\"ButtoreturntotheDuchessofValentinois，youknowhernameisDianadePoitiers；herfamilyisveryillustrious，sheisdescendedfromtheancientDukesofAquitaine，hergrandmotherwasanaturaldaughterofLewistheXI，andinshortshepossesseseverythingthatisgreatinrespectofbirth。St。
Valier，herfather，hadtheunhappinesstobeinvolvedintheaffairoftheConstableofBourbon，whichyouhaveheardof；hewascondemnedtolosehishead，andaccordinglywasconductedtothescaffold：hisdaughter，viz。，theDuchess，whowasextremelybeautiful，andwhohadalreadycharmedthelateKing，managedsowell，Idon’tknowbywhatmeans，thatsheobtainedherfather’slife；thepardonwasbroughthimatthemomenthewasexpectingthefatalblow；butthepardonavailedlittle，forfearhadseizedhimsodeeply，thatitberefthimofhissenses，andhediedafewdaysafter。HisdaughterappearedatCourtastheKing’smistress；buttheItalianexpedition，andtheimprisonmentofthepresentPrince，wereinterruptionstohisloveaffair。
WhenthelateKingreturnedfromSpain，andMadamtheRegentwenttomeethimatBayonne，shebroughtallhermaidsofhonourwithher，amongwhomwasMademoiselledePisselen，whowassinceDuchessd’Etampes；theKingfellinlovewithher，thoughshewasinferiorinbirth，witandbeautytotheDuchessofValentinois，andhadnoadvantageaboveherbutthatofbeingveryyoung。I
haveheardhersayseveraltimes，thatshewasbornthesamedayDianadePoitierswasmarried，butshespokethisinthemaliceofherheart，andnotaswhatsheknewtobetrue；forIammuchmistaken，iftheDuchessofValentinoisdidnotmarryMonsieurdeBreze，atthesametimethattheKingfellinlovewithMadamd’Etampes。Neverwasagreaterhatredthanthatbetweenthesetwoladies；theDuchesscouldnotpardonMadamd’EtampesforhavingtakenfromherthetitleoftheKing’smistress；andMadamd’EtampeswasviolentlyjealousoftheDuchess，becausetheKingstillkeptcorrespondencewithher。ThatPrincewasbynomeansconstanttohismistresses；therewasalwaysoneamongthemthathadthetitleandhonoursofmistress，buttheladiesofthesmallband，astheywerestyled，sharedhisfavourbyturns。ThelossoftheDauphin，hisson，whodiedatTournon，andwasthoughttobepoisoned，extremelyafflictedhim；hehadnotthesameaffectionandtendernessforhissecondson，thepresentKing；heimaginedhedidnotseeinhimspiritandvivacityenough，andcomplainedofitonedaytotheDuchessofValentinois，whotoldhimshewouldendeavourtoraiseapassioninhimforher，inordertomakehimmoresprightlyandagreeable。Shesucceededinit，asyousee，andthispassionisnowofabovetwentyyears’duration，withoutbeingchangedeitherbytimeorincidents。
\"ThelateKingatfirstopposedit；andwhetherhehadstillloveenoughleftfortheDuchessofValentinoistobejealous，orwhetherhewasurgedonbytheDuchessd’Etampes，whowasindespairuponseeingtheDauphinsomuchattachedtoherenemy，itiscertainhebeheldthispassionwithanindignationandresentment，thatshoweditselfeverydaybysomethingorother。