rapidity with which the young girl developed in such an
atmosphere. The abbe Costar, "most gallant of pedants and most
pedantic of gallants," who had an equal taste for literature and
good dinners, calls her "the incomparable," sends her his books,
corresponds with her, and expresses his delight at finding her
"so beautiful, so spirituelle, so full of reason." The poet
Scarron speaks of her as "toute lumineuse, toute precieuse."

The circle she met in the salon of her godmother, the Duchesse
d'Aiguillon, had no less influence in determining her future
fortunes. With her rare reputation for beauty and esprit, as
well as learning, she took her place early in this brilliant and
distinguished society in which she was to play so graceful and
honored a part. She was sought and admired not only by the men
of letters who were so cordially welcomed by the favorite niece
of Richelieu, but by the gay world that habitually assembled at
the Petit Luxembourg. It was here that she perfected the tone of
natural elegance which always distinguished her and made her
conspicuous even at court, where she passed so many years of her
life.

She was not far from twenty-one when she became the wife of the
Comte de La Fayette, of whom little is known save that he died
early, leaving her with two sons. He is the most shadowy of
figures, and whether he made her life happy or sad does not
definitely appear, though there is a vague impression that he
left something to be desired in the way of devotion. A certain
interest attaches to him as the brother of the beautiful Louise
de La Fayette, maid of honor to Anne of Austria, who fled from
the compromising infatuation of Louis XIII, to hide her youth and