"I was in my apartment," said the Abbe Georgel, "the valet de chambre entered wildly, with a deadly paleness on his countenance, and exclaimed, 'All is lost; the Prince is arrested.' He instantly fell, fainting, and dropped the note of which he was the bearer." The portfolio containing the papers which might compromise the Cardinal was immediately placed beyond the reach of all search.

Madame de Lamotte also was foolishly allowed sufficient time after she heard of the arrest of the Cardinal to burn all the letters she had received from him.

Assisted by Beugnot, she completed this at three the same morning that she was: arrested at four .-- See "Memoirs of Comte de Beugnot," vol i., p.

74.] This commission was executed before M.de Crosne, lieutenant of police, had received an order from the Baron de Breteuil to put seals upon the Cardinal's papers.

The destruction of all his Eminence's correspondence, and particularly that with Madame de Lamotte, threw an impenetrable cloud over the whole affair.
From that moment all proofs of this intrigue disappeared.