The Washington times., 1920-07-25

viers Ia Voisin the old woman, Guibourg and other
men and women whose offices necessary.
At the foot of the altar" the little daughter Of the
woman Flastre was strangled by Gubourg himself and it's
blood drawn mix in the philter that was prepared,
while chant was sung to Ashtaroth Asmodeus Princes
of Affection 1t bestial, pagan ceremony, hid
eous travesy of the holy sacrament with rites degen
crate the caous judges Of the torture chamber years later
could scarce believe their when it described on
the rack by the Marque de Brnvers and the degraded
Gubourg himself 1t seemed almost unbelievable that
delicate beautiful young of the refinement which
was de Montespan by inheritance could have borne the
shame of memory OF it.
Three times a week apart this "La Messe Nore,
"blaek mass" had to be performed Then the
philtres compounded each time delivered to de Mon
tespan Craftily Nine. de Monespan would pour these
love phtres into the infatuated monarch at their
tetc- -atetes
At last whispers of these weird ceremonies in the
chateau at Mesnil reached the King His lieutenant OF
police was summoned and instructed to establish in
ouiry to summon before him all who said to know
about these rites of the "dev worshpers. That any
one attached to his court could be implicated never
occurred to Louis and we imagine his horror when
victims of the chamber including OF his
victorious Marhals Luxembourg disclosed the names OF
those for whom the ''back mass performed ladies
of his most intimate circle noble duchesses who were at
tendant upon his Queen and most horrible of allfor de
Montespan herself!
The agents of Louis were brually frank in their de-
scripton of what those phtres had contained and how
they were compounded If nothing else could be shown
to that the great Louis truly mercu the fact
that he did have de Monespan tortured to death after
these revelations would testify to his benevoence In
stead he allowed her to remain at court osensbly in full
enjoyment of her position his favorite, while he trans
ferred his affections to Nine. de Maintenon.
When she could endure her disgrace no longer, de
Montespan bereft of many of the gifts the King had
showered upon her. including the splendid blue diamond
retired to convent Here repentance seized upon her
and her modification Of the flesh makes Of the most
unique chapters in the history Of the discarded favores
of the French kings.
Her chemises and sheets were Of the coarsest and
roughest unbeached nen although in difference to her
inherent pride she concealed them beneath ordinary
sheets and underwear She continually bracelets
garers and corsets in which fixed sharp iron points,
and as most poignant torture of ALL she hired waiting
to her bed every hour when she slept to
awaken her with the cry, Madame yoursef the
King is approaching"' Could there be q more ptul
punishment-this awakening every hour from forgetful
slumber with to receive the king and its
slant reminded when sleep rubbed from her eyes that
never again would that summons aught but mock
cry of her past.
often wonder il the fate Of de Monespan would have
been different wonder if mine had been
happy il the Hope Diamond had passed into
hands with its potency for evil
But now must return again TO my story..
II my to the Prince Of Wales's question TO
what was the happest moment Of my life seems to be
rather evasive it because sure at this mo-