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person's child she nearly died of grief； and it took her a whole day
to recover。 Seeing this great sorrow； l'Ile Adam ordered all children
to be kept out of his wife's sight； and said soothing things to her；
such as that children often turned out badly； to which she replied；
that a child made by those who loved so passionately would be the
finest child in the world。 He told her that her sons might perish；
like those of his poor brother； to which she replied； that she would
not let them stir further from her petticoats than a hen allows her
chickens。 In fact； she had an answer for everything。
Madame caused a woman to be sent for who dealt in magic； and who was
supposed to be learned in these mysteries； who told her that she had
often seen women unable to conceive in spite of every effort； but yet
they had succeeded by studying the manners and customs of animals。
Madame took the beasts of the fields for her preceptors； but she did
not increase in size； her flesh still remained firm and white as
marble。 She returned to the physical science of the master doctors of
Paris； and sent for a celebrated Arabian physician； who had just
arrived in France with a new science。 Then this savant； brought up in
the school of one Sieur Averroes； entered into certain medical
details； and declared that the loose life she had formerly led had for
ever ruined her chance of obtaining offspring。 The physical reasons
which he assigned were so contrary to the teaching of the holy books
which establish the majesty of man； made in the image of his creator；
and so contrary to the system upheld by sound sense and good doctrine；
that the doctors of Paris laughed them to scorn。 The Arabian physician
left the school where his master； the Sieur Averroes； was unknown。
The doctors told Madame； who had come to Paris； that she was to keep
on as usual； since she had had during her gay life the lovely
Theodora； by the cardinal of Ragusa； and that the right of having
children remained with women as long as their blood circulated； and
all that she had to do was to multiply the chances of conception。 This
advice appeared to her so good that she multiplied her victories； but
it was only multiplying her defeats； since she obtained the flowers of
love without its fruits。
The poor afflicted woman wrote then to the pope； who loved her much；
and told him of her sorrows。 The good pope replied to her with a
gracious homily； written with his own hand； in which he told her that
when human science and things terrestrial had failed； we should turn
to Heaven and implore the grace of God。 Then she determined to go with
naked feet； accompanied by her husband； to Notre Dame de Liesse；
celebrated for her intervention in similar cases； and made a vow to
build a magnificent cathedral in gratitude for the child。 But she
bruised and injured her pretty feet； and conceived nothing but a
violent grief； which was so great that some of her lovely tresses fell
off and some turned white。
At last the faculty of making children was taken from her； which
brought on the vapours consequent upon hypochondria； and caused her
skin to turn yellow。 She was then forty…nine years of age； and lived
in her castle of l'Ile Adam； where she grew as thin as a leper in a
lazar…house。 The poor creature was all the more wretched because l'Ile
Adam was still amorous； and as good as gold to her； who failed in her
duty； because she had formerly been too free with the men； and was
now； according to her own disdainful remark； only a cauldron to cook
chitterlings。
〃Ha！〃 said she； one evening when these thoughts were tormenting her。
〃In spite of the Church； in spite of the king； in spite of everything；
Madame de l'Ile Adam is still the wicked Imperia！〃
She fell into a violent passion when she saw this handsome gentleman
have everything a man can desire； great wealth； royal favour；
unequalled love； matchless wife； pleasure such as none other could
produce； and yet fail in that which is dearest to the head of the
housenamely； lineage。 With this idea in her head； she wished to die；
thinking how good and noble he had been to her； and how much she
failed in her duty in not giving him children； and in being
henceforward unable to do so。 She hid her sorrow in the secret
recesses of her heart； and conceived a devotion worthy her great love。
To put into practice this heroic design she became still more amorous；
took extreme care of her charms； and made use of learned precepts to
maintain her bodily perfection； which threw out an incredible lustre。
About this time the Sieur de Montmorency conquered the repulsion his
daughter entertained for marriage； and her alliance with one Sieur de
Chatillon was much talked about。 Madame Imperia； who lived only three
leagues distant from Montmorency； one day sent her husband out hunting
in the forests； and set out towards the castle where the young lady
lived。 Arrived in the grounds she walked about there； telling a
servant to inform her mistress that a lady had a most important
communication to make to her； and that she had come to request an
audience。 Much interested by the account which she received by the
beauty； courtesy； and manners of the unknown lady； Mademoiselle de
Montmorency went in great haste into the gardens； and there met her
rival； whom she did not know。
〃My dear；〃 said the poor woman； weeping to find the young maiden as
beautiful as herself； 〃I know that they are trying to force you into a
marriage with Monsieur de Chatillon； although you still love Monsieur
de l'Ile Adam。 Have confidence in the prophecy that I here make you；
that he whom you have loved； and who only was false to you through a
snare into which an angel might have fallen； will be free from the
burden of his old wife before the leaves fall。 Thus the constancy of
your love will have its crown of flowers。 Now have the courage to
refuse this marriage they are arranging for you； and you may yet clasp
your first and only love。 Pledge me your word to love and cherish
l'Ile Adam； who is the kindest of men； never to cause him a moment's
anguish； and tell him to reveal to you all the secrets of love
invented by Madame Imperia； because； in practicing them； being young；
you will be easily able to obliterate the remembrance of her from his
mind。〃
Mademoiselle de Montmorency was so astonished that she could make no
answer； and let this queen of beauty depart； and believed her to be a
fairy； until a workman told her that the fairy was Madame de l'Ile
Adam。 Although the adventure was inexplicable； she told her father
that she would not give her consent to the proposed marriage until
after the autumn； so much is it in the nature of Love to ally itself
with Hope； in spite of the bitter pills which this deceitful and
gracious； companion gives her to swallow like bull's eyes。 During the
months when the grapes are gathered； Imperia would not let l'Ile Adam
leave her； and was so amorous that on