Dame Landry was despatched to the Abbey of Montmartre, disguised as a pedler. She had a complete assortment of linens, cambrics, crapes, ribbons and laces. In order to make friends with the portress, she gave her a beautiful hood. The sister, delighted, promised to allow her to enter the court at the hour of promenade, when the ladies would surely make many purchases. Madelaine inquired who were the ladies of distinction resident in the abbey. The portress named the princess Julie.
"Is Madame Martha, Mlle. de Soisson's nurse, with her?" asked the tailor's wife.
"Undoubtedly," replied the sister, "and you will see her in a moment, for she almost always comes down at this hour in her mistress's service."
"I have been recommended to Madame Martha," said Madelaine, "and I am sure that, under her countenance, I shall sell a great many things to the princess; I have here a piece of lace which would not be unworthy the dress of a queen;" and the tailor's wife, unfolding a napkin, showed a magnificent pattern to the portress.
"Ah! splendid! How beautiful that is! The archbishop has nothing finer on his surplice when he comes to officiate here."
"And it is very probable," said Madelaine, "that the princess may buy this marvel to make a present to his lordship; at least that's what the person said who recommended me to Dame Martha."
"Here she comes, now," said the portress.
Martha entered, looking sad and mournful.
"Here's a pedler who has been recommended to you, Madame Martha," said the portress. "She has the most beautiful laces in the world."
"I have no need of them," said Martha, impatiently. "But, madame," . . . said Madelaine, hesitating, and trying to make a signal of intelligence to the nurse, "I have been told that the princess . . . wished to purchase some laces, and . . ."