The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-15 00:00:00

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56 70

HYMENEAL AGENCY OFFICE.

PARIS, MAY 9.—The Court of Correctional Po-
lice was yesterday occupied with a case of rather a
singular description. In the place usually occupied
by criminals stood a young woman of a most grace-
ful figure, and whose dress was in the utmost degree
recherche. Madame Houdard (the name of the ac-
cused) was no other than the presiding divinity at a
celebrated agency office for marriages, which she
has lately established in Paris, where she has out-
rivalled several others of the same class. She has
for some time been offering to gentlemen tired of
celibacy tender companions for life, ladies of known
discretion and high respectability, gifted in a moral
light with the most desirable qualities, and in the
worldly sense, with marriage portions of from one
hundred thousand to five hundred thousand francs;
consequently, it may be easily imagined how her office
was beset with applicants. To believe her own ac-
count, she has brought about some of the most for-
tunate and advantageous matrimonial engagements.
Her services, however, were not to be obtained gratis.
In order to obtain her favour, and a place in her re-
port, it was absolutely necessary to become a sub-
scriber to her list for three months. By virtue of
this subscription, entered upon beautiful roae paper,
and a payment of 72 francs, Mad. Houdard engaged
to exhibit to the subscriber, for the space of three
months, all the young ladies whose hands, hearts, and
fortunes happened to be at her disposal. Her truly
benevolent occupation was, however, interrupted by
a disappointed wine-merchant, who preferred a com-
plaint against Madame, charging her with swindling.
The complainant will be better understood in his own
words :—" I applied to Madame to procure me a
wife (said he with a half-simple half-sly look at the
accused); she instantly said to me Ah, mon Dieu,
Monsieur Lazard, you • have just come in time; I
have just what will suit you; there is now at my
disposal a most lovely creature, a sweet young widow,
who has lately buried her husband. She is related
to an eminent counsellor, and is every thing a man
can wish for. As to her fortune, Cast superbc !
c'est magniflque ! 150,000 to 200,000 francs, and a
quantity of other property.' I immediately said I
should wish to have all the particulars and terms.
Madame told me that the first step was to become a
subscriber, and pay 72 francs. This I complied with,
but after waiting anxiously for some time, nothing was
effected, and I was told that a great deal of delicacy
was to be observed in bringing the matter to a
happy issue. At last I was invited to dinner, where
the gay widow was expected to make one of the
party. I went at the hour appointed, having taken
care to dress in the best style. Shortly after my
arrival at the office, a young female, elegantly attired,

made her appearance and joined the dinner party
I subsequently understood that this Doctor's widow
—this niece of a Counsellor, as she was described
to me, .was no other than Madame Aldegoude, $
sempstress, and something worse. I soon had little
doubt that Madame Aldegoude made a livelihood
by lending her services on those occasions; but
wishing to see how far this farce would be carried,
I pretended to be anxious to bring matters to a coo'
elusion. She made a thousand excuses and hesitated
a great deal; and I at last received a letter, which
gave me to understand, in very plain terms, that tiV
visits would not be acceptable after that period--"
that the Counsellor, her uncle, wished to marry hig
niece to a gentleman in the Treasury."
Mdlle. Bonhomme, formerly servant to the se 1,
cused, was called as a witness by the complainant.
She stated, whilst she was in Mdlle. Houdard
service, she saw several gentlemen come to the
house in order to get wives, and whatever gentle'
man came the same lady was presented to him, Bed
that lady was Madame Aldegoude. When two or
three gentleman happened to come at the same tippet
Madame Aldegoude after seeing one, made some er!i
cuse, and retired to another room, where Madano
Houdard introduced her to another candidate. Whop
the gentlemen went away, these ladies amused thee'
selves, and laughed heartily at their expense, (Mori,
ing how many more.fish were caught in their ne±"-,
PRESIDENT—Have you known any other pate
complain of having been deceived in this way ? "„
Witness—Oh, several; and amongst others, a to"
strapping serjeant-major of theßoyal Guard. Madatrs
Houdard said to him upon his first application,
" Come, Monsieur, turn about. I must examine'
your figure, in order to see if you will match the WI
I have in my eye for you."
The accused, on being called on for her dekncet
denied the charge altogether, declaring that- oh. h 114:
effected several marriages amongst persons of great,
distinction, and whose names she would mention
but from motives of delicacy, and. if sot prevented
by the confidence reposed in her. The only thing
that hindered the complainant's marriage, was the
bad account which she received concerning his as'
rafter, and therefore she was not surprised at his
wishing to be revenged. With respect to her ser-
vant, it was the complainant who induced her t°
quit her place, and she heard that he had since been
taking particular care of her.
The Court, after some consideration, were .of
opinion that the facts did not amount to swindling,
according to the meaning of the 405th article of the
code, and discharged the accused. This pug
woman was so overjoyed at hearing her acquittal/ '
that she fell into a swoon, and was removed from
the Court in a state of insensibility.