But, to my great chagrin, she persisted in her refusal of everything, and changing her name, fled from Paris into the provinces; where she was said to have joined a roving band of comedians.
Soon after that I was sent by my sovereign on several foreign missions that kept me long away from France, and I lost all trace of her and you.
In vain were all my efforts to find you both, until at last I heard that she was dead.

Then I redoubled my diligence in the search for my little motherless daughter, whom I had so tenderly loved; but all in vain.

No trace of her could I find.

I heard, indeed, of many children among these strolling companies, and carefully investigated each case that came to my knowledge; but it always ended in disappointment.

Several women, indeed, tried to palm off their little girls upon me as my child, and I had to be on my guard against fraud; but I never failed to sift the matter thoroughly, even though I knew that deceit was intended, lest I should unawares reject the dear little one I was so anxiously seeking.
At last I was almost forced to conclude that you too had perished; yet a secret intuition always told me that you were still in the land of the living.