“That is true," said Madame de Pompadour, with surprise (there was, indeed, some appearance of the kind). “He points to something square—­that is an open coffer.—­Fine weather.—­But, look! there are clouds of azure and gold, which surround you.  Do you see that ship on the high sea?  How favourable the wind is!  You are on board; you land in a beautiful country, of which you become the Queen.  Ah! what do I see!  Look there—­look at that hideous, crooked, lame man, who is pursuing you—­but he is going on a fool’s errand.  I see a very great man, who supports you in his arms.  Here, look! he is a kind of giant.  There is a great deal of gold and silver—­a few clouds here and there.  But you have nothing to fear.  The vessel will be sometimes tossed about, but it will not be lost.  Dixi.” Madame said, “When shall I die, and of what disease?” “I never speak of that,” said she; “see here, rather—­but fate will not permit it.  I will shew you how fate confounds everything”—­shewing her several confused lumps of the coffee-dregs.  “Well, never mind as to the time, then, only tell me the kind of death.”  The fortune-teller looked in the cup, and said, “You will have time to prepare yourself.” I gave her only two louis, to avoid doing anything remarkable.  She left us, after begging us to keep her secret, and we rejoined the Duc de Gontaut, to whom we related everything that had passed.  He laughed heartily, and said, “Her coffee-dregs are like the clouds—­you may see what you please in them.”

There was one thing in my horoscope which struck me, that was the comforter; because one of my uncles had taken great care of me, and had rendered me the most essential services.  It is also true that I afterwards had an important lawsuit; and, lastly, there was the money which had come into my hands through Madame de Pompadour’s patronage and bounty.  As for Madame, her husband was represented accurately enough by the man with the coffer; then the country of which she became Queen seemed to relate to her present situation at Court; but the most remarkable thing was the crooked and lame man, in whom Madame thought she recognized the Duc de V——­, who was very much deformed.  Madame was delighted with her adventure and her horoscope, which she thought corresponded very remarkably with the truth.  Two days after, she sent for M. de St. Florentin, and begged him not to molest the fortune-teller.  He laughed, and replied that he knew why she interceded for this woman.  Madame asked him why he laughed.  He related every circumstance of her expedition with astonishing exactness; but he knew nothing of what had been said, or, at least, so he pretended.  He promised Madame that, provided Bontemps did nothing which called for notice, she should not be obstructed in the exercise of her profession, especially if she followed it in secret.  “I know her,” added he, “and I, like other people, have had the curiosity to consult her.  She is the wife of a soldier in the guards.