"You are right, madam; and I can assure you that he has never asked nor received anything from me."

"Ah! monseigneur," cried I, "this man must hope to induce you to make extraordinary sacrifices, when he purchases your confidence at so high a price. In your place, I would be on my guard; he may lead you farther than you think."

The cardinal smiled incredulously; but I am sure that in after days, when the affair of the necklace occurred, when Cagliostro and Madame de la Mothe had plunged him into an abyss of ruin, I am sure that then he remembered my words.

We chatted thus almost during the whole evening, and I at length discovered the motive of these cajoleries. The poor prince had not acted thus of his own accord. Cagliostro knew of my intimate friendship with the grand-duchess, and had insisted that his patron should endeavour to persuade me of his occult power, that he might through me get an introduction to her imperial highness. The plan was not badly conceived, but it failed before the strength of my will-I do not say of my reason, that would have been insufficient; nor do I say my conviction, for I felt it shaken. It is certain that had I yielded to my admiration for the marvellous, I too might have become the dupe of this sharper. The thought of my daughter

and my husband preserved me from this folly, the only serious one I have had to contend with, in my life. There are so many charms in the mysterious, there is so much éclat attached to astrological discoveries, and to the occult sciences. I cannot deny that Cagliostro possessed an almost demoniacal power: he fascinated the mind; he benumbed, so to speak, the reflective faculties. I do not undertake to explain this phenomenon, I merely relate it, leaving to those more learned than I, the task of penetrating the mystery.

This disinterested man afterwards beguiled Cardinal Rohan of immense sums. It is, however, said, that he is still completely his dupe, and never speaks of him but with tears in his eyes. What a strange man that prelate was! How he degraded his dignity! What a great deal of harm his weakness and indiscretion have caused. His sorrows and his sufferings have expiated his faults, but his conduct was highly blameable.

CHAPTER VIII.

Birth of a prince-Projected journey of the grand-duke and duchess of Russia-They leave St. PetersburgThe parents of the grand-duchess go to meet her- I go with them-Reception at Stuttgard-I fall sick-Devotion of Mademoiselle Cramm-Regret-ConsolationProjected journey to Paris-Journal - Birth of the dauphin-Golden dolphins-The nurse-Anniversary of the reunion of Strasburg to France-Rejoicings — M. Gerard-Play by M. Rochon de Chabannes-Tribute of the peasants-Princess Christiana-Chapter of Remiremont-Disputes between les dames tantes and les dames nièces-Baroness Wimpffen-M. Flachsland-M. de St. Germain, minister of war-M. de Maurepas-His presentation at Fontainebleau Singular dress-Tragic event-Death of the princess of Wurtemberg.

WE were at Montbéliard the 27th of September '81, when a son was born to the Duke Frederick William* of Wurtemberg. He was named Frederick William Charles. The prince of Montbéliard, his grandfather, was delighted. He could not contain his joy, and was never weary of speaking of so happy an event. The birth of the prince was celebrated with great fêtes, at which, as a matter of course, we were present; the happiness of these

* Frederick William, reigning duke in 1797, elector in 1802, first king of Wurtemberg in 1806, died 30th August 1816. Frederick William Charles, his son, succeeded, and has been a blessing to his subjects.

The

dear princes was as dear to me as my own. A fresh cause of joy soon presented itself. The grand-duchess was about to make a tour, during which she expected to meet her parents, and it may be easily supposed that I felt no small desire to join the party. M. d'Oberkirch consented, and it was agreed that we should all go to Vienna to meet her. The day of departure seemed, to our impatient longings, to linger on its way. duchess of Montbéliard became absolutely thin through vexation. I must not forget to mention that the grand-duchess had expressly requested that I should be of the party. It can be easily imagined that, after so long an absence, we had a thousand things to say to one another. It was arranged that I should leave my daughter to the care of my mother-in-law, and, painful as it was to separate from my child, I felt that it was indispensable, and resigned myself for the sake of my dear princess.

The Grand-duke Paul and the Grand-duchess Marie had already set out from St. Petersburg, attended by a numerous suite. They had obtained from the empress permission to travel, and profited by the indulgence with the eagerness natural to their age. They were to traverse Poland, Austria, Italy, and to visit France. They were accompanied by the eldest brother of the princess, Frederick

William, who had quitted the Prussian service. The grand-duke and his august spouse travelled under the title of count and countess du Nord. The letters of her imperial highness spoke of nothing but the joy she felt in the hope of seeing us all again. She narrated the most minute particulars, and hurried, as she said, that she might be the sooner in our arms. The duchess of Montbéliard invited me to travel in the same carriage with her and his highness the duke.

"For," she said, "it is with you alone, my dear Lanele, that we can speak freely of my daughter; you share in our feelings."

At length the important day arrived; we all set off for Stuttgard, where the reigning prince awaited us. We were afterwards to proceed to Munich. and Vienna, as the grand-duchess was to pass through the latter city on her way to Italy. Our journey as far as the capital of the duchy of Wurtemburg was a continued scene of gaiety. We laughed, we sang; nothing could exceed our happiness as we reflected that we were on the way to rejoin a beloved daughter, a faithful friend. A most flattering reception awaited us at Stuttgard. His serene highness the Duke Charles detained us several days; he had prepared us every kind of amusement; we could only half enjoy them, our thoughts were elsewhere.