the following words:--

"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--I am a most unhappy,
or rather a vilely calumniated man; and my enemies
have employed the most odious means of making me
appear despicable in your eyes. I confess, that not
daring to aspire to you, I stopped at the footstool
of your throne, but I wholly deny the words which
have been laid to my charge. I venture to expect
from your justice that you will grant me the favour
of an opportunity of exculpating myself from so
black a charge. It would be cruel indeed to condemn
a man without hearing him.

"I am with the most profound respect, &c."

To this hypocritical epistle I replied by another note as follows:--

"Every bad and unfavourable case may be
denied, monsieur le duc, therefore I am not
astonished at your seeking to repel the charge of
having uttered the disrespectful words laid to
your charge. As for the explanations you offer
me they would be fruitless; I will have none with
those who have either been my friends or appeared
to be such. I must therefore beg you will cease
all attempts at a correspondence which can lead
to no good results.

"I have the honour to remain, &c., &c."