my usual walk.  On the eighth of June, the evening before the order was concluded on, I walked in company with two professors of the oratory, Father Alamanni and Father Mandard.  We carried to Champeaux a little collation, which we ate with a keen appetite.  We had forgotten to bring glasses, and supplied the want of them by stalks of rye, through which we sucked up the wine from the bottle, piquing ourselves upon the choice of large tubes to vie with each other in pumping up what we drank.  I never was more cheerful in my life.

I have related in what manner I lost my sleep during my youth.  I had since that time contracted a habit of reading every night in my bed, until I found my eyes begin to grow heavy.  I then extinguished my wax taper, and endeavored to slumber for a few moments, which were in general very short.  The book I commonly read at night was the Bible, which, in this manner I read five or six times from the beginning to the end.  This evening, finding myself less disposed to sleep than ordinary, I continued my reading beyond the usual hour, and read the whole book which finishes at the Levite of Ephraim, the Book of judges, if I mistake not, for since that time I have never once seen it.  This history affected me exceedingly, and, in a kind of a dream, my imagination still ran on it, when suddenly I was roused from my stupor by a noise and light.  Theresa carrying a candle, lighted M. la Roche, who perceiving me hastily raise myself up, said:  “Do not be alarmed; I come from Madam de Luxembourg, who, in her letter incloses you another from the Prince of Conti.”  In fact, in the letter of Madam de Luxembourg I found another, which an express from the prince had brought her, stating that, notwithstanding all his efforts, it was determined to proceed against me with the utmost rigor.  “The fermentation,” said he, “is extreme; nothing can ward off the blow; the court requires it, and the parliament will absolutely proceed; at seven o’clock in the morning an order will be made to arrest him, and persons will immediately be sent to execute it.  I have obtained a promise that he shall not be pursued if he makes his escape; but if he persists in exposing himself to be taken this will immediately happen.”  La Roche conjured me in behalf of Madam de Luxembourg to rise and go and speak to her.  It was two o’clock and she had just retired to bed.  “She expects you,” added he, “and will not go to sleep without speaking to you.”  I dressed myself in haste and ran to her.

She appeared to be agitated; this was for the first time.  Her distress affected me.  In this moment of surprise and in the night, I myself was not free from emotion; but on seeing her I forgot my own situation, and thought of nothing but the melancholy part she would have to act should I suffer myself to be arrested; for feeling I had sufficient courage strictly to adhere to truth, although I might be certain of its being prejudicial or even destructive to me,