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232 "But the Abbé is an inglorious successor," remarked Christina, "to the Prince of Condé, to your English King—both of whom wore the chains of this triumphant beauty."

"Circumstances are everything, as your Majesty has just observed," replied De Joinville; "the Condé is absent, the King poor; Fouquet is present, and rich, and, what is more, generous. Besides, he helped her out of one of those adventures in which her folly—she calls it ambition—is perpetually involving her. Madame de Chatillion was threatened with a lettre de cachet, for her suspected correspondence with Monsieur le Prince, and Monsieur l'Abbé took upon himself the responsibility, answered for her loyalty, and made his house her prison or her palace."

"I never saw a house more splendidly furnished," observed Christina; "he gave me a collation; and there I saw Madame de Chatillion glittering with gems; her diamond earrings alone might have lighted up the room. She showed me her portrait, written by herself. I only remember what she states of her mouth, which, she says, was not only beautiful and red, but had a thousand little natural airs and graces not to be found in any other mouth. Oh, I must not forget her figure, which, she assured the reader, was the best-made and