"
"Very well said," answered I, "and founded upon excellent
principles; but surely it was not necessary to shut up the object
of your caprice in a state prison, and, above all, to leave her
there for such a length of time. However, the mischief is done;
and all we have to think of is to repair it. You have now, sire,
a fine opportunity of displaying your royal munificence."
"You think, then," returned Louis XV, "that I am bound to make
this unhappy girl some present? Well, I will; to-morrow I will
send her 10,000 louis."
"A thousand louis!" exclaimed I, clasping my hands; "what, as a
recompense for seventeen years' imprisonment? No, no, sire, you
shall not get off so easily; you must settle on her a pension
of 12,000 livres, and present her with an order for 100,000 more
as an immediate supply."
"Bless me!" ejaculated the king, "why all, the girls in my
kingdom would go to prison for such a dowry: however, she shall
have the pension; but, in truth, my treasury is exhausted."
"Then, sire," returned I, "borrow of your friends."
"Come, come, let us finish this business; I will give your
4000 louis."
"No, I cannot agree," answered I, "to less than 5000."
The king promised me I should have them; and, on the following
day, his valet Turpigny brought me the order for the pension, and
a bag, in which I found only 4000 louis.
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