As an illustration of her sterling honesty in money matters and her delicate manner of ending a liaison, the following anecdote will serve to demonstrate the hold she was able to maintain upon her admirers.

M. de Gourville, an intimate friend of Ninon’s, adhered in the wars of the Fronde to the party of the Prince of Conde, one of the “Birds of the Tournelles.”  Compelled to quit Paris, to avoid being hanged in person, as he was in effigy, he divided the care of a large sum of ready money between Ninon de l’Enclos and the Grand Penitencier of Notre Dame.  The money was deposited in two caskets.  On his return from exile, he applied to the priest for the return of his money, but to his astonishment, all knowledge of the deposit was denied, and that if any such deposit had been made, it was destined for charitable purposes under the rules of the Penitencier, and had most probably been distributed among the poor of Paris.  De Gourville protested in vain, and when he threatened to resort to forcible means, the power of the church was invoked to compel him to abandon his attempt.  So cruelly disappointed in a man whom all Paris deemed incorruptibly honest, de Gourville suspected nothing else from Mademoiselle de l’Enclos.  It was absurd to hope for probity in a woman of reprehensible habits when that virtue was absent in a man who lived a life of such austerity as the Grand Penitencier, hence he determined to abstain from visiting her altogether, lest he might hate the woman he had so fondly loved.

Ninon, however, had other designs, and learning that he had returned, sent him a pressing invitation to call upon her.

“Ah!  Gourville,” she exclaimed as soon as he appeared, “a great misfortune has happened me in consequence of your absence.”

That settled the matter in de Gourville’s mind, his money was gone and he was a pauper.  Plunged in mournful reflections, de Gourville dared not raise his eyes to those of his mistress.  But she, mistaking his agitation, went on hastily: 

“I am sorry if you still love me, for I have lost my love for you, and though I have found another with whom I am happy, I have not forgotten you.  Here,” she continued, turning to her escritoire, “here are the twenty thousand crowns you intrusted to me when you departed.  Take them, my friend, but do not ask anything from a heart which is no longer disposed in your favor.  There is nothing left but the most sincere friendship.”

Astonished at the contrast between her conduct and that of her reverend co-depositary, and recognizing that he had no right to complain of the change in her heart because of his long absence, de Gourville related the story of the indignity heaped upon him by a man of so exalted a character and reputation.

“You do not surprise me,” said Ninon, with a winning smile, “but you should not have suspected me on that account.  The prodigious difference in our reputations and conditions should have taught you that.”  Then adding with a twinkle in her eye:  “Ne suis-je pas la gardeuse de la cassette?”