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 Causes Célèbres. and knowing that he was acquainted with Desrues, he questioned him. "Desrues? Why, he is a perfect gentleman, and will come into possession of a pretty fortune in a few months. He is a little embarrassed pecuniarily just at present; but fortunately I have undertaken the management of his affairs, and I will bring him safely into port." And M. Jolly wrote reassuringly to M. de la Motte. La Motte's son was in Paris at a school in the Rue Serpente. After his first visit to Buisson-Soiief, Desrues had sought out and made the acquaintance of this young man. The child — to speak more correctly, for he was but fifteen — was very large and preco cious for his age. He would have been taken for twenty at least. An intimacy speedily sprang up between young La Motte and Desrues and his wife, and he spent all his holidays at Desriies's house; and when his mother was in Paris she frequently met him there. By the direction of her husband, Madame Desrues, on the 13th of July, wrote to M. de la Motte : — "Your dear son is slightly indisposed. He is dissatisfied with his school, where he learns little or nothing. He ought to be placed in a better school, and one nearer our house, where I could look after him more carefully. Why, when you or Madame de la Motte come to Paris, will you not stay with us? It would be delightful to have you, and would be much less expensive for you." M. de la Motte contented himself with re plying that, as to his son, he thought it might be well to find a place for him nearer Madame Desriies's house, and he gave her arte blanche to do as she thought best. In the autumn Madame Desrues went to pass a fortnight at Buisson-Soiief, leaving Bertin in charge of the house in Paris. She gave Desrues an account of what had taken place during his absence. His cred itors were no longer pressing, and the offi cers of the law no longer frequented the premises. 47

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"Did you do as I told you," asked Des riies, " and place in the hands of M. Prevost, the notary, the contract entered into between Madame de la Motte and ourselves?" "I did." "And did he promise to make advances?" "He promised, but not until he sees you first." "That is all right, wife; I will go to him when the time comes." Toward the end of September Desrues departed with his family for Paris. He left numerous friends at and about BuissonSoiief, who kept him fully informed as to what was taking place there. When December came, M. de la Motte found himself at the end of money and of patience. Desrues felt that the dcfnoAewent was approaching, and he made his prepara tions to meet it. He learned at the same time, through Bertin, that Madame de la Motte had re solved to depart for Paris,, to terminate the affair. La Motte had written to M. Jolly, — "My wife departs to end this miserable busi ness. Can you do me the favor to receive her at your house for a few days? If you cannot, will you secure a room for her at some good hotel in your neighborhood?" Desrues thereupon caused his wife to write a pressing invitation for Madame de la Motte to come directly to their house. Madame de la Motte replied with a polite refusal. "Ah! " murmured Desrues, " can it be that she suspects us? I must prevent that. The lady will lodge at my house, or I will never call myself Desrues again." On the 16th of December, 1776, when Madame de la Motte arrived in Paris, she found Desrues and his wife awaiting her. Desriies hastened to greet her, saying : "Dear lady, I have good news for you. The settlement of the Despeignes estate is now only a question of a few days, and I am about to borrow upon my prospective share a hundred thousand livres. Ah! it was