Now La Varenne had gained all he possessed by that trade.  Hearing the magpie repeat again and again the same word, he took it into his head that by a miracle, like the observation Balaam’s ass made to his master, the bird was reproaching him for his sins.  He was so troubled that he could not help showing it; then, more and more agitated, he told the cause of his disturbance to the company, who laughed at him in the first place, but, upon finding that he was growing really ill, they endeavoured to convince him that the magpie belonged to a neighbouring village, where it had learned the word.  It was all in vain:  La Varenne was so ill that he was obliged to be carried home; fever seized him and in four days he died.

CHAPTER XII

Here perhaps is the place to speak of Charles IV., Duc de Lorraine, so well known by his genius, and the extremities to which he was urged.  He was married in 1621 to the Duchesse Nicole, his cousin-german, but after a time ceased to live with her.  Being at Brussels he fell in love with Madame de Cantecroix, a widow.  He bribed a courier to bring him news of the death of the Duchesse Nicole; he circulated the report throughout the town, wore mourning, and fourteen days afterwards, in April, 1637, married Madame de Cantecroix.  In a short time it was discovered that the Duchesse Nicole was full of life and health, and had not even been ill.  Madame de Cantecroix made believe that she had been duped, but still lived with the Duke.  They continued to repute the Duchesse Nicole as dead, and lived together in the face of the world as though effectually married, although there had never been any question either before or since of dissolving the first marriage.  The Duc Charles had by this fine marriage a daughter and then a son, both perfectly illegitimate, and universally regarded as such.  Of these the daughter married Comte de Lislebonne, by whom she had four children.  The son, educated under his father’s eye as legitimate, was called Prince de Vaudemont, and by that name has ever since been known.  He entered the service of Spain, distinguished himself in the army, obtained the support of the Prince of Orange, and ultimately rose to the very highest influence and prosperity.  People were astonished this year, that while the Princess of Savoy was at Fontainebleau, just before her marriage, she was taken several times by Madame de Maintenon to a little unknown convent at Moret, where there was nothing to amuse her, and no nuns who were known.  Madame de Maintenon often went there, and Monseigneur with his children sometimes; the late Queen used to go also.  This awakened much curiosity and gave rise to many reports.  It seems that in this convent there was a woman of colour, a Moorish woman, who had been placed there very young by Bontems, valet of the King.  She received the utmost care and attention, but never was shown to anybody.  When the late Queen or Madame