If she had ceased to be the most powerful, she might still be the richest woman in France.

There was her pension, of course.

That would be a munificent one, for Louis was always generous.

And then there was all the spoil which she had collected during these long years--the jewels the pearls, the gold, the vases, the pictures, the crucifixes, the watches, the trinkets--together they represented many millions of livres.

With her own hands she packed away the more precious and portable of them, while she arranged with her brother for the safe-keeping of the others.