favourite of nature was the sieur de Lenide, Marquis de Ganges, Baron of
Languedoc, and governor of Saint-Andre, in the diocese of Uzes. The
marquise heard of him so often, and it was so frequently declared to her
that nature seemed to have formed them for each other, that she began to
allow admission to a very strong desire of seeing him. Doubtless, the
sieur de Lenide, stimulated by similar suggestions, had conceived a great
wish to meet the marquise; for, having got M. de Nocheres who no doubt
regretted her prolonged retreat--to entrust him with a commission for his
granddaughter, he came to the convent parlour and asked for the fair
recluse. She, although she had never seen him, recognised him at the
first glance; for having never seen so handsome a cavalier as he who now
presented himself before her, she thought this could be no other than the
Marquis de Ganges, of whom people had so often spoken to her.

That which was to happen, happened: the Marquise de Castellane and the
Marquis de Ganges could not look upon each other without loving. Both
were young, the marquis was noble and in a good position, the marquise
was rich; everything in the match, therefore, seemed suitable: and indeed
it was deferred only for the space of time necessary to complete the year
of mourning, and the marriage was celebrated towards the beginning of the
year 1558. The marquis was twenty years of age, and the marquise
twenty-two.

The beginnings of this union were perfectly happy; the marquis was in
love for the first time, and the marquise did not remember ever to have
been in love. A son and a daughter came to complete their happiness.
The marquise had entirely forgotten the fatal prediction, or, if she
occasionally thought of it now, it was to wonder that she could ever have
believed in it. Such happiness is not of this world, and when by chance
it lingers here a while, it seems sent rather by the anger than by the