I rose early and went out to see the town.  By the great bridge, a woman, so wrapped up in a black mantilla that only the tip of her nose was visible, accosted me, and asked me to follow her into a house with an open door which she shewed me.

“As I have not the pleasure of knowing you,” I replied, “prudence will not allow me to do so.”

“You do know me, though,” she replied, and taking me to the corner of a neighbouring street she shewed me her face.  What was my surprise to see the fair Stuart of Avignon, the statue of the Fountain of Vaucluse.  I was very glad to meet her.

In my curiosity I followed her into the house, to a room on the first floor, where she welcomed me most tenderly.  It was all no good, for I felt angry with her, and despised her advances, no doubt, because I had Mimi, and wished to keep all my love for her.  However, I took three louis out of my purse and gave them to her, asking her to tell me her history.

“Stuart,” she said, “was only my keeper; my real name is Ranson, and I am the mistress of a rich landed proprietor.  I got back to Liege after many sufferings.”

“I am delighted to hear that you are more prosperous now, but it must be confessed that your behaviour at Avignon was both preposterous and absurd.  But the subject is not worth discussing.  Good day, madam.”

I then returned to my hotel to write an account of what I had seen to the Marquis Grimaldi.

The next day we left Liege, and were two days passing through the Ardennes.  This is one of the strangest tracts in Europe:  a vast forest, the traditions of which furnished Ariosto with some splendid passages.

There is no town in the forest, and though one is obliged to cross it to pass from one country to another, hardly any of the necessaries of life are to be found in it.

The enquirer will seek in vain for vices or virtues, or manners of any kind.  The inhabitants are devoid of correct ideas, but have wild notions of their own on the power of men they style scholars.  It is enough to be a doctor to enjoy the reputation of an astrologer and a wizard.  Nevertheless the Ardennes have a large population, as I was assured that there were twelve hundred churches in the forest.  The people are good-hearted and even pleasant, especially the young girls; but as a general rule the fair sex is by no means fair in those quarters.  In this vast district watered by the Meuse is the town of Bouillon—­a regular hole, but in my time it was the freest place in Europe.  The Duke of Bouillon was so jealous of his rights that he preferred the exercise of his prerogatives to all the honours he might have enjoyed at the Court of France.  We stayed a day at Metz, but did not call on anyone; and in three days we reached Colmar, where we left Madame d’Ache, whose good graces I had completely won.  Her family, in extremely comfortable circumstances, received the mother and daughter with great affection.  Mimi wept bitterly when I left her, but I consoled her by saying that I would come back before long.  Madame d’Urfe seemed not to mind leaving them, and I consoled myself easily enough.  While congratulating myself on having made mother and daughter happy, I adored the secret paths and ways of Divine Providence.