12 THE LIFE OF 



at length, reached the Baron's more dead than 

 alive. 



As foon as we arrived, the Baron fent a fer- 

 vant to me with a letter, wherein he ftates that 

 he could not refufc the poor Secretary the 

 rights of hofpitality; adding, that he could 

 wifh the Duchefs would abftain from fuch adls 

 of violence; and concluded, by defiring me to 

 endeavour to effecl a reconciliation between 

 them. I laid this letter before the Duchefs, 

 who fent me to the Baron's ; but the French- 

 man would not liften to the propofals I was 

 authorized to make, which were to pay him 

 his wages, but perlifted in his intention of going 

 to Peterfburgh to intereft the French Minifter 

 in his caufe. 



I returned next morning, and prevailed upon 

 the Duchefs to permit Mad. de Porquet to go 

 where fhe would. This lady, who, it feems, 

 had preconcerted matters with her lover, the 

 Secretary, went to St. Peterfburgh, and laid 

 her complaint before the Marquis de Verac, 

 the French Minifter there. The Marquis 

 apprifed the Duchefs of the complaint, and I 

 was fent to St. Peterfburgh to negotiate for 

 her with them ; the confequence of which was, 

 that the Duchefs was to pay Madame dc por- 

 quet fix hundred ducats in fpecie, on condition 



of 



