His mother was beyond sixty years of age when de Villiers began to enter society, and her beauty was still remarkable according to the chronicles of the times and the allusions made to it in the current literature.  She was as attractive in her appearance, and as lovable as at twenty years of age, few, even among the younger habitues of her drawing-rooms being able to resist the charms of her person.  Her house was thronged with the elite of French society, young men of noble families being designedly sent into her society to acquire taste, grace, and polish which they were unable to acquire elsewhere.  Ninon possessed a singular genius for inspiring men with high and noble sentiments, and her schooling in the art of etiquette was marvelous in its details and perfection.  Her power was practically a repetition of the history of the Empress Theodora, whose happy admirers and intimates could be distinguished from all others by their exquisite politeness, culture, finish and social polish.  It was the same in Ninon’s school, the graduates of which occupied the highest rank in letters, society, statesmanship, and military genius.

De Gersay intending his son to fill a high position in society and public honors, sent him to this school, where he was received and put upon the same footing as other youth of high birth, and was duly trained with them in all the arts and accomplishments of refined society.  The young man was not aware of his parentage, de Gersay having extracted a solemn promise from Mademoiselle de l’Enclos that she would never divulge the secret of the youth’s birth without his father’s express consent, a promise which resulted in the most disastrous consequences.

Ninon, as mother of this handsome youth, admired him, and manifested a tenderness which he misunderstood for the emotion of love, Ninon, herself never contemplating such a fatality, and ended by becoming enamored of his own mother.  Ninon thought nothing of his passion, believing that it would soon pass away, but it increased in intensity, becoming a violent flame which finally proved irresistible, forcing the youth to fall at his mother’s feet and pour forth his passion in the most extravagant language.

Alarmed at this condition of her son’s heart, Ninon withdrew from his society, refusing to admit him to her presence.  Although the Chevalier was an impetuous wooer, he was dismayed by the loss of his inamorata, and begged for the privilege of seeing her, promising solemnly never to repeat his declaration of love.  Ninon was deceived by his professions and re-admitted him to her society.  Insensibly, however, perhaps in despite of his struggle to overcome his amorous propensities, the Chevalier violated the conditions of the truce.  Ninon, on the watch for a repetition of his former manifestations, quickly perceived the return of a love so abhorrent to nature.  His sighs, glances, sadness when in her presence, were signs to her of a passion that she would be compelled to subdue with a strong, ruthless hand.