to everything Chinese is the result of a scheme laid by the said Baron
Jeanrenaud and the widow his mother to bring about the deadening of
all the Marquis d'Espard's mental faculties, since the only service
which Mme. Jeanrenaud appears to render M. d'Espard is to procure him
everything that relates to the Chinese Empire;

"'Finally, that the petitioner is prepared to show to the Court that
the moneys absorbed by the said Baron and Mme. Jeanrenaud between 1814
and 1828 amount to not less than one million francs.

"'In confirmation of the facts herein set forth, the petitioner can
bring the evidence of persons who are in the habit of seeing the
Marquis d'Espard, whose names and professions are subjoined, many of
whom have urged her to demand a commission in lunacy to declare M.
d'Espard incapable of managing his own affairs, as being the only way
to preserve his fortune from the effects of his maladministration and
his children from his fatal influence.

"'Taking all this into consideration, M. le President, and the
affidavits subjoined, the petitioner desires that it may please you,
inasmuch as the foregoing facts sufficiently prove the insanity and
incompetency of the Marquis d'Espard herein described with his titles
and residence, to order that, to the end that he may be declared
incompetent by law, this petition and the documents in evidence may be
laid before the King's public prosecutor; and that you will charge one
of the judges of this Court to make his report to you on any day you
may be pleased to name, and thereupon to pronounce judgment,' etc.

"And here," said Popinot, "is the President's order instructing me!
--Well, what does the Marquise d'Espard want with me? I know