143 [=145]

[Lett. xlii. Lett. 42. Letters Historical and Galant. 143]

[Letter xlii. From Paris.]

I am very glad to hear that you are drawing near me again. I hope, Madam, that as you are not more than five
days Journey from Paris, you'll be so good as to make a tour hither before you set out for Palestine. Since you travel at
such a stout rate, you may very well make a Tour in a day to the Tuilleries.

I was there the other Day with Madam D** to whom I read your last letter; we consulted together how to find out the
Day that Cavalier was to arrive at Paris, and how we should find means to satisfy the Curiosity you raised in us about
him when we were interrupted by the noise of a great number of People, that were running in Crouds in the great Alley
where we were. I knew not what to think of this Concourse, and after hiding my letter, I rose from the Bench we were sitting
upon, and began to take to my Heels without knowing why. I thought at first it was some mad Dog; but at last I recovered
from my fear, and found, by hearing Mr. Cavalier's name, that Chance had answered my Wishes, by bringing me there
without giving me the trouble of searching for him. He pass'd before me surrounded by a Crowd, that did not seem to have
the best Intentions in the world for him. And had not Some Persons of Authority protected him, and made him get away
nimbly from them by the Pont Royal Gate, I don't know what might become of him. I believe, he'll not greatly care to re-
turn to the Tuilleries this long time. He pass'd plainly before me, and Madam D** and I were not less surpris'd than
you were, at his Infantine figure. I protest had you not described him, I should have formed a quite different Idea of him
He does not seem to me to be capable of all the Cruelties he is accused of. He has a little Physiognomy, graceful enough, &
one must have a good share of Faith to believe that was old or had spirit enough to do any thing to be talked of. He has
been at Versailles, and has spoke with Mr. de Chamillard, but not with the King. Yet his Majesty had a desire to see him,
and he was brought to him in his passage. The King bent his shoulders to look at him. This is all I know of him. The
King has given him a Lieutenant Colonel's Commission, and has sent him to old Brisac, where the Marshalsea has orders
to Conduct him, in order to shelter him, they say from the Insults, which the Populace might offer him on the road. I don't
know what this little lad thinks, to see himself used thus like a man of Importance: without Doubt he believes it to be a
dream; or if he is capable of Reflection, he should make some pretty like those of the Hare in Fontaine, who passing near
a pond, alarmed the Frogs, at a time when the stirring of a leaf would have made himself tremble and oblige him to take
to his heels. The Case, I believe, is parallel, and you'll think the Application just.

This is all the news we have now at Paris, and tho' I'm sure I shall know more soon, yet I have no more now, which
obliges me in order to continue my Correspondence with you, to apply to another to help me. What goes with this Letter
was wrote by a better hand than mine, the late Madam Daunoi, who before her death entrusted this manuscript with
one of her friends. And as it was not found in her Cabinet after her Death, it could not be printed as a posthumous work;
You may say, you are going to see what no body has seen yet: and be so good to let me have your advise about it when
you return it. Madam Daunoi wrote it for her self, without any design of making it publick: But as all the Persons
that Compose this history are dead, and no likelyhood of any Persons discovering the Key, I make no scruple to impart it
to you: Had Madam Daunoi intended to publish it, she would probably have reviewed and Corrected it: so that you
must not be surpris'd if you should not find in this little Relation all that exactness which is in her other works. You
may however discover her stile, in which one cannot mistake. I should tell you that the Contents of it are true; so
Madam Daunoi told her friend, and that friend assured me; so you may read it as truth and not Romance.

In Exchange, as you know we never do nothing for nothing in this world pray let me have the History of Cavalier
You have been on the spot, and are still near enough to get sure Memoirs of him. I see something so incomprehensible in
what has been told me of him, that I should be very glad to know exactly what he is. You have been so short about him, that
all I could comprehend is that he was a Baker by trade; At most he could be but an Apprentice, and I don't think he has had
leisure yet to be skilful in any. In short, tell me who he is, his Country Birth and Actions, how he came by the Gift of Pro-
phesy, and what miracles he used to persuade the People. This, in my opinion, deserves a Relation a little more Circum-
stanced, and yours are always so very short that they set me mad: Correct your self therefore I conjure you, and be-
lieve that when I am not friend enough, to read what you send me with pleasure, the manner you write in, will engage
me to it. Adieu, I leave you with the English Novel of My Lady **.