The Cardinal de Belloy is now ninety-six years of age, being born in 1709, and has been a Bishop for fifty-three years, but, during the Revolution, was proscribed, with all other prelates.  He remained, however, in France, where his age saved him from the guillotine, but not from being reduced to the greatest want.  A descendant of a noble family, and possessing an unpolluted character, Bonaparte fixed upon him as one of the pillars for the reestablishment of the Catholic worship, made him an Archbishop of Paris, and procured him the rank of a Cardinal from Rome.  But he is now in his second childhood, entirely directed by his grand vicaries, Malaret, De Mons, and Legeas, who are in the pay of, and absolutely devoted to, Bonaparte.  An innocent instrument in their hands, of those impious compliments pronounced by him to the Emperor and the Empress, he did not, perhaps, even understand the meaning.  From such a man the vile and artful Villetard might extort any promise.  I observed, however, with pleasure, that he was watched by the grand vicar, Malaret, who seldom loses sight of His Eminence.

These two so opposite characters—­I mean De Belloy and Villetard—­are already speaking evidences of the composition of the society at Madame de C——­n’s.  But I will tell you something still more striking.  This lady is famous for her elegant services of plate, as much as for her delicate taste in entertaining her parties.  After the supper on this night, eleven silver and four gold plates, besides numerous silver and gold spoons, forks, etc., were missed.  She informed Fouche of her loss, who had her house surrounded by spies, with orders not to let any servant pass without undergoing a strict search.  The first gentleman who called for his carriage was His Excellency the Counsellor of State and grand officer of the Legion of Honour, Treilhard.  His servants were stopped and the cause explained.  They willingly, and against the protest of their master, suffered themselves to be searched.  Nothing was found upon them; but the police agents, observing the full-dress hat of their master rather bulky under his arm, took the liberty to look into it, where they found one of Madame de C——­n’s gold plates and two of her spoons.  His Excellency immediately ordered his servants to be arrested, for having concealed their theft there.  Fouche, however, when called out, advised his friend to forgive them for misplacing them, as the less said on the subject the better.  When Madame de C——­n heard of this discovery, she asked Fouche to recall his order or to alter it.  “A repetition of such misplacings in the hats or in the pockets of the masters,” said she, “would injure the reputation of my house and company.”  She never recovered the remainder of her loss, and that she might not be exposed in future to the same occurrences, she bought two services of china the following day, to be used when she had mixed society.