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[258]

[Letters Historical and Galant Vol. 4]

In the first place, I must tell you, that tho I never love to decide, norbe of any party, I ranged my self upon this Occasion
amongst the Incredulous. Among other Examples I urged in defence of what I said, I mentioned an adventure that happened
me in my travels.

A Certain Countess, or one that pass'd for such, who knew all the world and no body knew her, came to see me in
a place independant of France, where she said she was obliged to shelter her self upon some disputes she pretended she had with
Madam de Maintenon. I thought there was very little probability in her discourse; her sense and Behaviour did not answer the Idea
she gave me of her birth; however she spoke to me of that Country, like a woman that knew it perfectly well. She knew all the
Secrets of families; & the closest intrigues; sometimes I was inclined to think she was really the person she said she was, &
that some Reverse of fortune had made her lose her wit, and deprived her of that je ne sçai quoi, which people that have
seen the world retain in the midst of the greatest Indigence. In this View, I pityed her greatly, and to encrease the Compas-
sion she observed I had for her, she expatiated on the Chagrins one was exposed to in a foreign Country. "tell me, Madam, said
"she, am I not very unhappy? I strove to get a livelyhood by making Pomatum and other drugs for the Complexion, and to
"hinder me from disposing of them, they made me pass for a witch, that the horrour people would have for me, might make me
"fly from all the world." I laugh'd at this accusation, for besides my never having faith in witches, I did not find the
pretended Countess had sense enough to make her be suspected of such a Crime, and I told her by way of Joke. "I have
"this long time had a great Curiosity to see a Conjurer or a Witch; you'd greatly oblige me to satisfy it, if tis in your
"power." She made me no answer. But after she had reflected upon it for some time, taking me for one of those Credulous
people, without doubt, that are easily made fools of, she paid me a visit; and after desiring an Audience in private, and bolted
all the doors of my Cabinet, for fear any one should come to interrupt us,, she told me, that she was so sensible of my Civilities
to her, that in requital she would make my fortune. I could not avoid telling her, that I was astonished she did not begin
with making her own. "Oh, says she, this is one of the things one cant do for ones self, but may be procured for others." I
vow I thought then, that as she was some years younger than I, and perhaps of another turn, she wanted to talk to me about
some affair of Gallantry, in which she could be nothing but the Go between, and thought already of having her thrown out
of the Window, when the sequel of her discourse drew me out of my error. "I take you says she, to think very differently
from the silly fools that are in a fright when ever they hear the words Magic or Magician mentioned, and believe every
"thing that is extraordinary proceeds from the Devil; Tis very certain however that there are good Demons, and Genii
"that are benefactors to mankind; All histories believe the same, and I know some my self, so, provided you have reso
"lution, and will keep the Secret, I'll put you in the way to have one of those Genii to attend on you, whom you shall
"have the absolute disposal of, and who in a little time, if you know how to manage him, will give you immense Sums.
"I hope that in going to work for you, I shall work for my self too, and believe you too generous to fail acknowledging a
"Service of this kind." As I knew she offered me what was not in her power, and that all this tended only to squeeze a
little money out of me, I pretended to give into her snare; I promised her mountains and wonders, all the tractableness
and courage she desired, on Condition I knew the whole Mystery, and that the Ceremonies should be performed in my pre-
sence and house. She Consented to all, and ask'd time to prepare her self for those Conjurations, and all other things she
wanted to perform them in a manner and form agreeable to the Spirit. She took care require things that could not be
got either in the COuntry, or in that Season. But I put my self to such trouble that at last I got them all. When
she had it not then in her power to raise any more difficulties, she fixed a day for the Celebration of this grand myster.
She had insisted that none but us two should be in the house together. I found means to disperse every body there, &
we barricaded ourselves up, with an intent not to open the door till all was over. I then produced all the things I had heaped
together, tis true one part I counterfeited having no mind to put things employed in uses of devotion to this use. The good
Lady did not discover the fraud; she was not a witch good enough for that, nay not good enough to deceive me. She
told me at first that after her Incantations, I should see a little shining figure, that would give me a very fine Diamonde,
and immediately disappear again: that afterwards I should talk to him and not see him: that if I wanted a Million, I need
only ask and have it in a moment, and when I ask'd him nothing, I might be sure to find every morning a hundred Crowns
upon my Toilette. This was to be the ordinary sum: before two years should expire, after which it would be dangerous to have
that I might make a Considerable fortune enough, before two years should expire, after which it would be dangerous to have
any longer Commerce with Mr. Spirit, who might afterwards twist my neck for me: so it was best to discharge him before
that time; which was very easy, since I had no more to do but to say to him, Begone, to be rid of him for ever;
his pride not suffering him to stay longer after that. Besides she instructed me how to behave in order to manage him.
I was only to give him Audience an hour a day, and to lock my self up, that no body might interrupt our Conversation, which
was to be very tender on his side. All this was already Laid, yet when we came to the matter of fact, the pretended
Sorceress had a great mind to frighten me. "Wou'd not you be afraid, said she, in case the Devil should come and appear
"here." I told her no, and then she fell into terrible Convulsions. "take care, repeated she, I am no longer mistress