Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-13


four robbers were hung, and their female ac-
complice was also sentenced to death; but
destiny ordained otherwise, as the sequel will
prove.
The conclusion of this strange eventful his
tory is thus narrated by Peuchet. The Chew
aier de Lorraine, the Marquis de Louvois,
and the Chahcellor of France happened to be
present in the Marchioness de Moptcspan's
apartment, whilst Louis XIV. was relating to
her and the Duke of Orleans, his brother, the
adventure of young Lecoq, who had been re-
warded with a considerable sum of money and
a lucrative place. The marchioness express
ed great horror at the profligacy and cruelty
of lady Guilfort, (Which title, like that of ia
brouski, was one of the many names assumed
by the Englishwoman, her real name having
never been discoyered,) and asked the King
ii the execution of SO base and fendsh
creature should take place. Louis XIV. re-
piled that the law would take its course, and
then changed the conversation. Soon after
the Duke of Orleans and the Cheyalier de Lor
raine took their leave. After quitting the
apartment, the Chevalier said to his royal
highness, ssThis Englishwoman must be rare
piece of womanhood suppose we have her to
sup with us ?'' The prince cried out, ''shame
shame 20 but the extravaganza of the propo-
sal pleased him and on the favorite renewing
his entreates he consented. The Englishwo-
man being confined in the Bastile, blank let
ire de cachet was procured and filed up with
an order to the governor to deliver to the care
of the bearer, Lady Guilfort, for the purpose
of her being transferred to the prison at Pigner
OF. The governor of the Bastile delivered up
his prisoner; but shortly after having done so,
he came to the knowledge of the trick that
had been played upon him, and in the first mo-
ment of alarm and anger he talked of COM
planning to the king but on the name of the
Duke of Orleans being mentioned, he resolv-
ed to hush up the matter, which was done by
of halo nrfi ha Snddnn
death and burial, within the precincts of the
Bastile, of the female prisoner in question.
Lady Guifort, who supposed that her reno
val from the Bastile was only for the purpose
of being taken to the COnciergerie, preparato-
ry to her execution, soon perceived, however,
that the carriage took the direction of one of
the barriers of Paris; after quitting which,
and at the end of two hours drive, it stopped.
A kind of equerry came and opened the door,
offered her his hand to descend, and after
passing through a long corridor, and up some
flights of stairs, ushered her into brilliant
and we'll lighted apartment. After the inter-
val of few minutes, three gentlemen entered
the room. Though plainly dressed, it was ev-
dent, from their air and manner, that they
were persons of high rank. One of them i'm
mediately on entering, put an opera glass to
his eye, and examined with naughty curiosity
Lady Guilfort; the two others threw them
selves into arm-chairs. Lady Guilfort, after
recognizing in the persons before her the
kings brother the Duke of Orleans, the Mar
quis 'Effiat, and the Chevalier de Lorraine.
She quickly conceived the motives which led
to her being brought into their presence and
though, under other circumstances. she would
have willingly Joined in the widest orgies
with the persons in whose company she then
found herself, yet the recollection of her dun
geon in the Bastile, and the terrible death i'm
pending over her, left no thought but that of
making her escape. She affected not to be
aware of the rank of the personages before
her; but, seeming to enter into the spirit OF
the adventure, she eXerted all her powers of
fascination, and soon made captive to her Sc
ductive influence the Chevalier de Lorraine
and the Marquis d'Effiat. But the Duke of
Orleans, never great admrer of the fair sex,
and who could not vanquish his horror of the
Englishwoplan, tired before long of the scene;
and bethnking himself that the qualification
of his curiosity might be too dearly purchased
by the risk of the Kings displeasure, should
the circumstance reach his Majesty's ears; and
having refused to stay for supper, was con-
Quoted by the ChevaIier de Lorraine and the
Marquis d'Effiat to his apartment, for this
scene took place in the palace of versailles,
and in the lodging of the Marquis de Lafare,
the use of which he had given to the Cheya-
lier de Lorraine for twenty -four hours.
The two gentlemen, after returning to the
room where lady Guilfort was, sat down with
her to petit souPer. The most eIuberant gai-
ETY., and not the most refined gallantry, was
the order of the night. At the close of sup
per which had been prolonged into the small
hours of the morning, Lady Guilfort on sud-
den rose up, and taking up taper, made her
lowest courtesy, and wished the gentlemen
good night. She then quilted the room.
Soon after the two gentlemen moved off to
their respective chambers, when Lady Gull
fort silently locked the doors of their apart
,,.,I ho, IL 80 tIa
where, tying together the table-cloths and nap
kins, she fastened one end of this tnprompta
rope to the balcony, and, by means of it, let
herself down into the park, where she lay con-
cealed until the gates were opened in the NOR
ming. She then slipped out, and hurrying in
to the town of Versailles, took the first vehi-
Gle that offered, and arrived in Paris before
her two imprisoned admirers were released
from durance, as they dared not, during the
night, make noise in the palace by calling or
ringing for the servants, to have the doors of
the rooms in which they were locked up forced
open, lest it might lead to the discovery of
their participation in the criminal trick played
off upon the Governor of the Bastile, and the
escape of Lady Guilfort.
On arriving at Paris, lady Guilfort fastened
to the Rue Plat Obtain, where, in an obscure
and miserable looking house, but admirably
contrived inside for the purpose of conceal
ment, lived one of the chief agents of the band
of malefactors with whom she was connected.
There, after explaining to her accomplice the
means by which she had recovered her liberty,
she found a secure asylum. In a little time,
aided by this villain, Lady Guilfort organized
a new troop of bandits. upon whom she could
reckon, Extensively and defensively. She, as
chief of the association, planned the expedi-
tions, appointed to each the part he was to
play. partitIoned the booty, and at times, took
personal part in the expedition. The indi-
vidual in whose house she had taken refuge,
was lieutenant of the troop.