| PART THE FIRST |
| Introduction | [ix] |
| CHAPTER I |
| Ignace Massalski, Prince and Bishop of Wilna—The Radziwill andthe Massalski—The feudal lords in Poland—Civil wars inPoland—The Bishop in exile—His arrival in Paris with hisniece—Letters from Madame Geoffrin—Answer of the KingStanislaus-Augustus—The Abbaye-aux-Bois | Page [1] |
| CHAPTER II |
| The Memoirs of Hélène Massalska—Her entry at the Abbaye-aux-Bois—Thedormitory—Illness of Hélène—Sister Bichon andParadise—La Grise and Mother Quatre Temps’s punishments—Theorder of truth—Wars of the “blues” and the “reds”—TheComte de Beaumanoir’s scullion—Madame de Rochechouart | [19] |
| CHAPTER III |
| The story of the Vicar of Saint Eustache—Hélène in the whiteclass—Death of Mademoiselle de Montmorency | [56] |
| CHAPTER IV |
| Moles and niggers—Mutiny in the Convent—Marriage ofMademoiselle de Bourbonne—The first communion | [90] |
| CHAPTER V |
| The Convent duties—The Abbess’s department—Balls at the Abbaye-aux-Bois—Madamede Rochechourt and her friends | [114] |
| CHAPTER VI |
| The record office—Madame de Saint Germain and her rasp—Theballets Orpheus and Eurydice—The refectory—Thegates and the tower—The community and the cellars—Storyof Mademoiselle de Saint Ange—Madame de Sainte Delphineand the library | [136] |
| CHAPTER VII |
| Mademoiselle de Choiseul and her mother—Madame de Stainville’sromantic adventures—Mademoiselle de Choiseul’s wedding—Takingthe veil | [153] |
| CHAPTER VIII |
| Madame d’Orléans, Abbess of Chelles—A visit from the Archbishop—TheJansenist nuns—The dispensary—Madame de Rochechouart’sfête day—Her illness and death | [182] |
| PART THE SECOND |
| CHAPTER I |
| The Prince-Bishop and Stanislaus-Augustus—The Diet in 1773—Seconddismemberment of Poland—Prince Xavier and histutor | [217] |
| CHAPTER II |
| Hélène’s suitors—The Duc d’Elbœuf and the Prince de Salm—Negotiationsof marriage—The Marquis de Mirabeau and theComtesse de Brionne—Madame de Pailly—The Bishop ofWilna’s refusal—A fresh suitor—The Prince Charles deLigne | [230] |
| CHAPTER III |
| The de Ligne Family—Prince Charles—War in Bavaria—Engagementat Pösig—The Prince de Ligne’s letter to his son—TheTreaty of Teschen | [256] |