A few days later I had almost the same words again put in; at last, M. Mills having called a third time at the office of the Quotidienne, M. Laurentie said he would like to see me before the third insertion was made, alleging that he could be of much more use to me when he was perfectly acquainted with my affair.
I was urged to receive him, and I fixed a day for his coming.
The first thing he did on seeing me was to give a start of astonishment.
He told me that he had known at once that my paragraph related to the Duke of Orleans, and that, fearing his Highness’s anger, he wanted to see my papers before going further.
I at once got together some imperfect copies that had chanced to escape the insatiable Cooper’s greedy rapacity, and handed him the parcel.
He strongly advised me against any mysterious or partial publication of my story, but to bring it to the full light of day.
I told him that such was my intention.
“You will do well,” he said; “and I assure you your likeness to Louis XIV is so striking that only to see you is to be convinced.”
It would not be easy to describe my surprise when, three days later, I received my packet, accompanied, for all apology, by the following brief communication—