove surrounding the Baths of Apollo； as well as to the account of the discourse I had held there with the strange female。 I endeavoured to relate the conversation as minutely and accurately as possible； but still the duke sought further particulars。 He inquired the style of countenance； dress； manner； and tone of voice possessed by the 。 One might have supposed； by the closeness of his questions； that he already fancied he had identified this mysterious personage： he then examined the box； which stood on the table； and remarked； 〃This is a very serious affair； nor can I undertake the management of it alone； it involves a too great responsibility。 Spite of the lady's assertions； I am confident the fullest confidence might be placed in all the ministers。 However； I will first have a conference with M。 de Saint…Florentin and the chancellor； in whose presence I will send for the lieutenant of police； and the contents of these bottles shall be immediately analyzed。〃
The duke； without quitting me； wrote immediately to his two colleagues as well as to M。 de Sartines； requesting this latter to repair to my apartment without delay。 One of the ministers summoned by M。 d'Aiguillon was not at that moment at Versailles； having left at an early hour in the morning for Paris。 Neither he nor M。 de Sartines could possibly be with us before eight o'clock in the evening； it was therefore agreed to adjourn our conference till their arrival。 Meanwhile M。 d'Aiguillon； the marechale； and myself； remained in a state of the most cruel anxiety。 The duke first blamed me for not having caused the woman to be arrested； and afterwards he confessed to the marechale； that perhaps it was better the conspiracy should be allowed time to ripen into maturity。 Daring this time the liquid contained in the four bottles was being decomposed： M。 Quesnay； first physician； Messrs。 Thiebault and Varennes； visiting physicians； M。 de la Martiniere； counsellor of state； surgeon to his majesty； as well as Me