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ll at once I caught a glimpse of my mysterious acquaintance； leaning his back against the wall behind the altar。 He was examining my countenance with a deep and fixed attention。 You may picture to yourself my astonishment and surprise at recognising in this place the person who had so long ago foretold my brilliant destiny。 The color rushed to my cheeks； and he could distinctly observe how much I was agitated by his presence； and his beautiful countenance was lit up with a pleasant smile； after which he gracefully waved his hand round his head as tho' he would say； 〃Are you not queen of France？〃 This gesture excited my astonishment still further； however； I returned his mute inquiry by a slight inclination of the head； intended to say； 〃You are right。〃 In a moment a sort of cloud seemed to cover my eyes。 So soon as I could recover from the sudden dimness which obscured my vision； I endeavored to bend my looks in an opposite direction； for so greatly was I the point of general observation； that I feared to awaken suspicion by an indiscreet attention to one particular person or place： and when after some little time had elapsed； and I ventured to turn my eyes again to the spot where the young man had been standing； he had disappeared。
I was unable to recover my astonishment at the whole affair； and the suddenness of his departure inspired me with a lively desire to know more of him； whether he were man or demon。 I mentioned it to Chon the same day； who； having listened to me with extreme attention； 〃Upon my word；〃 said she； 〃this is a most marvellous event in your history。 Why do you not mention the fact to M。 de Sartines？ 〃
〃Because it appears to me folly to disturb or annoy a person who has given me no offence； and were I to put him into the hands of the police； I might possibly find reason to repent having acted so。 On the other hand； I would give any sum of money for one more interview with this wonderful person。〃
There the conversation ended； but my sister…in…law； by an unpardonable curiosity she ought not to have indulged in； wrote； unknown to me； to the lieutenant of the police； entreating of him to use the most active measures to trace out the object of my curiosity。 M。 de Sartines delighted at having an opportunity of proving to me and mine his skill and zeal； turned all his bloodhounds loose upon the track of this unfortunate being。 During these proceedings I received a letter； sealed with five black seals； bearing the impress of a death's head。 I thought at first that it was to notify the decease of some friend； and I looked upon the style as gloomy as it was strange； but； upon opening it； I found it to contain the following words：
〃MADAME LA COMTESSE；I am perfectly aware that the strict pursuit made after me in your name is without your knowledge or sanction： those sent in search of me have spared no pains nor trouble to ascertain my name and abode。 My abode！ Let all as they value themselves avoid meeting me there； for； when they enter it； it will be never to quit it more。 Who am I？ That can only be known when this life has been exchanged for another。 I charge you； madame； to command the lieutenant； M。 de Sartines。； to cease his researches after me； they would be fruitless； and might only compromise your safety。 Remember； I predicted your good fortune； was I not correct in it？ I have also foretold reverses： I am equally correct in them also。 You will see me twice more； and should I unfortunately cross your path a third time； prepare to bid adieu to the light of heaven and the pleasures of this world。〃
It is impossible to convey an idea of the excessive terror with which I was filled upon the perusal of this billet。 I summoned my sister…in…law； and complained of the harshness of conduct thus adopted against my pleasure。 Chon was equally alarmed； and confessed to me what she had done in asking the aid of M。 de Sartines； at the same time that she was the first to declare that it was requisite to put an end to all further search； which； in one shape or other； might bring on the most fatal consequences。 I therefore wrote myself to M。 de Sartines； thanking him for his exertions； but saying； that my sister…in…law and myself had learned from the lips of the mysterious stranger all we were desirous of knowing； and that any future researches being unpleasant to him would be equally disagreeable to me。 M。 de Sartines obeyed my request； and from that period till the death of the king I heard no more of this singular personage。
CHAPTER XXI
Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon The comtesse du Barry at ChantillyOpinion of king and comte de la Marche respecting the 〃Iron Mask〃Madame du Barry visits madame de Lagarde
My acquaintance with the singular being I was speaking of in the last chapter did not end here； as you will find in the sequel。 I will now give you an account of an equally strange affair； in nearly the same words as Louis XV himself related it to me。 Altho' strongly recommended by my sister…in…law and M。 de Sartines to conceal the whole story of my mysterious friend from the king； yet； unaccustomed to the prudential observation of court reserve； I； one fine evening； in order to fill up a long blank in the conversation； related the story from beginning to end。 His majesty listened with attention until I had concluded。
〃This is indeed；〃 said he； 〃a most singular history； and I think you have acted very wisely in putting an end to all such interference on the part of the police； for in such cases you frequently run great risks to procure a trifling gratification。 We have seen something of the same sort in our family。〃
This discourse excited my curiosity； and I entreated of him to explain himself more fully。 〃I ought not to do so；〃 replied he； 〃such transactions should be kept for ever concealed； but as more than half a century has elapsed since the event I allude to took place； I think I may venture to break the silence I have religiously observed until now。 You are the only person I have ever mentioned it to； and I must bind you to the strictest secrecy。〃
This I faithfully promised； and so long as Louis XV lived I kept my word。
〃At the conclusion of the last century； during the month of September；〃 resumed the king； 〃it happened that Louis XIV； and madame de Maintenon formed the wish of consulting together some learned astrologer； in order to ascertain whether the coming age would be productive of good or ill to them。 As neither of them knew to whom to apply； in order to attain their object； madame de Maintenon was compelled to confide her wishes to her friend； madame de Montchevreuil； who readily engaged to find for her the person she required； for； spite of the severity with which the law visited such practices； there was no scarcity of dealers in augury； who promised good or bad fortune accordingly as they were paid for it。
〃Whilst this lady was making diligent search after one perfectly competent to satisfy madame de Maintenon； this latter； in conjunction with the king； despite the superiority of their minds； was greatly disturbed at the probable consequences of the step they meditated。 Their desire to penetrate into futurity appeared to them as ridiculous as it was criminal； but their weaker feelings triumphed； and the result of their deliberations was that far from relinquishing their intention of searching the book of fate； they should lose neither pains nor trouble to attain their object； and to encourage each other； they reckoned upon their fingers the names of every person of their acquaintance； or even belonging to the court； who had derived profit and advantage from the predictions of fortune…tellers。
〃The minds of all at this period were still imbued with those superstitious feelings； of which many of the most illustrious persons had given ample proof even in the preceding reign。 We have become either more wicked or more sceptical； whichever you please to term it； but this is certain； that many of the things predicted were accomplished with an exact punctuality； which might serve to overthrow the finest arguments of the greatest philosophers； and which has indeed destroyed many ingenious theories。 Doubtless the hidden laws of nature have reference to other beings than ourselves； and； beyond dispute； may be said to govern the creatures of an unknown world as well as exercising control over poor mortals like us。〃 After this short digression； of which I give you the precise wording； the king continued as follows：
〃On the following day madame de Montchevreuil paid a visit to madame de Maintenon； in which she declared； that upon mature reflection； she could not proceed with the commission she had undertaken： that it was tempting Providence； and had better be abandoned。 This remonstrance had no effect upon madame de Maintenon； who shielded herself from any necessity of retracting； by repeating to herself； that she had pledged herself to join Louis XIV in the undertaking； and it would never do for her to forfeit her character for firmness and good sense by now appearing trifling and capricious。 However； she feigned a seeming compliance with the advice of madame de Montchevreuil； whilst； in reality； her mind was resolved up