ê$9 • -fiofats/. On this,* the bailiff returned to Moi% where he refided, for hé did not wifh the company he had mentioned fhould find him there. Two days after; the king and his company arrived at Château-morant, to the great joy of the count and countefs of Blois, at his vifitihg them* and they entertained him fplendidly. The king, to win the affeâions of the count, and gain him over to his plan* faid—* Fair coufin, I fee you. are the lord in our kingdom the moft endowed with ho-nour and liberality, and that ill former times you muft have had large expenfes : ' to -aflift and re* compence you, we will ^rant you a tax on the county of Blois that fhall be worth twenty thoufand francs/ • - The count returned his thanks and accepted the gift, which, however, was of no value to him, for he never received one penny from it* After this* the matter of fale of the county of Blois was en-tered on;'firft by the king, and feconded by the duke of Bourbon 2 but, finding the count very cool and indifferent about it, they addreffed them* felves to his lady, and Temonftrated with her, ml fpecious terms* refpecfcing the hazard fhe incurred of being reduced to a poor eftate fhould fhe fur* vive the count, as fhe had every appearance of doing j and it would be more for her advantage to have riches and jewels in plenty, which flie might eafily fecure, if fhe would perfuade her lord to liften to the propofals they had made fpr the fnf* chafe of the county of Blois. * . . The countefs, from her avaricious difpofitina Z 2 and