"The daughter of the laborer Valois married the sub-lieutenant
Lamotte, who lived in a little garrison city of the province, and
sought to increase his meagre salary by many ingenious devices. He
not merely gave instruction in fencing and riding, but he was also a
very skilful card-player--so skilful, that fortune almost always
accompanied him."

"My lord," cried the countess, springing up," you seem to want to
hint that Count Lamotte played a false game. You surely would not
venture to say this if the count were free, for he would challenge
you for this insult, and it is well known that his stroke is fatal
to those who stand in the way of his dagger."

"I hint at nothing, and I merely call things by their right names,"
replied the president, smiling. "In consequence of strong suspicions
of false play, Count Lamotte was driven out of his regiment; and as
the young pair had in the meantime consumed the stolen wedding-
money, they must discover some new way of making a living. The young
husband repaired to the south of France to continue his card-
playing; the young wife, having for her fortune her youth and the
splendor of her name, repaired to Paris, both resolved de corriger
la fortune wherever and however they could. "This, madame,"
continued the president, after a pause, "this is the true answer to
my question, how you are called, and who you are."

"The answer is, however, not yet quite satisfactory," replied
Lamotte, in an impudent tone. "You have forgotten to add that I am
the friend of the cardinal, Prince Louis de Rohan, the confidante
and friend of Queen Marie Antoinette, and that both now want to do
me the honor to make me their bete de souffrance, and to let me