MadameduHaussetsays，shesawSt。Germain，andconversedwithhimseveraltimes。Heappearedtohertobeaboutfiftyyearsofage，wasofthemiddlesize，andhadfineexpressivefeatures。Hisdresswasalwayssimple，butdisplayedmuchtaste。Heusuallyworediamondringsofgreatvalue；andhiswatchandsnuff-boxwereornamentedwithaprofusionofpreciousstones。Oneday，atMadameduPompadour’sapartments，wheretheprincipalcourtierswereassembled，St。Germainmadehisappearanceindiamondkneeandshoebuckles，ofsofineawater，thatMadamesaid，shedidnotthinktheKinghadanyequaltothem。Hewasentreatedtopassintotheantechamber，andundothem；

　　whichhedid，andbroughtthemtoMadame，forcloserinspection。M。deGontant，whowaspresent，saidtheirvaluecouldnotbelessthantwohundredthousandlivres，orupwardsofeightthousandpoundssterling。

　　TheBarondeGleichen，inhis“Memoirs，“relates，thattheCountonedayshowedhimsomanydiamonds，thathethoughthesawbeforehimallthetreasuresofAladdin’slamp；andadds，thathehadhadgreatexperienceinpreciousstones，andwasconvincedthatallthosepossessedbytheCountweregenuine。Onanotheroccasion，St。GermainshowedMadameduPompadourasmallbox，containingtopazes，emeralds，anddiamonds，worthhalfamillionoflivres。Heaffectedtodespiseallthiswealth，tomaketheworldmoreeasilybelievethathecould，liketheRosicrucians，drawpreciousstonesoutoftheearthbythemagicofhissong。Hegaveawayagreatnumberofthesejewelstotheladiesofthecourt；andMadameduPompadourwassocharmedwithhisgenerosity，thatshegavehimarichly-enamelledsnuff-box，asatokenofherregard；onthelidofwhichwasbeautifullypaintedaportraitofSocrates，orsomeotherGreeksage，towhomshecomparedhim。Hewasnotonlylavishtothemistresses，buttothemaids。MadameduHaussetsays，——“TheCountcametoseeMadameduPompadour，whowasveryill，andlayonthesofa。Heshowedherdiamondsenoughtofurnishaking’streasury。Madamesentformetoseeallthosebeautifulthings。Ilookedatthemwithanairoftheutmostastonishment；butImadesignstoher，thatIthoughtthemallfalse。

　　TheCountfeltforsomethinginapocket-bookabouttwiceaslargeasaspectacle-case；and，atlength，drewouttwoorthreelittlepaperpackets，whichheunfolded，andexhibitedasuperbruby。Hethrewonthetable，withacontumptuousair，alittlecrossofgreenandwhitestones。Ilookedatit，andsaiditwasnottobedespised。Ithenputiton，andadmireditgreatly。TheCountbeggedmetoacceptit。I

　　refused。Heurgedmetotakeit。Atlength，hepressedsowarmly，thatMadame，seeingitcouldnotbeworthmorethanathousandlivres，mademeasigntoacceptit。Itookthecross，muchpleasedwiththeCount’spoliteness。“

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