Thus we passed the evening in discourse upon the object of my mission, and I observed that she took a singular pleasure in talking upon it in all our succeeding conferences when I thought proper to introduce it.  The ball being ended, we went to hear vespers at the church of the Canonesses, an order of nuns of which we have none in France.  These are young ladies who are entered in these communities at a tender age, in order to improve their fortunes till they are of an age to be married.  They do not all sleep under the same roof, but in detached houses within an enclosure.  In each of these houses are three, four, or perhaps six young girls, under the care of an old woman.  These governesses, together with the abbess, are of the number of such as have never been married.  These girls never wear the habit of the order but in church; and the service there ended, they dress like others, pay visits, frequent balls, and go where they please.  They were constant visitors at the Count’s entertainments, and danced at his balls.

The Countess thought the time long until the night, when she had an opportunity of relating to the Count the conversation she had with me, and the opening of the business.  The next morning she came to me, and brought her husband with her.  He entered into a detail of the grievances the country laboured under, and the just reasons he had for ridding it of the tyranny of Spain.  In doing this, he said, he should not consider himself as acting against his natural sovereign, because he well knew he ought to look for him in the person of the King of France.  He explained to me the means whereby my brother might establish himself in Flanders, having possession of Hainault, which extended as far as Brussels.  He said the difficulty lay in securing the Cambresis. which is situated betwixt Hainault and Flanders.  It would, therefore, be necessary to engage M. d’Ainsi in the business.  To this I replied that, as he was his neighbour and friend, it might be better that he should open the matter to him; and I begged he would do so.  I next assured him that he might have the most perfect reliance on the gratitude and friendship of my brother, and be certain of receiving as large a share of power and authority as such a service done by a person of his rank merited.  Lastly, we agreed upon an interview betwixt my brother and M. de Montigny, the brother of the Count, which was to take place at La Fere, upon my return, when this business should be arranged.  During the time I stayed at Mons, I said all I could to confirm the Count in this resolution, in which I found myself seconded by the Countess.

The day of my departure was now arrived, to the great regret of the ladies of Mons, as well as myself.  The Countess expressed herself in terms which showed she had conceived the warmest friendship for me, and made me promise to return by way of that city.  I presented the Countess with a diamond bracelet, and to the Count I gave a riband and diamond star of considerable value.  But these presents, valuable as they were, became more so, in their estimation, as I was the donor.