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but was supposed to be connected with some lucrative strange surmises have been afloat respecting me. I business at a distance, ostensibly carried on by need not tell you that they have all been incorrect, others, for he frequently disappeared at irregular and I am now going to confide to you the true reason times, for uncertain periods of from one to five or six of my singularities. My absences from home have months, and no curiosity, however eager, had yet occasioned much conjecture; it has been supposed been satisfied as to where he went or how he employ- that I was secretly connected with some lucrative ed himself during those absences. He never spoke trade, which I had sufficient cause to keep secret. I of having any relative but the aunt with whom his tell you at once that it was not so, and that what youth had been spent, and who was to the full as wealth I happen to possess is that bequeathed to me reserved and eccentric as himself. None ever ap- by my aunt, considerably increased, I own, by my peared as his visitor, and though he was civil to his frugal method of life. In early youth I wished to neighbours, en passant, he never invited any one of travel, and I did so. I became attached during my them to enter his docrs. He kept no domestic but wanderings to a very beautiful Swiss lady, and we one old woman, and she was only employed for a were betrothed to each other. But, during a separafew hours each day, and lodged with her son in the tion of unusual length, several of my letters to her next street. Yet his manners displayed nothing of were lost, or, as I imagine, intercepted, by one who either gloom or misanthropy; on the contrary, he had professed himself my friend, whilst in reality he was peculiarly courteous in the little intercourse he was my rival. At any rate he prevailed on Blanche held with his fellow-creatures, and particularly kind to forget her vows, and become his wife. His after to his old attendant, whom he always paid liberally. conduct to her was most cruel, and that, and the disMoreover, he was remarkably well-looking for his covery of the perfidious arts he had used to gain her years, tall, well made, and possessed of a high, bold consent to be his, so preyed on her mind, that she forehead, slightly fringed with silver hair, and an in- became deranged, and that so 'completely, that she telligent, open countenance. He had lived in the was obliged to be placed in strict confinement. Her same house ever since he came, and long before Carl husband died a few years afterwards, and I then Openheim had purchased the little messuage now in- sought an interview with her, hoping that some glimhabited by the three sisters. The family had always mering of sense might be restored by my presence. been on good terms with Herr Schobeln-that is to She did not appear to know me at first, but after a say, they had regularly exchanged salutations when time a faint dawn of memory seemed to steal over they met, and the solitary had regularly sent them her mind, and she called me by name, weeping like the first salad of the year, raised in the plot of garden a child. I weary you, ladies, by this relation; I which he cultivated with his own hands; in return have no right to intrude it on you, but I have a purfor which he as regularly received a small basket of pose in doing so."

their finest pears when the season came round. But The sisters all declared they were much honoured they had never exchanged a word with him beyond by his confidence, and deeply interested in his narraa passing "good day," and therefore their surprise tive, and they begged that he would proceed. may be imagined when, one fine summer's evening, "After our interview she was calmier than she had Amelia, who generally acted as porteress, opened the been since her malady first appeared, and in future, door to Herr Schobeln. Still more were they aston- in her wildest moments, the very mention of my ished when, in compliance with the polite invitation name appeared to soothe her, and invariably produced which Madame Leroux uttered as the sentence that a flood of tears, which seemed to relieve her much. came most readily to hand on the ocaasion, Herr My occasional presence, too, seemed productive of Schobeln walked in "with stately step and slow," benefit, and it was suggested to me by one well-skiland, after bowing politely to Roschen and Gertrude, led in the treatment of cases similar to hers that I seated himself in the arm-chair which had been their should frequently visit her, and remain in her neighfather's, with as much ease and friendliness of man-bourhood for a longer or shorter period, as our interner as if he had been on the most intimate terms with views seemed to soothe her or otherwise. I removed them all his life; moreover, the lamp being lighted, her from the asylum where she had hitherto been imthey perceived that Herr Schobeln was attired with muted, to the house of a skilful surgeon, who sent unusual splendour in a court suit, which he had never for me whenever he deemed my presence might be been known to display before, save on the occasion useful. Till within the last few months I had the of some public rejoicing, or on such festivals as satisfaction of feeling that I lessened her sufferings, Easter and Christmas. He did not, however, make and was serviceable to the being whom I had loved any attempt at commencing a conversation, until best on earth. She does not now need my care." Roschen, conquering her sense of embarrassment as He stopped in some agitation, but resumed in a well as she was able, inquired to what fortunate cir- few moments. cumstance they were indebted for the honour of a

"Thank God, her reason was restored before her visit from Herr Schobeln? "Pardon me, ladies," death, in all the clearness and strength of her youth. replied the guest, "for having caused you some little She knew me, and thanked me, and her last act was surprise, I had almost said alarm, by my unlooked-to place her wasted hand in mine, her last word a for appearance in your house; and allow me, in as blessing on my name. Dear ladies, the being who few words as I can, to explain its meaning. For occupied my whole thoughts and affections is gone, many years I have lived in almost entire, solitude, and the sense of loneliness presses heavily upon me. and truly I cannot say I have lived unhappily. My heart has been so long used to have an object on have had my books, my flowers, my household which to expend its sympathies, that I am unhappy inetters to attend to, aud I can assure you time has in the want of it. Why should not we be friends? never hung heavily on my hands. Many have won-You have all been sufferers, peculiarly tried, and so dered at my solitary mode of life, and a thousand have I; there is much of equality in our circumstan

"What

ces, and I have come to you this evening to say it is," continued the Widow Steinbach. what I never said to a family in Frankfort before-would you think, Amelia, if he should be coming to 'Let us be friends.' Suffer me to visit you some look for a wife?"

times, to take an interest in your affairs, and as far as I am able to render you my assistance."

"A wife, sister!" said Amelia, with a very good tone of surprise.

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The three widows were certainly much astonished! Aye, a wife, Madame Leroux; why should not at Herr Schobeln's manner of introducing himself to he seek a wife as well as another, especially now, he their acquaintance; but they were touched and in- has no more trouble or expense about that mad lady, terested by his story, and the earnestness with which you know? Why should not he have found out that the solitary man appealed to them for sympathy. a lonely home is not a happy one, and that a kind They could not refuse his request, and therefore in face and a bright smile by his fireside, and a kind timated that they should be happy to receive him hand to smooth his pillow if he were ill, would be a when he felt disposed to visit them. blessing? He is rich-we are poor; why, if he One of the party, however, soon began to feel some should ask one of us in marriage, should we say to little regret that their assent had been so easily given. him nay? It is not of myself I speak; my infirmities Scarcely a day went by without some present of fruit are a sufficient answer to any thought that might or vegetables, or other small matters, being conveyed arise on that subject; but if he offer to marry either by the ancient serving-woman of Herr Schobeln to you or Roschen, why should you refuse the means of the humble home of his fair neighbours, and very escaping from this life of toil and poverty?" shortly not an evening passed in which his tall per- The tears of Amelia were by this time flowing son might not be seen occupying the large leathern fast, but her sister continuedchair of the deceased tobacconist. Roschen felt You are the best judge yourself to which his insomewhat annoyed, despite the natural kindness of clinations tend; I should think he would most likely her heart, because their privacy seemed effectually choose you, for Roschen's sorrowful voice alone broken up. Amelia, on the contrary, was secretly would put such thoughts about her out of any man's delighted, for she had thoughts on the subject, which head. It must be you, Amelia, and I trust and believe however, she would not have communicated to it will prove so, and therefore already I say, God Roschen for the world. She did, indeed, venture on bless you with him!""

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a few distant hints of good fortune to arise from this Amelia was much pleased at hearing this opinion new intimacy, though as to the particular form in expressed by Gertrude.-Herr Schobeln's attention which it was to come she preserved an oracular had been hitherto divided so equally amongst the silence; and Roschen was too much wrapt up in her sisters, that she had felt some difficulty in her mind own thoughts to attempt to unravel the mystery, or as to which was the favoured fair one. She had a to regard Herr Schobeln as anything but a very good real respect for Herr Schobeln; she knew he was neighbour, whose visits would be far pleasanter if rich, and she had no objection to become the partner they were not quite so frequent. of his fortunes, not indeed with a mere selfish wish But during Roschen's absences from the sitting- for her own exaltation, but to have the pleasure of room Amelia felt no such restraint in conversing with sharing her comforts with her sisters. Widow the Widow Stienbach. They talked on the subject Steinbach's speech had confirmed her in her opinion of Herr Schobeln's visits, and speculated thereon to that it was herself and not Roschen whom he sought; their hearts' content. Poor Gertrude, deprived of the and she already saw herself the mistress of the old power of making her own observations on the state of house over the way, felt her light step bounding affairs, always applied to Madame Leroux for the re-through its large rooms, and up its wide staircases, sult of her's, and their dialogues were generally carried on in something of the following strain :"Well," the Widow Steinbach would say, by way of commencement, Roschen's languid step having died away, and her chamber door having closed on the sufferer" Well, so you tell me that our neighbour, Schobeln, wore last night a new cinnamon vest, with gold buttons; is it not rather strange for him to get a new vest?

"I never remember such a thing before," Amelia would rejoin; "he used always to wear a black one, and I never saw him in any other, except the one belonging to his best suit, which he wore the first evening he came, you know."

"It is very strange," said the Widow Steinbach. "What is strange?" said Amelia, innocently simpering a little though, and stealing a glance at the mirror, which perhaps she would not have done had her sister been able to observe it.

"I don't mean the new vest only," pursued Gertrude," but the whole thing; his coming at all, after knowing us by sight so many years, and now his coming so regularly every night."

"Well, that is strange certainly," assented Amelia. But I think I can find a reason for it, strange as

rummaged its chests and odd corners, and heard her own laugh ring through the long-silent apartments, as she brought to light some article of strang fashion or curious workmanship. She already felt in fancy the delight of procuring for her sisters the means which should supply Gertrude with the comforts her infirm state rendered necessary to her, and exempt Roschen from her laborious employments. She lived day by day in ahappy dream of the future, only wishing that Herr Schobeln would be a little more explicit at once, that she might commence altering her dresses for the wedding, which she had not yet ventured to do, though she had already turned them over many times, and contrived how they might be remodelled to the best advantage. Why did not Herr Schobeln speak? He spoke at last, and to Amelia herself by herself; yet his avowal had the effect of a sudden thunderbolt, shattering to atoms the fairy palace of her hopes and anticipations. He spoke, and after a long preamble concerning the disagreeables of solitude and the pleasures of the married state, he finished his harangue by begging, humbly begging, that Amelia would propose him as a suitor to her sister Roschen! What Amelia said, or how she received the unravelling of his intentions, cannot be known, for she never

knew exactly herself.

effected. Roschen wept bitterly over her unappreciated sacrifice that night, as she knelt beside her sleeping child's couch, and poured out the agony her soul before her Maker.

of

She remembered something | All these things had been considered and re-consiabout pleasure and honour, and endeavouring to meet dered, and thus it was that Roschen had consented his wishes, and then flew to the Widow Steinbach to be the wife of Herr Schobeln. to disburden her mind of the astounding intelligence. The sisters, who had been apprehensive that, after But Gertrude did not sympathize with her exactly as all, there would be no wedding in the family, were might have been expected. "They had been mis- overjoyed at Roschen's decision. Of the sacrifice taken;" that was all-she saw great cause for thank- she was making for others they had no comprehenfulness that the wedding and the wealth would still sion. They were thankful that she had changed her be in the family, for of course Roschen, though no mind, and they had no conception of the slow and doubt she would be astonished, would never be so most painful process by which that change had been mad as to refuse him, if it were only for the sake of little Franchette. She shifted Roschen into the character of bride, which she had hitherto marked out for Amelia, with wonderful facility, observing in conclusion, that at any rate there would be a wed- There was no occasion for the alteration of old ding, and they would all be at it. Very true; but it dresses for the bridal, as Amelia had supposed there is a different thing to be the principal person on such would be. Herr Schobeln sent the richest stuffs and an occasion, or a mere looker-on-there is a wide silks that could be purchased in Frankfort as presents distinction between the importance of a bride and a both to the bride elect and her sisters. Every prebridesmaid, and between being the mistress and dis-paration was made on a splendid scale.-The old penser of this world's goods, and the humble recipi- house, so long the subject of much ungratified curient of them. All this Amelia felt, and a sense of osity amongst the towns-people, was now filled with deep disappointment and mortification, together with workmen, and the gossips who gained admission shame for the self-delusion she had been subject to, were inuch disappointed to find it was so like other did at first possess her mind, though a certain pride old houses. The wealth which the neighbourhood swelling at her heart forbade her to say so, and urged had so long taken for granted, was now presented to her to acquiesce in the view Gertrude took of the its eyes in the visible forms of rich carpets, curtains, matter with the best grace she could. Indeed such and furniture of every kind.

was the excellence of her temper and the elasticity The arrangements for the wedding feast were made of her feelings, that when a few hours after she in- in an equally liberal style by the direction of the formed Roschen of the proposal she was commis-bridegroom, and all Frankfort talked of nothing but sioned to make, she did it with a smiling counten- the change that was taking place in the circumstances ance, and was really distressed when her sister of two persons so unlikely to marry as the rich declared her intention of refusing Herr Schobeln's bachelor and the broken-hearted widow, and above offer. all so unlikely to marry each other.

Months went by, and not only once but many Perhaps even in the early bloom of her beauty times, by the agency of her sister, personally and by Roschen had never looked so lovely as on the mornletter, did Roschen refuse Herr Schobeln. There ing of her second wedding-day. The rich material was, perhaps, a lingering hope in Madame Leroux's and plain fashion of her snow-white dress suited heart that the determined coldness of Roschen might well with the pure and intellectual character of her lead their neighbour to recollect that his cruel fair countenance, and the expensive lace veil which shaded one had a sister, neither old nor ugly, who might not her pale brow lent fresh delicacy to the outline of be so indifferent to a similar proposition; but months, her features. There was no wildness in her dark as I have said, went by, and Herr Schobeln deter- eye; no convulsive motion of her lip-all was hushed mined to write once more to his obdurate charmer, and composed as the calm depths of her own reand if she still continued unpropitious, to leave the solved spirit. She felt grateful to Herr Schobeln for town where he had already been much talked of as all he had promised-a home for her sisters, protecthe rejected suitor of the beautiful young widow. tion for her child, unbounded kindness to herself, Roschen received his letter, retired to her chamber, though she felt in heart the last would not long be where she remained some hours, and on her return to required. Since they had conversed more frequently the room where her sisters were sitting, calmly but and confidentially together, the bridegroom's feelings coldly announced her intention of accepting Herr had undergone a change; he loved Roschen more Schobeln. than ever, if it were possible, but his love was blent

Let no one who reads this tale burst forth with the with a respect that partook of the character of revehacknied quotation-" Frailty, thy name is woman!" rence. Indeed on the bridal day she seemed to awe Roschen had done nothing rashly-nothing that even more than she had charmed him, and he moved could possibly subject her to the charge of fickleness and spoke in her presence with a deference that was or folly. The image of Francis Middleton, the first, scarcely lover-like.

the only loved of her heart, was as fresh in her me- The strangely assorted pair stood before the altar, mory as ever; this she had told Herr Schobeln, even where, ten years before, Roschen's young heart had while she acceded to his proposal. But he was throbbed so wildly, as her hand was placed in that gone; lost to her for ever in this world-her own of Francis Middleton, and the words pronounced health was failing, and, should she die, what would which made her his own. She seemed to herself, in be the fate of her orphan child? who would carry on the present instance, to be enacting a part in some the struggle for her rights, which her mother had pageant in which she had no real interest. never yet abandoned? Then the Widow Steinbach: ceremony meant anything; if she were really the how could Amelia, in the event of Roschen's death, bride of another, could she stand there so calm, so both wait upon her and work for her own support? self-possessed? It was impossible.

If this

The ceremony began; there was a little stir at the wealth. I have visited Frankfort again within the door amongst the crowd who were passing in to wit-last few years, and passed some days at the mansion ness it, and then voices were heard as in altercation. of Herr Schobeln, and the humbler home of Frank The clergyman paused and commanded silence, but and Roschen; and I can truly say I have seldom en-. still the people struggled, and still angry voices joyed more heartfelt satisfaction than in witnessing sounded. Suddenly Roschen started and turned the contentment and prosperity of the three sisters round, gazing earnestly towards the door and listen- who had formerly been known and pitied as "the ing with eager attention. A moment more and the three widows of Frankfort."

bride sprang from her station at the altar, passed quickly through the crowd, who instinctively fell back to give her way, and was caught in the arms of a tall sunburnt man, in shabby sailor's clothes, whom she and no other knew-knew in an instant to be her own Francis Middleton !

From the New Monthly Magazine.

AN ODDITY OF THE SEVENTEENTH
CENTURY.

BY MRS. GORE.

He had been washed overboard early on the fatal evening of the wreck, and, clinging to a floating spar, had been picked up by a small outward-bound vessel, and thus escaped the fate which awaited those who took to the boat. This vessel in her turn was doomed VALUABLE hints concerning the morals and manto disaster, being taken by a pirate, and all on board ners of an historical epoch, are often to be derived her were butchered or made prisoners. He had suf- from the sectional history of persons, little disfered sickness and slavery and imprisonment, but all tinguished from the mass by virtue, understanding, had been overcome, and he had just reached Frank- or social position. The flippant dandyism of the fort in time to save Roschen from becoming the wife regency for instance, would be better understood by of another. posterity, from a perusal of the memoirs of Beau "So there will be no wedding after all!" mur- Brummell than from half a hundred more important mured Widow Steinbach, with something of a cha- biographies; and the corruption and coarseness engrined expression, when she was hastily informed of gendered in the higher classes of female society, these particulars. "Of course I am delighted that toward the close of the last century, by the prevaFrank is alive and come home to us again, but it is lence of gaming, could not be better illustrated than a pity all these preparations have been made for by a correct picture of the coterie of Albina, Countess nothing!" of Buckinghamshire; or a sketch of Lady Betty "I would not have you be too sure of that," said Luttrell, who closed a disgraceful life, sweeping the Herr Schobeln at her elbow, and he spoke in a cheer- streets of Norwich, as the penalty for an act of ful voice, very unlike that of a man who had just swindling. experienced so heart rending a disappointment. As regards the manners of the present day, we Widow Steinbach treasured up the words, though could point out a dozen individuals, both living and she was too wary to startle Herr Schobeln by asking recently defunct, a sketch of whose lives and apfor an explanation of their meaning; but at the first pearance would do more to illustrate the reigns of opportunity she communicated them, with sundry our two last sovereigns, than all that has been sung notes and comments of her own, to Madame Leroux. by the laureat, or said by the Cabinet Cyclopædias Again did Amelia's heart beat high with hope, and and Penny Magazines-those chartered chronicles visions of altered old dresses and splendid new ones of useful knowledge. But it is probable that posflitted before her mind's eye, together with the cele- terity will judge us from the discreet pages of partial bration of nuptials, whereat she herself was a prin- biographers; and pronounce upon the nineteenth cipal personage; and reveries would come, and hopes century, in the prim attitude in which it places itself would haunt her on the subject, notwithstanding her when avowedly sitting for its picture. wise resolves against castle-building for the future. Nothing is more amusing than to find an ocThis time, however, her anticipations were realised. casional rent in the tapestry of history, through She became the wife of Herr Schobeln, and a happy which its reverse may be examined. The stately wife too, despite the difference in their ages; and times of Louis XIV., for instance, and the formal she reigned mistress of the old house and its hand- epoch of Louis XIII.;-how delightful to find them some modern furniture, and rummaged every cranny divested of their tinsel and buckram, in the pages of and corner from garret to cellar, just as she had pic- some contemporary, and ex-professional writer. How tured to herself that she should, long before. She diverting, for instance, and how characteristic is the was not destined to become a mother, but she was of career of the eccentric Madame Pilau ! too contented a disposition to fret about the mat- "But who," we hear our readers exclaim, "who ter; and her kindness, unconcentrated by that ab- on earth was Madame Pilau ? We never even heard sorbing feeling, maternal affection, flowed out to the name! It is certainly not of literary-it is cerevery creature around her. Herr Schobeln never had tainly not of political interest. It must be some cause to repent the return of Frank Middleton, and foolish nom de guerre!"

only wondered how it was that Amelia had not been Yet, time was, and only a trifle of two hundred his choice in the first instance. The widow Stein-years ago, that not to know Madame Pilau was to bach found a home with her newly married sister, argue yourself unknown. The first remark hazarded and little Franchette became the recipient of all the in Paris, on the occurrence of any extraordinary spare affections of Amelia's heart, and in process of event, from the queen and her court down to the time the inheretrix of a great part of Herr Schobeln's quizzical old Hugonot ladies, residing between the

Faubourg St. Antoine, and Charenton, was, "What and was always intruding her lectures. Those who will Madame Pilau say of it?" see me on terms of familiarity with these gay ladies, During the ascendancy of Cardinal Richelieu, are charitable enough to suppose that I am at heart Madame Pilau was the privileged Mrs. Grundy of no better than the rest; whereas, if the truth were the French capital. She was allowed to say any known, it would be found that I have kept more of thing that came into her head, because nothing them out of mischief, than they care to admit.” seemed to come into it but what was worth saying. On her own showing, however, we perceive that She was the pacificator of family feuds-the banterer Madame Pilau's advice chiefly regarded the proof all established abuses, the bringer to reason of all priety of keeping up appearances. Prudence and obstinate old men, or fanciful old women;-the Mrs. not virtue was the one thing needful. Makepeace, in short, of both the court and the city. But to attain this singular ascendancy," methinks we hear our readers resume, this woman must have been extraordinarily beautiful; or backed by great advantages of birth and fortune ?"

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"Why in the world must you commit yourself by writing to your lover?" was her inquiry of Madame de Castille, and a circle of her giddy associates.

"Because without an interchange of letters, we should feel that we were entertaining them no better than chambermaids!" was their reply.

So far from it, that she is recorded to have been, from her earliest youth, the ugliest woman ever be- A correspondence was at that time an affair of held. She knew it, and took pleasure in adverting first-rate pedantry. Most of these thoughtless women on all occasions to her own unseemliness. "I am belonged eventually to the set of the Hotel Ramthe only woman in the world," she used to say, bouillet; to deride whose pretensions to wit, Moliere "who have accepted with a courtesy those two wrote his inimitable comedy of "Les Precieuses grievous misfortunes, called ugliness and old age." Ridicules." With regard to her origin, Madame Pilau was the Madame Pilau was a prodigious favourite with the daughter of one obscure attorney, and married to Cardinal de Richelieu, who appreciated her strong another. She appears to have been born about the natural sense, and was amused by her anecdotes year 1580;—for at the coronation of Louis XIV., in concerning the great families of France. As far as 1654, at which she figured, she was more than her bon mots have reached our time, they consist in seventy years of age. A small fortune, bequeathed straightforward exposition of the plainest truths, in to her by a certain Madame la Fosse, a rich widow language far from refined. Anne of Austria, who of no great reputation, afforded her the means of often invited her into her private circle, used to laugh mixing in society; and her gay humour and service- heartily at her sallies; and during a dangerous illable disposition, soon rendered her a general favourite! ness, by which the old lady was attacked fifteen Her husband's residence was in the Rue St. Antoine, years previous to her death, both the king and the containing, at that time a considerable number of the queen-mother used to call daily at her door to make hotels of the highest aristocracy, and closely adjoin-personal inquiries on their way from Vincennes to ing the Place Royale; so that, inhabiting the most the Louvre. fashionable quarter of the town, she was in some sort intermingled with the great world.

Her bosom friend, the Princesse de Guemenee, used to say to the queen, "Make Madame Pilau The ladies of the Place Royale (the Grosvenor- divert your majesty with such and such an anecdote," square of Paris, during the reign of Louis XIII.) did alluding to various stories she had been heard to not enjoy the most unsullied reputation; and if we recount at the arsenal, which was the resort of all are to believe the songs, and Pont Neufs of her day, the wits and fashion of the day. Madame Pilau, who, from her extreme ugliness was During the troubles of the Fronde, the inhabitants exempt from all suspicion of gallantry, passed for of the quarter St. Antoine were in the greatest conbeing an evil counsellor to those younger and hand-sternation in the expectation of a blockade. Madame somer than herself. It was said or sung of the Pilau hurried to the President de Chevry for his beautiful Madame de Maison, first, that she was no longer so cruel,

"Depuis qu'elle fut a St. Cloud

Avec Madame Pilau ;"

and of the celebrated Madame de Chalais we learn, "Brian Sanpire

Et n'ose dire

A la Chalais qu'elle fait son martyre,

Un moment sans la voir lui semble une heure Et Madame Pilau veut qu' il en meure." The good lady herself, however, seems to have greatly resented, and completely exculpated herself from such accusations.

advice, who assured her that the enemy would indeed force their entrance by the Porte St. Antoine, and that their cannon would be so placed as to sweep the whole street.

"Never mind," said Madame Pilau; "in that case I will creep into the crooked cross-streets."

The President at length succeeded, however, in persuading her to decamp from her house; and as her husband had been many years bed-ridden, she took an affectionate leave of him previous to her departure.

myself off to the other end of

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"I am forced to take the town," said she. You, my dear good man, "It is not my fault," she observed publicly to the "have nothing to fear. When the troops come into Bishop of Langres, at a great dinner at his house, your room, you have only to close your eyes and "that the morals of the Place Royale are at so low pretend to be dead."

an ebb.

When first admitted to the society of This ruse perfectly succeeded. A few years afterMadame de Rohan and her set, which I find remark- wards Pilau departed this life in reality, leaving his ably agreeable, I soon saw that a woman who had widow in such easy circumstances, that she was so little birth or beauty to recommend her, would be thenceforward called "Pilau the Dowager." voted insupportable if she set up for a rigid moralist.

She had one son who was of a devout turn of mind.

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