All this was mere guess-work, and it will be seen that I guessed rightly.

Madame d’Urfe then congratulated me on the charming girl whom I had sent from Grenoble to Paris.  Valenglard had told her the whole story.

“The king adores her,” said she, “and before long she will make him a father.  I have been to see her at Passi with the Duchesse de l’Oraguais.”

“She will give birth to a son who will make France happy, and in thirty years time you will see wondrous things, of which, unfortunately, I can tell you nothing until your transformation.  Did you mention my name to her?”

“No, I did not; but I am sure you will be able to see her, if only at Madame Varnier’s.”

She was not mistaken; but shortly afterwards an event happened which made the madness of this excellent woman much worse.

Towards four o’clock, as we were talking over my travels and our designs, she took a fancy to walk in the Bois du Boulogne.  She begged me to accompany her, and I acceded to her request.  We walked into the deepest recesses of the wood and sat down under a tree.  “It is eighteen years ago,” said she, “since I fell asleep on the same spot that we now occupy.  During my sleep the divine Horosmadis came down from the sun and stayed with me till I awoke.  As I opened my eyes I saw him leave me and ascend to heaven.  He left me with child, and I bore a girl which he took away from me years ago, no doubt to punish me for, having so far forgotten myself as to love a mortal after him.  My lovely Iriasis was like him.”

“You are quite sure that M. d’Urfe was not the child’s father?”

“M. d’Urfe did not know me after he saw me lying beside the divine Anael.”

“That’s the genius of Venus.  Did he squint?”

“To excess.  You are aware, then, that he squints?”

“Yes, and I know that at the amorous crisis he ceases to squint.”

“I did not notice that.  He too, left me on account of my sinning with an Arab.”

“The Arab was sent to you by an enemy of Anael’s, the genius of Mercury.”

“It must have been so; it was a great misfortune.”

“On the contrary, it rendered you more fit for transformation.”

We were walking towards the carriage when all at once we saw St. Germain, but as soon as he noticed us he turned back and we lost sight of him.

“Did you see him?” said I.  “He is working against us, but our genie makes him tremble.”

“I am quite thunderstruck.  I will go and impart this piece of news to the Duc de Choiseul to-morrow morning.  I am curious to hear what he will say when I tell him.”