it will suffice , then , to tell them that at the moment at which , discouraged by so many fruitless investigations , we were about to abandon our search , we at length found , guided by the counsels of our illustrious friend paulain paris , a manuscript in folio , endorsed 4772 or 4773 , we do not recollect which , having for title , 'memoirs of the countess de la fere , touching some events which passed in france toward the end of the reign of queen louise xiii and the commencement of the reign of queen louise xiv . '