BI ANCA. 



,The cardinal anfwered dryly : Let her highnefs attend 

 ,to her own bufinefs, and I will mind mine and con- 

 tinued to read his breviary. Now came the confefTor, 

 according to appointment. Asfoon as he appeared the 

 cardinal flew to meet him with open arms : Welcome, 

 welcome, my dear ghoftly father ! The grand duchefs 

 has labour-pains, and is greatly in want of your affifl> 

 ance, With thefe words he hugged him fart in his 

 .arms, and was thereby immediately ftruck with the 

 light of a lovely new-born child which the good father 

 had concealed in his bofom. He. took it away from 

 liim, and called out fo loud, that even the grand du*- 

 chefs could hear him in the adjoining chamber: God 

 be thanlced i the grand duchefs is happily delivered of 

 a chopping prince ; and directly pre fen ted the little- 

 .one to the bye~xhinders. 



The grand duchefs incenfed even to fury at this 

 malicious trick, refolved to be revenged of the cardi- 

 nal, in the cruder! way, colt what it would. And fhe 

 foon found means to make the grand duke himfelf, 

 whole devotion ro her remained always entire, to 

 fumifh lier with an opportunity for effecting her pur- 

 pofe. 



One day they all three made a party of pleafure to 

 Poggio a Caino, and dined together. Now the car- 

 dinal was particularly fond of almond-foup : the grand- 

 duchefs therefore caufed an almond-foup to be pre- 

 pared for him, which was poifoned, and to be fet upon 

 the table. The cardinal had his fpies upon all, her 

 actions, who executed fo well their commiffion, that he 

 'knew of this plot before the almond-foup came up. He 

 feated himfelf as ufual at table ; but would not take any 



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