CHAPTER I. SALONS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Characteristics of French Woman--Gallic Genius for Conversation
--Social Conditions--Origin of the Salons--Their Power--Their
Composition--Their Records

CHAPTER II. THE HOTEL DE RAMBOUILLET
Mme. De Rambouillet--The Salon Bleu--Its Habitues--Its
Diversions--Corneille--Balzac--Richelieu--Romance of the
Grand Conde--the Young Bossuet--Voiture--The Duchesse de
Longueville--Angelique Paulet--Julie d'Angennes--Les
Precieuses Ridicules--Decline of the Salon--Influence upon
Literature and Manners

CHAPTER III. MADEMOISELLE DE SCUDERY AND THE SAMEDIS
Salons of the Noblesse--"The Illustrious Sappho"--Her Romances--The
Samedis--Bons Mots of Mme. Cornuel--Estimate of Mlle. De Scudery

CHAPTER IV. LA GRANDE MADEMOISELLE
Her Character--Her Heroic Part in the Fronde--Her Exile--Literary
Diversions of her Salon--A Romantic Episode

CHAPTER V. A LITERARY SALON AT PORT ROYAL
Mme. De Sable--Her Worldly Life--Her Retreat--Her Friends--Pascal--
The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld--Last Days of the Marquise

CHAPTER VI. MADAME DE SEVIGNE
Her Genius--Her Youth--Her Unworthy Husband--Her Impertinent
Cousin--Her love for her Daughter--Her Letters--Hotel de
Carnavalet--Mme. Duplessis Guengaud--Mme. De Coulanges--The
Curtain Falls