As it would be out of the question in a few pages to make an
adequate portrait of women who occupy so conspicuous a place in
history as Mme. De Maintenon and Mme. De Stael, the former has
been reluctantly passed with a simple allusion, and the latter
outlined in a brief resume not at all proportional to the
relative interest or importance of the subject.

I do not claim to present a complete picture of French society,
and without wishing to give too rose-colored a view, it has not
seemed to me necessary to dwell upon its corrupt phases. If
truth compels one sometimes to state unpleasant facts in
portraying historic characters, it is as needless and unjust as
in private life to repeat idle and unproved tales, or to draw
imaginary conclusions from questionable data. The conflict of
contemporary opinion on the simplest matters leads one often to
the suspicion that all personal history is more or less disguised
fiction. The best one can do in default of direct records is to
accept authorities that are generally regarded as the most
trustworthy.

This volume is affectionately dedicated to the memory of my
mother, who followed the work with appreciative interest in its
early stages, hut did not live to see its conclusion.

Amelia Gere Mason
Paris, July 6, 1891


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