The result of that visit was, nine months afterwards, the birth of the Duke of Montpensier, who is now five years old and enjoys excellent health.

During the whole of her pregnancy the duchess kept her face smooth and blooming, but immediately after her delivery the pimples reappeared, and the pomatum remained without any effect." As he concluded his explanation, the count offered me a tortoise-shell box with a very good likeness of her royal highness, and said, "The duchess begs your acceptance of this portrait, and, in case you would like to have it set she wishes you to make use of this for that purpose." It was a purse of one hundred Louis.

I accepted both, and entreated the count to offer the expressions of my profound gratitude to her highness.
I never had the portrait mounted, for I was then in want of money for some other purpose.
After that, the duchess did me the honour of sending for me several times; but her cure remained altogether out of the question; she could not make up her mind to follow a regular diet.

She would sometimes keep me at work for five or six hours, now in one corner, now in another, going in and out herself all the time, and having either dinner or supper brought to me by the old valet, who never uttered a word.
Her questions to the oracle alluded only to secret affairs which she was curious to know, and she often found truths with which I was not myself acquainted, through the answers.

She wished me to teach her the cabalistic science, but she never pressed her wish upon me.