that were papists, and who forsook him in his adversity, had not, to make their own court, been busy in advertising some great men of the danger Mademoiselle Daubigné was in as to her salvation, and in demanding thereupon an order to have her put into the hands of catholics. This piece of zeal was acceptable to the ruling party, and orders were immediately given that she should be taken from her aunt Villete, and put into the hands of her officious relations. This was soon executed; and Mademoiselle Daubigné was in a manner forced by violence from Madam Villete, who was the only relation that ever had taken any care of her. She shed abundance of tears at parting, and assured her aunt, and her cousin (who was now married to Monsieur Saint Hermine) that she should always preserve, with the remembrance of their kindness, the good impressions she had received of their religion, and never fail to acknowledge both the one and the other, when she found a time and occasion proper for it.

N° 47. TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1713.

< MADEMOISELLE Daubigné was conducted from Madam Villete's to a relation, who had a law-suit then depending at Paris; and being for that reason obliged to go thither, she carried Mademoiselle Daubigné with her. This lady hired apartments in the same house where the famous Scaron was

lodged. She made an acquaintance with him; and one day, being obliged to go abroad alone upon a visit, she desired he would give her cousin leave, in the meantime, to come and sit with him; knowing very well that a young lady was in no danger from such a person, and that perhaps it might turn to her advantage. Monsieur Scaron was, of all men living, the most unhappy in an untoward frame of body, being not only deformed, but likewise very infirm. In consideration of his wit and parts, he had a yearly pension from the court of five hundred crowns. Scaron was charmed with the conversation of Mademoiselle Daubigné; and her kinswoman took frequent opportunities of leaving her with him. This gave Scaron occasion to discover still new beauties in her from time to time. She would sometimes entertain him with the story of her adventures and her misfortunes, beginning even with what she suffered before she was born; all which she knew how to describe in so expressive and moving a manner, that he found himself touched with a strong compassion towards her; and resolved with himself, if not to make her happy, at least to set her at ease, by placing her in a nunnery

at his own expense. But upon further delibera

tion he found himself very much inclined to lay before her an alternative, which in all likelihood she never expected. One day therefore, when she was left alone with him, as usual, he opened his intentions to her (as it is said) much after the following manner: I am, Mademoiselle,' says he, not a little moved with your misfortunes, and the great sufferings you have undergone. I am likewise very sensible of the uneasy circumstances under which you labour at present; and I have now for some days been contriving with myself

how to extricate you out of all your difficulties. At last I have fallen upon two ways of doing what I so much desire; I leave you to determine according to your inclinations, in the choice of the one or the other: or, if neither of them please you, to refuse them both. My fortunes are too narrow to enable me to make yours answerable to your merit; all that I am capable of doing is, either to make you a joint partaker with myself of the little I have, or to place you, at my own expense, in any convent you shall choose. I wish it were in my power to do more for you. Consult your own inclinations, and do what you think will be most agreeable to yourself. As for my person, I do not pretend to recommend it to you; I know, I make but an ungainly figure: but I am not able to newmould it; I offer myself to you such as I am; and yet, such as you see me, I do assure you that I would not bestow myself upon another; and that I must have a very great esteem for you, ever to propose a marriage, which, of all things in the world, I have had the least in my thoughts hitherto. Consider, therefore, and take your final resolutions, either to turn nun, or to marry me, or to continue in your present condition, without repining, since these do all of them depend upon your own

choice.'

'Mademoiselle Daubigné returned Monsieur Scaron the thanks he so well deserved. She was too sensible of the disagreeableness of a dependant state, not to be glad to accept of a settlement that would place her at least above want. Finding therefore in herself no call towards a nunnery, she answered Monsieur Scaron without hesitation, that, ⚫ she had too great a sense of her obligations to him not to be desirous of that way of life, that would

give her the most frequent occasions of showing her gratitude to him.' Scaron, who was prepossessed with the flattering hopes of passing his life with a person he liked so well, was charmed with her answer. They both came to a resolution, that he should ask her relation's consent that very evening. She gave it very frankly; and this marriage, so soon concluded, was, as it were, the inlet to all the future fortunes of Madam Maintenon. She made a good wife to Scaron, living happily with him, and wanted no conveniencies during his life; but losing him, she lost all; his pension ceased upon his death; and she found herself again reduced to the same indigent condition in which she had been before her marriage.

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Upon this she retired into the convent in the Place Royale, founded for the relief of necessitous persons where the friends of her deceased husband took care of her. It was here the friendship between her and Madam Saint Basile (a nun) had its beginning, which has continued ever since, for she still goes to visit her frequently in the Convent de la Raquette, where she now lives. And to the honour of Madam Maintenon, it must be allowed, that she has always been of a grateful temper, and mindful, in her high fortunes, of her old friends, to whom she had formerly been obliged.

Her husband's friends did all they could to prevail upon the court to continue to her the pension which Monsieur Scaron had enjoyed. In order to this, petitions were frequently given in, which began always with, The widow Scaron most humbly prays your Majesty,' &c. But all these petitions signified nothing; and the king was so weary of them that he has been heard to say, Must I always be pestered with the widow Sca

ron?' Notwithstanding which, her friends were resolved not to be discouraged in their endeavours to serve her.

After this, she quitted the convent, and went to live in the Hotel d'Albert, where her husband had always been very much esteemed. Here (it is said) something very remarkable happened to her, which I shall relate, because I find it so confidently affirmed upon the knowledge of a certain author. There were masons at work in the Hotel d'Albert, not far from the apartment of Madam Scaron. One of them came into her chamber, and, finding two or three visitants of her own sex, desired he might speak with her in private; she carried him into her closet, where he took upon him to tell her all the future events of her life. But whence he drew this knowledge (continues my author) which time has so wonderfully verified, is a mystery still to me. As to Madam Scaron, she saw then so, little appearance of probability in his predictions, that she hardly gave the least heed to them. Nevertheless the company upon her return, remarked some alteration in her countenance; and one of the ladies said, Surely, this man has brought you some very pleasing news, for you look with a more cheerful air than you did before he came in.' • There would be sufficient reason for my doing so,' replied she, if I could give any credit to what this fellow has promised me. And I can tell you,' says she, smiling, that if there should be any thing in it, you will do well to begin to make your court to me beforehand.' These ladies could not prevail upon her to satisfy their curiosity any farther; but she communicated the whole secret to a bosom friend after they were gone; and it is from that lady it came to be known, when the events foretold

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