You may guess what a condition I was in when I heard this news; M. de Cremail, the wisest of us all, thought of nothing else now but how to conceal the secret, which, though known to only six in all Paris, was known to too great a number; but the greatest danger of discovery was from the people of Sedan, who, being out of the kingdom, were not afraid of punishment.  Nevertheless, everybody privy to it religiously kept it secret, and stood their ground, which, with another accident I shall mention hereafter, has made me often think, and say too, that secrecy is not so rare a thing as we imagine with men versed in matters of State.

The Count’s death settled me in my profession, for I saw no great things to be done, and I found myself too old to leave it for anything trifling.  Besides, Cardinal de Richelieu’s health was declining, and I already began to think myself Archbishop of Paris.  I resolved that for the future I would devote myself to my profession.  Madame de Guemenee had retired to Port Royal, her country-seat.  M. d’Andilly had got her from me.  She neither powdered nor curled her hair any longer, and had dismissed me solemnly with all the formalities required from a sincere penitent.  I discovered, by means of a valet de chambre, that, captain ——­ of the Marshal’s Guards, had as free access to Meilleraye’s lady as myself.  See what it is to be a saint!  The truth is, I grew much more regular,—­at least affected to be thought so,—­led a retired life, stuck to my profession, studied hard, and got acquainted with all who were famous either for learning or piety.  I converted my house almost into an academy, but took care not to erect the academy into a rigid tribunal.  I began to be pretty free with the canons and curates, whom I found of course at my uncle’s house.  I did not act the devotee, because I could not be sure how long I should be able to play the counterfeit, but I had a high esteem for devout people, which with such is the main article of religion.  I suited my pleasures to my practice, and, finding I could not live without some amorous intrigue, I managed an amour with Madame de Pommereux, a young coquette, who had so many sparks, not only in her house but at her devotions, that the apparent business of others was a cover for mine, which was, at least, some time afterwards, more to the purpose.  When I had succeeded, I became a man in such request among those of my profession that the devotees themselves used to say of me with M. Vincent, “Though I had not piety enough, yet I was not far from the kingdom of heaven.”

Fortune favoured me more than usual at this time.  I was at the house of Madame de Rambure, a notable and learned Huguenot, where I met with Mestrezat, the famous minister of Charento.  To satisfy her curiosity she engaged us in a dispute; we had nine different disputations.  The Marechal de la Forde and M. de Turenne were present at some of them, and a gentleman of Poitou, who was at all of them, became