The Binetti said, “You must not go to the inn; stay here, where you have nothing to fear.  Send for what you want, and we will wait and see what happens.”  I then gave orders to my Spaniard to go and fetch the belongings which were absolutely necessary to me.

At midnight the ambassador came in; we were still up, and he seemed pleased that his mistress had sheltered me.  He assured me that my plea had been laid before the sovereign, but during the three days I was in the house I heard no more about it.

On the fourth day, whilst I was pondering as to how I should act, the ambassador received a letter from a minister requesting him, on behalf of the sovereign, to dismiss me from his house, as I had a suit pending with certain officers of his highness, and whilst I was with the ambassador justice could not take its course.  The ambassador gave me the letter, and I saw that the minister promised that strict justice should be done me.  There was no help for it; I had to make up my mind to return to my inn, but the Binetti was so enraged that she began to scold her lover, at which he laughed, saying, with perfect truth, that he could not keep me there in defiance of the prince.

I re-entered the inn without meeting anyone, but when I had had my dinner and was just going to see my counsel an officer served me with a summons, which was interpreted to me by my landlord, which ordered me to appear forthwith before the notary appointed to take my deposition.  I went to him with the officer of the court, and spent two hours with the notary, who wrote down my deposition in German while I gave it in Latin.  When it was done he told me to sign my name; to which I answered that I must decline to sign a document I did not understand.  He insisted on my doing it, but I was immovable.  He then got in a rage and said I ought to be ashamed of myself for suspecting a notary’s honour.  I replied calmly that I had no doubts as to his honour, but that I acted from principle, and that as I did not understand what he had written I refused to sign it.  I left him, and was accompanied by the officer to my own counsel, who said I had done quite right, and promised to call on me the next day to receive my power of attorney.

“And when I have done that,” he said, “your business will be mine.”

I was comforted by this man, who inspired me with confidence, and went back to the hotel, where I made a good supper and went tranquilly to sleep.  Next morning, however, when I awoke, my Spaniard announced an officer who had followed him, and told me in good French that I must not be astonished to find myself a prisoner in my room, for being a stranger and engaged in a suit at law it was only right that the opposite party should be assured that I would not escape before judgment was given.  He asked very politely for my sword, and to my great regret I was compelled to give it him.  The hilt was of steel, exquisitely chased; it was a present from Madame d’Urfe, and was worth at least fifty louis.