Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/712

698 lady's nominal father was one Poisson, house steward of the Invalids, at Paris. Some time after his marriage with her mother, one of the most beautiful women in France, falling under the lash of the law, he narrowly escaped execution by flight; he afterwards obtained a pardon, through his daughter's interest. During his absence, her mother, who lived a very dissolute life, was brought to bed of a daughter, which she declared to be the child of M. le Normant de Tourneau, one of her gallants.

This gentleman spared no pains nor expence to procure her those superficial endowments which are often considered as a good education, as dancing, music, and declamation;—accomplishments which were afterwards of great service to her. His fondness for her grew to such a height, that he began to think of marrying her in a manner that shewed he considered her no less than a legitimate daughter. Amongst a number of conquests her growing beauty had made, was that of M. d'Estiolles, nephew to her protector. The point was, to bring over the young gentleman's father, in which Le Normant prevailed, by offering to lay down half his fortune, and to settle the rest upon her at his death; in consequence of which, the young pair were at last united.

It does not appear that her heart had been consulted in this match. D'EstoillesD'Estiolles [sic] had not the most engaging person; yet, if it had been susceptible of tenderness, he must have gained it. He spared no expences of dress or diversions that could prove his love; and it is generally believed, that, until her affair with the king, she had gone no farther than coquetry. She leges,