that the lady knew not how to express her gratitude; that she had begged him not to follow her, after he had conducted her to a fiacre; that she would not tell him her name, but that she insisted on his accepting a little ring, as a token of remembrance; and that she promised to see him again, and to tell him her whole history, if he gave her his address; that he complied with this request of the lady, whom he represented as a charming person, and who, in the overflowing of her gratitude, embraced him several times.  This is all very fine, so far,” said Madame d’Amblimont, “but hear the rest.  The Marquis de ——­ exhibited himself everywhere the next day, with a black ribbon bound round his arm, near the wrist, in which part he said he had received the wound.  He related his story to everybody, and everybody commented upon it after his own fashion.  He went to dine with the Dauphin, who spoke to him of his bravery, and of his fair unknown, and told him that he had already complimented the Duc de C——­ on the affair.  I forgot to tell you,” continued Madame d’Amblimont, “that, on the very night of the adventure, he called on Madame d’Estillac, an old gambler, whose house is open till four in the morning; that everybody there was surprised at the disordered state in which he appeared; that his bagwig had fallen off, one skirt of his coat was cut, and his right hand bleeding.  That they instantly bound it up, and gave him some Rota wine.  Four days ago, the Duc de C——­ supped with the King, and sat near M. de St. Florentin.  He talked to him of his relation’s adventure, and asked him if he had made any inquiries concerning the lady.  M. de St. Florentin coldly answered, ‘No;’ and M. de C——­ remarked, on asking him some further questions, that he kept his eyes fixed on his plate, looking embarrassed, and answered in monosyllables.  He asked him the reason of this, upon which M. de Florentin told him that it was extremely distressing to him to see him under such a mistake.  ‘How can you know that, supposing it to be the fact?’ said M. de ——.  ‘Nothing is more easy to prove,’ replied M. de St. Florentin.  ’You may imagine that, as soon as I was informed of the Marquis de ——­’s adventure, I set on foot inquiries, the result of which was, that, on the night when this affair was said to have taken place, a party of the watch was set in ambuscade in this very street, for the purpose of catching a thief who was coming out of the gaming house; that this party was there four hours, and heard not the slightest noise.’  M. de C——­ was greatly incensed at this recital, which M. de St. Florentin ought, indeed, to have communicated to the King.  He has ordered, or will order, his relation to retire to his province.

[Illustration:  Madame de Pompadour. From the original painting by Nattier in the Royal Gallery in Scotland.]