He had spent much time in investigating matters that touched on the supernatural, and dealt with the future.
"Now La Sery (his mistress) had in her house a little girl of eight or nine years of age, who had never resided elsewhere since her birth.
She was to all appearance a very ordinary child, and from the way in which she had been brought up, was more than commonly ignorant and simple.

One day, during the visit of M.d'Orleans, La Sery produced for his edification one of the charlatans with whom the duke had long been familiar, who pretended that by means of a glass of water he could see the answer to any question that might be put.

For this purpose it was necessary to have as a go-between some one both young and innocent, to gaze into the water, and this little girl was at once sent for.

They amused themselves by asking what was happening in certain distant places; and after the man had murmured some words over the water, the child looked in and always managed to see the vision required of her.
"M.

le duc d'Orleans had so often been duped in matters of this kind that he determined to put the water-gazer to a severe test.