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Part II. quarrel they had had about the mareschal de Brisac, he had given her a ring, and desired her to wear it; and that as she was dressing herself to come to the play, he had missed it on her finger, and asked what was become of it; upon which she seemed in surprise that she had it not, and called to her women for it, who unfortunately, or for want of being better instructed, made answer they had not seen it four or five days.

It was, continued monsieur d'Anville, precisely so long, since the Mareschal de Brisac left the Court, and the king made no doubt but she gave him the ring when she took her leave of him. The thought of this awaked in so lively a manner that jealousy which was not yet extinguished, that he fell into uncommon transports, and loaded her with a thousand reproaches; he is just gone into her apartment again in great concern, but whether the reason is a more confirmed opinion that the duchess had made a sacrifice of the ring, or for fear of having disobliged her by his anger, I can't tell.

As soon as monsieur d'Anville had told me this news, I acquainted Sancerre with it; I told it him as a secret newly entrusted with me, and charged him to say nothing of it.

The next day I went early in the morning to my sister-in-law's, and found madam de Tournon at her bedside, who had no great kindness for the duchess of Valentinois, and knew very well that my sister-in-law had no reason to be satisfied with her. Sancerre had been with her, after he went from the play, and had acquainted her with the quarrel between the king and the duchess; and madam de Tournon was come to tell it to my sister-in-law, without knowing or suspecting that it was I from whom her lover had it.

As soon as I advanced toward my sister-in-law, she told madam de Tournon, that they might trust me with what she had been telling her; and without waiting madam de Tournon's leave, she related to me word by word all I had told Sancerre the night before. You