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diff --git a/old/8dbry10.txt b/old/8dbry10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0c8719 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8dbry10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18593 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry +"Written by Herself" +by Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon + + +We are releasing two versions of this Etext, one in 7-bit format, +known as Plain Vanilla ASCII, which can be sent via plain email-- +and one in 8-bit format, which includes higher order characters-- +which requires a binary transfer, or sent as email attachment and +may require more specialized programs to display the accents. +This is the 8-bit version. + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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We need your donations. + + +Title: Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry +With Minute Details of Her Entire +Career as Favorite of Louis XV + +"Written by Herself" + +Author: Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon + +March, 2001 [Etext #2563] + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry +******This file should be named 8dbry10.txt or 8dbry10.zip***** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, 8dbry11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8dbry10a.txt + + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +We are releasing two versions of this Etext, one in 7-bit format, +known as Plain Vanilla ASCII, which can be sent via plain email-- +and one in 8-bit format, which includes higher order characters-- +which requires a binary transfer, or sent as email attachment and +may require more specialized programs to display the accents. +This is the 8-bit version. + + + + + +Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry +With Minute Details of Her Entire +Career as Favorite of Louis XV + +"Written by Herself" + +by Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon + + + + +with a special introduction by +Robert Arnot, M.A. + + + + +Gutenberg Editor’s note: +This delightful (piquant, the comtesse would say) pseudonymous +work was in fact written not "by herself" but by Baron Etienne +Leon Lamothe-Langon (1786-1864). The persona created is that of +a woman who always tells the truth as she sees it, but it is made +clear to the reader that what the narrator sees is very seldom +exactly the objective truth. The author ends as well as begins +<in medias res> (in the middle of the action), thus creating an +illusion of a slice of a journal but simultaneously giving the +reader the uneasy feeling that the first and last chapters seem +to be missing. + +The French-style quotation marks have, for ease in typesetting +and use, been changed to American-style quotation marks, and the +dot after the name of Louis XV has been removed to conform to +American punctuation. Italics are indicated by placing <> around +the word or phrase italicized. Captions of illustrations are +omitted because the illustrations themselves cannot be inserted. +A few minor editing errors have been silently corrected. No +other changes have been made; the irregularity in italicizing or +not italicizing, in translating or not translating French words, +and in punctuating quotations of letters, is in the text itself. + +Notes are identified as coming from author, tr. (translator), +editor, or Gutenberg editor. + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +Letter from Lebel--Visit from Lebel--Nothing conclusive--Another +visit from Lebel--Invitation to sup with the king--Instructions +of the comte Jean to the comtesse + +CHAPTER II + +A slight preface--Arrival at Versailles--<"La toilette">--Portrait +of the king--The duc de Richelieu--The marquis de Chauvelin--The +duc de la Vauguyon-Supper with the king--The first night--The +following day--The curiosity of comte Jean--Presents from the +king--How disposed of + +CHAPTER III + +The king's message--Letter from the countess--A second supper at +Versailles--The duc d’Ayen--A short account of M. de Fleury--The +duc de Duras -Conversation with the king--The next day--A visit +from the duc de Richelieu--Visit from the duc de la Vauguyon--Visit +from comte Jean--Visit from the king--A third supper--Favor + +CHAPTER IV + +The duc d'Aiguillon--The duc de Fronsac--The duchesse de +Grammont--The meeting--Sharp words on both sides--The duc de +Choiseul--Mesdames d'Aiguillon--Letter from the duc d'Aiguillon-- +Reply of madame du Barry--Mademoiselle Guimard--The prince de +Soubise--Explanation--The Rohans--Madame de Marsan--Court friendships + +CHAPTER V + +The duc de la Vauguyon and the comtesse du Barry--The marquis +de Chauvelin and the comtesse--M. de Montbarrey and the comtesse-- +Intrigues--Lebel--Arrival of the du Barry family--The comte +d'Hargicourt--The demoiselles du Barry--Marriage of the comtesse-- +The marquis de Bonrepos--Correspondences--The broken glass + +CHAPTER VI + +Journey to Choisy--The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV--The king +of Denmark--The czar Peter--Frederick II--The abbé de la Chapelle-- +An experiment--New intrigues--Secret agents-The comtesse and +Louis XV--Of the presentation--Letter of the comtesse to the +duc d'Aiguillon--Reply--Prince de Soubise + +CHAPTER VII + +The comtesse and the duc d'Aiguillon--M. de Soubise--Louis XV +and the duc d'Aiguillon--Letter from the comtesse to the king-- +Answer of the king-The "<Nouvelles a la Main>"--The comtesse and +Louis XV--The supper--The court ladies mystified--The comtesse +and M. de Sartines + +CHAPTER VIII + +The sieur Ledoux--The <lettre de cachet>--The duc de la Vrillière-- +Madame de Langeac--M. de Maupeou--Louis XV--The comte Jean + +CHAPTER IX + +The king of Denmark--The courtesans of Paris--The duc de Choiseul +and the bishop of Orleans--Witty repartees of the king of Denmark-- +His visit to madame du Barry--"The court of king Petaud," a satire-- +Letter of the duc d'Aiguillon to Voltaire--The duchesse de Grammont +mystified--Unpublished letter of Voltaire's + +CHAPTER X + +When is the presentation to take place?--Conversation on this +subject with the king--M. de Maupeou and M. de la Vauguyon-- +Conversation on the same subject with the king and the duc de +Richelieu--M. de la Vrillière--M. Bertin---Louis XV and the +comtesse--The king's promise--The fire-works, an anecdote--The +marquise de Castellane--M. de Maupeou at the duc de Choiseul's-- +The duchesse de Grammont + +CHAPTER XI + +A word concerning the duchesse de Choiseul--The apartment of the +Comte de Noailles--The Noailles--Intrigues for presentation--The +comte de Bearn--M. Morand once more--Visit of the comtesse Bearn +to the comtesse du Barry--Conversation--Interested complaisance-- +The king and the comtesse du Barry--Dispute and reconciliation + +CHAPTER XII + +The comtesse de Bearn--The supper--Louis XV--Intrigues against my +presentation--M. de Roquelaure--The scalded foot--The comtesse +d'Aloigny--The duc d'Aiguillon and madame de Bearn--Anger of the +king's daughters--Madame Adélaïde and the comtesse du Barry-- +Dissatisfaction of the king + +CHAPTER XIII + +Of the presentation--The king and the duc de Richelieu at comtesse +du Barry's--M. de la Vauguyon--Conversation--Letter of the duke to +the comtesse du Barry--Reply--The countess unites herself with the +Jesuit party--Madame Louise--Madame Sophie--M. Bertin--Madame +de Bercheny + +CHAPTER XIV + +The princesses consent to the presentation of madame du Barry-- +Ingenious artifice employed by the king to offer a present to the +duc de la Vauguyon--Madame du Barry's letter respecting it--The +duke's reply--The king's letter--The court in despair--Couplets +concerning madame du Barry--Her presentation--A change in public +opinion--An evening party at the house of the countess--Joy of her +partizans--Conversation with the chancellor respecting the lady of +the maréchal de Mirepoix + +CHAPTER XV + +The Comte de la Marche, a prince of the blood--Madame de +Beauvoir, his mistress--Madame du Barry complains to the prince +de Soubise of the princess de Guémenée--The king consoles the +countess for this--The duc de Choiseul--The king speaks to him of +madame du Barry--Voltaire writes to her--The opinions of Richelieu +and the king concerning Voltaire + +CHAPTER XVI + +Unpublished letter of Voltaire to madame du Barry--Reply of the +countess--The maréchale de Mirepoix--Her first interview with +madame du Barry--Anecdote of the diamonds of madame de Mirepoix-- +The king pays for them--Singular gratitude of the maréchale--The +portfolio, and an unpublished letter of the marquise de Pompadour + +CHAPTER XVII + +Conversation of the maréchale de Mirepoix with the comtesse du +Barry on court friendship--Intrigues of madame de Bearn--Preconcerted +meeting with madame de Flaracourt---Rage of madame de Bearn-- +Portrait and conversation of madame de Flaracourt with the +comtesse du Barry--Insult from the princesse de Guémenée--Her +banishment--Explanation of the king and the duc de Choiseul +relative to madame du Barry--The comtesse d'Egmont + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Intrigue of the comtesse d'Egmont with a shopman--His unhappy +fate--The comtesse du Barry protects him--Conduct of Louis XV +upon the occasion--The young man quits France--Madame du Barry's +letter to the comtesse d’Egmont--Quarrel with the maréchal de Richelieu + +CHAPTER XIX + +Madame du Barry separates from madame de Bearn--Letters between +these ladies--Portrait of madame de l’Hôpital--The ladder--The +bell--Conversation with madame de Mirepoix--First visit to Chantilly-- +Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thither--The king's +Displeasure towards the princesses--The archbishop de Senlis + +CHAPTER XX + +Unpublished letter of Louis XV--Madame du Barry's cousin, M. de +Maupeou--The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young girl +seduced by the arts of the curé of her village--She obtains pardon +of the comte and comtesse de Louerne--The king presents her with +Lucienne--A second meeting with the youthful prophet--His further +predictions--He is sought for--His mysterious letter to the countess + +CHAPTER XXI + +Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon-- +The comtesse du Barry at Chantilly--Opinion of king and comte de +la Marche respecting the "Iron Mask"--Madame du Barry visits +madame de Lagarde + +CHAPTER XXII + +The chevalier de la Morlière--Portrait of the duc de Choiseul-- +The duc de Choiseul and the comtesse du Barry--No reconciliation +effected--Madame du Barry and the duc d'Aiguillon--Madame du +Barry and Louis XV + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Dorine--Mademoiselle Choin and the maréchal d'Uxelles--Zamor-- +M. de Maupeou's wig--Henriette--The duc de Villeroi and Sophie-- +Letter from the comtesse du Barry to the duc de Villeroi--His +reply--The countess writes again--Madame du Barry and Sophie-- +Louis XV and the comtesse du Barry + +CHAPTER XXIV + +The prince des Deux Ponts--Prince Max--The dauphin and Marie +Antoinette--The comtesse du Barry and Bridget Rupert--The countess +and Geneviève Mathon--Noël--Fresh amours--Nocturnal adventure-- +Conclusion of this intrigue + +CHAPTER XXV + +Madame du Barry succeeds in alienating Louis XV from the due de +Choiseul--Letter from madame de Grammont--Louis XV--The chancellor +and the countess--Louis XV and the abbé de la Ville--The maréchale +de Mirepoix and madame du Barry + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Baron d'Oigny, general post-master--The king and the countess +read the opened letters--The disgrace of de Choiseul resolved +upon--<Lettre de cachet >--Anecdote--Spectre of Philip II, king +of Spain--The duc de Choiseul banished--Visits to Chanteloup--The +princesses--The dauphin and dauphiness- Candidates for the ministry + +CHAPTER XXVII + +The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du Barry--The countess +and the prince de Condé--The duc de la Vauguyon and the countess-- +Provisional minister--Refusal of the secretaryship of war--Displeasure +of the king--The maréchale de Mirepoix- Unpublished letter from +Voltaire to Madame du Barry--Her reply + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +A few words respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau--The comtesse du Barry +is desirous of his acquaintance--The countess visits Jean Jacques +Rousseau--His household furniture--His portrait--Thérèse--A second +visit from madame du Barry to Jean Jacques Rousseau--The countess +relates her visit to the king--Billet from J. J. Rousseau to madame +du Barry--The two duchesses d'Aiguillon + +CHAPTER XXIX + +The king's friends--The duc de Fronsac--The duc d'Ayen's remark-- +Manner of living at court--The marquis de Dreux--Brézé--Education +of Louis XV--The <Parc-aux-Cerfs>--Its household--Its inmates-- +Mère Bompart--Livres expended on the <Parc-aur-Cerfs>-- Good +advice--Madame + +CHAPTER XXX + +Fête given by the comtesse de Valentinois--The comtesse du Barry +feigns an indisposition--Her dress--The duc de Cossé--The comte +and comtesse de Provence--Dramatic entertainment--Favart and +Voisenon--A few observations--A pension--The maréchale de +Luxembourg--Adventure of M. de Bombelles--Copy of a letter +addressed to him--Louis XV--M. de Maupeou and madame du Barry + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer +--Louis XV and madame de Rumas--M. de Rumas and the comtesse du +Barry--An intrigue--<Dénouement>--A present upon the occasion--The +duc de Richelieu in disgrace--100,000 livres + +CHAPTER XXXII + +A prefatory remark--Madame Brillant--The maréchale de Luxembourg's +cat--Despair of the maréchale--The ambassador, Beaumarchais, and +the duc de Chaulnes--the comte d'Aranda--Louis XV and his relics--The +abbé de Beauvais--His sermons--He is appointed bishop + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +M. D----n and madame de Blessac--Anecdote--The rendezvous and the +Ball--The wife of Gaubert--They wish to give her to the king-- +Intrigues--Their results--Letter from the duc de la Vrillière to +the countess--Reply—Reconciliation + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Conversation with the king--Marriage of the comte d'Artois-- +Intrigues--The place of lady of honor--The maréchale de Mirepoix-- +The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame du Barry--The comtesse +de Forcalquier and madame Boncault + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Marriage of madame Boncault--The comte de Bourbon Busset +--Marriage of comte d'Hargicourt--Disgrace of the comte de +Broglie--He is replaced by M. Lemoine--The king complains of +ennui--Conversations on the subject--Entry into Paris + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Visit from a stranger--Madame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical +monk--Continuation of this history--Deliverance of a state +prisoner--A meeting with the stranger + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +A conspiracy--A scheme for poisoning madame du Barry--The four +bottles--Letter to the duc d'Aiguillon--Advice of the ministers-- +Opinion of the physicians--The chancellor and lieutenant of +police--Resolution of the council + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +Conclusion of this affair--A letter from the <incognita>--Her +examination--Arrest of Cabert the Swiss--He dies in the Bastille +of poison--Madame Lorimer is arrested and poisoned---The +innocence of the Jesuits acknowledged--Madame de Mirepoix and +the 100,000 francs--Forgetfulness on the part of the lieutenant of +police--A visit from comte Jean--Madame de Mirepoix + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +My alarms--An <èlève> of the <Pare-aux-Cerfs>--Comte Jean +endeavours to direct the king's ideas--A supper at Trianon-- +Table talk--The king is seized with illness--His conversation +with me--The joiner's daughter and the small-pox--My despair-- +Conduct of La Martinière the surgeon + +CHAPTER XL. + +La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles--The +young prophet appears again to madame du Barry--Prediction +respecting cardinal de Richelieu--The joiner's daughter requests +to see madame du Barry--Madame de Mirepoix and the 50,000 +francs--A <soirée> in the salon of madame du Barry + +CHAPTER XLI + +Interview with the joiner's daughter--Consultation of the physicians +respecting the king--The small-pox declares itself--the comte de +Muy--The princesses--Extreme sensibility of madame de Mirepoix--The +king is kept in ignorance of his real condition--The archbishop of +Paris visits Versailles + +CHAPTER XLII + +First proceedings of the council--The dauphin receives the prelates +with great coolness--Situation of the archbishop of Paris-- +Richelieu evades the project for confessing the king--The friends +of madame du Barry come forward--The English physician--The +abbé Terray--Interview with the prince de Soubise--The prince +and the courtiers--La Martinière informs the king of France the +true nature of his complaint--Consequences of this disclosure + +CHAPTER XLIII + +Terror of the king--A complication--Filial piety of the princesses-- +Last interview between madame du Barry and Louis XV--Conversation +with the maréchale de Mirepoix--The chancellor Maupeou--The +fragment--Comte Jean + +CHAPTER XLIV + +The duc d'Aiguillon brings an order for the immediate departure +of madame du Barry--The king's remarks recapitulated--The countess +holds a privy council--Letter to madame de Mirepoix and the ducs +de Cossé and d'Aiguillon--Night of departure--Ruel--Visit from +madame de Forcalquier + +CHAPTER XLV + +The duc d'Aiguillon's first letter--The maréchale de Mirepoix +--A second letter from the duc d'Aiguillon--Numerous visitors + +CHAPTER XLVI + +A third letter from the duke--The king receives extreme unction-- +Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphin--M. de Machault--A +promenade with the duc de Cossé--Kind attention from the prince +des Deux Pouts--A fourth letter from the duc d'Aiguillon--Comte +Jean bids me farewell--M. d'Aiguillon's fifth letter, containing an +account of the death of Louis XV--The duc de la Vrillière--The <Lettre +de cachet>--Letter to the queen--Departure for the abbey of +<Pont aux Dames> + + +Special Introduction by Robert Arnot + +Up to the time of the Du Barry the court of France had been the +stage where the whole political and human drama of that country +was enacted. Under Louis XV the drama had been transformed into +parades--parades which were of as much importance to the people +as to those who took part in them. The spectators, hitherto silent, +now began to hiss and be moved. The scene of the comedy was +changed, and the play was continued among the spectators. The old +theatre became an ante-chamber or a dressing-room, and was no +longer important except in connection with the Cardinal de Bernis +and the Duc de Richelieu, or Madame de Pompadour and Madame +du Barry. + +The monarchy had still a step to take towards its downfall. It +had already created the <Pare aux Cerfs> (Louis XV's seraglio), +but had not yet descended to the Parisian house of prostitution. +It made this descent leaning on the arm of Madame du Barry. +Madame du Barry was a moral sister to Manon Lescaut, but instead +of taking herself off to Louisiana to repent, she plunged into the +golden whirlpool at Versailles as a finish to her career. Could +the coaches of a King mean more than the ordinary carriage of an +abandoned girl? + +Jeanne Vaubernier--known in the bagnios by the name of Mademoiselle +Lange--was born at Vaucouleurs, as was Jeanne d'Arc. Better still, +this later Jeanne said openly at Versailles--dared she say otherwise?-- +that she was descended in a straight line from the illustrious, +the venerated, the august, sacred, national maid, Jeanne.* "Why did +Du Barry come to Paris?'" says Leon Gozlan in that account of the +Château de Lucienne which makes a brilliant and learned chapter in +the history of France. "Does one ever know precisely why things are +done? She obeyed the magnet which attracts to Paris all who in +themselves have a title to glory, to celebrity, or to misfortune. +Du Barry had a pretty, provincial face, bright and charming, a face +astonished at everything, hair soft and ash-colored, blue eyes, +veiled and half open, and a skin fair with rose tints. She was a +child of destiny. Who could have said, when she crossed the great +town in her basket cart, which rolled lazily along on its massive, +creaking wheels, that some day she would have equipages more +beautiful than any of those which covered her with mud in passing, +and on her arms more laces and diamonds than any of these ladies +attended by footmen in liveries?" + + *A claim which blithely ignored the fact that Jeanne +d'Arc had no children.--Gutenberg editor + +When Jeanne left the provinces to come to Paris, she found her +native country. She was granted the freedom of the city, and +expanded in her joy like a delicate plant transplanted into a +hothouse. She found herself at home for the first time; and felt +that she could rule as a despot over all frequenters of the +streets. She learned fashion and love at one and the same time. +Gourdan had a hat made for her, and, as a reward, initiated her +into the customs. But she was called to other destinies. + +One day, when she was walking in the Tuileries, a lunatic--and +lunatics have second sight--asked her favor when she should +become queen. Du Barry said to herself: "This man is mad." But +then she thought of the Pompadour, blushed--it was the only time-- +and turned her eyes towards Versailles. + +But Versailles was an unhoped-for shore to such a girl as this, +a girl known to all Paris. Would the King care to be the lover of +one who had ruled all his courtesans? Who could say? The King +often wearied of what he had. Had not a poet already been found +who compared her to Venus: + +O Jeanne, thy beauty seduces +And charms the whole world; +In vain does the duchess redden +And the princess growl; +They know that Venus rides proudly +The foam of the wave. + +The poet, while not Voltaire, was no less a man than Bouffiers. + +While the King was seeking a mistress--a nocturnal reverse of +Diogenes, fleeing from the lanterns of the wise--he found Jeanne +Vaubernier. He thought he could love her for one evening. "Not +enough," said she, "you must love me until broad daylight." So +he loved her for a whole day. What should one eat in order to be +loved by royalty? Was it necessary to have a coat of arms? She +had them in number, because she had been loved by all the great +names in the book of heraldry. And so she begged the Viscount +Jean du Barry to give her the title of viscountess. "Better still," +exclaimed Jean, "I will give you the title of countess. My brother +will marry you; he is a male scamp, and you are the female. What +a beautiful marriage!" + +So they were united. The newly made countess was solemnly +presented at court by a countess of an ancient date, namely, the +Countess de Bearn. King Voltaire protested, in a satire entitled +"<The Court of King Petaud>" (topsy-turvy), afterwards denying +it. The duc de Choiseul protested, France protested, but all +Versailles threw itself passionately at the feet of the new countess. +Even the daughters of the King paid her court, and allowed her to +call them by their pet names: Loque, Chiffe, and Graille. The King, +jealous of this gracious familiarity, wished her to call him by some +pet name, and so the Bacchante, who believed that through the +King she held all France in her hand, called him "La France," making +him a wife to his Gray Musketeers. + +Oh, that happy time! Du Barry and Louis XV hid their life--like +the sage--in their little apartments. She honeyed his chocolate, +and he himself made her coffee. Royalty consecrated a new verb +for the dictionary of the Academy, and Madame du Barry said to +the King: "At home, I can love you to madness." The King gave +the castle of Lucienne to his mistress in order to be able to sing +the same song. Truly the Romeo and Juliet <de la main gauche>. + +Du Barry threw out her fish-wifely epithets with ineffable tenderness. +She only opened her eyes half way, even when she took him by the +throat. The King was enchanted by these humors. It was a new +world. But someone said to him: "Ah, Sire, it is easy to see that +your Majesty has never been at the house of Gourdan." + +Yet Du Barry was adored by poets and artists. She extended both +hands to them. Jeanne's beauty had a penetrating, singular charm. +At once she was blonde and brunette--black eyebrows and lashes +with blue eyes, rebellious light hair with darker shadows, cheeks +of ideal contour, whose pale rose tints were often heightened by +two or three touches--a lie "formed by the hand of Love," as +anthology puts it--a nose with expressive nostrils, an air of +childlike candour, and a look seductive to intoxication. A bold +yet shrinking Venus, a Hebe yet a Bacchante. With much grace +Voltaire says: + +"Madame: + +"M. de la Borde tells me that you have ordered him +to kiss me on both cheeks for you: + +"What! Two kisses at life's end +What a passport to send me! +Two is one too much, Adorable Nymph; +I should die of pleasure at the first. + +"He showed me your portrait, and be not offended, +Madame, when I tell you that I have taken the liberty +of giving that the two kisses." + +Perhaps Voltaire would not have written this letter, had he not +read the one written by the King to the Duc de Choiseul, who +refused to pay court to the left-hand queen: + +"My Cousin, + +"The discontent which your acts cause me forces me to +exile you to Chanteloup, where you will take yourself +within twenty-four hours. I would have sent you farther +away were it not for the particular esteem in which I +hold Madame de Choiseul. With this, I pray God, my +cousin, to take you into His safe and holy protection. + "Louis." + +This exile was the only crime of the courtesan. On none of her +enemies did she close the gates of the Bastille. And more than +once did she place a pen in the hands of Louis XV with which to +sign a pardon. Sometimes, indeed, she was ironic in her compassion. + +"Madame," said M. de Sartines to her one day, "I have discovered +a rogue who is scattering songs about you; what is to be done with him?" + +"Sentence him to sing them for a livelihood." + +But she afterwards made the mistake of pensioning Chevalier de +Morande to buy silence. + +The pleasures of the King and his favorite were troubled only by +the fortune-tellers. Neither the King nor the countess believed in +the predictions of the philosophers, but they did believe in +divination. One day, returning from Choisy, Louis XV found +under a cushion of his coach a slip of paper on which was transcribed +this prediction of the monk Aimonius, the savant who could read +all things from the vast book of the stars: + +"As soon as Childeric had returned from +Thuringia, he was crowned King of France +And no sooner was he King than he espoused +Basine, wife of the King of Thuringia. +She came herself to find Childeric. The +first night of the marriage, and before the King +had retired, the queen begged Childeric to look +from one of the palace windows which opened on a +park, and tell what he saw there. Childeric +looked out and, much terrified, reported to the +princess that he had seen tigers and lions. +Basine sent him a second time to look out. +This time the prince only saw bears and wolves, +and the third time he perceived only cats and dogs, +fighting and combating each other. Then Basine +said to him: I will give you an explanation of what +you have seen: The first figure shows you your +successors, who will excel you in courage and power; +the second represents another race which will be +illustrious for their conquests, and which will augment +your kingdom for many centuries; but the third denotes +the end of your kingdom, which will be given over to pleasures +and will lose to you the friendship of your subjects; +and this because the little animals signify a people who, +emancipated from fear of princes, will massacre them and +make war upon each other." + +Louis read the prediction and passed the paper to the Countess: +"After us the end of the world," said she gaily. The King laughed, +but the abbé de Beauvais celebrated high mass at Versailles after +the carnival of 1774, and dared to say, in righteous anger: "This +carnival is the last; yet forty days and Nineveh shall perish." +Louis turned pale. "Is it God who speaks thus?" murmured he, +raising his eyes to the altar. The next day he went to the hunt +in grand style, but from that evening he was afraid of solitude +and silence: "It is like the tomb; I do not wish to put myself in +such a place," said he to Madame du Barry. The duc de Richelieu +tried to divert him. "No," said he suddenly, as if the Trappist's +denunciation had again recurred to him, "I shall be at ease only +when these forty days have passed." He died on the fortieth day. + +Du Barry believed neither in God nor in the devil, but she believed +in the almanac of Liège. She scarcely read any book but this-- +faithful to her earliest habits. And the almanac of Liège, in its +prediction for April, 1774, said: "A woman, the greatest of +favorites, will play her last role." So Madame the Countess du +Barry said without ceasing: "I shall not be tranquil until these +forty days have passed." The thirty-seventh day the King went to +the hunt attended with all the respect due to his rank. Jeanne +wept in silence and prayed to God as one who has long neglected +her prayers. + +Louis XV had not neglected his prayers, and gave two hundred +thousand livres to the poor, besides ordering masses at St. +Geneviève. Parliament opened the shrine, and knelt gravely +before that miraculous relic. The least serious of all these good +worshippers was, strange to say, the curate of St. Geneviève: +"Ah, well!" said he gaily, when Louis was dead, "let us continue +to talk of the miracles of St. Geneviève. Of what can you +complain? Is not the King dead?" + +At the last moment it was not God who held the heart of Louis--it +was his mistress. "Ask the Countess to come here again," he said. + +"Sire, you know that she has gone away," they answered. + +"Ah! has she gone? Then I must go!" So he departed. + +His end drew forth some maledictions. There were insults even +at his funeral services. "Nevertheless," said one old soldier, "he +was at the battle of Fontenoy." That was the most eloquent +funeral oration of Louis XV. + +"The King is dead, long live the King!" But before the death of +Louis XVI they cried: "The king is dead, long live the Republic!" + +Rose-colored mourning was worn in the good city of Paris. The +funeral oration of the King and a lament for his mistress were +pronounced by Sophie Arnould, of which masterpiece of sacred +eloquence the last words only are preserved: "Behold us orphaned +both of father and mother." + +If Madame du Barry was one of the seven plagues of royalty, she +died faithful to royalty. After her exile to Pont aux Dames she +returned to Lucienne, where the duc de Cossé Brissac consoled +her for the death of Louis XV. But what she loved in Louis was +that he was a king; her true country was Versailles; her true +light was the sun of court life. Like Montespan, also a courtesan +of high order, she often went in these dark days to cast a loving +look upon the solitary park in the maze of the Trianon. Yet she +was particularly happy at Lucienne. + +I have compared her to Manon Lescaut, and I believe her to have +been also a sister to Ganesin. All three were destroyed by passion. + +One day she found herself still young at Lucienne, although her +sun was setting. She loved the duc de Brissac, and how many +pages of her past romance would she that day have liked to +erase and forget! + +"Why do you weep, Countess?" asked her lover. + +"My friend," she responded, "I weep because I love you, shall I +say it? I weep because I am happy." + +She was right; happiness is a festival that should know no +to-morrow. But on the morrow of her happiness, the Revolution +knocked at the castle gate of Lucienne. + +"Who goes there?" + +"I am justice; prepare for destiny." + +The Queen, the true queen, had been good to her as to everybody. +Marie Antoinette remembered that the favorite had not been wicked. +The debts of Du Barry were paid and money enough was given to her +so that she could still give with both hands. Lucienne became an +echo of Versailles. Foreign kings and Parisian philosophers came +to chat in its portals. Minerva visited shameless Venus. But +wisdom took not root at Lucienne. + +For the Revolution, alas! had to cut off this charming head, +which was at one time the ideal of beauty--of court beauty. +Madame du Barry gave hospitality to the wounded at the arrest of +the queen. "These wounded youths have no other regret than that +they have not died for a princess so worthy as your Majesty," she +said. "What I have done for these brave men is only what they +have merited. I consoled them, and I respect their wounds when +I think, Madame, that without their devotion, your Majesty would +no longer be alive. Lucienne is yours, Madame, for was it not +your beneficence which gave it to me? All I possess has come to +me through the royal family. I have too much loyalty to forget it." + +But negro Zamor became a citizen like Mirabeau. It was Zamor who +took to Du Barry her lover's head. It was Zamor who denounced her +at the club of the Jacobins. "The fealty (faith) of the black man is +white," said the negro. But he learned how to make it red. Jeanne +was imprisoned and tried before Dumas. + +"Your age?" + +"Forty-two years." She was really forty-seven. Coquetry even +at the guillotine. + +The public accuser, Fouquier Tinville, was not disarmed by the +sweet voluptuousness still possessed by this pale and already +fading beauty. He accused her of treason against the nation. +Could the defender of Du Barry, who had also defended Marie +Antoinette, find an eloquent word? No; Fouquier Tinville was +more eloquent than Chauveau-Lagarde. So the mistress of Louis +was condemned. It was eleven o'clock in the evening--the hour +for supper at Versailles when she was queen! + +She passed the night in prayer and weeping, or rather in a frenzy +of fright. In the morning she said it was "too early to die"; she +wished to have a little time in order to make some disclosures. +The Comité sent someone to listen to her. What did she say? +She revealed all that was hidden away at Lucienne; she gave +word by word an inventory of the treasures she had concealed, +forgetting nothing, for did not each word give her a second of time? + +"Have you finished?" said the inquisitor. "No," said Jeanne. "I +have not mentioned a silver syringe concealed under the staircase!" + +Meanwhile the horses of destiny stamped with impatience, and +spectators were knocking at the prison gate. When they put her, +already half dead, on the little cart, she bent her head and grew +pale. The Du Barry alone--a sinner without redemption. + +She saw the people in the square of Louis XV; she struck her +breast three times and murmured: "It is my fault!" But this +Christian resignation abandoned her when she mounted the +scaffold--there where the statue of Louis XV had been--and she +implored of the executioner: + +"One moment, Mr. Executioner! One moment more!" + +But the executioner was pitiless Sanson. It was block and the +knife--without the "one moment!" + +Such was the last bed of the Du Barry. Had the almanac of Liège +only predicted to her that the one who would lead her to her bed +for the last time would not be a King but a citizen executioner, it +might have been--but why moralize? + + Robert Arnot +<To the Reader + +<As the early part of Madame du Barry's career had +little to differentiate it from the life of an ordinary +courtezan, the editor has deemed it best to confine the +memoirs to the years in her life which helped to make +history. + +<--Editor*> + + *"Editor here means the author, who is assuming + the persona of the editor of the Comtesse's memoirs. + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Letter from Lebel--Visit from Lebel--Nothing conclusive--Another +visit from Lebel--Invitation to sup with the king--Instructions of +the comte Jean to the comtesse + +One morning comte Jean entered my apartment, his face beaming +with delight. + +‘Read," said he, giving me a letter, "read, Jeannette: victory is +ours. News from Morand. Lebel is coming to Paris, and will +dine with us. Are we alone?" + +"No, there are two of your countrymen whom you invited yesterday." + +"I will write and put them off. Morand alone must dine with +Lebel; he ought to have a place at the feast which he furnishes +with such good music. Come, my dear girl, we touch the moment +of importance, it is in your beauty and power of pleasing that I +place all my hopes. I think I may rely on you; but, above all, do +not forget that you are my sister-in-law." + +"Brother-in-law," said I, laughing, "it is not unnecessary that +I should know decidedly to which of family I am married? The +custom in France is not that a woman be the undivided property +of three brothers." + +"That only happens in Venice," replied the comte; "my brother +Elie is too young, you must be the wife of Guillaume, my second +brother." + +"Very well; I am the comtesse Guillaume du Barry; that does +famously well; we like to know whom we are married to." + +After this conversation, comte Jean insisted on presiding at my +toilette. He acquitted himself of the task, with a most laughable +attention. During two good hours, at least, he tormented first +Henriette, and then the female hairdresser, for I had not yet +followed the mode, which began to be very general, of having +my hair dressed by a man. Comte Jean passed alternately from +my dressing-room to the kitchen. He knew Lebel was a gallant +and a gourmand*, and he was anxious to please him in all senses +at once. + + *He seems to mean "gourmet" rather than "gourmand." + ---Gutenberg editor + +At one o'clock I was under arms, and prepared to receive him on +whom my destiny depended. As soon as I reached the drawing-room, +comte Jean compelled me to submit to the test of a rigid examination. + +His serious air amused me much as he gazed at me some time in +solemn silence. At length his forehead relaxed, a smile of +satisfaction played on his lips, and extending his arms +to me, without venturing to touch me, "You are charming, divine," +he said; "Lebel ought to go and hang himself if he does not fall +down at your knees." + +Soon afterwards the folding-doors were hastily opened, and a +servant announced M. Lebel, <premier de sa Majesté>, with M. +Morand. The comte went to meet the arrivals, and as I now saw +Lebel for the first time, he presented him to me formally. + +"Sister, this is M. Lebel, <premier de sa Majesté >, who has done +us the honor to come and dine with us." + +"And he confers a real pleasure on us," said I, looking smilingly +on M. Lebel. My look had its effect, for Lebel remained mute and +motionless from admiration at my person. At length he stammered +out a few incoherent words, which I imagined to be compliments. +The comte watched Lebel anxiously, and Morand began to rub +his hands, saying: + +"Well, sir, what think you of our celestial beauty?" + +"She is worthy of a throne," replied Lebel, bending his head +before me, and taking my hand, which he pressed respectfully to +his lips. This reply was, perhaps, inadvertently made, but I took +it as a good augury. "Yes," added Lebel, "you are the most lovely +creature I ever met, though no one is more in the habit of seeing +handsome females than myself." + +"And of causing them to be seen by others," replied comte Jean. + +This was an opening which was not followed up by Lebel. His +first enthusiasm having passed, he measured me from head to foot, +as if he would take an accurate description of my person. + +For my part I began to support the looks of Lebel with more assurance. +He was a man of no particular "mark or likelihood," but had made +his way. Living at Versailles had given him a certain air of easy +impertinence, but you could not discover anything distinguished +in his manners, nothing which concealed his humble extraction. The +direction of the <Parc aux Cerfs> gave him much influence with the +king, who found the convenience of such a man, who was willing +to take upon himself all the disagreeable part of his clandestine +amours. His duties placed him in contact with the ministers, the +lieutenant of police, and the comptroller-general. The highest +nobility sought his friendship with avidity. They all had a wife, +a sister, a daughter, whom they wished to make the favorite +sultana; and for this it was necessary to get the ear of Lebel. +Thus, under a libertine prince, the destinies of France were +at the mercy of a <valet de chambre>. + +I should tell you, however, that I never had occasion but to +speak well of him, and that I have the utmost gratitude for all +he did for me. The attachment he testified on our first meeting +has never been altered. He gave me his protection as far as it +was necessary for me, and when the favor of the king had accorded +to me a station, whence all the court sought to hurl me, Lebel +seconded me with all his power in my efforts to preserve it. I +will say, that it is to his vigilance that I owe the overthrow of +more than one conspiracy against me. He was a warm and sincere +friend, and not at all interested in the services he rendered. He +did a great deal of good, as well as harm, in private. I know +poor families whom he has assisted with his own purse, when he +could obtain nothing for them from the king, for Louis was only +prodigal in his pleasures. + +However, we dined, and Lebel praised me incessantly to the very +skies, and that with so much warmth, that I was fearful at one time +he would fall in love with me himself, and would not resign me to +another. Thank heaven, Lebel was a faithful servant. + +After dinner, when we left the table, Lebel paid me some +compliments; then pulling out his watch, he spoke of an +appointment at the Marais, and left without saying a word of +seeing us again. + +At this abrupt departure, comte Jean and I looked at each other +with astonishment. As for Morand, he was overjoyed. + +"Well, comtesse," said he, "behold the number of your slaves +increased by an illustrious adorer. You have made a conquest of +M. Lebel, and I am certain he has gone away deeply smitten." + +"I hope we shall see him again," said comte Jean. + +"Do you doubt it?" + +"Assure him," said I, "of the pleasure it will afford us to +receive him as he merits." + +Several persons entered, and M. Morand, profiting by the bustle +which their entrance occasioned, approached me, and said, in a +low tone, + +"You are in possession of his heart, will you charge me with +any message to him?" + +"M. Morand," was my reply, "what are you thinking of? A +woman of my rank throw herself at any person's head?" + +"No, certainly not; but you can send him a kind word, or some +affectionate token." + +"I could not think of it; M. Lebel appeared to me a most agreeable +man, and I shall be at all times delighted to see him." + +Morand asked nothing more than this, and there our conversation ended. + +Two days elapsed without being marked by any event. Comte Jean +had spent them with much anxiety. He was absent, when, on the +third morning, Henriette came hastily into my room. "Madame," she +said, "the <valet de chambre> of the king is in the drawing-room, +and inquires if you will receive him." + +At this news I was surprised and vexed. M. Lebel took me unawares; +my toilette was not begun. I gave a hasty glance at my mirror, "Let +M. Lebel come in"; and M. Lebel, who was on the heels of my maid, +entered instantly. After having saluted me, he said, + +"It is only you, Madame, whom one might thus surprise. Your +beauty needs no ornament, your charms are decoration sufficient." + +I replied to this compliment with (of course) much modesty, +according to custom. We entered into conversation, and I found +that Lebel really thought me the sister-in-law of comte Jean; and +I remarked the involuntary respect that attended even his familiarity. +I left him in his error, which was material to my interests. He +talked to me some time of my attractions, of the part which a +female like myself might assume in France. But fearing to +compromise myself, I made no reply, but preserved the reserve +which my character imposed upon me. I am not clever, my friend, +I never could conduct an intrigue: I feared to speak or do wrong; +and whilst I kept a tranquil appearance, I was internally agitated +at the absence of comte Jean. + +Fortune sent him to me. He was passing the street, when he saw +at our door a carriage with the royal livery. Lebel always used +it when his affairs did not demand a positive incognito. This +equipage made him suspect a visit from Lebel, and he came in +opportunely to extricate me from my embarrassment. + +"Sir," said Lebel to him, when he entered, "here is the lady +whose extreme modesty refuses to listen to what I dare not +thus explain to her." + +"Is it anything I may hear for her?" said the comte, +with a smiling air. + +"Yes, I am the ambassador of a mighty power: you are the +minister plenipotentiary of the lady, and with your leave, we +will go into your private room to discuss the articles of the +secret treaty which I have been charged to propose to you. +What says madame?" + +"I consent to anything that may come from such an ambassador." + +Comte Jean instantly led him into another room, and when they +were alone, Lebel said to him, "Do you know that your sister-in- +law is a most fascinating creature? She has occupied my thoughts +since I have known her, and in my enthusiasm I could not help +speaking of her in a certain quarter. So highly have I eulogized +her, that his majesty desires an interview with her, that he may +judge with his own eyes if I am an appreciator of beauty." + +At these words comte Jean felt a momentary agitation, but soon +recovering himself, he replied: + +"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir, for the favorable disposition +you have evinced towards the comtesse du Barry. She and I have +as much respect as love for his majesty; but my sister-in-law has +not been presented, and, consequently, I can scarcely see how +she can be allowed to pay her respects to his majesty." + +"Do not let that disturb you; it is not intended that she shall go +and partake of the magnificence of Versailles, but be admitted +to an intimacy much more flattering. Would you refuse to grant +him that pleasure?" + +"It would be a crime of <lèse-majesté >," said the comte Jean, +laughing, "and my family have too much respect for their monarch. +We should not be content with a fugitive favor." + +"You may expect everything from the charms of the comtesse; I am +certain they will have the utmost success; but for me, I can give +you no guarantee. You must run the chance." + +"Your protection, however, is the only thing which encourages my +sister-in-law in this affair. But tell me when is this meeting to +take place?" + +"Instantly. The king is impatient to see the comtesse and I have +promised that she will sup with him to-morrow evening in my +apartment at Versailles." + +"How is she to be introduced to the king?" + +"I am to entertain four of my friends." + +"Who are they?" + +"'First, the baron de Gonesse." + +"Who is he?" + +"The king himself." + +"Well, who next?" + +"The duc de Richelieu." + +"Who else?" + +"The marquis de Chauvelin." + +"Well?" + +"The duc de la Vauguyon." + +"What, the devotee?" + +"The hypocrite. But never mind: the main point is, that you must +not appear to recognize the king. Instruct your sister-in-law to +this effect." + +"Certainly; if she must sin, she had better do so with some reason." + +While these gentlemen were thus disposing of me, what was I +doing? Alone, in my room, I waited the result of their conference +with mortal impatience. The character I had to play was a superb +one, and at the moment was about to enter on the stage, I felt all +the difficulties of my part. I feared I should not succeed, but fail +amid the insulting hisses of the Versailles party. + +My fears at once disappeared, and then I pictured myself sitting +on a throne, magnificently attired; my imagination wandered in +all the enchantments of greatness; --then, as if from remorse, I +recalled my past life. The former lover of Nicholas blushed +before the future mistress of Louis XV. A thousand different +reflections crowded upon me, and mingled in my brain. If to live +is to think, I lived a whole age in one quarter of an hour. At +length I heard some doors open, a carriage rolled away, and comte +Jean entered my chamber. + +"Victory!" cried he, embracing me with transport. "Victory! my +dear Jeanne, to-morrow you sup with the king." + +On this information I turned pale, my strength forsook me, and I +was compelled to sit down, or rather to fall into a chair; for, +according to Jean Jacques Rousseau, my legs shook under me +(<flageolaient>). This, however, was the only movement of weakness +which I betrayed. When I recovered a little, the comte Jean told +me the conversation he had had with Lebel. I joked about the title +of baron de Gonesse, and I promised to treat the king as if +ignorant of his incognito. One thing only made me uneasy, and +that was supping with the duc de Richelieu, who had seen me +before at madame de Lagarde's; but the idea that he would not +remember me gave me renewed courage. + +On so important an occasion, comte Jean did not forget to repeat +his instructions over again. These are nearly his words, for I +think I learnt them by heart. + +"Remember that it is on your first interview that your safety +depends. Let him learn, through you, those utter tendernesses +which have been sought for him in vain heretofore. He is like +the monarch of old, who was willing to pay the half of his crown +for an unknown pleasure. Lebel is wearied in seeking every week +for new fruit. He is quite disposed to serve you, and will second +you in the best manner. You are about to become the centre of +attraction to all courtiers, and noble <courtisanes>. You must +expect that they will endeavor to cry you down, because you will +have carried off from them a gem to which every family has its +pretensions. You must at first stand firmly before the storm, but +afterward you will find all enlist themselves under your banner, +who have no wife, sister, nor daughter; that is, all who have no +mistress to offer to the king. You must attach these to you by +place and favor: they must be first thought of, and then you must +think of yourself and me, my dear girl." + +"All this is well enough," I replied, "but as yet I am nothing." + +"<Morbleu>! to-morrow you will be everything," cried comte +Jean, with his determined energy. "But we must think about +this morrow. Make haste, noble comtesse; go to all the milliners, +seek what is elegant rather than what is rich. Be as lovely, +pleasing, and gay as possible; this is the main point, and God +will do all the rest." + +He pronounced this blasphemy in a laughing tone, and I confess I +could not help joining in the laugh, and then hastened to comply +with his directions. + + + +CHAPTER II + + +A slight preface--Arrival at Versailles--<"La toilette">--Portrait +of the king--The duc de Richelieu--The marquis de Chauvelin--The +duc de la Vauguyon-Supper with the king--The first night--The +following day--The curiosity of comte Jean--Presents from the +king--How disposed of + +The chances against our succeeding in our enterprise were at least +a thousand to one. The sea upon which, trusting to the favorable +influence of my leading star, we were about to venture, was filled +with rocks and shoals which threatened the poor mariner who should +direct his bark near them. In the first place, I had to dread my +obscure birth, as well as the manner in which my life had been +passed; and still more had I to fear the indifferent reputation of +comte Jean. There was more than sufficient in all this to disturb +a head far stronger than I could boast. However, thanks to my +thoughtfulness, no troublesome thoughts interfered to break my +rest on the night preceding a day so important to me, and I slept as +tranquilly as though upon waking I had no other occupation for my +time than a walk on the boulevards, or a drive to the Bois de Boulogne. + +Comte Jean, however, had passed a very different night; for once, +the whisperings of ambition had overcome even his natural +indifference and carelessness, and tired of tossing upon a +sleepless pillow, he arose at the first break of day, reproached +me for slumbering so long, and allowed me neither peace nor +rest till I joined him dressed for our journey. At length, we +set out according to our agreement with Lebel; I was closely +muffled up in my large <calèche>--the carriage rolled along till +we reached Versailles, where we had for the last month engaged a +lodging, which might be useful to us in all events; we alighted, +and after vainly seeking a few moments' repose, proceeded on +foot to Lebel, in whose apartments we were to attire ourselves in +a suitable manner. + +"You are welcome," said the comte, "pray consider yourself as +at home." + +"I accept your augury," replied I, "it would be amusing enough +to find that my young prophet had predicted rightly." + +"Well then," said my conductor, laughing, "I recommend you to +manage a slip on the staircase, it would be taking possession +after the manner of the ancients." + +"No, no, I thank you," answered I; "no falls if you please, they +are not propitious in France." + +Whilst we were thus speaking, we were crossing a long suite of +chambers, and reached the one at which we were expected. We +knocked cautiously at a door, which was opened to us with equal +caution. Scarcely had we entered, than Lebel came eagerly forward +to receive us. + +"Ah, madame!" cried he, "I began to fear you might not come, +you have been looked for with an impatience--" + +"Which can hardly equal mine," interrupted I; "for you were +prepared for your visitor, whilst I have yet to learn who is the +friend that so kindly desires to see me." + +"It is better it should be so," added Lebel ; "do not seek either +to guess or discover more, than that you will here meet with +some cheerful society, friends of mine, who will sup at my house, +but with whom circumstances prevent my sitting down at table." + +"How!" said I, with affected surprise, "not sup with us?" + +"Even so," replied Lebel; and then added with a laugh, "<He> and +I sit down to supper together! What an idea! No! you will find +that just as the guests are about to sit down at table, I shall +suddenly be called out of the room, and shall only return at +the close of the repast." + +All this was but of small import to me. Nevertheless, I affected +to regret the unavoidable absence of Lebel. In fact, I believe +that the first breath inspired at court is fraught with falsehood +and deceit, entirely destructive to every feeling of natural candor. + +Lebel, with the most ceremonious gallantry, conducted me to a +private dressing-room, where I found several females waiting to +assist me at my toilet; I abandoned myself to their cares, which +were, indeed, most skilfully exercised in my behalf. They wrought +wonders in my appearance, bathing me after the Eastern fashion, +adorning my hair and person, till I issued from their hands blooming +and beauteous as an houri. + +When I returned to the room in which Lebel was expecting me, his +surprise was almost overpowering. + +"You are, indeed," exclaimed he, "the new sun which is to rise +upon Versailles." + +"Excellent!" cried I, laughing extravagantly, "but like the planet +you are pleased to compare me with, I must reserve my splendid +rising till I have obtained fresh powers from the aid of night."* + +*<Mais avant de me lever il faut que je me couche>, +is the witty reply in the original, but which it is +impossible to render fully and piquantly through the +dilution of a translation.---tr. + +The comte entered, and joined his congratulations upon the beauty +of my appearance; all at once the hasty, sound of a bell, violently +pulled, was heard. + +"The object of your attack approaches," said Lebel to me, "it +would be as well to reconnoitre a little. Remember, not a word +of his rank, no cast down, timid looks at his sovereign power; +no bending of knees, or faltering of voice." + +The advice thus given was useless. Comte Jean, who bore the +reputation of, at least, a man of much cool impudence, was, I am +certain, more deficient than myself in courage upon the occasion, +and I verily believe, asked himself several times whether he dared +appear before his prince with one whom he was falsely asserting +to be his sister-in-law. However these thoughts might or might +not have disturbed him, we proceeded onwards till we reached the +apartment where our invited friends were expecting us; and here +I will, with the reader's permission, digress awhile, in order to +say a few introductory words respecting the four personages with +whom I had the honor of supping. + +And first, Louis XVth, king of France (or as he was upon the +present occasion styled the baron de Gonesse), was one of those +sentimental egotists who believed he loved the whole world, his +subjects, and his family; while in reality, the sole engrossing +object was <self>. Gifted with many personal and intellectual +endowments, which might have disputed the palm with the most +lively and engaging personages of the court, he was yet devoured +by ennui, and of this he was well aware, but his mind was made up +to meet this ennui, as one of the necessary accompaniments of +royalty. Devoid of taste in literary matters, he despised all +connected with the <belles-lettres>, and esteemed men only in +proportion to the number and richness of their armorial bearings. +M. de Voltaire ranked him beneath the lowest country-squire; and +the very mention of a man of letters was terrifying to his +imagination from its disturbing the current of his own ideas; he +revelled in the plenitude of power, yet felt dissatisfied with the +mere title of king. He ardently desired to signalize himself as +the first general of the age, and prevented from obtaining this (in +his opinion) highest of honors, entertained the utmost jealousy of +Frederick II, and spoke with undisguised spleen and ill-humor of +the exploits of his brother of Prussia. + +The habit of commanding, and the prompt obedience he had ever met +with, had palled upon his mind, and impressed him with feelings of +indifference for all things which thus appeared so easily obtained; +and this satiety and consequent listlessness was by many construed +into melancholy of disposition. He disliked any appearance of +opposition to his will; not that he particularly resented the +opposition itself, but he knew his own weakness, and feared lest +he should be compelled to make a show of a firmness he was +conscious of not possessing. For the clergy he entertained the +most superstitious veneration; and he feared God because he had a +still greater awe and dread of the devil. In the hands of his +confessor he confidently believed was lodged the absolute power +to confer on him unlimited license to commit any or every sin. +He greatly dreaded pamphlets, satires, epigrams, and the opinion +of posterity and yet his conduct was that of a man who scoffs at +the world’s judgment. This hasty sketch may with safety be taken +as the portrait of Louis XV, although much might be added; yet for +the present I will confine myself to the outline of my picture, +which I shall have frequent occasion to retouch in the course of +my journal; it is my intention to present him in all possible lights +before the reader, and I flatter myself I shall produce a perfect +resemblance of the man I seek to depict. Let us now proceed to +consider the duc de Richelieu. + +This nobleman, when in his seventy-second year, had preserved, +even in so advanced an age, all his former pretensions to notice; +his success in so many love affairs, a success which he never +could have merited, had rendered him celebrated; he was now a +superannuated coxcomb, a wearisome and clumsy butterfly; when +however, he could be brought to exercise his sense by remembering +that he was no longer young, he became fascinating beyond idea, +from the finished ease and grace of his manner, and the polished +and piquant style of his discourse; still I speak of him as a mere +man of outward show, for the duke's attainments were certainly +superficial, and he possessed more of the jargon of a man of +letters than the sound reality. Among other proofs of consummate +ignorance he was deficient even in orthography, and was fool +enough to boast of so disgraceful a fact, as though it conferred +honor on him; perhaps, indeed, he found that the easiest way of +getting over the business. + +He possessed a most ignoble turn of mind; all feelings of an +elevated nature were wanting within him. A bad son, an unkind +husband, and a worse father, he could scarcely be expected to +become a steady friend. All whom he feared, he hesitated not to +trample under foot; and his favorite maxim, which he has a +hundred times repeated to me, was, that "we should never hesitate +to set our foot upon the necks of all those who might in any way +interfere with our projects--dead men [he would further add] tell +no tales!" There was one person, nevertheless, whom he detested +and flattered at the same time, and this was Voltaire, who well +repaid him in like coin. He called the duc de Richelieu, the +tyrant of the tennis-court* (<tripot>), and the duke returned the +compliment by invariably designating him "Scoundrel" and "Poetaster"; +the only difference was that the duc de Richelieu only treated the +poet thus in <sotto voce>, whilst M. de Voltaire sought not to +conceal, either in his writings or conversation, his candid opinion +of the illustrious duke and peer; and he might justly accuse the +duke of ingratitude, for he, no doubt, owed a considerable portion +of the reputation he enjoyed as a general, to the brilliant verses +in which Voltaire had celebrated his exploits. + +*<La Comedie Francaise>--tr. + +The marquis de Chauvelin was equally skilful as a warrior and +diplomatist. Gentle, graceful, and witty, he joined to the most +extreme versatility of talent the utmost simplicity of character. +Once known, he could not fail of being valued and esteemed, and +the king entertained the most lively regard for him. The noble +minded marquis was far from taking advantage of his sovereign's +favor, far from it; he neither boasted of it, nor presumed upon +it. This truly wonderful man died, unhappily, too soon for me, +for the king on whom he bestowed the sagest counsels, and for +foreign courts who knew and appreciated his worth. I shall have +occasion to speak of him hereafter; he had a brother, a wicked +little hump-backed creature, brave as Caesar, and a bitter enemy +to the Jesuits, whom he did not a little contribute to overturn in +the parliament of Paris, to which he belonged. The king detested +this man as much as he loved and cherished the brother, and that +is saying not a little. + +The fourth guest was the duc de la Vauguyon, the really +<perpetual> tutor to the princes of France, for he had educated +four successively. He had displayed in the army both bravery and +talent, but he was a confirmed Jesuit, and conducted himself +towards me upon the strictest principles of his order. He will +appear again on the scene hereafter, but for the present I must +lay him aside, whilst I return to my <entrée> to the saloon, which +I was about to enter. + +Immediately after Lebel had conducted me into it, he was called +away, and quitted us. The king rose and approached me, saluting +me with the most admirable gallantry, and addressing to me the +most encouraging and gratifying words. His gentle, yet polished +manners, fine countenance, noble air, and the free and unrestrained +glances of admiration which sparkled in his eyes, communicated +to me a feeling of support and confidence which effectually +reassured me, and roused me from the involuntary emotion I had +felt at the moment when I first appeared in his presence. The +king addressed a few words to comte Jean, and then regarded him +steadily, as tho' he were trying to recall his features; but his +eye quickly turned on me again, upon whom he bestowed the most +intoxicating attention. Never was first sight more effective, and +never did a flame so rapidly increase as did the passion of my +noble adorer. Ere we had seated ourselves at the supper-table, +he was ages gone in love. + +It would have provoked a smile from any countenance to perceive +how the respect and admiration with which the three courtiers +regarded me increased in proportion as the sentiments of the king +towards me betrayed themselves more and more. At first I had +been considered as a person of little or no importance. Soon, +however, as their sagacious eyes discovered the state of their +master’s mind, the air of familiarity with which they had regarded +me gave place to a more studied politeness, which, in its turn, as +matters progressed, was superseded by the most delicate attention; +and ere we rose from table these gentlemen watched my looks with +the most eager anxiety to obtain the honor of my notice, and hopes +of future patronage from one whom they easily foresaw would be +fully qualified to bestow it. Comte Jean observed all that was +passing in profound silence. As for me, I talked and laughed with +perfect freedom from restraint, and my frank unaffected mirth +appeared to enchant the king; I knew that he was weary of the +nice formalities of courtly beauty, and desired to refresh his +eyes and ears with something less refined, and I gratified him +to his heart's wish. The conversation became lively and animated, +the merits of men of letters were discussed, the French and +Italian theatre passed in review before us, and finally, we amused +ourselves with anecdotes relative to the intrigues of court. The +baron de Gonesse related to us a circumstance which had just +been communicated to him by a county magistrate. I must here +apprize the reader that these administrators of justice were +directed to collect all the facts, scandalous, horrible, ridiculous, +or piquant, which occurred within their jurisdiction, in order that, +being forwarded to the king, they might aid in distracting his +mind from the heavy cares of government. Alas! how many strange +and eventful things have I since learned by similar channels. + +The supper terminated, the king's friends remained some time +conversing with us. Whilst these noblemen were busily celebrating +my praises in words sufficiently loud to reach the king's ear, the +baron de Gonesse, standing by my side, was prosecuting his suit +in the most ardent terms. I received his overtures with becoming +grace and modesty. As I have before said, the exterior of the king +was very prepossessing, and what he wanted in youth, he made up +by all the mature graces of dignified royalty. At last Lebel +appeared, and made me a sign to rise from my seat. Up to this +period nothing had arisen to betray the incognito of the august +monarch, and in order to keep up my pretended ignorance of his +grandeur, I quitted the apartment with little ceremony. Lebel +conducted me to an adjoining chamber, furnished with the utmost +magnificence. When we were seated, he turned to the comte Jean, +who had followed us, and said, "It rests with yourself whether you +will return to Paris, or remain at Versailles. But as for <milady>, +who seems much fatigued, she will, we trust, honor us by accepting +a bed at the castle." + +My self-created brother-in-law understood as well as I did the +significance of these words, and clearly read in their import how +far I had attracted the favor of the king. In order to have +rendered the impression more lasting, we could have wished that +matters had been less precipitated, but we were under a roof +where everything yielded to the caprices of its master, and +resignation to his will became a matter of course. And here I +trust I may be pardoned if I pass over certain details which +could not, at this lapse of time, interest or amuse any one; +besides, altho' I have found no difficulty in reciting former +events of my life, I find my pen more prudish and coy than were +my ears or mouth. All I shall say is, that the following day, as +soon as I was left alone in my chamber, Lebel entered, and +prostrating himself at the side of my bed,-- + +"Madame la comtesse," said he, "is queen and mistress here. Not +only has your noble lover failed to communicate to me the usual +signal of disgust or dislike, but he has spoken of you to me in the +most favorable light, declaring, that, for the first time in his life, +he felt the influence of a true and sincere affection; for this +reason he desired I would not convey to you the contents of +this casket, as originally intended." + +"And what does it contain?" asked I, with childish eagerness. + +"Oh, a trifle unworthy of her who is now the mistress of his +warmest love; only a purse containing a hundred louis, and a +suit of emeralds worth a similar sum. He bade me say it might +have served to recompense a mere fleeting fancy, but that it is +unworthy of your charms, nor can he insult you by the offer of it." + +"Will he then see me again?" inquired I. + +"To-morrow evening, if agreeable to you." + +"Only say that his wishes are mine." + +"Would you wish to see the comte Jean before you rise? He has +been waiting with the utmost impatience to see you since seven +o'clock this morning." + +"Let him come in." + +The comte entered, and I saw by the triumphant joy painted on +his face, that Lebel had told him of propitious state of things. +He ran up to me with outstretched arms, congratulating me upon +my success, and putting at the same time several questions, to +which, either from mere womanly caprice, or presuming upon +my recent elevation to the character of prime favorite, I refused +to reply. + +My folly drew down on me his severe anger, and several oaths +escaped his lips, which, echoed back by walls so unused to similar +violence, struck Lebel with terror. That faithful ally placed his +hand over his mouth, imploring of him to recollect himself, and +the place he was in. As for me, dreading some foolish burst of +his impetuosity, I tried some of my sweetest smiles, and inviting +him to sit beside me, related to him and Lebel those particulars +which my pen refuses to retrace. Amongst other things, I told +them I had said to the king, that I had perfectly known who he +was all the preceding evening when supping with him, and that he +had the simplicity to say, "he was surprised I had not appeared +more embarrassed in his presence." + +Our conversation terminated, I wished to return to Paris, and I +was, without further hindrance, allowed to depart. Scarcely had +I arrived there an hour, than I received from his majesty a +magnificent diamond agraffe, worth at least 60,000 francs, and +bank notes to the amount of 200,000 livres. + +Comte Jean and myself were well nigh stupefied with astonishment +at the sight of such treasures; to us, who had never in our lives +possessed such sums, they appeared inexhaustible. My brother-in-law +divided them into two equal portions, one of which he put into +his pocket, and the other into my <escritoire>. With this arrangement +I did not interfere; nothing seemed to me more simple than that he +should satisfy his need out of my superfluity. I bestowed two +thousand crowns upon Henriette, and expended in the course of +the day at least a quarter of my riches in trifles, as unnecessary +as useless; and all this without once remembering that as I owed +my present abundance to a momentary inclination on the part of +the king, so the turn of an hour, or a fresh fancy on the part of +my munificent adorer, might reduce me to the unprovided state +in which I had been so lately. That evening was passed +<tête-à-tête> with comte Jean; he thought, as I did, that the +foundation of our treasure was firm as a rock, and he gave me +many counsels for the future which I promised to observe; for +indeed it was to my own interest to do so. Upon how many follies +did we then debate, which, but a few days afterwards we found +practicable. The different ministers passed in review before us; +some we determined upon retaining, whilst others were dismissed, +and already I began in idea to act with sovereign power over these +illustrious personages, amongst whom I anticipated shortly playing +so important a part. "After all," said I, "the world is but an +amusing theatre, and I see no reason why a pretty woman should +not play a principal part in it." + + + +CHAPTER III + + +The king's message--Letter from the countess--A second supper at +Versailles--The duc d’Ayen--A short account of M. de Fleury--The +duc de Duras -Conversation with the king--The next day--A visit +from the duc de Richelieu--Visit from the duc de la Vauguyon--Visit +from comte Jean--Visit from the king--A third supper--Favor + +Early the following day I received a message from the king, +accompanied with a bouquet of flowers tied round with a string +of diamonds. A short letter was annexed to this splendid gift, +which I would transcribe here, had it not been taken from me +with many others. My reply, which I wrote upon the spur of the +moment, was concise, and, as I preserved the rough copy, under +the impression of its being one day useful, I can give the reader +the exact words. + +"The billet traced by your noble hands, renders me +the happiest of women. My joy is beyond description. +Thanks, monsieur le Baron, for your charming flowers. +Alas! they will be faded and withered by to-morrow, +but not so fleeting and short-lived are the sentiments +with which you have inspired me. Believe me, the +desire you express to see me again is entirely mutual; +and in the impatience with which you await our next +interview, I read but my own sentiments. The ardor +with which you long to embrace me, is fully equalled +by the affection which leads me to desire no gratification +greater than that of passing my whole life in your +society. Adieu, monsieur le baron; you have forbidden +my addressing you as your rank and my respect would +have me, I will therefore content myself with assuring +you of the ardent affection of the + + "COMTESSE Du Barry." + +The signature I adopted was a bold piece of falsehood, but it +was too late to recede; besides, I was addressing myself in my +letter, not to the king, but to the baron de Gonesse; for Louis, +by I know not what unaccountable caprice, seemed to wish to +preserve his incognito. I have since learned that Francis I +assumed the same name, altho' upon a very different occasion. +Replying to a letter from Charles V, in which that emperor had +given himself a long string of high sounding titles, he contented +himself with simply signing his letter, "<"François, baron de +Gonesse.>" Louis XV was very fond of borrowed appellations. +Unlike the vanity so common to mankind, of seeking to set off +their pretensions by assumed titles, it is the pleasure of royalty +to descend to a lower grade in society when concealment becomes +desirable, either from policy or pleasure; and Louis sought in the +familiarity in which a plain baron might safely indulge, a relief +from the ennui attendant upon the rigid etiquette of a regal +state. I had omitted in my letter to the baron, to remind him +that we were to meet that very evening, but that did not prevent +my repairing to Versailles punctually at the appointed hour. I +was conducted into the same apartment as before, where I found +the same females who had then assisted at my toilet* again prepared +to lend their aid; and from this moment I had a regular +establishment of attendants appointed for my use. + +*A word of which the meaning has greatly changed over +the last two centuries. Here it means putting on her +clothing, makeup, jewelry, and so forth. Through most +of this book it is spelled "toilette.--Gutenberg ed. + +The moment the king was informed of my arrival, unable to restrain +his impatience, he hastened to me to assist at my dressing table, +and he continued standing beside me so long as the operation +lasted; I felt greatly embarrassed, not knowing whether I durst +take the liberty of requesting him to be seated. However, my +silence on the subject was greatly admired, and ascribed to my +perfect acquaintance with polished life, when in reality it +originated from mere timidity. My triumph was complete; the +monarch smiled at and admired every word as it fell from my lips, +kissed my hands, and played with the curls of my long hair, +sportively twisting his fingers amidst my flowing ringlets with +all the vivacity of a lover of twenty. The company upon this +evening was different from that of the former occasion, consisting +of the duc de Duras, first gentleman of the bedchamber, and the +duc d'Ayen, who had the reputation of being a great wit; however, +in my opinion, he was much more deserving the character of a real +fiend; his very breath was poisonous, and his touch venomous as +the bite of an adder. I well remember what M. de Fleury said of +him to the king in my presence. "Sire," said he, "the thing I +most dread in the world next to a bite from M. d'Ayen, is the +bite of a mad dog." For my own part, I did not in the end look +upon him with less terror, and well he paid me for my fears. +Upon one occasion, when the king was speaking of me to him, he +said, "I am well aware that I succeed St. Foix." + +"Yes, sire"; replied the duke, "in the same manner as your majesty +succeeds Pharamond!" + +I never forgave him those words, dictated by a fiendish malice. +However, upon the evening of my first introduction to him, he +behaved to me with the most marked politeness. I was then an +object of no consequence to his interests, and his vision had not +yet revealed to him the height I was destined to attain. He looked +upon me but as one of those meteors which sparkled and shone in +the castle at Versailles for twenty-four hours, and sank to rise +no more. + +The duc de Duras was not an ill-disposed person, but inconceivably +stupid; indeed, wit was by no means a family inheritance. Both +father and son, good sort of people in other respects, were for +ever saying or doing some good thing in support of their reputation +for stupidity at court. One day the king quite jokingly inquired +of the duc de Duras, what was done with the old moons. "Upon +my word, sire," replied he," I can give you no idea, never having +seen, but with your majesty's permission, I will endeavor to learn +from M. de Cassini*!" To such a pitch did the poor man's simplicity +extend. Both father and son were nominated to attend the king of +Denmark, when on his road to visit France. The king observed to +a person who repeated it to me: "The French are generally styled +a clever, witty nation; I cannot say I should ever have been able +to discover it, had I been tempted to form my opinion from the +specimen they have sent me." + + *The royal astronomer --Gutenberg ed. + +As far as I am concerned, after saying so many unfavorable things +of the Messrs. de Duras, I must do them the justice to say, that +their conduct towards me was everything that could be desired. +I was always glad to see them; it gave my own imagination a sort +of sedative dose to converse with these two simple-minded beings, +whose interests I was always ready to promote by every means in +my power, and I trust the memory of what I have done will be +long remembered by the noble house of Duras. + +This supper did not pass off so gaily as the former one. The duc +de Duras spoke as little as possible, in the dread of making some +unlucky speech, and the duc d'Ayen sat devouring the spleen he +could not give vent to, and meditating fresh objects upon whom +to exercise his malignity; he vainly endeavored to lead me on to +make some ridiculous observation, but without success; happily +for him, the king did not perceive his aim. My royal lover was +indeed so entirely engrossed by me, that he lost all the duke's +manoeuvres; his transports appeared too much for his senses to +sustain, and he vowed that I should never quit him more, but +remain to be elevated by his power to the first place at court. +At the monarch's sign, the two guests withdrew. + +When the duc d'Ayen quitted the room, 'That nobleman is by no +means to my taste," said I to the king, "he has the air of a spy, +who wishes me no good." + +"Do you really think so, my lovely comtesse?" + +"I am certain of it; and I already shudder at the bare anticipation +of an enemy having access to your majesty's ear." + +"Reassure yourself," said the king, with the utmost tenderness, +"in me you have a sure defender, who will never forsake you; look +upon me from this minute as your natural protector, and woe to +him on whose head your displeasure shall fall." + +After this conversation the king and myself retired to rest, and +when he quitted me in the morning, he entreated me not to return +to Paris, but to give him my company for a whole week. Lebel +made his appearance to beg I would consider myself mistress of +the apartments I occupied, and that he had received orders to +provide me with an establishment upon the most handsome scale. + +That very day Henriette, whom I had sent for, and instituted as +my head waiting-woman, informed me, that an old gentleman, attired +as tho' for a grand gala, but who refused to send in his name, +begged to be permitted to pay his respects. I bade her admit +him; it was the duc de Richelieu. + +"Madame la comtesse," said he, bowing low, "I come to complain +of your want of condescension; unless, indeed, your memory has +been at fault. Was it possible that when I had the honor of +supping with you the other night, you did not recollect your +former old friend?" + +"If, indeed, my forgetfulness were a fault, monsieur le maréchal, +it was one in which you bore an equal share; you were not more +forward than myself in displaying marks of recognition." + +"That arose only from the dazzling increase of your beauty. +You were but a nymph when last my eyes had beheld you, and now +you are matured into a goddess." + +The duke then made some slight allusion to the family of madame +Lagarde, but guessing with his admirable tact, that such +reminiscences could not be particularly agreeable to me, he +dexterously turned the conversation, by requesting permission to +present to me his nephew, the duc d'Aiguillon, that he might leave +a worthy substitute and champion near the king when state affairs +called him into Gascony; he craved my kind offices to obtain the +intimate acquaintance of comte Jean. They were subsequently at +daggers drawn with each other, but this haughty overbearing lord +conducted himself at first with the most abject servility. The +third favor he had to solicit was that I would name him to the +king as frequently as opportunities occurred to form one of our +supper parties. All this I engaged to do, nor indeed could I +refuse after the violent protestations of friendship he made me. + +"You will, ere long," said he, "see the whole court at your feet, +but beware of considering them all as your friends; have a care, +above all, of the duchesse de Grammont. She has been long +endeavoring to obtain the king's affections, and she will see +with hatred and fury another more worthy engrossing the place +she has so vainly contended for; she and her impertinent brother +will call in the aid of the devil himself to dispossess you of your +elevated seat; you are lost if you do not twist both their necks." + +"How, monsieur le maréchal, shall I mark my career by a murder?" + +"You take me too literally; I only mean that in your place I +would not be at the trouble of keeping any terms with them." + +"Ah, monsieur le duc, I understand you now; yet it seems a bad +augury to have to begin my reign by cabals and intrigues." + +"Alas! my fair comtesse, you are too good, too guileless for a +court life; between ourselves we are all hypocrites more or less; +mistrust every one, even those make the finest protestations." + +"In that case the first object of my suspicion would be my old +and esteemed friend the maréchal de Richelieu." + +"Ah, madame! this is not fair usage, thus to turn my weapons +against myself, and to fight me with my own arms." + +Upon this the duke quitted me, and scarcely had he left the room, +when the duc la Vauguyon entered. This gentleman offered me no +advice; he contented himself by styling the Jesuits his "very good +friends," and continually turning the conversation upon their +merits. I allowed him to express his attachment, without +interruption, for these disagreeable men, whom I determined +in my own mind to have nothing to do with, recollecting all I had +heard of their dislike to our sex. After an hour passed in amusing +talk, the duc de la Vauguyon retired, well pleased with his visit, +and his place was immediately supplied by comte Jean, to whom I +communicated all that had passed between my late visitors and myself. + +"For heaven's sake," said he, "let us not be the dupes of these +great lords; before we range ourselves under the banners of either +of them let us secure our own footing; let us wait till you +are presented." + +"But, my good friend, I must be a married lady to obtain that honor." + +"And so you will be shortly, do not be uneasy about that. I +have written to my brother William to set out without delay for +Paris. Your swain will be easily induced to marry you. What +do you think of that?" + +I gave comte Jean to comprehend, by signs, that I left my destiny +in his hands, and he kissed my hands and withdrew. The king +managed to steal a few minutes to converse with me. + +"You did not intrust me, my sweet friend," said he, "with the +circumstance of your having formerly known the duc de Richelieu; +less reserved on the subject than you were, he told me he had seen +you at the house of madame Lagarde, who considered you one of +her dearest friends." + +"Sire," replied I, "I was too much occupied with your majesty, +to think of any other person in the world." + +My answer delighted him, he looked at me in the most +gracious manner. + +"You would almost persuade me that you love me," said he, smiling. + +"Indeed, your majesty," said I, "I only pray that you desire the +continuance of my affection." + +"In that case," replied he, kissing my hand with fervor, "you do +but partake of my tenderness for you." + +These words flattered my vanity, and here I must declare that if +I never felt for the king that violent attachment which is termed +love, I ever entertained for him the warmest esteem. He was so +attentive, so kind to me, that I must have been a monster of +ingratitude could I have looked upon him with indifference. + +Our supper on this night was again lively as the first had been. +The duc de Richelieu entertained us with several amusing anecdotes; +not that they contained any thing very piquant, but the duke +related them well, and we were all in the humor to be pleased, +and laughed heartily at what he said. Comte Jean, whose eye +constantly followed me, appeared perfectly satisfied with all I +said or did. As for the king, he seemed enchanted with me, and +seemed wholly occupied in watching my looks, that he might +anticipate my wants. After supper, in the < tête-à-tête > which +followed, he explained himself in terms which left me no doubt +how securely my empire over him was established. Had he been +less explicit on the subject, the flattering marks of favor, and +the adulatory compliments I received from all on the following +day, would well have assured me of it. I was no longer an obscure +and friendless individual, but the beloved mistress of the king; +I was, to use the expression of Lebel, a new sun which had arisen +to illumine horizon of Versailles. I could no longer doubt my +power when I saw noble personages present themselves to solicit +the most servile employments about my person. Amongst others, I +might instance a certain lady de St. Benoit, who continued first +lady of my chamber, during the whole time of my regency;--my +justly-valued Henriette being contented to take the second place +of honor. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The duc d'Aiguillon--The duc de Fronsac--The duchesse de +Grammont--The meeting--Sharp words on both sides--The duc de +Choiseul--Mesdames d'Aiguillon--Letter from the duc d'Aiguillon-- +Reply of madame du Barry--Mademoiselle Guimard--The prince de +Soubise--Explanation--The Rohans--Madame de Marsan--Court friendships + +The duc de Richelieu, who was in haste to go to Guienne, lost no +time in presenting to me the duc d'Aiguillon. He was not young, +but handsome and well made, with much amiability and great +courage. A sincere friend, no consideration could weaken his +regard; an adversary to be dreaded, no obstacle could repress his +boldness. His enemies--and amongst them he included the whole +magistracy--his enemies, I say, have used him shamefully, but he +treated them too ill for them to be believed in any thing they say +of him. If he were ambitious, he had the excuse of superior merit, +and if he showed himself too severe in one particular, it proceeded +from an energy of mind which did not allow him to have more +pity for others than they had for him. Do not, my friend, think +that the attachment I had for him can transport me beyond just +limits. Since he is in his grave, my illusions, if I had any, have +dissipated. I only give to my deceased friends the tribute due +to them--truth and tears. But really, without thinking of it, I +am attributing to myself these virtues without necessity, forgetting +that you are not one of those who would fain render me as black +as possible in the eyes of posterity. + +In proportion as the first sight of the uncle had prejudiced me +against him, so much more did it propitiate me towards the nephew. +I saw in him a generous heart, and a genius capable of lofty actions +which you would vainly have sought for in the maréchal de Richelieu. +No doubt at the beginning of our <liaison> the duc d'Aiguillon +only saw in me a woman who could be useful to his projects and +plans; but soon his heart joined the alliance, and a devotion of +calculation was succeeded by a vehement passion, of which I was +justly proud, as it subdued to my chains the most accomplished +of courtiers. + +Our first interview was lively. The maréchal and he supported +the conversation with much gaiety. M. de Richelieu, as I have +already told you, had neither wit nor information, but possessed +that ease of the first circles, those manners of high breeding, +those courtly graces, which often surpass wit and information. + +"My nephew," said he to the duke, "madame can do much for us, +but we must first do something for her. Without support, without +friends, she will be lost at Versailles; let us be her partisans +if she will allow it, and let her youth have the benefit of +our experience." + +The tone in which the duc d'Aiguillon replied delighted me. He +said he was but too happy to serve me, and begged me to rely on +him as I would on myself. + +"But," he continued, "but we have to struggle with a powerful +party. The duchesse de Grammont and her brother are not the +persons to give up the field without striking a blow. But, madame, +by the assistance of your happy and lovely star, I will enter the +lists with pleasure, and if a glance of your eyes will recompense +a conqueror, I shall be he." + +"Oh," exclaimed the duke, "my nephew's a second Amadis in +gallantry, and of undaunted courage. You will be satisfied +with him, madame, much more than with my son, who only +resembles the family in his defects." + +The duc de Fronsac was justly hated by his father; he was what is +called a decided scamp, without one redeeming point or virtue. +Dissipated without agreeableness, a courtier without address, a +soldier without courage, he thoroughly deserved his bad reputation. +He was not hated, because hatred implies a species of honor, but he +was universally despised. His father hated him; he hated his father. +The reciprocity was edifying. I have often seen the duc de Fronsac, +and always with disgust. He had incurred the extremity of +punishment; when trying to carry off a butcher's daughter, he +rendered himself guilty of the triple crimes of arson, rape, and +robbery. This was the most splendid deed of his life, at least his +father said so, the only one in which he had shown--guess what +for, my friend, I will not pen the cynical word made use of by his +father. It must be confessed that we sometimes kept very bad +company at Versailles. The king, who abhorred degrading actions, +did not like the duc de Fronsac, but was full of kindly feeling +towards the duc d'Aiguillon. The latter experienced the extent +of his favor in his long and obstinate struggle with the parliament +of Bretagne. It must be owned, that if he gained the victory at +court, he decidedly lost it in the city, and I was publicly +insulted on this account in the most brutal manner. However, +the friendship which his first interview inspired me with, I have +always preserved unaltered. + +The week glided away, and each day my fortune seemed more fully +assured. The love of the king increased, he heaped presents on +me perpetually, and seemed to think he never could do enough for +me. The bounties of Louis XV were known, and instantly aroused +against me the two enemies with whom I had been threatened--the +duc de Choiseul and the duchesse de Grammont, his sister. I must +say, however, that, at first, the brother contented himself with +despising me, but the duchesse was furious; I had offended her +feminine self-love, and she could not forgive me. I have told you +that she obtained possession of the king by stratagem. This is +fact. She was in a place of concealment during a regal debauch, +and when Louis left the table, with his head heated by wine, she +awaited him in his bed to commit a sort of violence on him. What +curious ambition! As soon as this noble lady learned my position, +she was desirous of knowing who I was, and I have been told +since all the measures she took to learn this. She did not +confine her search to the circle of Versailles, but hastened to +prosecute her inquiries in Paris with M. de Sartines. The +lieutenant of police not suspecting the favor that awaited me, +as well as that which I already enjoyed, and on the other hand +persuaded of that of the Choiseul family, set all his bloodhounds +on my traces. They did not fail to bring him back a thousand +horrible tales about me, with which he gratified the duchesse, +who, thinking thereby to do me a severe injury, spread in the +château a multitude of prejudicial tales against me, hoping that +they would reach the ears of the king and disgust him with his +amour. It was at this juncture that appeared in the "<Nouvelles +a la Main>" those infamous articles, collected in what they call +the Collection of Bachaumont. From the same source proceeded +the songs <à la Bourbonnaise> which filled Paris, and were sung +about everywhere. These scandals produced no other effect than +increasing the attachment which the king had for me, and to +diminish that which he felt for the duc de Choiseul. + +Passion never reasons; if it had common sense, it would perceive +that it cannot disgust a lover by vilifying his mistress, but, on +the contrary, interests his self-love in supporting her. Thus +all these intrigues scathed me not; I did not mention to my +counsellor comte Jean an insult which I met with in the park +at Versailles from madame de Grammont. I did not tell it to the +king, not wishing to create any disturbance at court. I avenged +myself by myself, and think I conducted myself remarkably well +in this adventure, which was as follows: + +I was walking in the garden with Henriette, who had given me her +arm; it was early in the morning, and the walks appeared solitary. +We walked towards towards the side of the Ile d'Amour, when we +heard the steps of two persons who came behind us. Henriette +turned her head and then said to me, "Here are mesdames de Brionne +and de Grammont." I knew the latter but very slightly, and the +former not at all. Certainly she could not have been there by +chance; they knew I should be there, and wished to see me closely. +Not suspecting what was to follow, I was delighted at the rencontre. +They passed us with head erect, haughty air; looked at me with a +disdainful stare, laughed rudely and walked away. Altho' such +behavior offended me, it did not put me out of humor; I thought +it very natural for madame de Grammont to be irritated against me. +Henriette had less magnanimity. She repeated so often how +impertinent it was thus to insult a female honored by the bounties +of the king, and so far excited my feelings, that instead of +returning as prudence suggested, I followed the steps of these +ladies. I did not proceed far before I rejoined them; they were +seated on a bench, awaiting my arrival as it appeared. I passed +close to them, and at that moment the duchesse de Grammont, +raising her voice, said, + +"It must be a profitable business to sleep with every body." + +I was excessively nettled, and instantly retorted, "At least I +cannot be accused of making a forcible entry into any person's +bed." The arrow went to the mark and penetrated deeply. The +whole countenance of the duchesse turned pale, except her lips, +which became blue. She would have said something foolish, but +madame de Brionne, more cool because touched less nearly, placed +her hand over her companion's mouth. I in my turn walked away +with Henriette, laughing till tears came into my eyes at this +pleasing victory. + +The duchesse de Grammont, who had no further inclination to laugh, +told the whole to her brother. He, who loved her excessively, too +much so perhaps, reprimanded her, nevertheless, and pointed out +to her the disadvantage in an open struggle with me. Madame de +Brionne was enjoined to secrecy, but that did not prevent her from +confiding the affair to the dowager duchesse d'Aiguillon. + +This latter was a lady of most superior merit, uniting to much +wit more solid acquirements. She spoke English like a native. +Her death, which happened in 1772, was a great misfortune to her +son, to whom she gave the most excellent counsel. She told my +adventure to her daughter-in-law, who, excessively ambitious, saw, +without any pain, the increasing attachment of her husband for +me. I must tell you, in a parenthesis, that I always lived on the +best terms with her, and that, in my disgrace, her friendship did +not weaken. I must do her this justice. All my <faithful friends> +have not been equally faithful towards me. + +These two ladies knowing this occurrence, the duc d'Aiguillon was +not long kept in ignorance that something had happened. He came +in haste to see me, and inquired what it was. But he asked in vain, +I would not tell him. My secrecy hurt him, and on his return home +he wrote to me. As I have great pleasure in telling you all that +recalls this amiable gentleman to my mind, I will transcribe his +letter, which will give you an opportunity of judging of the turn +of his mind. + +<I am very unhappy, madame. I had flattered +myself with having obtained your confidence, but +the obstinate silence which you have kept with me +has cruelly informed me of my mistake. Allow the +deep interest with which you have inspired me to +offer a suggestion. You know nothing of forms, you +are unacquainted with our usages: you require a friend +who shall direct and counsel you. Why should you not +select a man entirely devoted to you, and as equally +so to the king, the king whose affections you possess--and +who could refuse them to you? I pause. Nothing is more +dangerous than to use a pen where we have a heart +overflowing like mine. Be more gracious towards +me, I ask it of you in charity, and take no pleasure +in driving me to twofold desperation. Adieu, +madame, etc. + + "Signed, the Duc D'A." + +I read and read again this epistle: it delighted me from beginning +to end. I found in it a depth of passion which did not displease +me: I perfectly comprehended the obscurity of the latter phrase. +I needed a sort of mentor superior to comte Jean, and I preferred +the duc d'Aiguillon to any other, because he pleased me. This +feeling decided me, and I replied to him in these terms:-- + +"You are wrong, monsieur, to be annoyed, and to think +that I am not disposed to grant you my confidence. It +seems to me that I cannot place myself in better hands. +However, we do not know each other well enough for +me to repose in you at once: see me frequently, and +then, with the habit of being in your company, I will +allow myself to glide quietly into that state of +confidence which you desire. Yes, I am indeed a +stranger to all that passes around me; my only support +is the protection with which the king honors me. That +is all-powerful, but I will not employ it unseasonably +or improperly. I know that I need the counsels of +an honorable, prudent, and well-informed man. I accept, +therefore, of yours; I even ask them from you, if your +friendship go along with them. Adieu, monsieur. My +regards are due to your uncle, the maréchal, the +first time you write to him." + +This letter filled the duc d'Aiguillon with joy. Some days +afterwards, the prince de Soubise, who also wished to give me +his advice, did not attain the same success. It must be owned, +that, for a man of the world, he went about it in a very clumsy +way. He committed the extreme error of selecting mademoiselle +Guimard as mediatrix between himself and me. This lady came to +me on the strength of our former acquaintance; she had so little +sense as not to perceive the immense distance between us which a +few days had caused, and that the opera-dancer kept by the prince +de Soubise could have no relation with the favorite of the king +of France. I endeavored, in vain, to make her perceive it, without +mortifying her too much. She always called me her dear friend, +and fairly slaughtered me with saying that <her> prince would +protect me. It was singular for her to speak thus to me; to me +from whom <her> prince solicited protection. She did not confine +herself to this, she even insinuated to me that I should be a +gainer in some way. I laughed outright at this, and said to the +<valet de chambre>, who was stationed at the door, "Call +mademoiselle's servants." This annoyed her excessively; all the +muscles of her face were contracted with rage; but she restrained +her wrath, saluted me with an assumed respect, and went away, +after having so worthily acquitted herself of her foolish embassy. + +She had quitted me for an hour, when I received a letter from +him who had sent her. The prince de Soubise begged me to grant +him an interview, in which he could enter into an explanation. I +replied that I would receive him, and he came the same day. + +"I am much pained, madame," said he, on entering, "that +mademoiselle Guimard has communicated with so little address +what I wished to say to you." + +"Prince, I think you would have done better to have been the bearer +of your own message. You know my station here, and would not +have ridiculed me as she has done." + +M. de Soubise, much puzzled to know what she had said, asked me +the question. + +"Why," I replied, "she said, that if I would follow your counsels, +you would pay me for my condescension." + +"Ah! madame," he exclaimed, "she has completely murdered me. +I only charged her to offer my services to you, and throw myself +at your feet, as I do now." + +"Rise, prince, I do not accuse you of such folly, and promise +not to mention it: it is necessary, however, that you should know +I have but one part to play here, that of pleasing the king. Any +other character will not suit me. Honor me with your friendship, +and accept mine in return. I cannot, must not, have any other union +with you." + +Thus terminated this interview; it did not suit me to give the +prince de Soubise any hopes. He and all the Rohans would have +lived on it; they would have turned my confidence to their gain, +and as they were for the most part sharpers, or something akin to +it, my name would soon have been mixed up with some dirty transaction. +His family was a hydra of avarice, and would alone have swallowed +up all the wealth of France. If the king had taken one of the Rohan +family for his mistress, I believe that the finance department +would not have sufficed for one year's expenditure of this prodigal +family. I had no objection to the prince de Soubise coming to +supper with me, but I did not feel myself disposed to give him +any control over my mind. I should have been ill-guided by a +man who had no government of himself. + +If M, de Soubise did not depart satisfied, madame de Marsan, his +relative, to whom he related the bad success of his attempt, was +not more so. She was a woman to have governed a kingdom, had she +been allowed to do so. There was in her woman's head a capacity +superior to that of all the men of her family. She had a great deal +of ambition, and all her actions were the results of a premeditated +plan. She would have ruled the king, the princes, the princesses, +favorites, mistresses, the court, the city, the parliaments, and the +army! Nothing would have been impossible to her; she was adequate +to any thing. Circumstances did not give her the opportunity of +displaying her genius. With great talents and keen perception, +she was reduced to the government of her own family alone; that +was but a trifling matter! In spite of her discontent, madame de +Marsan preserved a sort of neutrality towards me. She allowed +all sorts of ill to be spoken of me without ever repressing a word. +She was then mute and motionless. She saw me torn to pieces +without any emotion. However, when we were together she tried to +cajole me in a thousand ways, all the time detesting me in her +heart; and I, who could scarcely endure the sight of her, paid her +a like number of little attentions. Thus surrounded by hypocrites, I +became one myself. We learn to howl in the society of wolves. + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The duc de la Vauguyon and the comtesse du Barry--The marquis +de Chauvelin and the comtesse--M. de Montbarrey and the comtesse-- +Intrigues--Lebel--Arrival of the du Barry family--The comte +d'Hargicourt--The demoiselles du Barry--Marriage of the comtesse-- +The marquis de Bonrepos--Correspondences--The broken glass + +The prince de Soubise was not the only person who wished to act +in the capacity of mentor to me. M. the duc de la Vauguyon +attempted also to be the guide of my youth. This nobleman was +too much of a Jesuit not to have a nose of prodigiously fine scent. +He perceived that the wind was in my favor, and approached me in +consequence. I have mentioned to you his first visit, and he made +me a second a few days afterwards. He appeared very affable, +very conciliating, and insisted particularly several times, and +that without any apparent motive, that the king, not being now +engaged in the ties of wedlock, he should choose some agreeable +companion, and assuredly could not do better than select me. The +day after this visit, early in the morning, the duke sent me a +splendid bouquet, a homage which he afterwards repeated, and +then called on me a third time. + +During this visit after a conversation on the embarrassments of an +introduction at Versailles, he proposed that I should avoid them. + +"You cannot conceal from yourself," he said, "how powerful will +be the cabal against you; and, without including the Choiseuls, +you will have especially to fear the pious party, who will only +see in your intimacy with the king, allow me to say, a crying +scandal, and one not profitable for religion." + +"If the pious party unite with those who are not so to destroy +me," I rejoined, laughing, "I shall have all France against me." + +"No; but perhaps all the château. But there is a way of averting +the storm. Attach yourself to the party of honest men who have +been so greatly calumniated--the Jesuits. Philosophy, supported +by the duc de Choiseul, has repressed them; but the high clergy and +the <mesdames royales> are attached strongly to them, and you would +interest them in your fortune by favoring these worthy fathers." + +"What! monsieur le duc," cried I, "will <messeigneurs> the clergy +of France, and <mesdames royales> and their suite be favorable to +me, if I use my influence with the king in espousing the cause of +the society of Jesus?" + +"Certainly, madame, and I am authorized to promise you. I give +you my word for this. Endeavor to re-establish the order, and +there will not be one of us but will be zealous in supporting you." + +"I certainly am desirous of pleasing your friends; but I can see +that, from the first moment of my appearance at court, I shall +be at open war with the Choiseuls and the parliaments." + +"What matters it? I confess that the victory will not be easy at +first, but there is no need to exaggerate the difficulties. It is +true that the king has esteem for the duc de Choiseul, but he has +much affection for you, which avails much more. + +"As for the parliaments, he hates them, and for many years has +been desirous of ridding himself of them entirely, and he will +effect this by the help of God and your interference." + +"This will be hard work for one so weak as I am." + +"Oh, you are sufficiently powerful, I assure you. Only confide +in me, the intermediary between you and my friends, let me guide +you, and I will steer to the right port. What do you think of +this, madame?" + +"Oh! monsieur le duc, it is not at a moment that we can give a +positive reply to such grave matters. I content myself in assuring +you, that I have for you as much confidence as respect, and should +be very happy to obtain your protection." + +"My protection! Oh, heaven, madame, you are jesting. It is I who +should be honored by your friendship." + +"It is yours; but as yet I am nothing at court, and can do nothing +there until I have been presented. It is for my speedy presentation +that my friends should labor now." + +"We will not fail, madame; and if you will allow me to come from +time to time to converse with you, we can take our measures." + +"Your visits will always be agreeable." + +Such was the conversation which I had with the duc de la Vauguyon. +I have given it somewhat at length, because it was the preface to a +deep intrigue which made a vast noise. I think I extricated myself +very well from the net in which the duke sought to catch me. I knew +that his situation at Versailles compelled me to act with caution +towards him. He was in good odor with <mesdames>, had the ear of +the young dauphin and the princes his brothers. He deceived me +like a true Jesuit as he was, in telling me that the <mesdames> +were well disposed towards me ; and on my side I cheated him with +a promise of confidence and, friendship which I never bestowed. +Ah! my friend, again and again must I exclaim, what a villainous +place is a court! + +Whilst the duc de la Vauguyon was seeking to enlist me under +the banners of heaven or the Jesuits, the marquis of Chauvelin +also essayed to make me his pupil; but as frank as he was amiable, +this nobleman did not go to work in a roundabout manner. He +came to me loyally, requesting me to consider his interests and mine. + +"The king likes me," said he, "and I am attached to him body and +soul. He tenderly loves you, and I should have no difficulty in +doing the same thing; but as I am no longer of an age to inspire +you with the passion which I should feel towards you, I content +myself with your friendship. I have no enemy here, and no wish +to hurt any person. Thus you need not fear that I shall urge you +to any measures that might compromise you. It is the hatred of +the kingdom that you will have to fear. France is about to march +in a better track, and the best plan is to follow its lead. It +pains me, madame, to use language which may appear severe to you; +we ought only to talk to you of your beauty and the love which it +inspires. But in your situation, even that beauty may serve the +interests of France, and it is for that motive that I come to +solicit you." + +I replied to M. de Chauvelin with equal frankness. I told him +that my sole intentions were to confine myself to the circle of +my duties; that I had none but to please the king, and no intention +of mixing myself up with state affairs. This was my plan I can +assure you. I flattered myself that I could follow it, not +dreaming of those political nuisances into which I was precipitated +in spite of myself. I added, nevertheless, that in my situation, +which was delicate, I would not refuse the counsels of a faithful +servant of the king, and that under this title M. de Chauvelin +should be consulted on important occasions. + +The marquis de Chauvelin had too much good sense, too much +knowledge of the world, not to perceive a refusal concealed under +this politeness. The secret inclination of my heart had already +led me to select the duc d'Aiguillon for my director, and I could +not reconcile myself to any other. He contented himself with +asking me again for my friendship, which I willingly accorded +him, and I have always found myself fortunate in his. Thus did I +accept the offers of service from the prince de Soubise, the duc +de la Vauguyon, and the marquis de Chauvelin. + +A fourth sought to swell the ranks; the comte, afterwards prince, +de Montbarrey. This gentleman made up in pretensions for what he +lacked in talent. He was weak, self-important, selfish, fond of +women, and endeavored to preserve all the airs of a man of good +breeding in the midst of the grossest debauchery. He was full of +respect for himself and his house, of which in time of need he +could cite the whole genealogy. His nomination was a real scandal; +no one dreamt of his ever being minister of war. It was one of the +thousand follies of old Maurepas, whom the late king knew well, and +called the ballad-maker of the council. + +The comte de Montbarrey, whom I had known at Paris, came to me +one fine day, fully powdered, performed, and apparelled. He had a +smile on his lip, a loud tone, and an insolent look. He came not +to ask my friendship, but my obedience. He told me that he loved +me to distraction, and of course my head must be equally towards +him. He amused me. I let him run out the full length of his line; +and when he had spun it all out, I said to him, "Monsieur, be so +good as to call me to the recollection of madame de Merfort." + +She was one of the gambling ladies, and at her house I had +formerly met the chevalier de Montbarrey. My reply confounded +him: he saw that he had gone the wrong way to work with me; +and, raising the siege, he left me excessively embarrassed. + +Figure to yourself, my friend, what confidence a man, lost in the +crowd of lower courtiers, could inspire me with; for to judge of +the proceedings of the comte de Montbarrey, it would have been +necessary to have seen him as he then was, and not what he became +since the imbecility of M. de Maurepas. When I told comte Jean +of his visit, he would not believe such insolence. You must know +that my brother-in-law also wished to direct me, but I did not +consider him sufficiently clever. His marvellous genius was +eclipsed in politics. He swore at my ingratitude, and I could +only appease him by an offering of plenty of money. + +In the midst of this cross-fire of intrigues, one was devised +against me which might have terminated in my ruin; but, thanks +to the indefatigable activity of comte Jean, only served to fix +me more firmly in my situation. Lebel, of whom I have said +nothing for this age, came to me one day: his face was sad, and +his look serious. By his manner I augured that my reign had +passed, and that I must quit my post. I awaited what he should +say with mortal impatience. At length he began thus: + +"Madame, you have many bitter enemies, who are laboring to +effect your ruin with a blood-thirstiness which nothing can assuage. +They have now spread a report that you are not married. This +infamous calumny--" + +"Ah, is that all?' said I with joy; "no, my dear Lebel, this time +they do not calumniate me. The worthy creatures for once are right." + +"What," said Lebel, in a tone of alarm almost comic, "what, are +you really not married?" + +"No." + +"Are you not the wife of the comte Guillaume du Barry?" + +"No." + +"Then you have deceived the king, and played with me." + +"Lebel, my friend, take another tone. No one has any right to +complain. You have given me to the king as a person to please +him; I do so. The rest can be no matter of yours." + +"Pardon me, madame; it is a matter of the greatest consequence to +me. I am terribly compromised in this affair, and you with me." + +Lebel told me that the duchesse de Grammont had begged him to call +upon her, and had bitterly reproached him about the mistress he had +procured for the king; the duchesse affirmed that I was a nameless +and unmarried creature; and added, that it was his duty to make +the king acquainted with these particulars, unless I, the pretended +wife of du Barry, would consent to go to England when a large +pension should be assured to me. + +"No, my dear Lebel, I will not go to England; I will remain in +France, at Versailles, at the château. If I am not married I will +be; the thing is easily managed." + +Lebel. somewhat assured, begged me to send for comte Jean, and +when he came he (Lebel) recommenced his tale of grief. + +"You are drowning yourself in a glass of water," said my future +brother-in-law to him, beginning to treat him with less ceremony; +"go back to the duchesse de Grammont, and tell her that madame +was married at Toulouse. She will have an inquiry set on foot; in +the mean while my brother will arrive, and the marriage will take +place. Then we will show the rebels a real comtesse du Barry; +and whether my sister-in-law be a lady of six months' standing or +only of yesterday, that is of no consequence to the king of France." + +After this conversation Lebel delivered the message to the duchesse +de Grammont, who told him that she should write to Toulouse to the +attorney-general. This was what the comte Jean wished and he was +prepared for her. + +But, you will say to me, was it certain that your asserted husband +would marry you? Were there no difficulties to fear? None. +Comte Guillaume was poor, talented, and ambitious; he liked high +living, and would have sold himself to the devil for riches. He +was happy in marrying me. Comte Jean would not have ventured +such a proposal to his other brother, the comte d'Hargicourt, who +had much good sense and great notions of propriety, and who at +Versailles was called the <honnéte homme>; a distinction not over +flattering to his two brothers. + +The same evening the whole family arrived, and was presented to me +the next day. My two future sisters-in-law frightened me at first +with their provincial manners and southern accent; but, after a +few minutes, I found that this Gascon pronunciation had many charms +with it. Mesdemoiselles du Barry were not handsome but very +agreeable. One was called Isabelle, whom they had nicknamed +<Bischi>, the other's name was Fanchon, and her name had been +abbreviated to "<Chon>." The latter had much talent, and even +brought to Versailles with her, an instinctive spirit of diplomacy +which would have done honor to a practised courtier. She would +have been thought simple, unsophisticated, and yet was full +of plot and cunning. + +I was soon much pleased with her, and the king became equally +so. He was always very much amused at hearing her talk <patois> +(provincially), or recite the verses of one Gondouli, a poet of +Languedoc. He used to make her jump upon his knees; and altho' +she had passed the first bloom of youth, he played with her like +a child. But what most particularly diverted the king, was calling +my sister-in-law by her nickname; "<Petite Chon, grande Chon>," +he was always saying, "do this, go there, come here." Louis XV +did the same with his own daughters: he had amongst them a <Loque>, +a <Graille>, a <Chiffe>, and they were the ladies Victoire, +Adélaïde, and Sophie, whom he thus elegantly designated. I so +soon saw the taste of the king for nicknames that I gave him +one, it was Lafrance. So far from being angry with me, he laughed +to tears every time that I called him so. I must confess, <en +passant>, that the anecdote about the coffee is true.* I will only +justify myself by saying, that if I expressed myself coarsely it +was not in consequence of my vulgar education, but because the +king liked such modes of expression. + +*Louis XV had a habit of making his own coffee after +dinner. One day the coffee boiled over the sides of the +pot, and madame du Barry cried out, " Eh, Lafrance, +ton cafe f --- le camp." (author) + +Let me revert to my marriage, which was performed secretly at the +parish of Saint Laurent. I believe the king knew of it, altho' he +never alluded to it any more than myself. Thus the malice of my +enemies was completely balked in this affair. Some days afterwards +comte Jean received a letter from the attorney-general of the +parliament of Toulouse, M. the marquis de Bonrepos-Riquet. This +gentleman informed my brother-in-law that he had been applied to, +to institute an inquiry at all the notaries, and amongst all the +registers of the parishes for the proof of my marriage; that he +warned us to be on our guard, and that whatever diligence he +might be desired to employ, he should do nothing without informing +us. We felt the obligation of this proceeding, and my brother-in-law +thanked the attorney-general in my name as well as in his own. He +told him that it was not at Toulouse that the parties interested +should make their researches for my marriage certificate, but at +Paris, either at the parish church of Saint Laurent, or at the +notary's, Lepot d'Auteuil. M. de Bonrepos gave part of this reply +to the duchesse de Grammont. Great was the bustle amongst the +Choiseuls! I leave you to judge of the fury of the lady or ladies, +for the contesse de Grammont was no less irritated than the other, +always prepossessed with the idea, that to please the king was +to wrong their family. The comtesse de Grammont had not half the +talent of the duchesse, she had only her faults. She showed herself +so rude and impertinent towards me, that I was at length compelled, +not to exile her of my own accord, but to allow that she should +be so served. But I anticipate, for this did not occur until the +following year. + +The king by all his kindnesses endeavored to recompense me for +these attacks: he appeared charmed to see me surrounded by my +husband's family. He placed amongst the pages the vicomte Adolphe +du Barry, son of comte Jean, a young man of great promise, but +whose destiny was so brief and so unfortunate. My husband's family +testified much affection for me, as did the duc d'Aiguillon, to whom +I daily attached myself. He carefully kept from me all that could +give me pain, and took a thousand precautions that no unpleasant +reports should reach me. If we passed a short time without meeting +he wrote to me, and I confess I was delighted with a correspondence +which formed my own style. Mademoiselle Chon, my sister-in-law, +and I also wrote to each other, and that from one room to another. +I remember that one day, having broken a glass of rock crystal which +she had given me, I announced my misfortune in such solemn style, +and with so well feigned a tone of chagrin, that the letter amused +the whole family. The king saw it, and was so much pleased that +he kept it, and next day sent me a golden goblet enriched with +stones, which I gave to Chon, to whom it rightfully belonged. + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Journey to Choisy--The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV--The king +of Denmark--The czar Peter--Frederick II--The abbé de la Chapelle-- +An experiment--New intrigues--Secret agents-The comtesse and +Louis XV--Of the presentation--Letter of the comtesse to the +duc d'Aiguillon--Reply--Prince de Soubise + +Up to this period I had resided constantly at Versailles or Paris, +according to the pleasure of the king, but had never followed his +majesty in any of his journeys. He wished to pass some days at +his delightful château at Choisy, situated on the banks of the +Seine. It was decided that I should be of the party, taking the +name of the baroness de Pamklek, a German lady, as that would +save me from the embarrassment in which I should be placed with +the king in consequence of my non-presentation. The prince de +Soubise, the ducs de la Trimoulle, d'Ayen, d'Aiguillon, and the +marquis de Chauvelin, were also to attend the king. The king +remained nearly the whole time with me, and the < entrée > to my +apartment became a favor not accorded to every body. A small +committee met there, and talked of every thing except what is +rational; and I can assure you that with such conversation time +passes very quickly. + +One day the king entered my apartment holding in his hand a letter. + +"I am about to receive," said he, "a visit that will not give me +much pleasure. My brother of Denmark is traversing Europe, and +is about to come to France. <Mon Dieu>! what inconvenient +persons are your travelling kings! Why do they leave their +kingdoms? I think they are very well at home." + +"Yes, sire, but there is an excuse for them: they are weary of +admiring your majesty at a distance, and wish for the happiness +of knowing you." + +At this compliment the king rubbed his hands with a smile, which +he always did when he was satisfied, and then said, + +"There is not in the hearts of foreign potentates the same +affection towards my person as you feel. It is not me but France +they wish to see. I remember that when very young I received a +visit from the czar Peter the Great, Peter the First I mean to +say. He was not deficient in sense, but yet behaved like a boor: +he passed his time in running over the academies, libraries, and +manufactories: I never saw such an ill-bred man. Imagine him +embracing me at our first interview, and carrying me in his arms +as one of my valets would have done. He was dirty, coarse, and +ill-dressed. Well, all the Frenchmen ran after him; one would +have supposed by their eagerness that they had never seen a +regal countenance." + +"Yet there was no occasion to run very far to see the handsome +face of a king." + +"Hold your tongue, madame la baronne de Pamklek, you are a flatterer. +There is a crowned head which for thirty years has desired to visit +France, but I have always turned a deaf ear, and will resist it as +long as possible." + +"Who, sire, is the king so unfortunate as to banished by you from +your majesty's presence?" + +"Who? The king of philosophers, the rival of Voltaire, my brother +of Prussia. Ah, my dear baronne, he is a bad fellow; he detests me, +and I have no love for him. A king does wisely, certainly, to submit +his works to the judgment of a Freron! It would be outrageous +scandal if he came here. Great and small would crowd around him, +and there would not be twenty persons in my train." + +"Ah! sire , do you think so?" + +"I am sure of it. The French now-a-days do not care for their +kings, and <la Fronde> will be renewed at an early day. After +all, philosophers believe that Frederick II protects them: the +honest man laughs both at them and me." + +"At you, sire? Impossible." + +"No, no; I know the impertinences he is guilty of towards me: +but let him. I prefer making my court to the pretty women of my +kingdom instead of to my pages. You may depend upon it that if +he came to Versailles he would debauch some of them." + +The king, charmed at having said this malicious speech, rubbed +his hands again. + +"Really, sire," I replied, "I am astonished that this prince, +having such disgusting inclinations, can have much <éclat> +attached to his name." + +"Ah, that is because he has great qualities: he will not allow +himself to be cheated. Do you know that he is acquainted with +the disposal of his finances to the last farthing?" + +"Sire, he must be a miser." + +"No, madame, he is a man of method. But enough of him. As to his +majesty of Denmark, altho' he would have been as welcome to stay +at home, I shall receive him with as much attention as possible. The +kings of Denmark and Sweden are my natural allies." + +The king changed the subject, and said, "There is an abbé, named +la Chapelle, whom I think half cracked. He flatters himself that +he can, thro' the medium of some apparatus, remain on the water +without sinking. He begs my permission to exhibit his experiment +before me; and if it would amuse you, we will have the exhibition +to-morrow." I accepted the king's proposal with pleasure. + +On the next day we went in a body to the terrace of the château. +The king was near me with his hat in his hand; the duc de Duras +gave me his arm. M. l' abbé waited us in a boat: he flung himself +bodily into the water, dressed in a sort of cork-jacket, moved in +any direction in the water, drank, ate, and fired off a gun. So far +all went off well, but the poor abbé, to close the affair, wrote a +letter to the king. The letter was carried in great pomp to his +majesty. It contained two verses of Racine, which had some +double allusion to the experiment. This, you may be sure, was +interpreted in the worst manner. The duc d'Ayen gave the finishing +stroke to the whole, on his opinion being asked by the king. + +"Sire," said he, "such men ought to be thrown into the water; but +all we can wish for them is, that they should remain there." + +The abbé was not more fortunate in the evening. He presented +himself at supper, but the king did not address a word to him, and +he was compelled to bear the malicious jokes of the courtiers. But +let us leave Choisy and the experimentalist, and return to Versailles +and myself. + +My friends were excessively desirous for my presentation, which +would decide my position at the château. As yet I only had an +equivocal existence, having rank neither at play, theatre, or public +festival; so that if the king should be capricious I could be +dismissed as one of the demoiselles of the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>. The +duc d'Aiguillon, whose attachment to me increased, calculated +accurately all the advantages of this presentation. It would place +me on the same footing with madame de Pompadour, and compel +the ministers to come and work with me. The duke did not doubt +but that M. de Choiseul would refuse to pay his <devoirs> to me, +and that his resistance would lead to his fall. But for my +presentation, it was necessary not only that the king should +consent, for of that I was certain, but that he should desire it, +and his desire could not be depended on. + +Louis XV was excessively timid: with an air which appeared of a +dreadnaught quality, he was fearful at heart. The clamors of +Versailles kept him in alarm; and he kept at his own court and +at foreign courts secret agents, whose only care was to report +to him the complaints of the people and the sarcasms and satires +of society. The king was attached to them; and when the force of +circumstances compelled him to abandon them, he still supported +them clandestinely with all his power. A proof of what I advance +may be known as regards the chevalier or chevalière d'Eon, I know +not which. But these secret agents were, unknown to the king, all +devoted to the parliaments, and consequently inimical to courtiers, +favorites, and especially mistresses. God knows how they disposed +of us! By these unpropitious channels the king had learnt all the +hatred which was borne to madame de Pompadour. He was afraid of +exciting the discontent of the people by announcing another mistress, +and was no less intimidated at the severity of madame Louise, and +the ill-humor of his other children. He loved his pleasure much, +but his ease more. + +Comte Jean, who was restrained by no considerations, advised me +to overleap all difficulty, by asking the king myself for the favor +which I coveted. His advice seemed rational, and I was besides +urged on to do so. Each day brought to me impertinences said of +me by the noble ladies of the château. I learnt that they boasted +that I should never set foot in the great apartments, but should +remain the obscure mistress of the king. This made me impatient, +and by degrees deprived me of my natural gaiety. + +One day when the king was with me, he perceived my want of spirits. + +"What ails you?" said be, with the greatest solicitude. + +"What ails me!" replied I, "I wish I were dead, rather than see +myself the butt of all the scandal of the foul-mouthed gossips +of your court." + +The king, suspecting the confidence I was about to repose in him, +was sorry he had asked for it, and was silent. He began to play +a tattoo with his fingers on the chimney-piece. At this moment +mademoiselle Chon came in. The king, delighted at seeing her, +instantly inquired into her state of health. She, after a profound +reverence, said, + +"Sire, how can I be well when there is trouble in my family?" + +"Ah, <bon Dieu>! what is this?" said he, turning to me. + +"I am insulted, hooted: they say that I have the misfortune to be +no longer in the good graces of your majesty." + +"Ah, tell them they lie in their throats," replied the king, +kissing me on the forehead; "you are the woman of my heart, and +she whom I would fain load with honors. " + +"Your majesty speaks to me," I answered, "with great condescension +[my sister-in-law left the room that she might not spoil the +explanation], but yet you are the cause of the insolences which +I am subjected to from the vile crew." + +"What is the matter with you to-day? In truth you are a perfect +little devil." + +"I wish I were, that I might punish evil tongues, since there is +no king of France to avenge me." + +"You are severe, madame," replied Louis XV, turning his imposing +and handsome face towards me, and to which he vainly endeavored +to give an air of anger. I saw my success, and added, + +"Yes, sire, it is insupportable for me to think that I am supposed +not to possess your friendship, and that I only play the part of a +temporary friend. It makes me wretched: you must not be angry if +I complain of you to your royal self." + +"Well, well, you madcap, what must I do? Whom must I banish?" + +"Oh, sire, no one: with your august support I fear no person; +nothing but appearances." + +"You are an excellent creature; in your place madame de Pompadour +would have imprisoned half France." + +"That was because she loved revenge better than she loved your +majesty. As for me, I should be miserable if I were the cause of +one single family complaining against you." + +The king, delighted at these words, which really came from my +heart, embraced me tenderly two or three times, and said, + +"I wish your enemies could understand you, for they would soon +be at your knees. But if we imprison or exile no person, how +shall we strike terror into them?" + +"It is not terror but envy that I would excite. Let me be +presented at court, and all my wishes will be satisfied." + +"I cannot for the life of me divine why you should lay so much +stress on coming to weary yourself with the ceremonies of myself +and daughters. Heaven preserve you from all the irksomeness of +court ceremony!" And Louis XV sighed. "Did you ever think," he +added, "of all the vanities, all the interests I have to manage; +all the intrigues that are perpetually agitating, and all the opposition +made to me? The court, the city, the people, will rise against +me: they will clamor, groan, complain; verse, prose, epigram, and +pamphlet will appear in uninterrupted succession. You would be +first attacked, and hatred will perhaps extend to me. I shall see +again the times when the Damiens, in the name of the parliaments, +as one party says, in the name of the Jesuits, as the other party +says, and, what is more true, in the name--" + +The king suddenly paused; a deep shade of melancholy settled on +his features, his noble head dropped on his bosom. Louis XV +remained for some time motionless; at length, + +"Well," he exclaimed, attempting to force a smile, "well! I will +write to the ladies de Grammont, to inform them that they need +not give themselves the trouble to remain near me at the château." + +On his saying these words I darted towards the door, and went +into my chamber. The king followed, and finding there mademoiselle +Chon, who was working at some tapestry, said to her, + +"Mademoiselle, I confide to your care, and by oral <lettre de +cachet>, the most amiable little devil in France. And now, +mademoiselle du Barry, having nothing further to add, I pray +God to take you to His powerful and holy keeping." + +After this pleasantry the king, delighted at the gay termination +of a somewhat serious scene, went, or rather vanished; for to +use a proverbial expression, he ran like a thief. + +As soon as I was alone with my sister-in-law, I told her all that +had passed. + +"I see," said she, "that the king is fearful of offending the duc +de Choiseul, and giving annoyance to his daughters. But a step +must be determined on which will place you out of the reach of +complete disgrace. Would it not be best to get some nobleman, +who can do so with influence, to speak to him on the subject? If +the duc de Richelieu were here--" + +"But," I instantly exclaimed, "have we not his nephew, the duc d' +Aiguillon? He is well with the king, and I am certain will take +the most lively interest in all that concerns me." + +"I have no doubt of it," said Chon, with a sly look. "Write to +him to come, and you can arrange your ulterior proceedings." + +On this advice, which was quite to my taste, I went instantly to +my writing-table, the last present which the king had made me. +It was made of silver gilt, and china slabs beautifully painted. +When I opened it, a glass was lifted which reflected my countenance. +I sat down and wrote the following note to the duc d'Aiguillon:-- + +"You must be content. I want your assistance, I +really want it. The moment has come for deserving +all my confidence. Will you have it at all risks and +perils? Reflect well before you undertake this: if +you accept, come to-day at five o'clock precisely, +neither later nor sooner." + +A little while afterwards the following reply was brought. + +"One thing displeases me in your letter which else +enchants me. You appear to doubt my obedience. +Am I not your slave? And when you say to me <go>, +will I not <go>? Rely on me as on yourself; even +more: for your vivacity may lead you into error, +and I shall preserve my reason. Yes, madame, I +will, when near you, preserve my reason when your +interests are at stake. At the fixed hour I shall +have the honor to lay at your feet my respectful +homage and boundless devotion." + +It was impossible to express a real sentiment with more delicacy. +I was charmed at it, no longer doubting that the duke would +consider my interests as his own. I awaited the hour of five +with impatience, when my good fortune brought the prince de +Soubise. After the first compliments, + +"Well, madame la comtesse, when is your presentation to take place?" + +"I do not know, monsieur le maréchal; there are obstacles in the +way. I fear that they who wish to injure me abuse their influence +with the king." + +"I see that his majesty hesitates, altho' he is desirous of giving +you station. He must be stimulated to know that he is master; +and that if he shows any wavering in this particular, it will be +made use of to govern him hereafter." + +Heartily did I applaud the language of M. de Soubise: I did not +suspect that the dear prince had another motive behind. At the +end of the interview he said, + +"Madame, you would not have been as you now are had you been +more conciliatory towards me. I know the king, and know how to +manage him. I flatter myself that you would have been now presented +had you deigned to hear my advice." + +"Did I reject it? Was I wrong in declining to have mademoiselle +Guimard as ambassadress? Were you assured of her silence? +Might she not have compromised us?" + +"You are right; I did as one would have done at your age, and you +have done as I should do at mine; but there is always time to amend." + +"Certainly, prince." + +"You accept my advice, then." + +"Yes," I replied, seeing the defile in which he wished to entrap +me, "yes, if I am presented thro' your influence, from that +moment you become my guide and mentor. But it is important +that the presentation be not delayed; I rely on you to speak to +the king this day about it; and I know that he will give me every +particular of the immense service you will render me." + +For once the madcap girl got the better of the practised courtier. +M. de Soubise, taken in his own snare, politely excused himself, +and left me with an assurance that he would speak to the king. +He did speak, but obtained nothing more than any other. You +will see in my next letter that I did not arrive at the +accomplishment of my wishes without much trouble. There were +in this affair more intrigues for and against me than were afterwards +set on foot to decide war with America. + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The comtesse and the duc d'Aiguillon--M. de Soubise--Louis XV +and the duc d'Aiguillon--Letter from the comtesse to the king-- +Answer of the king-The "<Nouvelles a la Main>"--The comtesse and +Louis XV--The supper--The court ladies mystified--The comtesse and +M. de Sartines + +I was still triumphing at the skill which I had displayed +in my conference with the prince de Soubise when the +duc d'Aiguillon entered. + +"Good heaven," said he, kissing my hand very tenderly, "into +what inquietude did you throw me by your dear and cruel letter. +The ambiguity of your style has caused me inexpressible sorrow; +and you have added to it by not allowing me to come to you at +the first moment." + +"I could not: I thought it would be dangerous for you to appear +before the king previously to having seen me." + +"Would the king have thought my visit strange?" asked the duke, +not without some emotion. + +"That is not the point. The black spite of my enemies has not +yet deprived me of the counsels of a friend. But as it is necessary +to speak to the king in my favor, I wish that he should not know +that you do so at my request." + +After this I related to the duke my conversation with the king. + +"Your situation is delicate," said he to me, "but it should not +trouble you. The king is weak, we must give him courage. It is +his pliancy of disposition rather than his resistance that we must +contend with, and I go to act upon it. " + +I then instructed the duke with what had passed between me and +the prince de Soubise. When I had done, the duke replied : + +"Expect nothing from the prince de Soubise: he will speak, no +doubt; but how? In a jesting, laughing way. If, however, you +think he can at all serve you, give him all your confidence." + +"No, no, never," I replied with quickness; "it is not a thing to be +done lightly; we do not select a confidant, counsellor, or friend, +at random. Do you not know this, M. le duc? It is requisite that +the heart of the one who speaks should repose itself on the heart +of the friend who listens. I repeat to you that I have no feeling of +confidence towards M. de Soubise. In fact," I added with visible +and troubled emotion, "my choice is made, and you have too much +heroism to wish to combat it." + +At these flattering words the duke precipitated himself at my feet, +and swore to support my cause with all his power and interest. I +replied that I fully relied on his devotion and prudence. Comte +Jean entered, and it was agreed between us three that I should say +no more to the king of my presentation before the duc d'Aiguillon +had spoken to him of it; that I should content myself with +complaining without peevishness, and that we should leave the +opening measure to the prince de Soubise, and let him break the +ice to his majesty. + +The prince de Soubise behaved exactly as the duke had told me: he +came to me the next morning with a mysterious air, which already +informed me of all he had to say. He said that he had vainly +tormented the king; that his majesty wished things to remain just +as they were, and desired that until a new order of things nothing +should be altered. + +"I am sorry for it, monsieur le maréchal," I replied. "Whilst I am +in this precarious situation, whilst I remain in a corner of the +stage as a confidante of tragedy, I can do nothing for my friends, +particularly for you, monsieur le maréchal." + +"On the contrary, madame," he replied, "the king will be more +disposed to listen to you whilst he will suppose that your +influence is unknown." + +"Oh," cried I with a feeling of anger, "you gentlemen courtiers +think of nothing but politics. As for me, who am a woman, I have +other matters for consideration: I must have honors, title, rank. +My self-love suffers cruelly when I see myself immolated by the +fear which the ladies de Grammont and three or four other intriguers +of their party are able to excite." + +The prince was somewhat startled at the freedom of language +which I used towards ladies in such credit at court: he begged me +to moderate my feelings, and be less moved and excited. By this +the prince de Soubise lost the esteem which I might have accorded +him, and the second place in my counsels, which I might have +given him. + +I told the duke, who came to see me the moment afterwards, of the +failure of the prince's attempt. He told me that he had not hoped +for a better result. He went to the king, flattering himself with +hopes of better success, but did not find him. + +The daughters of Louis XV had united against me with a fury +which nothing could justify. They were incessantly talking +scandal of my past life, as if there were only saints at court, as +if they had no pranks of their own to reproach themselves with. +All the château knew of their lovers, and there was <living> +evidence of the tenderness of madame Adélaïde: as for madame +Louise she was an angel upon earth, and was the only one who +did not join in the cry against me. On the other hand, the king, +whilst he had but little love for his dear daughters, preserved +towards them a complaisance and external appearance of kindness +which was a substitute for parental love. When <mesdames royales> +cried out, he stopped his ears with his two hands, and seemed, +whilst looking proudly at France, to say, "Am not I a good father, +and are not my daughters very happy, for I let them cry out with +all their might?" + +The next day the duc d'Aiguillon went again to the king, and found +him bewildered with family scenes and the murmurings of the +Choiseuls. When my ambassador had delivered his message, the +king asked him if he, as well as the prince de Soubise, had been +set upon his haunches by me. + +The duke, nothing intimidated at this, told the king that far from +having wished that he should be my interpreter, I had requested +him not to allude to the matter. + +"Why, then," said Louis XV laughing, "do you not follow the +advice of the comtesse?" + +"Because I entertain a sincere attachment for her, and that I am +vexed to hear it said that there are persons who lead your majesty." + +"Who are the insolents that hold such language?" + +"They surround you, sire. There is not a female here but affirms +that you dare not decide on the presentation of the comtesse." + +"I alone am master, and will let them know it when the opportunity +arrives; but the present moment is not fitting. The comtesse knows +how well I love her; and if she will prove her friendship towards +me, she will remain quiet for some time." + +The duke thought it best to be silent, and came to me. After +relating the conversation, he added, "Do not appear at all dejected; +the king would not then visit you lest he should find you out of +temper. Were I you I should write to him; a word of peace would +set him at ease." + +I approved this advice, and instantly penned the following letter: -- + +Sire -They tell me that your majesty has been tormented +on my account. It is a treason of which I alone could +believe myself capable. But why should I complain? You +have done so much for me that I ought to esteem myself +happy: your august friendship consoles me thro' all my +annoyances. Be assured that henceforth I shall pout no +more; I will be the best sheep in the world, relying on +my shepherd for not having my fleece cut too closely; +for after all I think I am the petted ewe, etc." + +A short time afterwards a page brought me a splendid box of <bonbons> +with a pair of ruby ear-rings surrounded with diamonds, and this +short billet: -- + +"Yes, assuredly you are my pet ewe, and always shall +be. The shepherd has a strong crook with which he +will drive away those who would injure you. Rely on +your shepherd for the care of your tranquillity, and +the peace of your future life." + +In the evening the king visited me. He was embarrassed, but I set +him at ease by showing him a laughing countenance, talking only +of his present, which I had in my ears, and shaking my head about +to keep the drops in motion, which sparkled with great brilliancy. +He was pleased at this, and did not leave me all the evening. In +the morning we were the best friends in the world. + +Some days elapsed, when comte Jean came to me, bringing two +infamous articles which had appeared in the "<Nouvelles a la Main>," +and were directed against me. They were atrocious and deeply +chagrined me: I placed them on the mantel-piece, where all who +came in could see them. The duc de Duras read them, and said, +"Conceal these atrocities from the king." + +"No," was my reply, "I wish him to read them, that he may know +how his affections are respected, and how the police of Paris are +employed in doing their duty to the throne." + +These last words annoyed M. de Duras, between whom and M. de +Sartines there was a connection: the duke was indebted to the +lieutenant-general of police for the special surveillance which he +kept over a young girl of whom he, the duc de Duras, was foolishly +enamoured. Trembling for his <dear friend> M. de Sartines, he +wrote to him in haste, but had not courage or talent enough to +undertake the defence of the guilty person. + +The king came as usual; his general station was at the chimney-piece, +where he amused himself with looking at the baubles that ornamented +it. The "<Nouvelles a la Main>" fell in his way. He read them +once, then again; then, without uttering a word, threw them into +the fire. I observed him, and saw that he was full of emotion +which he sought to conceal, but the anger burst forth soon. The +prince de Soubise, who supped with us that evening, asked the duc +de Duras if he had read the "<Gazette de France.>" + +"No," was the reply; "I seldom read such nonsense." + +"And you are quite right," said the king. "There is at present a +most inconceivable mania for writing. What is the use, I ask you, +gentlemen, of this deluge of books and pamphlets with which +France is inundated? They only contain the spirit of rebellion: +the freedom of writing ought not to be given to every body. +There should be in a well-regulated state seven or eight writers, +not more; and these under the inspection of government. Authors +are the plague of France; you will see whither they will lead it." + +The king spoke this with an animated air, and if at this moment +M. de la Vrillière had come to ask for a <lettre de cachet> +against a writer, the king would not have refused it. + +"Besides," added the king, in a tone of less anger, but no less +emphatically, "I see with pain that the police do not do their duty +with regard to all these indignities." + +"Yet," said the duc de Duras, "M. de Sartines does wonders." + +"Then why does he tolerate such insults? I will let him know +my discontent." + +The duc de Duras was alarmed, and kept his mouth closed. The king +then, resuming his gaiety, joked the two gentlemen on their secret +intrigues: then changing the conversation suddenly, he talked of +the expected arrival of the king of Denmark. + +"Duc de Duras," said he, "you and your son must do the office of +master of ceremonies to his <Polar> majesty. I hope you will +endeavor to amuse him." + +"Yes, sire." + +"Mind, what you undertake is no joke. It is no easy matter to +amuse a king." + +This was a truth which I perceived at every moment, and our monarch +was not the one to be amused with trifling exertion. Frequently +when he entered my apartment he threw himself on an ottoman, and +yawned most excessively, yes, yawned in my company. I had but one +mode of rousing him from this apathy, but it was a sure one. I +spoke of the high magistracy and its perpetual resistance to the +throne. Then the king aroused, instantly sprung from his seat, +traversed the room with rapid strides, and declaimed vigorously +against the <black gowns>; thus he styled the parliaments. I +confess, however, that I only had recourse to the "black gowns" +at the last extremity. Little did I think that at a later period +I should league myself against them. On the one hand, the duc +d'Aiguillon hated them mortally, and on the other, the comte Jean, +like a real Toulousian, would have carried them in his slippers; +so that wavering between the admiration of the one and the hatred +of the other, I knew not which to listen to, or which party to side +with. But to return to present matters. + +The king was always thinking of the "< Nouvelles a la Main,>" and +determined to avenge me as openly as I had been attacked. Two +or three days afterwards he gave a supper, to which he invited the +duchesse and comtesse de Grammont, madame de Forcalquier, the +princess de Marsan, the maréchale de Mirepoix, and the comtesses +de Coigny and de Montbarrey. They were seated at table laughing +and amusing themselves; they talked of the pleasure of being to +<themselves>, of having no <strangers>; they pierced me with a +hundred thrusts; they triumphed! And yet the king was laughing in +his sleeve. At a premeditated signal the duc d'Aiguillon, one of +the guests, asked his majesty if he had seen the comtesse du Barry +that day. This terrible name, thrown suddenly into the midst of +my enemies, had the effect of a thunder-clap. All the ladies looked +at each other first and then at the king, and the duc d'Aiguillon, +reserving profound silence. His majesty then replied, that he had +not had the happiness of visiting me that day, not having had one +moment's leisure; then eulogized me at great length, and ended by +saying to the duke, "If you see the comtesse before I do, be sure +to say that I drank this glass of wine to her health." + +The ladies did not anticipate this. The duchesse de Grammont +particularly, in spite of long residence at court, turned pale to +her very ears, and I believe but for etiquette she would have +fallen into a swoon. I learnt afterwards from the maréchale de +Mirepoix, that the duchesse, on going home, gave herself up to a +fit of rage, which did not terminate even on the following day. +When the king related this occurrence to me, he was as proud +of it as if he had done a most courageous deed. + +But I have omitted a day which was of great importance to me in its +consequences. I mean the day which followed that on which I had +complained to the duc de Duras of M. the lieutenant of police. In +the morning early my sister-in-law came into my room. + +"Sister," said she, "comte Jean is here with M. de Sartines, who +begs to pay his respects to you. Will you receive him?" + +"M. de Sartines! Yes, let him come in; I will treat him as +he deserves." + +Comte Jean then came in, preceded by the lieutenant of police: he +wore a large peruke with white powder, and curled with the utmost +care. Wigs were his mania, and he had a room filled from floor +to ceiling with these ornaments. The duc d'Ayen said, that he +never should be in trouble about the council of state, for in case +of need, it might be found and replenished from the house of the +lieutenant of police. Let us leave wigs and revert to M. de Sartines. + +He appeared before me with the air of Tartuffe, and, forgive the +phrase, <en vrai capon>. + +"Madame," said he to me, "I have been informed that I am in +disgrace with you, and have come to inquire how I may extricate +myself from this misfortune." + +"You ought to know, sir. Twice in one month have I been shamefully +insulted; and yet the first intimation of such a thing ought to have +put you on your guard." + +M. de Sartines, whom my tone had much surprised, endeavored to +justify himself, when comte Jean said to him, + +"My dear lieutenant of police, all you have said goes for nothing. +One thing is certain, and that is, that there is a deficiency of +respect towards my sister-in-law. You say that it is not your +fault: what proof do you give us of this? What inquiries have +you made? What measures have you taken? Any? Why do you come +to us if you aid our enemies?" + +M. de Sartines would fain have ensconced himself in his own dignity. + +"M. du Barry," was his reply, "I shall render an account of my +conduct to the king." + +"Very well, sir," I replied, "but do not suppose that either you +or the Choiseuls can give me any cause of fear." + +M. de Sartines was thunderstruck; my boldness astonished him. At +length he said, + +"Madame, you are angry with me causelessly; I am more negligent +than culpable. It is useless to say this to the king." + +"I will not conceal from you, sir, that he knows it all, and is +greatly discontented with you. " + +"I am lost then," said M. de Sartines. + +"Lost! not precisely," replied comte Jean; "but you must decide +at once and for ever what party you will join. If you are with us +they will use you harshly; if you take the opposite party look to +yourself. Choose." + +After some turnings and twistings, accompanied with compliments, +M. de Sartines declared that he would range himself under our +banner. Then I extended to him my hand in token of reconciliation; +he took it with respect, and kissed it with gallantry. Up to this +time we had conversed with feelings of restraint and standing; but +now we seated ourselves, and begun a conference in form, as to the +manner of preventing a recurrence of the offensive outrages against +me. As a proof of good intention M. de Sartines told me the author +of the two articles of which I complained. He was a wretch, named +Ledoux, who for twelve hundred livres per annum wrote down all +those who displeased the duchesse de Grammont. This lady had no +fear of doing all that was necessary to remove every obstacle to the +publication of such infamies. + +After M. de Sartines had given us all the details which we desired, +and after I had promised to reconcile him to his master, he went +away delighted with having seen me. Believe me, my friend, it is +necessary to be as handsome as I am, that is to say, as I was, to +seduce a lieutenant of police. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The sieur Ledoux--The <lettre de cachet>--The duc de la Vrillière-- +Madame de Langeac--M. de Maupeou--Louis XV--The comte Jean + +On that very evening, the king having come to me, I said to him, + +"Sire, I have made acquaintance with M. de Sartines." + +"What! has he been to make friends with you?" + +"Something like it: but he has appeared to me less culpable than I +thought. He had only yielded to the solicitation of my personal enemy." + +"You cannot have one at my court, madame; the lieutenant of police +would have done well not to have named her to you." + +"Thanks to him, however, I shall now know whom I ought to mistrust. +I know also who is the author of the two scurrilous paragraphs." + +"Some scamp, no doubt; some beggarly scoundrel." + +"A monsieur Ledoux." + +"Ah, I know the fellow. His bad reputation has reached me. It +must be stopped at last." + +So saying, Louis XV went to the chimney, and pulled the bell-rope +with so much vehemence that ten persons answered it at once. + +"Send for the duc de la Vrillière; if he be not suitably attired let +him come in his night-gown, no matter so that he appear quickly." + +On hearing an order given in this manner a stranger might have +supposed the king crazy, and not intent on imprisoning a miserable +libeller. I interceded in his favor, but Louis XV, delighted at an +opportunity of playing the king at a small cost, told me that it +was no person's business, and he would be dictated to by no one. +I was silent, reserving myself until another opportunity when I +could undertake the defence of the poor devil. + +The duc de la Vrillière arrived, not in a dressing-gown, as the +king had authorized, but in magnificent costume. He piqued himself +on his expenditure, and always appeared superbly attired, altho' +the splendor of his apparel could not conceal the meanness of his +look. He was the oldest secretary of state, and certainly was the +least skilful, least esteemed, least considered. Some time after +his death some one said of him in the presence of the duc d'Ayen, +that he had been an unfortunate man, for he had been all his life +the butt of public hatred and universal contempt. "Rather say," +replied the duke, "that he has been a fortunate man; for if justice +had been rendered to him according to his deserts, he would have +been hanged at least a dozen times." + +The duc d'Ayen was right: M. de la Vrillière was a brazen-faced +rogue; a complete thief, without dignity, character, or heart. His +cupidity was boundless: the <lettres de cachet> emanated from his +office, and he carried on an execrable trade in them. If any person +wished to get rid of a father, brother, or husband, they only had +to apply to M. de la Vrillière. He sold the king's signature to +all who paid ready money for it. This man inspired me with an +invincible horror and repugnance. For his part, as I was not +disgusting, he contented himself with hating me; he was animated +against me by his old and avaricious mistress, madame de Langeac, +alias Subutin. Langeac could not endure me. She felt that it was +better to be the mistress of Louis XV than that of the <petit la +Vrillière >, for so her lover was called at court. I knew that she +was no friend of mine, and that her lover sided with the Choiseuls +against me; and was consequently the more delighted to see the +little scoundrel come to receive the order for avenging me. He +entered with an air of embarrassment; and whilst he made me a +salute as low as to the king, this latter, in a brief severe tone, +ordered him to send the sieur Ledoux to Saint Lazare forthwith. +He departed without reply, and half an hour afterwards returned, +to say that it was done. The king then said to him, + +"Do you know this lady?" + +"No, sire." + +"Well, I desire you henceforward to have the greatest consideration +for her as my best friend, and whoever wishes to prove his zeal for +me, will honor and cherish her." + +The king then invited him to sup with us, and I am sure that during +the whole repast I was the hardest morsel he had to digest. + +Some days afterwards I made acquaintance with a person much more +important than the little duke, and destined to play a great part +in the history of France. I mean M. de Maupeou, the late chancellor, +who, in his disgrace, would not resign his charge. M. de Maupeou +possessed one of those firm and superior minds, which, in spite +of all obstacles, change the face of empires. Ardent, yet cool; +bold, but reflective; the clamors of the populace did not astonish, +nor did any obstacles arrest him. He went on in the direct path +which his will chalked out. Quitting the magistracy, he became its +most implacable enemy, and after a deadly combat he came off +conqueror. He felt that the moment had arrived for freeing royalty +from the chains which it had imposed on itself. It was necessary, +he has said to me a hundred times, for the kings of France in past +ages to have a popular power on which they could rely for the +overturning of the feudal power. This power they found in the +high magistracy; but since the reign of Louis XIII the mission +of the parliaments had finished, the nobility was reduced, and +they became no less formidable than the enemy whom they had +aided in subduing. + +"Before fifty years," pursued M. de Maupeou, "kings will be +nothing in France, and parliaments will be everything." + +Talented, a good speaker, even eloquent, M. de Maupeou possessed +qualities which made the greatest enterprises successful. He was +convinced that all men have their price, and that it is only to +find out the sum at which they are purchasable.* As brave personally +as a maréchal of France, his enemies (and he had many) called him +a coarse and quarrelsome man. Hated by all, he despised men in +a body, and jeered at them individually; but little sensible to the +charms of our sex, he only thought of us by freaks, and as a means +of relaxation. This is M. de Maupeou, painted to the life. As +for his person, you know it as well as I do. I have no need to +tell you, that he was little, ugly, and his complexion was yellow, +bordering upon green. It must be owned, however, that his face, +full of thought and intelligence, fully compensated for all the rest. + +*This gentleman would have been an able coadjutor for +Sir Robert Walpole. -Trans. + +You know how, as first president of the parliament of Paris, he +succeeded his father as vice-chancellor. At the resignation of the +titular M. de Lamoignon*, the elder Maupeou received his letters +of nomination, and as soon as they were registered, he resigned +in favor of his son. The Choiseuls had allowed the latter to be +nominated, relying on finding him a creature. I soon saw that the +Choiseuls were mistaken. + +*In September, 1768. (au.) + +It was in the month of October, that Henriette, always my favorite, +came to me with an air of unusual mystery, to say, that a black* +and ugly gentleman wished to see me; that on the usual reply +that I was not visible, he had insisted, and sent, at the same +time, a cautiously sealed note. I took it, opened, and read +these words: -- + + *i.e., black-haired and/or dressed in black (Gutenberg ed.) + +"The chancellor of France wishes to have the honor +of presenting his respectful homage to madame la +comtesse du Barry." + +"Let him come in," I said to Henriette. + +"I will lay a wager, madame, that he comes to ask some favor." + +"I believe," replied I, "that he is more frequently the solicited +than the solicitor." + +Henriette went out, and in a few minutes led in, thro' the private +corridors which communicated with my apartment, his highness +monseigneur Rene Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, chevalier +and chancellor of France. As soon as he entered I conceived a +good opinion of him, altho' I had only seen him walk. His step +was firm and assured, like that of a man confident in the resources +of his own talents. + +"Madame la comtesse du Barry," he said, "would have a right to +complain of me, if I did not come and lay my person at her feet. +I had the more impatience to express to her my devotion, as I +feared she had been prejudiced against me." + +"How, monseigneur?" + +"The gate by which I entered the ministry--" + +"Is not agreeable to me, as being that of my enemies, but I feel +assured that you will not side with them against me." + +"Certainly not, madame; it is my wish to give you pleasure in +every thing, and I flatter myself I may merit your friendship." + +After many other compliments, the Chancellor asked me, with much +familiarity, when my presentation was to take place, and why it had +not yet occurred. I replied, that the delay arose from the intrigues +of Choiseul, and the king shrunk from the discontent of a handful +of courtiers. + +"I am sorry for it," said M. de Maupeou; "in the first place, +madame, because of the interest I take in you, and also because +for his majesty, it would be a means of striking terror into the +opposing party. You know, madame, how annoying parliaments are +to all your friends, and with what bitterness those of Bretagne and +Paris, at this moment, are pursuing the duc d'Aiguillon." + +"Do you think," I replied with emotion, "that matters are +unfavorable towards him?" + +"I hope not, but he must be warmly supported." + +"Ah! I will aid him with all my influence. He is no doubt +innocent of the crimes imputed to him." + +"Yes, certainly. He has done no other wrong than to defend the +authority of the crown against the enmity of the parliaments." + +We continued some time to talk of parliaments and parliament men: +then we agreed that M. de Maupeou should see me again, accompanied +by the duc d'Aiguillon, who should have the credit of presenting him, +and he left me with as much mystery as he had entered. + +When the king came to see me, I said to him, "I have made acquaintance +with your chancellor: he is a very amiable man, and I hope that he +will not conduct himself improperly towards me." + +"Where did you see him?" + +"Here, sire, and but a short time since." + +"He came then to visit you?" + +"Yes, in person, that he might obtain the favor of being permitted +to pay his court to me." + +"Really what you tell me seems perfectly unaccountable. He has +then burst from the hands of the Choiseuls? It is amusing. Poor +Choiseul, when soliciting for Maupeou, he most tremendously +deceived himself." + +"At least, sire, you must own that he has given you no fool." + +"True. The chancellor is a man full of talents, and I do not +doubt but that he will restore to my crown that power which +circumstances have deprived it of. However, if you see him +familiarly, advise him not to persuade me to extreme measures. +I wish all should work for the best, without violent courses and +without painful struggles." + +These last words proved to me the natural timidity of the king. + +"I knew very well," added the king, "that Maupeou would not prove +a man for the Choiseuls. The main point is, that he should be mine, +and I am content." + +Louis XV was then satisfied with the chancellor, but he was not +equally so with the comte Jean. + +"I do not like," said he to me, "your Du Barry monkey. He is a +treacherous fellow, who has betrayed his party, and I hope some +of these mornings we shall hear that the devil has wrung his neck." + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The king of Denmark--The courtesans of Paris--The duc de Choiseul and the bishop of +Orleans--Witty repartees of the king of Denmark-- +His visit to madame du Barry--"The court of king Petaud," a satire-- +Letter of the duc d'Aiguillon to Voltaire--The duchesse de Grammont +mystified--Unpublished letter of Voltaire's + +>From this moment, and in spite of all that comte Jean could say +against it, a new counsellor was admitted to my confidence. He +was the chancellor. The duc d'Aiguillon and he were on very good +terms, and these two, with the abbé Teray, of whom I shall speak +to you presently, formed a triumvirate, which governed France from +the disgrace of M. de Choiseul to the death of the king. But +before I enter upon a detail of those politics, of which you will +find that I understand something, allow me to continue the history +of my presentation, and also to give some account of Christian VII. + +You know that his Danish majesty was expected with anything but +pleasure by the king of France, and with curiosity by the rest of +the nation. Men and women were impatient to see a king, under +twenty years of age, who was traversing Europe with a design of +attaining instruction. Married to a lovely woman, Caroline Mathilde, +he had left her on the instant, without suspecting that this separation +would prove fatal to both. At Paris, the real character of this +prince was not known, but a confused report of his gallantry was +spread abroad, on which all the courtesans of note in the city +began to try all arts to please him, each hoping to attract him to +herself, and dip into his strong box. M. de Sartines amused us one +evening, the king and myself, by telling us of the plans of these +ladies. Some were going to meet his Danish majesty, others were +to await him at the barrier, and two of the most renowned, +mesdemoiselles Gradi and Laprairie, had their portraits painted, +to send to the young monarch as soon as he should arrive. + +Christian VII entered Paris the latter end of the month of October, +1768. MM. de Duras complimented him in the king's name, and +informed him that they were charged with the office of receiving +his commands during his residence in Paris. The interview of the +king and the illustrious stranger took place at Versailles. Christian +VII came thither in the state-carriage, and was conducted by the +duc de Duras into the apartment of the dauphin, where he remained +until Louis XV was prepared to receive him. I had heard much +discussion about this reception. It was said, that to make a +distinction between sovereign of a petty state and that of the +superb kingdom of France, it was requisite that the former should +await for some time the audience which the latter accorded. I am +sure that when the peace with Frederick was agitated, the face of +Louis XV was not more grave and serious than during this puerile +debate about etiquette. + +The duc de Choiseul, who had the control of foreign affairs, +was in the apartment to receive his Danish majesty, with his +colleagues, the duc de Praslin, the comte de Saint-Florentin +(whom I have called by anticipation duc de la Vrillière), M. +Bertin, M. Mainon d'Invau, controller of the finances, and M. de +Jarente, bishop of Orleans and one of the ministry. He kept +himself somewhat in the background, as tho' from humility. The +duc de Choiseul came up to him, and said, with a smile, + +"Monseigneur, what brings you in contact with a heretic?" + +"To watch for the moment of penitence." + +"But what will you do if it become necessary to teach him his <credo>?" + +M. de Jarente understood the joke, and was the first to jest upon +his own unepiscopal conduct, replying to the duc de Choiseul, + +"There is a person present who knows it; he will whisper it to +me, and, if necessary, the <Veni Creator> also." + +The king of Denmark was congratulated by the duc de Choiseul, +who discharged this duty with as much grace as wit. Afterwards M. +Desgranges, master of the ceremonies, having announced that +Louis XV was visible, the king of Denmark, preceded by his +gentlemen and the French ministers and lords, went to the king's +cabinet, in which two arm-chairs precisely alike were prepared, +but his majesty of Denmark positively refused to be seated. He +entered into conversation, and felicitated himself on seeing a +monarch, whose renown filled Europe, and whom he should take as +his model. During this conversation Christian VII displayed the +greatest amiability. Our king, speaking to him, said, "I am old +enough to be your father" ; to which he replied, "All my conduct +towards you shall be that of a son." This was thought admirable; +and at the termination of the interview Louis XV appeared charmed +with his brother of Denmark. "He is a complete Frenchman," said he +to me, "and I should be sorry if he left me dissatisfied." + +That same evening Christian VII visited monseigneur the dauphin, +in whom he did not find the urbanity of his grandfather. The +conversation was short and abridged out of regard to our prince, +who only stammered, without being able to find one polished +phrase. Never was there in his youth a more timid and awkwardly +conducted prince than the present king. I shall mention him and +his brothers hereafter, but will now direct my immediate attention +to the king of Denmark. He supped the same evening with Louis XV +at a table with four and twenty ladies of the court, selected from +amongst those most celebrated for the charms of their persons or +their wit. As his Danish majesty was greatly struck with madame +de Flaracourt, the king asked him how old the lady might be in +his opinion. + +"Thirty, perhaps," was the reply. + +"Thirty, brother! she is fifty." + +"Then age has no influence at your court." +I shall not copy the "<Gazette de France>" to tell you of the +sojourn of Christian VII at Paris. I am not writing the journal +of this prince but of myself. The king one day said to me, + +"My brother of Denmark has expressed to the duc de Duras a +great desire to pay his respects to you, if you will accede to his +wishes. I leave you entirely sovereign mistress of yourself, not +without some fear however that the young king will steal away +your heart from me." + +"Ah, sire," I replied, "that is an unjust suspicion; I should be +angry about it if it were not a joke, and would refuse to see the +king of Denmark did I not know how fully you are assured of my +attachment to you." + +"I should not be so jealous, madame, if I did not set so much value +on it," was the reply of the king, as he kissed my hand. + +The duc de Duras came the next day to inform me of the request of +his new king. It was agreed, in order to keep the interview secret, +that I should receive him at my own mansion in the Rue de la +Jussienne, and that he should come there without suite, and with +the strictest incognito. At the day and hour agreed he entered my +house, escorting two strangers of admirable presence. One was the +king of Denmark, under the name of comte de ------, and the other +a nobleman of his suite. Christian VII appeared to me a very +handsome man. He had large and singularly expressive eyes; too +much so, perhaps, for their brilliancy was not of good augury; +and I was not surprised at hearing subsequently that his reason +had abandoned him, altho' he possessed and exerted his wit most +perfectly during our conversation, in which he displayed the +greatest gallantry. I could not reproach him with one single +expression that was objectionable, altho' the subject of conversation +was delicate. He discoursed of the feelings of the king towards +me, and yet said not a word that was unsuited or out of place, +nothing but what was in the best taste, and expressed with the +utmost delicacy. I asked him if the ladies of Denmark were +handsome. "I thought, madame," was his reply, "until now, that +the ladies of my kingdom were the most lovely in Europe." + +We did not talk of myself only: Christian VII spoke of Paris with +enthusiasm. "It is the capital of the world," he remarked, "and +our states are but the provinces." He sought out our most celebrated +<savants> and <literati>, and was particularly delighted with +d'Alembert, Diderot, la Harpe, and M. the comte de Buffon. He +greatly regretted that Voltaire was not in Paris, and expressed +his great desire to see at Ferney the great genius (as he termed +him) who instructed and amused the world. He appeared weary of +the fêtes which were given, and especially with the deadly-lively +company of the two Duras. It was enough to kill you to have only +one of them, and you may imagine the torture of being bored with +both. The duke had promised Louis XV to be as amusing as possible +too! After a conversation of three hours, which his majesty (of +course) said had appeared but of a moment, he left me delighted +with his person, wit, and manners. + +When Louis XV saw me, he inquired my opinion of his Danish majesty. + +"He is," I replied, "a well-educated king, and that they say is a rarity." + +"True," said Louis XV, "there are so many persons who are +interested in our ignorance, that it is a miracle if we escape out +of their hands as reasonable beings." + +I went on to tell the king our conversation. + +"Ah," cried he, "here is one who will increase the vanity of the +literary tribe: they want it, certainly. All these wits are our +natural born enemies; and think themselves above us; and the +more we honor them, the greater right do they assume to censure +and despise us." + +This was the usual burden of his song: he hated men of learning. +Voltaire especially was his detestation, on account of the numerous +epigrams which this great man had written against him; and Voltaire +had just given fresh subject of offence by publishing "<La Cour du +Roi Petaud" ("The Court of the King Petaud," ) a satire evidently +directed as strongly against the king as your humble servant. M. +de Voltaire had doubtless been encouraged to write this libel by +the Choiseul party. He was at a distance, judged unfavorably of +me, and thought he could scourge me without compromising himself. + +It was comte Jean who brought me these verses, in which there was +less poetry than malevolence. I read them, was indignant, and +wept. The duc d'Aiguillon came, and finding me in tears, inquired +the cause. + +"Here," said I, giving him the poem, "see if you can bear so gross +an insult." He took the paper, cast his eyes over it, and having +folded it up, put it into his pocket. + + "It was ill done," said he, "to show this to you. I knew of it +yesterday, and came now to talk with you of it." + +"I rely on you to do me justice." + +"<Miséricorde!>" cried the duke, "would you lose yourself in the +eyes of all France? You would place yourself in a fine situation +by declaring yourself the persecutrix of Voltaire. Only an enemy +could have thus advised you." + +"That enemy was comte Jean." + +"Then your imprudence equals your zeal. Do you not perceive the +advantage it would give to your adversaries were we to act in +this manner? To the hatred of the court would be united that of +the <literati>, women, and young persons. Voltaire is a god, who +is not to be smitten without sacrilege." + +"Must I then tamely submit to be beaten?" + +"Yes, for the moment. But it will not last long; I have just +written this letter to M. de Voltaire, that peace may be made +between you:-- + +"SIR,--The superiority of your genius places you +amongst the number of the potentates of Europe. +Every one desires, not only to be at peace with you, +but even, if it be possible, to obtain your esteem. +I flatter myself with being included in the ranks of +your admirers; my uncle has spoken to you many times +of my attachment to your person, and I embrace the +opportunity of proving this by a means that now +presents itself. + +"Persons in whom you place too much confidence have +spread abroad, under your name, copies of a poem, +entitled '<La Cour du Roi Petaud.>' In this, wherein +insult is cast on a personage who should be exempt +from such offence, is also outraged, in a most indecent +way, a lovely female, whom you would adore as we do, +if you had the happiness to know her. Is it for the +poet of the lover of Gabrielle to carry desolation into +the kingdom of the Graces? + +"Your correspondents use you ill by leaving you in +ignorance, that this young person has immense favor +here; that we are all at her feet; that she is all +powerful, and her anger is to be particularly avoided. +She is the more to be propitiated, as yesterday, in +Presence of a certain person whom your verses had +greatly irritated, she took up your defence with as +much grace as generosity. You see, sir, that you +ought not to be on bad terms with her. + +"My uncle allows me to see, as one of the initiated, +what you call your scraps, which are delicious feasts +to us. I read them to the lady in question, who takes +great delight in reciting, or hearing others recite, +your verses, and she begs you will send her some as a +proof of your repentance. Under these circumstances, +if your bellicose disposition urges you on to war, we +hope, before you continue it, that you will loyally and +frankly declare it. + +"In conclusion, be assured that I shall defend you to +my utmost, and am for life, + +"Yours, etc." + +Whilst we were awaiting Voltaire's reply, I determined to avenge +myself on the duchesse de Grammont, who had encouraged him in +his attack; and thus did I serve this lady. Persuaded that she did +not know the writing of his Danish majesty, I wrote the following +letter to her:-- + +"MADAME LA DUCHESSE,--I have struggled to this time +to avoid confessing to you how I am subdued. Happy +should I be could I throw myself at your feet. My +rank alone must excuse my boldness. Nothing would +equal my joy if this evening, at the theatre at madame +de Villeroi's, you would appear with blue feathers in +your head-dress. I do not add my name; it is one of +those which should not be found at the bottom of a +declaration of love." + +In spite of all her penetration, the duchesse de Grammont did not +perceive, in the emphatic tone of this letter, that it was a trick. +Her self-love made her believe that a woman of more than forty +could be pleasing to a king not yet twenty. She actually went +in the evening to madame de Villeroi's dressed in blue, with a +blue plumed head-dress. She was placed next to his Danish majesty. +Christian VII addressed her in most courteous terms, but not one +word of love. + +The duchesse imagining that the prince was timid, looked at him +with eyes of tenderness, and endeavored to attract and encourage +him by all means she could devise, but the monarch did not +understand her. The duchesse then addressed a few words, which +she hoped would lead to an explanation, but, to her dismay, his +majesty did not appear to understand her. Madame de Grammont +was furious at this affair. The duc d'Aiguillon, who was close to +her, had seen all, heard all, and related particulars to me. The +same day I told the king of my trick and its success. He laughed +excessively, and then scolded me for at all compromising his +Danish majesty. + +"How, sire?" was my reply. "I did not sign his name; I have not +forged his signature. The vanity of the duchesse has alone caused +all the ridiculous portion of this joke. So much the worse for +her if she did not succeed." + +I did not, however, limit my revenge to this. A second letter, +in the same hand, was addressed to my luckless enemy. This time +she was informed that she been made a butt of, and mystified. I +learned from M. de Sartines, who, after our compact, gave me +details of all, the methods she had pursued to detect the author of +these two epistles, and put a termination to all these inquiries, +by denouncing myself to M. de Sartines; who then gave such a +turn to the whole matter, that the duchesse could never arrive +at the truth. + +Voltaire, in the meantime, was not slow in reply; and as I imagine +that you will not be sorry to read his letter, I transcribe it for you:-- + +"MONSIEUR LE DUC,-- I am a lost, destroyed man. If I +had strength enough to fly, I do not know where I +should find courage to take refuge. I! Good God! I +am suspected of having attacked that which, in common +with all France, I respect! When there only remains to +me the smallest power of utterance, but enough to chant +a <De profundis,> that I should employ it in howling at +the most lovely and amiable of females! Believe me, +monsieur le duc, that it is not at the moment when a +man is about to render up his soul, that a man of my +good feeling would outrage the divinity whom he adores. +"No, I am not the author of the '<Cour du Roi Petaud.>' +The verses of this rhapsody are not worth much, it is +true; but indeed they are not mine: they are too +miserable, and of too bad a style. All this vile trash +spread abroad in my name, all those pamphlets without +talent, make me lose my senses, and now I have scarcely +enough left to defend myself with. It is on you, +monsieur le duc, that I rely; do not refuse to be the +advocate of an unfortunate man unjustly accused. +Condescend to say to this young lady, that I have +been before embroiled with madame de Pompadour, +for whom I professed the highest esteem; tell her, that +at the present day especially, the favorite of Caesar is +sacred for me; that my heart and pen are hers, and +that I only aspire to live and die under her banner. + +"As to the scraps you ask for, I have not at this moment +any suitable. Only the best viands are served up at the +table of the goddesses. If I had any I would present them +to the person of whom you speak to me. Assure her, that +one day the greatest merit of my verse will be to have them +recited by her lips; and entreat her, until she bestows +immortality on me, to permit me to prostrate myself at +her beautiful feet. + +"I will not conclude my letter, monsieur le duc, +without thanking you a thousand times for the advice +you have given me. This proof of your kindness will, +if possible augment the sincere attachment I bear to +you. I salute you with profound respect." + +As it is bold to hold the pen after having transcribed anything +of M. de Voltaire's, I leave off here for to-day. + + + +CHAPTER X + + +When is the presentation to take place?--Conversation on this +subject with the king--M. de Maupeou and M. de la Vauguyon-- +Conversation on the same subject with the king and the duc de +Richelieu--M. de la Vrillière--M. Bertin---Louis XV and the +comtesse--The king's promise--The fire-works, an anecdote--The +marquise de Castellane--M. de Maupeou at the duc de Choiseul's-- +The duchesse de Grammont + +In spite of the love of the duchesse de Grammont, the king of +Denmark departed at last. Louis XV having resumed his former +habits, I began to meditate seriously on my presentation; and my +friends employed themselves to the utmost in furthering my desires +and insuring my triumph. + +The chancellor, who each day became more attached to my interests, +opened the campaign. One day, when the king was in a rage with +the parliaments, the chancellor seized the opportunity to tell him +that the cabal, who were opposed to my presentation, testified so +much resistance, under the idea, and in the hope, that they would +be supported by the parliaments of Paris. + +"If your majesty," added the chancellor, "had less condescension +towards these malcontents, they would fear your authority more." + +"You will see," replied the king, "that it will be their audacity +which will urge me on to a step, which otherwise I should wish +to avoid." + +Whilst the hatred which M. de Maupeou bore towards the parliaments +served me in this way, the love of M. de la Vauguyon for the +Jesuits turned to even more advantage. The good duke incessantly +talked to me of his dear Jesuits; and I as constantly replied, that +my influence would not be salutary until after my presentation, M. +de la Vauguyon had sense enough to perceive the embarrassment of my +situation, and saw that before I could think of others I must think +of myself. Having taken "sweet counsel" with the powerful heads of +his company, he freely gave me all his influence with the king. + +Fortune sent me an auxiliary not less influential than these two +gentlemen; I mean the maréchal duc de Richelieu. In the month of +January, 1769, he returned from his government of Guienne to enter +on service. He had much credit with the king, and this (would you +believe it?) resulted from his reputation as a man of intrigue. He +told the king every thing that came into his head: he told him one +day, that the Choiseuls boasted that he, the king of France, never +dared introduce his mistress into the state apartments at Versailles. + +"Yes," added the duke, "they boast so loudly, that nothing else is +talked of in the province; and at Bordeaux, for instance, there is +one merchant who, on the strength of the enemies of the comtesse, +has made a bet that she will never be presented." + +"And why do you not imprison these persons?" inquired the +king, angrily. + +"Because, sire, it appears to me injustice to punish the echo of +the fooleries of Paris." + +"I will conduct myself as regards the presentation of madame du +Barry in the manner which I think best. But is it not an +inconceivable contrariety, that one party should wish it with the +utmost desire, and another place every obstacle in the way? In +truth, I am very unfortunate, and a cruel tyranny is exercised +over me." + +The duc de Richelieu, not wishing to appear as one of the tyrants +of the king, gave a different turn to the conversation. + +My presentation was, however, a matter of first-rate importance to +me and to my partizans, and the duc de la Vrillière was gained +over to my side, by making him believe that the king would yield +to my desires, and that then I should remember all those who +opposed my elevation. The duc d'Aiguillon also drew over to my +party M. Bertin, who bore no love to the Choiseuls, and who saw +that the preponderance of interest was on my side of the scale. +When I was assured of a considerable number of defenders, I +thought I might venture on the master stroke, and thus I went +to work. + +One evening the king was with me, and the MM. de Maupeou and de +Richelieu were there also. We were discoursing of different things, +and the king was perfectly tranquillized, little anticipating the +scene that was in store for him. I rose suddenly from my arm-chair, +and going up to his majesty, after a profound courtesy cast myself +at his feet. Louis XV would have raised me, but I said, + +"No, I will remain where I am until you have accorded me the +favor I ask." + +"If you remain in this posture I shall place myself in a similar one." + +"Well, then, since you will not have me at your knees I will place +myself on them"; and I seated myself in his lap without ceremony. + +"Listen to me, sire," I said, "and repeat what I say to the king of +France word for word. He must authorize my presentation; for else, +some fine day, in the presence of the whole court, I will go to the +state apartments, and try whether I shall be repulsed at the door." + +"Will she have the boldness?" inquired the king to the chancellor. + +"I have no doubt of it, sire. A female, young, beautiful, honored +with your kindness, may venture to do anything." + +"Is it not distressing to me," I added, "that, graced with your +majesty's favors, I remain thus concealed, whilst women whom +you detest annoy you with their presence." + +"Madame is right," replied the duc de Richelieu, "and I see that +you look for her every evening where she is not, and where she +ought to be." + +"What! you too, duc de Richelieu, do you join the cry of +the chancellor?" + +"I would tear out the eyes of these gentlemen," I added, "if +they thought differently from me." + +"Oh," said the king, laughing, "this punishment would not be one +for M. Maupeou: justice ought to be blind: and as for you, M. de +Richelieu, you have your <baton> left." + +"Which he has nobly gained," I replied, "by fighting against your +majesty's enemies, and of which he still continues worthy, by now +defending me from my foes." + +"This rebellion," said the king, "cannot last, and I see myself +compelled to hold a <lit de justice> (a judicial sitting or bed)." + +"And I swear to you, that I will receive nobody into mine until I +have been presented." + +This sally amused the king, who said, "Well, since it must be so, +you shall be presented." + +At this I leaped on the king's neck, giving a cry which might have +been heard by my rivals. After that, I advanced to the two +gentlemen who had advocated my cause so well, extending a hand to +each, which they took and kissed with great gallantry. + +Louis XV became thoughtful, and continued to mutter between his +teeth, "I wash my hands of it--they will cry out, they will clamor, +but it must be so." I saw the feelings of the king, and took care +not to allow him to go away in this state. Whilst I sought to +compose him by my caresses, the duc de Richelieu told us one of +his thousand and one adventures, which he told so well. I know +not if it will please you, but such as it is I shall give you an +abridgment of it. + +"I was, you know," he began, "a very good-looking, a very wild +fellow: women have no objection to this. I was travelling, and +in my way thro' D----, M., the intendant of the city, insisted on +my taking up my abode at his house. His lady added her entreaties, +and I consented. I must tell you that the lady was handsome. I +had passed the night with her; but when, on the next morning, as +I sought to go out of her apartment, I found the outer door double +locked and bolted. I looked round me on all sides, but found no +egress. Whilst I was lamenting this with the lady's <femme-de- +chambre>, who was nearly as much distressed as her mistress, I +saw in a detached closet a great many machines covered with paper, +and all of different shapes. On inquiry, I was informed that the +following Monday was the lady's birthday, which they were to +celebrate with fireworks. I looked at the beautiful fusees and +brilliant suns with much admiration. Suddenly, thinking of the +lady's honor which might be compromised, I took a light and set +fire to a Roman candle; in a moment the whole was in flames, and +everybody took alarm. Great was the consternation in the house, +which was turned out of windows; and in the uproar, the house-door +being broken open, a crowd of persons rushed in; I ran this way +and that way; everybody admired and praised my exertions. I was +compelled to quit the house at last, and ordered my carriage, whilst +M. the intendant was thanking me for the vast service I had rendered +him. I assure you, sire, that I never laughed more heartily."* + +*The duc de Richelieu preserved his coolness and +talent at repartee in the most trivial circumstances. +The story is well known of the man who came to +ask for his aid, saying they were related. "How?" +asked the duke. "Sir, by Adam." "Give this man a +penny," said the duke, turning to a gentleman of his +train; "and if all of his relations give him as much +he will soon be a richer man than I am." + +If our readers will turn to "Joe Miller," Page 45, +they will find this jest attributed to the witty +duke of Buckingham. It is a very good joke for a +duke, but savors more of a desire to be witty than +to be charitable. + +(translator) + +This tale amused the king, and M. de Richelieu assured him that he +had never told it before. A thousand considerations had induced +him to keep it to himself until the present time. "But now," said +he, "the third generation of madame l'intendante is no longer +young, and I have no fear of being called out to fight a duel." + +Next day there was a general rumor of my presentation. My friends +asserted that I had the king's promise. This was imprudent on +their part, and they injured my interest whilst they flattered my +vanity. They put the Choiseul cabal to work, who intrigued so +well that not a person could be found who would perform the +office of introductress. You know the custom: the presentation +is effected by the intermediation of another lady, who conducts +the person to be presented to the princesses, and introduces her. +This custom had passed into a law, and it would have been too +humiliating to me to have dispensed with it. + +This was a dire blow for me: it distressed me sadly, and I wept +over it with my friends. The duc de Richelien said to me, + +"With money and promises everything can be managed at court. There +is no place where they know better how to value complaisance, and +the price at which it is sold. Do not give yourself any uneasiness; +we shall find the lady we want." + +And we did find her, but her compliance was dearly bought. Two +ladies who were applied to stipulated for most outrageous +conditions. One, the marquise de Castellane, consented to present +me, but demanded that she should be created a duchess, and have +a gift of five hundred thousand livres: the other, whose name I +forget, asked for her husband the order of the Holy Ghost and +a government, a regiment for her son, and for herself I forget +what. These ladies seemed to think, like Don Quixote and Sancho +Panza, that governments and five hundred thousand livres were to +be picked up on the highway. In truth, they spoke out +without disguise. + +At this juncture the chancellor had a singular conversation +concerning me with the Choiseuls. He had been one morning to +call on the duke, and whilst they were discoursing, the duchesse +de Grammont came into her brother's apartment, and entered at +once into conversation. + +"Ah, my lord, I am glad to see you. Your new friends carry you +off from your old ones. You are wrong to adore the rising sun." + +'That was the idolatry of a great number of persons: but I beg of +you to be so very kind as not to speak to me in figures, if you +would wish me to understand you." + +"Oh, you play off the ignorant. You know as well as I do what I +mean, and your daily visits to this <fille>." + +"Which, madame? There are so many at court!" + +This sarcastic reply made the brother and sister smile; both of +them being fully competent to understand the merit of an epigram. +The duke fearing lest the duchess should go too far, judging by +what she had already said, thus addressed him: + +"You are, then, one of the adorers of the comtesse du Barry?" + +"Yes, monsieur le due; and would to God that, for your own +interest, you would be so too!" + +"My brother set foot in the house of this creature!" + +"Why not, madame? We see good company there; the prince de +Soubise, the ducs de la Trimouille, de la Vauguyon, Duras, +Richelieu, d'Aiguillon, and many others, not to mention the king +of France. A gentleman may be seen in such company without +any disgrace." + +"Monsieur le chevalier," replied the duke, "to speak candidly to +you, allow me to ask, if any one who would have the friendship of +our house would be seen in that of the lady in question?" + +"Pardon me, duke; that is not the question. Allow me, in turn, +to ask you, why those of your house should not go there? This, +I think, is the real question." + +"You offer us a splendid alliance!" said the duchess with anger. + +"I offer nothing, madame: I only inquire. For my part, I see no +legitimate motive for this proscription of madame du Barry." + +"A woman without character!" + +"Character! Why, madame, who has any in these days? M. de Crebillon +the younger would be at a loss to tell us where to find it." + +This reply made the duke and his sister smile again. The chancellor +went on thus: + +"It appears to me that persons were less difficult in the times +of madame de Pompadour." + +"But a creature who has been so low in society!" + +"Have you seen her so, madame? And supposing it has been the +case, do we interdict all ladies of conduct not less blamable from +an introduction at court. How many can you enumerate, madame, +who have led a life much more scandalous? Let us count them on +our fingers. First, the maréchale de Luxembourg, one; then--" + +"Then the comtesse de Choiseul, my sister-in-law," added the +duke; "we know it as well as you, sir. But this is not the matter +in question. You are not ignorant that our enemies surround this +madame du Barry; and it is of your alliance with them that +I complain." + +"You see everything with a jaundiced eye, monsieur le duc. But +if you fear the influence of this lady with the king, why do you +not present yourself at her apartments? She would be delighted +to receive you." + +"No, no!" cried the duchess, "my brother will never present +himself to such a creature. If he would degrade himself so low, +I would never forgive him as long as I live. Since you show +your gratitude for what has been done for you by leaguing yourself +with this woman, tell her from me that I detest her, and that I will +never rest until I have sent her back again to her dunghill." + +"Madame," replied the chancellor, "I will evince my gratitude to +the duke by not delivering such a message"; and the chancellor +went out. + +M. de Maupeou came to tell me the whole of this conversation, +which <Chon> wrote down under his dictation, that I might show +it to the king. You will see in my next letter what resulted from +all this, and how the ill-timed enmity of the Choiseuls served my +interests most materially. + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +A word concerning the duchesse de Choiseul--The apartment of the +Comte de Noailles--The Noailles--Intrigues for presentation--The +comte de Bearn--M. Morand once more--Visit of the comtesse Bearn +to the comtesse du Barry--Conversation--Interested complaisance +The king and the comtesse du Barry--Dispute and reconciliation + +I showed the king this conversation, in which I had so shamefully +vilified by the duchesse de Grammont. Louis XV was very much +inclined to testify his disapprobation to this lady, but was withheld +by the consideration he felt for the duke and (particularly) the +duchesse de Choiseul. This latter lady was not beloved by her +husband, but her noble qualities, her good heart, made her an +object of adoration to the whole court. You could not speak to +any person of madame de Choiseul without hearing an eulogium in +reply. The king himself was full of respect towards her; so much +so, that, on the disgrace of the duke, he in some sort asked her +pardon for the chagrin which he had caused her. Good conduct is +no claim to advancement at court, but it procures the esteem of +the courtiers. Remember, my friend, this moral maxim: there is +not one of greater truth in my whole journal. + +The king, unable to interpose his authority in a woman's quarrel, +was yet determined on giving a striking proof of the attachment +he bore to me. I had up to this period occupied Lebel's apartments +in the château: it was not befitting my station, and the king +thought he would give me those of madame de Pompadour, to which +I had some claim. This apartment was now occupied by the comte +de Noailles, governor of the château, who, as great fool as the +rest of his family, began to exclaim most lustily when the king's +will was communicated to him. He came to his majesty complaining +and lamenting. The king listened very quietly to his list of +grievances; and when he had moaned and groaned out his dolorous +tale, his majesty said to him, + +"My dear count, who built the château of Versailles?" + +"Why, sire, your illustrious grandfather." + +"Well, then, as I am at home, I mean to be master. You may +establish the seat of your government where you will; but in two +hours the place must be free. I am in earnest." + +The comte de Noailles departed much disconcerted, took away his +furniture, and the same evening I installed myself in the apartments. +You must think that this was a fresh cause of chagrin, and created +me more enemies. There are certain families who look upon the +court as their hereditary domain: the Noailles was one of them. +However, there is no grounds of pretension to such a right. +Their family took its rise from a certain Adhemar de Noailles, +<capitoul> of Toulouse, ennobled, according to all appearance, +by the exercise of his charge in 1459. The grandfather of these +Noailles was a domestic of M. de Turenne's, and his family was +patronized at court by madame de Maintenon. Everybody knows +this. But to return to my presentation. + +M. de Maupeou, whose good services I can never sufficiently +vaunt, came to me one day, and said, "I think that I have found +a lady <presenteuse>. I have a dame of quality who will do +what we want." + +"Who is it?" said I, with joy. + +"A comtesse d'Escarbagnas, a litigious lady, with much ambition +and avarice. You must see her, talk with her, and understand +each other." + +"But where can we see her?" + +"That is easy enough. She claims from the house of Saluces a +property of three hundred thousand livres: she is very greedy for +money. Send some one to her, who shall whisper in her ear that +I see you often, and that your protection can serve her greatly in +her lawsuit: she will come to you post haste." + +I approved the counsel of the chancellor; and, in concert with +comte Jean, I once again made use of the ministry of the good M. +Morand, whom I had recompensed largely for his good and loyal +services. This was, however, the last he ever rendered me; for I +learned some months after my presentation that he had died of +indigestion: a death worthy of such a life and such a man. + +M. Morand, after having found out the attorney of madame the +comtesse de Bearn, went to him under some pretext, and then +boasted of my vast influence with the chancellor. The lawyer, to +whom madame de Bearn was to pay a visit on that very day, did +not fail to repeat what M. Morand had told him. The next day the +comtesse, like a true litigant, called upon him: she related her +affair to him, and begged him to use his interest with me. + +"I would do it with pleasure," said the worthy, "if I did not +think it better that you should see the comtesse du Barry yourself. +I can assure you that she will be delighted to aid you." + +Madame de Bearn then came to me with M. Morand. Gracious heavens! +how simple we were to take so much pains with this lady: had we +known her better we should not have been so long in coming to the +point. Scarcely any thing was said at this first visit: I contented +myself with assuring her of my good will. On the same day the +vicomte Adolphe du Barry told his father that that the young de +Bearn had asked him the evening before, if I had found a <stepmother> +to present me; that in case I had not, his mother would not refuse +such a service, should it be desired by the king. Comte Jean and +I perfectly understood the lady. She came again, and I renewed +the expression of my desire to be useful to her. She replied in +a hackneyed phrase, that she should be charmed to prove her +gratitude to me. I took her word. + +"Madame," said I to her, "you cannot be ignorant that I ardently +desire to be presented. My husband has sent in his proofs of +nobility, which have been received; I now only want a <marraine> +(godmother); if you will officiate in that capacity, I shall owe +you a debt of gratitude all my life." + +"Madame, I am at the king's orders." + +"But, madame, the king has nothing to do with this. I wish to +be presented; will you be my introductress?" + +"Madame, the first wish of my heart is to be agreeable to you; I +only desire that the king indicate in some way, no matter how +trifling, his will on this point." + +"Well, then," I exclaimed, with impatience, "I see you will not +give me a direct reply. Why should you wish the king to interfere +in what does not concern him? Is it your intention to oblige me; +yes or no?" + +"Yes, madame, certainly; but you must be aware of the tremendous +cabal which is raised against you. Can I contend against it alone, +and who will sustain me thro' it?" + +"I will to the full extent of my power as long as I am here, and +the king will always do so. I can assure you, that he will be +grateful for your exertions in my behalf." + +"I should like to have half a line from his majesty as a protection +and assurance." + +"And that you will not get. The king's signature must not be +compromised in this affair, and I do not think I ought to ask +for it; let us therefore, madame, cease this discourse, since +you ask such terms for your complaisance." + +The comtesse de Bearn rose; I did the same; and we parted mutually +dissatisfied with each other. + +My friends, my brother-in-law, and his sisters, impatiently +awaited the result of my conversation with madame de Bearn. I +told them all that had passed; giving my opinion of this lady as +I thought her--a malicious provoking creature. + +"How soon you torment yourself," said the chancellor to me. "Do +you not see that this woman wants a price to be bidden for her? +She is yours, body and soul, but first of all she must be paid." + +"Let that be no obstacle," said comte Jean, "we will give her +money, but present us she must." + +On this it was decided, that, on the following morning, my +brother-in-law should go to Paris to find M. Morand, and get +him to undertake the arrangement. + +The next day my brother-in-law went to M. Morand's, and when he +had disclosed his message concerning the comtesse, the good +Morand began to laugh. He told the count, that the previous +evening this lady had sent for him; and, on going to her house, +madame de Bearn, as a set-off against the inconveniences which +might result to her from being the instrument of my presentation, +had stipulated for certain compensations; such, for instance, as +a sum of two hundred thousand livres, a written promise of a +regiment for her son, and for herself an appointment in the +establishment of the future <dauphine>. This was the point aimed +at by all the ambitious courtiers. Comte Jean thought these +conditions preposterous. He had a <carte blanche> from me, and +desired M. Morand to offer the lady one hundred thousand livres, +and to add an assurance that the king should be importuned to place +young Bearn advantageously, and to station the mother to her +wishes; and thereupon my brother-in-law returned to Versailles. + +The comte Jean had scarcely returned an hour, when we received a +letter from M. Morand, stating, that he had gone, in consequence +of the instructions of comte Jean, to the comtesse de Bearn; that +he had found the lady pliant enough on the first point, and disposed +to content herself with the half of the sum originally demanded; +that on point the second, I mean the appointments of herself and +son, she would come to no compromise, and stuck hard and fast to +the written promise of the king; that he, Morand, thought this an +obstacle not to be overcome unless we subscribed to her wishes. +This letter put me in an excessively ill-humor. I saw my presentation +deferred till doom's day, or, at least, adjourned <sine die>. I +questioned my friends: the unanimous advice was that I ought to +mention it to the king at one of his evening visits; and I determined +to do so without loss of time. + +When his majesty came I received him very graciously, and then +said to him, + +"Congratulate me, sire; I have found my godmother." + +"Ah, so much the better." (I know that, at the bottom of his +heart, he said "so much the <worse>.") + +"And who," asked the king, with impatience, "may the lady be?" + +"Madame de Bearn, a lady of quality in her own right, and of high +nobility on her husband's side." + +"Yes, he was a <garde du corps>, and the son has just left the +pages. Ah! she will present you then. That's well; I shall +feel favored by her." + +"Would it not be best, sire, to tell her so yourself?" + +"Yes, yes, certainly; but after the ceremony." + +"And why not previously?" + +"Why? because I do not wish to appear to have forced +your presentation." + +"Well, then," I replied, striking the floor with my foot, "you will +not do for me what you would do for a woman who is a complete +stranger to you. Many thanks for your excessive kindness." + +"Well, well, do not scold. Anger does not become you." + +"No more than this indifference suits you; it is cruel. If you +recede from saying a word, what will you do when I tell you of +the conditions of madame de Bearn?" + +"What does the good comtesse ask for?" + +"Things past conception." + +"What?" + +"She has stipulations unlimited." + +"But what are they then?" + +"A hundred thousand livres for herself." + +"What, only that? We will grant so much." + +"Then a regiment for her son." + +"Oh, he is the wood they make colonels of, and if he behave well--" + +"But then! She wishes to be annexed in some station or other to +the household of the future <dauphine>." + +"Oh, that is impossible: all the selections have been made: but +we will make an equivalent by placing one of her family about the +person of one of the princes, my grandson. Is this all?" + +"Yes, sire, that is all, with one small formality excepted. This +lady, who is one of much punctilio, only considers <written> +engagements as binding. She wishes for one word in your +majesty's hand-writing--" + +"A most impertinent woman!" cried the king, walking with rapid +strides up and down my room.-- "She has dared not to believe me +on my word! Writing!--signature! She mistrusts me as she would +the lowest scribbler of France. A writing! My signature! My +grandfather, Louis XIV, repented having given his to Charost. I +will not commit a similar error." + +"But, sire, when a prince has a real desire to keep his word, it +is of little import whether he gives it in writing." + +At these words, Louis XV frowned sternly, but as he had the best +sense in the world, he saw that he was wrong; and having no reply +to make, he determined to flee away. I ran after him, and taking +him by the arm, he said, with assumed anger, which did not +deceive me:-- + + "Leave me, madame, you have offended my honor." + +"Well, then, monsieur la France," replied I, assuming also a +scolding tone, "I will give you satisfaction. Choose your time, +weapons, and place; I will meet you, and we shall see whether +you have courage to kill a woman who lives for you only, and +whom you render the most miserable creature in existence." + +Louis XV gave me a kiss, and laughingly said, "I ought to make +you sleep in the Bastille to-night." + +"I am then more merciful than you, for I think I shall make you +sleep in the couch you love best." + +This reply amused the king excessively, and he himself proposed +to send for madame de Bearn. I should speak of my presentation +before him, and then without making any positive concession, he +would see what could be done to satisfy her. + +For want of any other, I accepted this <mezzo termine>. + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The comtesse de Bearn--The supper--Louis XV--Intrigues against my +presentation--M. de Roquelaure--The scalded foot--The comtesse +d'Aloigny--The duc d'Aiguillon and madame de Bearn--Anger of the +king's daughters--Madame Adélaïde and the comtesse du Barry-- +Dissatisfaction of the king + +M. Morand was again put in requisition, and went from me to ask +madame de Bearn to come and sup at my apartments. We were in +committee--my sisters-in-law, myself, and comte Jean. The comtesse +made some difficulties at first, under pretence that she was afraid +to refuse me a second time. Our messenger assured her by saying, +that a supper would not bind her to any thing, and that she should +still be at liberty to give any reply she pleased. Madame de Bearn +allowed herself to be persuaded, and sent me word that she would +accept my invitation. She would have reflected twice before she +so far committed herself, had she at all suspected the turn we +meant to serve her. But I saw by the wording of her note, that +she still hoped that the king would be induced to grant me the +written promise which I asked for her. + +She came. I received her with all possible courtesy, and yet not +with much heartiness. I could not help remembering the vexatious +terms she set upon her complaisance. However, the supper was +gay enough, comte Jean and my sisters-in-law, who knew very well +how to dissemble, did the honors in a most agreeable way. On +leaving table we went into the drawing-room, and then began to +discuss the serious question which had brought us together. At +the first words which comte Jean uttered, madame de Bearn, taking +my hands with a respectful familiarity, said to me:-- +"I hope, madame, that you will not have a bad opinion of me, if I +put such conditions to my desire of obliging you. The situation +of my family requires it, but it is only a trifle for the king to grant." + +"Much more than you imagine, madame," I replied. "The king does +not care to involve himself in such engagements. He does not +like, moreover, that his sacred word should be doubted." + +"Ah?" replied the cunning creature, "heaven forbid that I should +not blindly trust to the king's word, but his memory may fail, or +he, like other men, may forget." + +"Madame," replied comte Jean, with the utmost gravity, "madame +is a lady as full of prudence as of kindness, but yet a little too +exacting. Madame wishes to have a promise signed for herself +and son: that is too much. Why does she not content herself in +dividing the difficulty, by satisfying herself with a verbal +promise for what concerns herself, and with a written engagement +for what relates to her son?" + +"<Mon Dieu, monsieur>," replied the countess, "I am anxious to +arrange all to our mutual satisfaction. But his majesty would not +surely refuse the entreaties of madame for what I ask." + +"I will speak to him of it the first time I see him." + +"Oh, you are a charming woman. You will obtain all from the +king, and make a sure friend--" + +"Whose friendship is very difficult to acquire," said I, interrupting her. + +The countess would have replied to this, when my first +<valet-de-chambre>, opening the two folding-doors of the +room, announced the king. + +At this unexpected name my guest trembled, and in spite of the +thick rouge which covered her cheeks, I perceived she turned pale. +She then saw the scene we had prepared for her: she wished herself +a hundred leagues off: but she could do nothing, but remain where +she was. I took her by the hand, all trembling as she was, and +presented her to the king, saying, + +"Sire, I now do for this lady, in my own drawing-room, what she +will have the kindness to do for me at the state-chamber." + +"Ah," replied the king, "is it madame de Bearn that you present +to me? I am indeed delighted. Her husband was one of my faithful +servants: I was much pleased with her son when he was one of +pages, and I perceive that she herself is desirous of testifying +to me her attachment to my person. I thank you, madame; you +cannot confer a greater favor on me, and I shall embrace every +opportunity of proving to you how much satisfaction your conduct +affords me." + +Each word that the king uttered went to the heart of the countess. +However, making a virtue of necessity, she replied, that she was +proud and happy at what the king had said to her, and that it +would be her constant aim to please his majesty, flattering +herself that the king would remember the services of the Bearn +family, and would think of her in the dispensation of his bounties. + +"You may rely on it, madame," replied Louis XV, "especially if +the comtesse du Barry applies to me in your behalf." + +Then, turning towards me, "When, then, is this redoubtable +presentation to take place?" + +"On the day, sire, when your majesty shall think proper," I replied. + +"Well! I will send the duc de Richelieu to you, who will arrange +the whole." + +This settled, the subject was turned, but madame de Bearn lost +her tongue entirely. In spite of all her endeavors, her forehead +became contracted every moment, and I am sure she went away +vexed and disappointed. + +The following morning, the comte Jean and my sister-in-law went +to her house. They testified their regret for what had occurred +the previous evening; they assured her that we would not take +any advantage of the conditionless engagement which she had made +to present me, and that altho' it was impossible to ask the +required guarantees from the king, still we should most undeviatingly +adhere to the clauses of the treaty: they added, that they came +to enquire when she should choose to receive the hundred thousand +livres. The countess replied, that in spite of the real disadvantage +which she must henceforward labor under in this affair, she felt +great friendship for me, and would not refuse to oblige me, and +she flattered herself that I would espouse her cause with the +king. The comte Jean assured her of this, and settled with her +the period of the payment of the hundred thousand livres, which +were to be paid at sight on her drawing on M. de la Borde, the +court-banker. + +Thus then my presentation was an assured matter: nothing now +could prevent it, at least I fancied so to myself. I reckoned +without my host; I did not know yet all the malice of a courtier +lady or gentleman. As it was, however, M. de Choiseul and his +vile sister had gained over one of my servants, for they knew all +that had passed. They soon learned that madame de Bearn had come +to supper with me, and that after supper a visit of the king's had +decided this lady on my presentation: this they determined to prevent. + +For this end, they despatched as ambassador the chevalier de +Coigny to the house of madame de Bearn. He, following the +instruction, sought by turns to seduce and intimidate the countess, +but all went for nothing. Madame de Bearn told the chevalier de +Coigny, that she had been with me to ask my influence with the +chancellor. The chevalier left her without being able to obtain +any other information. + +This bad success did not dishearten the Choiseuls. They sent +this time to madame de Bearn, M. de Roquelaure, bishop of Senlis, +and grand almoner to the king. This prelate was much liked at +court, and in high favor with mesdames (the king's daughters). We +were good friends together at last, but in this particular he was +very near doing me great wrong. M. de Roquelaure having called +on madame de Bearn, told her that he well knew the nature of her +communications with me. + +"Do not flatter yourself," said he, "that you will obtain thro' +the influence of the comtesse du Barry, all that has been promised +you. You will have opposed to you the most powerful adversaries +and most august personages. It cannot be concealed from you, +that mesdames contemplate the presentation of this creature with +the utmost displeasure. They will not fail to obtain great influence +over the future dauphin, and will do you mischief with him; so +that, whether in the actual state of things, or in that which the +age and health of the king must lead us to anticipate, you will +be in a most unfortunate situation at court." + +The old bishop, with his mischievous frankness, catechised madame +de Bearn so closely, that at length she replied, that so much +respect and deference did she entertain towards the princesses, +that she would not present me until they should accord their +permission for me to appear. M. de Roquelaure took this reply +to the Choiseuls. Madame de Grammont, enchanted, thinking the +point already gained, sent madame de Bearn an invitation to supper +the next day, but this was not the countess's game. She was +compelled to decide promptly, and she thought to preserve a strict +neutrality until fresh orders should issue. What do you suppose +she did? She wrote to us, madame de Grammont and myself, that +she had scalded her foot, and that it was impossible for her to go +from home. + +On receiving her note I believed myself betrayed, forsaken. Comte +Jean and I suspected that this was a feint, and went with all +speed to call on the comtesse de Bearn. She received us with her +usual courtesy, complained that we had arrived at the very moment +of the dressing of her wound, and told us she would defer it; but +I would not agree to this. My brother-in-law went into another +room, and madame de Bearn began to unswathe her foot in my +presence with the utmost caution and tenderness. I awaited the +evidence of her falsehood, when, to my astonishment, I saw a +horrible burn! I did not for a moment doubt, what was afterwards +confirmed, namely, that madame de Bearn had actually perpetrated +this, and maimed herself with her own free will. I mentally cursed +her Roman courage, and would have sent my heroic godmother to the +devil with all my heart. + +Thus then was my presentation stopped by the foot of madame de +Bearn. This mischance did not dampen the zeal of my friends. On +the one hand, comte Jean, after having stirred heaven and earth, +met with the comtesse d'Aloigny. She consented to become my +godmother immediately after her own presentation, for eighty +thousand livres and the expenses of the ceremony. But mesdames +received her so unsatisfactorily, that my own feelings told me, I +ought not to be presented at court under her auspices. + +We thanked the comtesse d'Aloigny therefore, and sent her, as a +remuneration, twenty thousand livres from the king. + +Whilst comte Jean failed on one side, the duc d'Aiguillon +succeeded on another. He was someway related to madame de Bearn. +He went to visit her, and made her understand that, as the Choiseuls +neither gave nor promised her anything, she would be wrong in +declaring for them: that, on the other hand, if she declared for +me, I could procure for her the favor of the king. Madame de +Bearn yielded to his persuasions, and charged the duc d'Aiguillon +to say to me, and even herself wrote, that she put herself +entirely into my hands; and that, as soon as she was well, I +might rely on her. What, I believe, finally decided this lady +was, the fear that if she did not comply with what I required, +I should content myself with the comtesse d'Aloigny. + +Now assured of my introductress, I only directed my attention to +the final obstacle of my presentation; I mean the displeasure of +mesdames. I do not speak of madame Louise, of whom I can only +write in terms of commendation; but I had opposed to me mesdames +Victoire and Sophie, and especially madame Adélaïde, who, as the +eldest, gave them their plan of conduct. This latter, who had +given too much cause to be spoken of herself to have any right to +talk of others, never ceased haranguing about the scandal of my +life; and I had recently, unknown to myself, fallen into complete +disgrace with her. This is the case. + +The apartment from which I had dislodged M. de Noailles had +been requested of the king by madame Adélaïde. Ignorant of this +I had installed myself there. I soon learned that I had offended +the princess, and instantly hastened to offer her the apartments +she wished to have. She came into them; but as it was necessary +for me to be accommodated somewhere, the king gave me the former +apartments of his daughter. This was what madame Adélaïde called +an act of tyranny; she made the château echo with her complaints: +she said I had driven her out, that I wished to separate her from +her sisters; that I should wean her father's affection entirely +from her. Such injustice distressed me excessively. I sent to +request the king to come to me; and when he entered I threw +myself at his feet, entreating him to appease his daughter on any +terms, and to let me go away, since I brought such trouble into +his family. + +The king, irritated at madame Adélaïde 's conduct, went to her, +and told her, in a private interview, that he would make certain +matters public if she did not hold her tongue; and she, alarmed, +ceased her clamor, or rather, contented herself in complaining +in a lower key. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Of the presentation--The king and the duc de Richelieu at comtesse +du Barry's--M. de la Vauguyon--Conversation--Letter of the duke to +the comtesse du Barry--Reply--The countess unites herself with the +Jesuit party--Madame Louise--Madame Sophie--M. Bertin--Madame +de Bercheny + +This fit of anger of madame Adélaïde had given additional courage +to the cabal. It began to exclaim and plot against me with +redoubled force; hoping thus to intimidate the king, and +effectually bar my presentation; but it only tended to hasten it. +One evening, when the king and the maréchal de Richelieu were +with me, he said to me, + +"A stop must be put to these clamors. I see that until you are +presented, there will be doubts perpetually arising and tormenting +us on the subject; and until it takes place I shall have no ease. +<Parbleu>! Let us take the best means in our power of reducing +these malcontents to silence." + +" Sire," replied the maréchal, "make your will palpable, and you +will see all the court submit." + +"Yes, but my daughters?" + +"Mesdames know better than any persons the deference due to +your orders." + +"I assure you," replied the king, "that it will be an unpleasant +quarter of an hour for me to pass." + +"Well, sire, then charge one of us with the mission: the bishop +of Senlis, for instance, or M. de la Vauguyon. I feel assured +that either of them will acquit himself admirably in the business, +with the previous understanding that your majesty will support +him with your authority." + +"I will do so most assuredly; but it will be best not to use it +but at the last extremity. I have no wish to be made a bugbear +to my family." + +"As to the selection of an ambassador," I interrupted, "I beg it +may not fall on M. de Roquelaure; he has been working against +me for some time." + +"Why not send M. de Jarente?" inquired the king. + +"Ah, sire," replied the duke, "because we cannot trust him; he +is a gay* fellow. Madame Sophie might tell him, that he only +took the part of madame du Barry, because he passes his life +amongst petticoats." + +Flippant, light-minded, unreliable. At the time this book +was written "gay" did not carry its present connotation of +homosexuality, nor did it always carry the connotation of +cheerful and happy that preceded the present connotation. +--Gutenberg ed. + +"True enough," said the king, "I prefer the duc de la Vauguyon: +he has a good reputation--" + +"And well deserved," said the old maréchal, sneering. "Yes, sire, +he is a pious man; at least, he plays his part well. " + +"Peace, viper; you spare nobody." + +"Sire, I am only taking my revenge." + +"Why do you not like the governor of my grandsons?" + +"In truth, sire, I must confess to you, that except yourself and +the ladies, I have not many likings at Versailles." + +Louis XV smiled, and I pulled the bell; when a valet appeared, +I said, + +"Go and find M. de la Vauguyon for his majesty." + +When we were alone, "What, already? "said Louis XV. + +"Madame is right," replied the duke, "we must strike while the +iron is hot." + +The king began to pace up and down the room, which was his +invariable custom when anything disturbed him: then suddenly stopping, + +"I should not be astonished at a point blank refusal from M. de +la Vauguyon." + +"Oh, sire, make yourself easy; the governor has no inclination to +follow the steps of Montausier or Beauvilliers. In truth you are +very candid; and I must tell you, that you have too good an +opinion of us." + +At this moment M. de la Vauguyon entered. He saluted the king +with humility; and asked him, in a mild tone of voice, what his +pleasure was with him. + +"A real mark of your zeal," was the king's reply. + +"And of your gallantry," added the maréchal, who saw the hesitation +of the king. Louis XV was enchanted that another should speak +for him. M. de Richelieu continued: + +"His majesty, monsieur le duc, wishes that you should prepare +mesdames to receive our dear countess here, when she shall appear +before them to pay the homage of her respect and devotion." + +The king, emboldened by these words, said, "Yes, my dear duke, +I can only find you in the château who have any influence over +the princesses, my daughters. They have much respect, and no +less friendship, for you. You will easily bring them to reason." + +As M. de la Vauguyon seemed in no hurry to undertake the charge, +the maréchal added, + +"Yes, sir, to manage this business properly, you and M. de Senlis +are the only men in the kingdom." + +The maréchal had his reasons for saying this, for a secret jealousy +existed between the governor and the grand almoner. M. de la +Vauguyon made haste to say, that he could not resist his majesty's +orders, and his desire to be agreeable to me. + +"Ah! you will then do something for me?" I replied. "I am +delighted and proud." + +"Madame," replied the duke with much gravity, "friends are proved +on occasion." + +"The present one proves your attachment to me," said I in my +turn; "and his majesty will not think it wrong of me, if, as a +recompense, I embrace you in his presence": and, on saying this, +I went up to the duc de la Vauguyon, and gave him two kisses, +which the poor man took as quietly as possible. + +"That's well," said the king. "You are, la Vauguyon, a man of a +thousand. Listen attentively to me. I wish much that the +comtesse du Barry should be presented; I wish it, and that, too, +in defiance of all that can be said and done. My indignation is +excited beforehand against all those who shall raise any obstacle +to it. Do not fail to let my daughters know, that if they do not +comply with my wishes, I will let my anger fall heavily on all +persons by whose counsels they may be persuaded; for I only am +master, and I will prove it to the last. These are your credentials, +my dear duke, add to them what you may think fitting; I will +bear you out in any thing--" + +"Mercy!" said the duc de Richelieu to me in an undertone, "the +king has poured forth all his energy in words; he will have none +left to act upon if he meets with any resistance." The maréchal +knew the king well. + +"I doubt not, sire," replied the duc de la Vauguyon, "that the +respectful duty of mesdames will be ready to comply with +your desires." + +"I trust and believe it will prove so," replied the king hastily. +"I am a good father, and would not that my daughters should give +me cause to be angry with them. Let madame Adélaïde understand, +that she has lately had a mistaken opinion of me, and that she +has an opportunity of repairing her error in the present instance. +The princesses are not ignorant that I have often shut my eyes +upon certain affairs--. Enough; they must now testify their +attachment for me. Why should they oppose the presentation of +the comtesse? <Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!> they were not so squeamish +in the days of madame de Pompadour." + +At these latter words I could not forbear laughing. La Vauguyon +and de Richelieu left us and here the conversation terminated. + +The next morning they brought me a note from the duc de la Vauguyon. +Thus it ran:-- + +MADAME,--Ready to serve you, I wish to have a +few minutes' conversation with you. Be persuaded +that I will not tell you anything but what will be +agreeable and useful to you." + +I instantly answered:-- + +"You are too good a friend for me to refuse to see +you willingly under any circumstances, and +particularly the present. Your conduct yesterday +assures you my eternal regard. Come instantly; +my grateful heart expects you with impatience." + +My sister-in-law, to whom I showed this correspondence, said to +me, "This gentleman does not come to see you for your bright +eyes; and yet his visit is not disinterested." + +"What interest can he have to serve?" + +"None of his own, perhaps; but those villainous Jesuits." + +"Don't you like them, sister of mine?" + +"I hate nobody." + +M. de la Vauguyon arrived; and as soon as we were alone, he said +to me, + +"Well, madame, I am now on the point of going to fight your +battles. I have to deal with a redoubtable foe." + +"Do you fear?" + +"Why, I am not over confident; my position is a delicate one. +Mesdames will perforce obey the orders of the king, but they +will not find much pleasure in seeing me the ambassador sent to +them: all the Choiseul party will vociferate loudly. Nevertheless, +to prove my devotion to you, I brave it all." + +"You may rely on it that I will never forget the service you are +about to render me." + +"I have only one favor to ask of you. Authorize me to say to +mesdames, that if the pleasures of life distract your attention +from religious duties, your soul is in truth fully devoted to our +holy religion; and that far from supporting the philosophers, you +will aid, by your influence with the king, every measure advantageous +to the society of Jesuits." + +The hypocritical tone in which this was uttered, almost compelled +me to burst out into a fit of laughter; but the serious posture of +my affairs induced me to preserve my gravity, and I answered in +a serious tone, + +"Not only, monsieur le duc, do I authorize you to say so much, but +I beg you to declare to mesdames that I am already filled with +love and respect for the Jesuits, and that it will not be my fault +if they do not return amongst us." + +"Ah, you are a treasure of wisdom," replied the duke, kissing my +hand with fervor; "and I am disgusted at the way you are calumniated." + +"I know no reason for it, for I have never done harm to any +person. Assure mesdames that I am sincerely grieved that I am +not agreeable to them, and would give half my life to obtain, not +their friendship, of which I do not feel myself worthy, but their +indifference. Deign also to tell them, that at all times I am at +their disposal, and beseech them to consider me as their +humble servant." + +"It is impossible to behave more correctly than you do; and I am +confident that mesdames will soon discard their unjust prejudices. +Thus, it is well understood that our friends will be yours." + +"Yes, yes, provided they are really mine." + +"Certainly. I answer for them as I answer for you." + +And thus, my friend, did I find myself allied to the Jesuitical party. + +The duke commenced the attack with madame Louise, the most +reasonable of the king's daughters. This angelic princess, already +occupied with the pious resolution which she afterwards put into +execution in the following year, contented herself with saying +some words on the commotion occasioned by my presence at Versailles, +and then, as if her delicacy had feared to touch on such a subject, +she asked the duc de la Vauguyon, if the king ordered her to +receive the comtesse du Barry. + +"Yes, madame," replied the duke; "it is the express will of +his majesty." + +"I submit to his wish: the lady may come when she will." + +The duke, contented with his success so far, went next to madame +Sophie. This princess was not unkind, but subject to attacks of +the nerves, which from time to time soured her natural disposition: +she had her caprices of hatred, her fits of love. The day when +the duke talked to her of my presentation she was very much +provoked against me; and after the opening speech of the ambassador, +flung in his teeth the report of the apartments, which I have +already told you. The duke explained to her, and that too without +saying anything unfavorable of madame Adélaïde, and concluded by +begging her to concede the favor I besought. Madame eluded this, +by saying, that before she gave a definite reply she wished to +confer with her sisters. + +Madame Victoire was not more easily persuaded. This princess had +amiable qualities, solid virtues which made her loved and respected +by the whole court; but she had but little will of her own, and +allowed herself to be led by the Choiseuls; who, to flatter her, +told her that she alone had inherited the energy of her grandfather, +Louis XIV. She was advised to display it in this instance, and, +she would willingly have done so. The comtesse de Bercheny, one +of her ladies in waiting, was the person who urged her on to the +greatest resistance. This lady did not cease to exclaim against +me, and to fan the flame of displeasure which, but for her, +would never have appeared. I was informed of the mode adopted by +madame de Bercheny to injure me. I sent for M. Bertin, who was +devoted to my service, and begged him to go and speak to the lady; +he went, and made her understand that the king, enraged against +her, would expel her from Versailles, if she were not silent. +The comtesse de Bercheny was alarmed; and under pretence of taking +a tour, left the court for a month. You will see anon the result +of all these conferences. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The princesses consent to the presentation of madame du Barry-- +Ingenious artifice employed by the king to offer a present to the +duc de la Vauguyon--Madame du Barry's letter respecting it--The +duke's reply--The king's letter--The court in despair--Couplets +concerning madame du Barry--Her presentation--A change in public +opinion--An evening party at the house of the countess--Joy of her +partizans--Conversation with the chancellor respecting the lady of +the maréchal de Mirepoix + +The departure of the comtesse de Bercheny was announced to the +princesses in the manner least likely to provoke their regrets. +Nevertheless, a rumor never slept at Versailles, a whisper was +quickly circulated thro'-out the castle, that this sudden and +unexpected journey had originated in the king's weariness of her +continual philippics against me; and it was clearly comprehended +by all, that a similar disgrace would be the portion of those who +should offend the monarch whilst seeking to procure my humiliation. +This show of firmness was sufficient to repress the daring flights +of those self-constituted heroines, whose courage lasted only +whilst the king was silent, and who trembled like a leaf before +the slightest manifestation of his will. Still the cabal against +me, tho' weakened, was not destroyed; it was too strong for the +present shock to dissolve it; and altho' none was sufficiently +hardy to declare open war, plots were constantly going on to +ensnare me. + +Meanwhile madame Victoire, left to herself, could not long support +such excessive animosity; and the duc de la Vauguyon profiting by +the species of lassitude into which she appeared to have fallen, +led her without difficulty to act in conformity to the king's wishes. + +There remained now therefore but madame Adélaïde to overcome, +and the task became more difficult in proportion to the elevated +rank she occupied at court. By priority of birth she held the +first place there; and hitherto this superiority had been ceded +to her without dispute, more particularly since the hand of death +had removed both the queen her mother, and the dauphiness her +sister-in-law. She therefore could only view with uneasiness the +prospect of another appearing on the stage whose influence would +be greater than hers; and who (until the young dauphiness should +attain to years of maturity) might deprive her of all honors but +those due to her birth. Madame Adélaïde was gifted with good +sense, affability of manners, and a kind and compassionating +heart towards all who needed her aid; her disposition was good, +but she loved dominion, and the least show of resistance to her +wishes was painful and offensive to her. She was determined to +uphold the duc de Choiseul; and my decided manner towards that +minister plainly evinced how little I should feel inclined to +support her view of things. There were therefore several reasons +for my presence at court being unpleasant to madame Adélaïde. + +Against her therefore did the duc de la Vauguyon direct his +batteries. She received his attack with the most determined +obstinacy; all was in vain, she was unconquerable, and the most +skilfully devised plans were insufficient to surmount her resistance; +it was therefore necessary to have recourse to the clergy, who +were at that time completely led by the Jesuits; each member of +the church, up to the archbishop of Paris, was called upon to +interfere, or their names were employed in default of their +presence. It was pointed out to madame Adélaïde that I possessed +good intentions with feelings of religion, which, however stifled +by the freedom of the age, only required careful management to +produce a rich development. The success of this last mode of +attack astonished the duke himself; and madam, dazzled by the +hopes of my conversion, as well as weary of hostilities, yielded +her consent to my being presented. After these private negotiations +the four sisters met at the house of the elder one; and there they +decided that since the king had so expressly manifested his +pleasure relative to my presentation, they should conform to the +desire of their father, by receiving me with every possible mark +of courtesy. + +The duc de la Vauguyon hastened to communicate to me this happy +state of things; and my joy was so great, that I embraced him +with the sincerest warmth, assuring him that I should always look +upon him as my best friend, and seek to testify my regard at every +opportunity that fell in my way of forwarding his interests. + +Some days afterwards the king brought me a splendid ring, worth +thirty-six thousand livres. + +"You must send this jewel to your good friend the duke," said he. + +"I dare not," replied I. "I fear lest it should draw forth +his displeasure." + +"No, no," cried the king, "'tis not the fashion at court to construe +gifts like this into insults, but I should wish this trifle to be +presented in an indirect manner" ; and, after having considered a +moment, "I have it," exclaimed he, "I have thought of a clever +expedient; let us put this ring upon the finger of that Chinese +mandarin before us, and give the figure with the ring, considering +it merely an appendage to it. Assuredly the most disinterested +man cannot refuse to accept a china figure." + +I extolled the king's idea as being a most happy one; and he +immediately fitted the ring upon the little finger of the mandarin, +which I caused to be carried to the duc de la Vauguyon with the +following billet:-- + +"MONSIEUR LE DUC,--You have been my best friend; +'tis to your kind offices that I owe the confirmation +of my happiness; but I would secure the continuance +of your valuable friendship, and for that purpose I +send you a little magical figure, which, placed in +your cabinet, will compel your thoughts to occupy +themselves with me in spite of yourself. I am +superstitious enough to rely greatly upon the +talismanic virtue of the charmed porcelain; and further, +I must tell you, that I was not its purchaser in the +first instance, neither did I adorn it for your +acceptance. I should not have ventured to offer more +than the assurance of my everlasting esteem and regard +for your acceptance. The trifle sent comes from a +higher source; and the august hand so dear to both of +us, deigned to preside over the arrangement. Should +there be in it anything at all repugnant to your +feelings, I beseech you bear me no ill will for it; +for truly, I may say, I should never have summoned +courage to do that which has just been done by him +whom all unite in loving and esteeming." + +The duke replied,- + +"Your talisman is welcome; yet its magic power, far +from augmenting the warmth of my feelings towards +you, would have diminished it on account of a certain +accessory with which my friendship could have well +dispensed: however, what you say on the subject closes +my lips. I gratefully acknowledge the daily favors +bestowed upon me from the august hand of whom you +speak; and I receive with the deepest respect (mingled +with regret) the gracious present he deigns to convey +to me by you. I own that I should have preferred, +to the splendid jewel which bedecked the finger of +your deity, a Chinese counterpart, which might indeed +have enabled all admiring gazers to say, 'these two +are truly a pair.' As for yourself, who would fain +pass for nobody in the munificent gift, I thank you at +least for the flattering place you assign me in your +recollection. Be assured I feel its full value, and +you may confidently reckon upon the disposal of my +poor credit as well as command the little influence I +may be said to possess in the castle. Adieu, madame, +I entreat your acceptance of the expression of my +most sincere and respectful devotion." + +The king, having read M. de la Vauguyon's letter, sent immediately +to the china manufactory to purchase the fellow mandarin so much +coveted by the duke, and caused it to be conveyed to him with the +following words:-- + +"MY DEAR GOVERNOR--You are a kind-hearted creature +I know, and a great promoter of domestic harmony; to +fain unite the wife with the husband. Heaven grant +that such a measure may indeed bring about your +proposed felicity! However, by way of furthering your +schemes, I send the Chinese lady, whose beauty I trust +will not disturb your repose, for in spite of your +sanctity, I know you can be as gallant as the rest of +us, and possibly this beautiful mandarin may prove to +be more lovely in your eyes, than in those of the +husband for whom she is destined; but, in sober +earnestness, I would wish you to be convinced that +my intention is not to attempt payment for the +services rendered me, but simply to evince my sense of +their value. There is one beside me at this moment +who has given me a kiss to transmit to you--You will +easily guess who has had the audacity to enlist me +into her service upon such an occasion." + +This was one of the recompenses offered to the duc de la Vauguyon, +as a compensation for the public clamor and dislike which sprung +up against him in consequence of his zeal for my service. At +Versailles, the general ferment was at its height, when it became +generally known that I had triumphed over all obstacles, and that +my presentation was certainly to take place. In the midst of all +this the desperate odium fell upon the duc de la Vauguyon, and +a general attack was made upon him: his virtues, reputation, +talents, qualities, were made the subject of blame and scandal-- +in a word, he was run down by public opinion. But the leaders +of the cabal were not the less struck by the news of my success, +which sounded in their ears like the falling of a thunder-bolt. + +The silly princess de Gueméné, who, with her husband, has since +become a bankrupt to so enormous and scandalous an amount, flew +without delay to convey the tidings of my victory to the duchesse +de Grammont, to whom it was a death-blow. All her courage forsook +her; she shed bitter tears, and displayed a weakness so much the +more ridiculous, as it seemed to arise from the utmost despair. +She repaired to madame Adélaïde, before whom she conducted herself +in the most absurd and extravagant manner. The poor princess, +intimidated by the weakness she herself evinced, in drawing back +after she had in a manner espoused the opposite party, durst not +irritate her, but, on the contrary, strove to justify her own +change of conduct towards me, by urging the impossibility of +refusing obedience to the express command of the king. + +The other princesses did not evince greater firmness when overwhelmed +by the complaints of the cabal, and in a manner bent their knee +before the wives of the French nobility, asking their pardon for +their father's error in selecting a mistress from any rank but +theirs. About this period a song, which I admired greatly, was +circulated abroad. My enemies interpreted it to my disadvantage, +but I was far from being of the same opinion. It was successively +attributed to the most clever men in Paris, and I have myself met +with four who each asserted himself to be the author; in justice +it should be ascribed to him who appeared the most calculated +to have written it, and who indeed claimed it for his own--the +chevalier de Boufflers. I do not know whether you recollect the +lines in question. I will transcribe them from memory, adding +another couplet, which was only known amongst our own particular +circle, but which proves most incontestably the spirit of kindness +with which the stanzas were composed. + +Lise, ta beauté séduit, + Et charme tout le monde. +En vain la duchesse en rougit, + Et la princesse en gronde, +Chacun sait que Vénus naquit + De l'ecume de l'onde. + +En rit-elle moins tous les dieux. + Lui rendre un juste hommage! +Et Paris, le berger fameux, + Lui donner l'avantage +Même sur la reine des cieux + Et Minerve la sage? + +Dans le sérail du grand seigneur. + Quelle est la favorite? +C'est la plus belle au gré de coeur + Du maitre qui l'habite. +C'est le seul titre en sa faveur + Et c'est le vrai mérite. + +Que Grammont tonne contre toi, + La chose est naturelle. +Elle voudrait donner la loi + Et n'est qu' une mortelle; +Il faut, pour plaire au plus grand roi, + Sans orgueil etre belle.* + +*From those readers who may understand this chanson +in the original, and look somewhat contemptuously on +the following version, the translator begs to shelter +himself under the well-known observation of Lord +Chesterfield, "that everything suffers by translation, +but a a bishop!" Those to whom such a dilution is +necessary will perhaps be contented with the +skim-milk as they cannot get the cream.- TRANS. + +Thy beauty, seductress, leads mortals astray, +Over hearts, Lise, how vast and resistless thy sway. +Cease, duchess, to blush! cease, princess, to rave-- +Venus sprang from the foam of the ocean wave. +All the gods pay their homage at her beauteous shrine, +And adore her as potent, resistless, divine! +To her Paris, the shepherd, awarded the prize, +Sought by Juno the regal, and Pallas the wise. + +Who rules o'er her lord in the Turkish <serail>, +Reigns queen of his heart, and e'er basks in his smile? +'Tis she, who resplendent, shines loveliest of all, +And beauty holds power in her magic thrall. +Then heed not the clamors that Grammont may raise, +How natural her anger! how vain her dispraise! +'Tis not a mere mortal our monarch can charm, +Free from pride is the beauty that bears off the palm. + +This song was to be found in almost every part of France. Altho' +the last couplet was generally suppressed, so evident was its +partial tone towards me, in the midst of it all I could not help +being highly amused with the simplicity evinced by the good +people of France, who, in censuring the king's conduct, found +nothing reprehensible but his having omitted to select his mistress +from elevated rank. + +The citizens resented this falling off in royalty with as much +warmth and indignation as the grandees of the court; and I could +enjoy a laugh on the subject of their angry displeasure as soon +as my presentation was decided upon. + +The intrigues carried on by those about the princesses, and the +necessity of awaiting the perfect recovery of madame de Bearn, +delayed this (to me) important day till the end of the month of +April, 1770. On the evening of the 21st the king, according to +custom, announced a presentation for the following day; but he +durst not explain himself more frankly; he hesitated, appeared +embarrassed, and only pronounced my name in a low and uncertain +voice; it seemed as tho' he feared his own authority was insufficient +to support him in such a measure. This I did not learn till some +time afterwards; and when I did hear it, I took the liberty of +speaking my opinion upon it freely to his majesty. + +On the next day, the 22d, I was solely engrossed with my dress: +it was the most important era of my life, and I would not have +appeared on it to any disadvantage. A few days previously, the +king had sent me, by the crown jeweller, Boemer, a set of diamonds, +valued at 150,000 livres, of which he begged my acceptance. +Delighted with so munificent a present I set about the duties of +the toilette with a zeal and desire of pleasing which the importance +of the occasion well excused. I will spare you the description of +my dress; were I writing to a woman I would go into all these +details; but as I know they would not be to your taste, I will +pass all these uninteresting particulars over in silence, and +proceed to more important matter. + +Paris and Versailles were filled with various reports. Thro'out +the city, within, without the castle, all manner of questions +were asked, as tho' the monarchy itself was in danger. Couriers +were dispatched every instant with fresh tidings of the great +event which was going on. A stranger who had observed the general +agitation would easily have remarked the contrast between the rage +and consternation of my enemies and the joy of my partizans, who +crowded in numbers to the different avenues of the palace, in +order to feast their eyes upon the pageantry of my triumphal +visit to court. + +Nothing could surpass the impatience with which I was expected; +hundreds were counting the minutes, whilst I, under the care of +my hairdresser and robemaker, was insensible to the rapid flight +of time, which had already carried us beyond the hour appointed +for my appearance. The king himself was a prey to an unusual +uneasiness; the day appeared to him interminable; and the eagerness +with which he awaited me made my delay still more apparent. A +thousand conjectures were afloat as to the cause of it. Some +asserted that my presentation had been deferred for the present, +and, in all probability, would never take place; that the princesses +had opposed it in the most decided manner, and had refused upon +any pretense whatever to admit me to their presence. All these +suppositions charmed my enemies, and filled them with hopes +which their leaders, better informed, did not partake. + +Meanwhile the king's restlessness increased; he kept continually +approaching the window to observe what was going on in the +court-yard of the castle, and seeing there no symptoms of my +equipage being in attendance, began to lose both temper and +patience. It has been asserted, that he gave orders to have the +presentation put off till a future period, and that the duc de +Richelieu procured my <entrée> by force; this is partly true and +partly false. Whilst in ignorance of the real cause of my being +so late, the king said to the first gentleman of the chamber, + +"You will see that this poor countess has met with some accident, +or else that her joy has been too much for her, and made her too +ill to attend our court to-day; if that be the case, it is my pleasure +that her presentation should not be delayed beyond to-morrow." + +"Sire," replied the duke, "your majesty's commands are absolute." + +These words, but half understood, were eagerly caught up, and +interpreted their own way by those who were eager to seize anything +that might tell to my prejudice. + +At length I appeared; and never had I been more successful in +appearance. I was conducted by my godmother, who, decked like +an altar, was all joy and satisfaction to see herself a sharer in +such pomp and splendor. The princesses received me most courteously; +the affability, either real or feigned, which shone in their eyes +as they regarded me, and the flattering words with which they +welcomed my arrival, was a mortal blow to many of the spectators, +especially to the ladies of honor. The princesses would not suffer +me to bend my knee before them, but at the first movement I +made to perform this act of homage, they hastened to raise me, +speaking to me at the same time in the most gracious manner. + +But my greatest triumph was with the king. I appeared before him +in all my glory, and his eyes declared in a manner not to be +misunderstood by all around him the impetuous love which he felt +for me. He had threatened the previous evening to let me fall +at his feet without the least effort on his part to prevent it. +I told him that I was sure his gallantry would not allow him to +act in this manner; and we had laid a bet on the matter. As soon +as I approached him, and he took my hand to prevent me, as I +began to stoop before him, "You have lost, sire," said I to him. + +"How is it possible to preserve my dignity in the presence of so +many graces?" was his reply. + +These gracious words of his majesty were heard by all around +him. My enemies were wofully chagrined; but what perfected their +annihilation was the palpable lie which my appearance gave to +their false assertions. They had blazoned forth everywhere that +my manners were those of a housemaid; that I was absurd and +unladylike in my conduct; and that it was only requisite to have +a glimpse of me to recognize both the baseness of my extraction, +and the class of society in which my life had been hitherto spent. + +But I showed manners so easy and so elegant that the people soon +shook off their preconceived prejudice against me. I heard my +demeanor lauded as greatly as my charms and the splendor of my +attire. Nothing could be more agreeable to me. In a word, I +obtained complete success, and thenceforward learnt experimentally +how much the exterior and a noble carriage add to the consideration +in which a person is held. I have seen individuals of high rank +and proud behavior who carried no influence in their looks, +because their features were plain and common place; whilst persons +of low station, whose face was gifted with natural dignity, had +only to show themselves to attract the respect of the multitude. + +Nothing about me bespoke that I was sprung from a vulgar stock, +and thus scandal of that kind ceased from the day of my presentation; +and public opinion having done me justice in this particular, slander +was compelled to seek for food elsewhere. + +That evening I had a large circle at my house. The chancellor, +the bishop of Orleans, M. de Saint-Florentin, M. Bertin, the +prince de Soubise, the ducs de Richelieu, de la Trimouille, de +Duras, d'Aiguillon, and d'Ayen. This last did not hesitate to +come to spy out all that passed in my apartments, that he might +go and spread it abroad, augmented by a thousand malicious +commentaries. I had also M. de Sartines, my brother-in-law, +etc. The duc de la Vauguyon alone was absent. I knew beforehand +that he would not come, and that it was a sacrifice which he thought +himself compelled to make to the cabal. The ladies were mesdames +de Bearn and d'Aloigny, with my sisters-in-law. Amongst the +ladies presented they were the only ones with whom I had formed +any intimacy; as for the rest I was always the "horrible creature," +of whom they would not hear on any account. + +The king, on entering, embraced me before the whole party. "You +are a charming creature," said he to me, "and the brilliancy of +your beauty has to-day reminded me of the device of my +glorious ancestor." + +This was a flattering commencement; the rest of the company +chimed in with their master, and each tried to take the first +part in the chorus. The duc d'Ayen even talked of my grace of +manner. "Ah, sir," said I to him, "I have had time to learn it +from Pharamond to the reigning king." + +This allusion was bitter, and did not escape the duke, who turned +pale in spite of his presence of mind, on finding that I was aware +of the malicious repartee which he had made to the king when +talking of me, and which I have already mentioned to you. The +chancellor said to me, + +"You have produced a great effect, but especially have you +triumphed over the cabal by the nobility of your manners and the +dignity of your mien; and thus you have deprived it of one of its +greatest engines of mischief, that of calumniating your person." + +"They imagined then," said I to him, "that I could neither speak +nor be silent, neither walk nor sit still." + +"As they wished to find you ignorant and awkward they have set +you down as such. This is human nature: when we hate any one, we +say they are capable of any thing; then, that they have become +guilty of every thing; and, to wind up all, they adopt for truth +to-day what they invented last night." + +"Were you not fearful?" inquired the king. + +"Forgive me, sire," I answered, "when I say that I feared lest I +should not please your majesty; and I was excessively desirous of +convincing mesdames of my respectful attachment." + +This reply was pronounced to be fitting and elegant, altho' I had +not in any way prepared it. The fact is, that I was in great +apprehension lest I should displease the king's daughters; and I +dreaded lest they should manifest too openly the little friendship +which they had towards me. Fortunately all passed off to a miracle, +and my good star did not burn dimly in this decisive circumstance. + +Amongst those who rejoiced at my triumph I cannot forget the duc +d'Aiguillon. During the whole of the day he was in the greatest +agitation. His future destiny was, in a measure, attached to my +fortune; he knew that his whole existence depended on mine; and +he expected from me powerful support to defend him against the +pack of his enemies, who were yelping open-mouthed against him. +He stood in need of all his strength of mind and equanimity to +conceal the disquietude and perplexity by which he was internally agitated. + +The comte Jean also participated in this great joy. His situation +at court was not less doubtful; he had no longer reason to blush +for his alliance with me, and could now form, without excess of +presumption, the most brilliant hopes of the splendor of his +house. His son, the vicomte Adolphe, was destined to high fortune; +and I assure you that I deeply regretted when a violent and +premature death took him away from his family. My presentation +permitted his father to realize the chimera which he had pursued +with so much perseverance. He flattered himself in taking part +with me. I did not forget him in the distribution of my rewards; +and the king's purse was to him a source into which he frequently +dipped with both hands. + +The next day I had a visit from the chancellor. + +"Now," said he, "you are at the height of your wishes, and we +must arrange matters, that the king shall find perpetual and varied +amusements, with you. He does not like large parties; a small +circle is enough for him; then he is at his ease, and likes to see +the same faces about him. If you follow my advice you will have +but few females about you, and select that few with discernment." + +"How can I choose them at all when I see so very few?" was my +reply. "I have no positive intimacy with any court lady; and +amongst the number I should be at a loss to select any one whom +I would wish to associate with in preference to another." + +"Oh, do not let that disturb you," he replied: "they leave you +alone now, because each is intent on observing what others may +do; but as soon as any one shall pay you a visit, the others will +run as fast after you as did the sheep of Panurge. I am greatly +deceived if they are not very desirous that one of them shall +devote herself, and make the first dash, that they may profit +by her pretended fault. I know who will not be the last to come +and station herself amongst the furniture of your apartment. The +maréchale de Mirepoix was too long the complaisant friend of +madame de Pompadour not to become, and that very soon, the friend +of the comtesse du Barry." + +"Good heaven," I exclaimed, "how delighted I should be to have +the friendship of this lady, whose wit and amiable manners are so +greatly talked of." + +"Yes," said de Maupeou, laughing, "she is a type of court ladies, +a mixture of dignity and suppleness, majesty and condescension, +which is worth its weight in gold. She was destined from all +eternity to be the companion of the king's female friends." + +We both laughed; and the chancellor went on to say: "There are +others whom I will point out to you by and by; as for this one, I +undertake to find out whether she will come first of the party. +She has sent to ask an audience of me concerning a suit she has +in hand. I will profit by the circumstances to come to an explanation +with her, about you. She is not over fond of the Choiseul party; +and I augur this, because I see that she puts on a more agreeable +air towards them." + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +The Comte de la Marche, a prince of the blood--Madame de Beauvoir, +his mistress--Madame du Barry complains to the prince de Soubise +of the princess de Guémenée--The king consoles the countess for +this--The duc de Choiseul--The king speaks to him of madame du +Barry--Voltaire writes to her--The opinions of Richelieu and the +king concerning Voltaire + +Amongst those personages who came to compliment me on the evening +of my presentation was M. the comte de la Marche, son of the prince +du Conti, and consequently prince of the blood. He had long been +devoted to the will of Louis XV. As soon as his most serene +highness had wind of my favor he hastened to add to the number of +my court; and I leave you to imagine how greatly I was flattered +at seeing it augmented by so august a personage. + +This conquest was most valuable in my eyes, for I thus proved to +the world, that by attracting the king to me I did not isolate him +from the whole of his family. It is very true that for some time +the comte de la Marche had been out of favor with the public, by +reason of his over complaisance towards the ministers of the king's +pleasure; but he was not the less a prince of the blood, and at +Versailles this rank compensated for almost every fault. He was +a lively man, moreover, his society was agreeable, and the title +he bore reflected his distinction amongst a crowd of courtiers. +I felt, therefore, that I ought to consider myself as very fortunate +that he deigned to visit me, and accordingly received him with +all the civility I could display; and the welcome reception which +he always experienced drew him frequently to my abode. + +The friendship with which he honored me was not agreeable to my +enemies; and they tried by every possible means to seduce him +from me. They got his near relations to talk to him about it; his +intimate friends to reason with him; the females whom he most +admired to dissuade him from it. There was not one of these +latter who did not essay to injure me in his estimation, by saying +that he dishonored himself by an acquaintance with me. There was +amongst others a marquise de Beauvoir, the issue of a petty +nobility, whom he paid with sums of gold, altho' she was not his +mistress by title. Gained over by the Choiseuls, she made proposals +concerning me to the prince of so ridiculous a nature, that he said +to her impatiently: "I' faith, my dear, as in the eyes of the world +every woman who lives with a man who is not her husband is a ------, +so I think a man is wise to choose the loveliest he can find; and +in this way the king is at this moment much better off than any +of his subjects." + +Only imagine what a rage this put the marquise de Beauvoir in: she +stormed, wept, had a nervous attack. The comte de la Marche +contemplated her with a desperate tranquillity; but this scene +continuing beyond the limits of tolerable patience, he was so tired +of it that he left her. This was not what the marquise wished; and +she hastened to write a submissive letter to him, in which, to justify +herself, she confessed to the prince, that in acting against me she +had only yielded to the instigations of the cabal, and particularly +alluded to mesdames de Grammont and de Guémenée. + +The comte de la Marche showed me this letter, which I retained +in spite of his resistance and all the efforts he made to obtain +possession of it again. My intention was to show it to the king; +and I did not fail to give it to him at the next visit he paid me: +he read it, and shrugging up his shoulders, as was his usual custom, +he said to me, + +"They are devils incarnate, and the worst of the kind. They try +to injure you in every way, but they shall not succeed. I receive +also anonymous letters against you, they are tossed into the +post-box in large packets with feigned names, in the hope that +they will reach me. Such slanders ought not to annoy you: in the +days of madame de Pompadour, the same thing was done. The same +schemes were tried to ruin madame de Chateauroux. Whenever I +have been suspected of any tenderness towards a particular female, +every species of intrigue has been instantly put in requisition. +Moreover," he continued, "madame de Grammont attacks you with too +much obstinacy not to make me believe but that she would employ all +possible means to attain her end." + +"Ah," I exclaimed, "because she has participated in your friendship +you are ready to support her." + +"Do not say so in a loud tone," he replied laughingly; "her joy +would know no bounds if she could believe it was in her power +to inspire you with jealousy." + +"But," I said, "that insolent Guémenée; has she also to plume +herself on your favors as an excuse for overpowering me with her +hatred, and for tearing me to pieces in the way she does?" + +"No," was the king's answer; "she is wrong, and I will desire her +father-in-law to say so." + +"And I will come to an explanation with the prince de Soubise on +this point; and we will see whether or not I will allow myself to +have my throat cut like an unresisting sheep." + +I did not fail to keep my word. The prince de Soubise came the +next morning; chance on that day induced him to be extraordinarily +gallant towards me; never had he praised me so openly, or with so +much exaggeration. I allowed him to go on; but when at length he +had finished his panegyric, "Monsieur le maréchal," said I to him, +"you are overflowing with kindness towards me, and I wish that all +the members of your family would treat me with the same indulgence." + +Like a real courtier he pretended not to understand me, and made +no reply, hoping, no doubt, that the warmth of conversation would +lead me to some other subject; but this one occupied me too fully +to allow me to divert my attention from it; and, seeing that he + continued silent, I continued: "Far from treating me as well as you +do, madame your daughter-in-law behaves towards me like a declared +enemy; she assails me by all sorts of provocation, and at last will +so act, that I shall find myself compelled to struggle against her +with open force." + +You must be a courtier, you must have been in the presence of a +king who is flattered from morning to night in all his caprices, to +appreciate the frightful state in which my direct attack placed the +prince de Soubise. Neither his political instinct, nor the tone of +pleasantry which he essayed to assume, nor the more dangerous +resource of offended dignity, could extricate him from the +embarrassment in which he was thrown by my words. He could do +nothing but stammer out a few unintelligible phrases; and his +confusion was so great and so visible, that the marquis de Chauvelin, +his not over sincere friend, came to his assistance. The king, equally +surprised at what I had just said, hastily turned and spoke to Chon, +who told me afterwards, that the astonishment of Louis XV had +been equal to that of the prince de Soubise, and that he had evinced +it by the absence of mind which he had manifested in his discourse +and manners. + +M. de Chauvelin then turning towards me, said, "Well, madame, on +what evil herb have you walked to-day? Can it be possible that +you would make the prince, who is your friend, responsible for the +hatred which ought to be flattering rather than painful to you, since +it is a homage exacted towards your brilliant loveliness?" + +"In the first place," I replied, "I have no intention to cast on +monsieur le maréchal, whom I love with all my heart, the least +responsibility relative to the object of which I complain. I only +wished to evince to him the regret I experienced at not seeing all +the members of his family like him: this is all. I should be in +despair if I thought I had said anything that would wound him; +and if I have done so, I most sincerely ask his pardon." + +On saying these words I presented my hand to the prince, who +instantly kissed it. + +"You are," said he, "at the same time cruel and yet most amiable: +but if you have the painful advantage of growing old at court, you +will learn that my children have not all the deference and respect +towards me which they owe to their father; and I often am pained +to see them act in a manner entirely opposite to my desires, +however openly manifested. If my daughter does not love you, it +is to me, most probably, that you must look for the <why> and +<wherefore>: it is because I love you so much that she is against +you. I have committed an error in praising you before her, and +her jealousy was not proof against it." + +"That is very amiable in you," said I; "and now whatever may be +my feelings against the princesse de Guémenée, I will endeavor to +dissemble it out of regard for you; and, I assure you, that however +little consideration your daughter-in-law may testify towards me, I +will show her a fair side: endeavor to make peace between us. I +only ask to be let alone, for I do not seek to become the enemy +of any person." + +Altho' M. de Soubise said that he had no influence over the +princesse de Guémenée, I learned, subsequently, that the day after +this scene he testified to the Guémenée some fears as to his future +destiny at court. He begged her not to oppose herself to me; to +be silent with respect to me, and to keep herself somewhat in the +shade if she would not make some advances towards me. His daughter- +in-law, whose arrogance equalled her dissipation and dissolute +manners, replied, that she was too much above a woman of my sort +to fear or care for me; that my reign at the château would be but +brief, whilst hers would only terminate with her life: that she +would never consent to an act of weakness that would be derogatory +to her character and rank. In vain did the prince try to soften +her, and make her consider that my influence over the king was +immense: he preached to the desert, and was compelled to abandon +his purpose without getting any thing by his endeavors. + +I now return to my conversation with him. During the time it lasted +the king did not cease talking to Chon, all the time listening with +attention to what the prince and I were saying; and he did not +approach us until the intervention of M. de Chauvelin had terminated +this kind of a quarrel. He returned to his seat in front of the +fire; and when we were alone, said to me, + +"You have been very spiteful to the poor maréchal, and I suffered +for him." + +"You are an excellent friend; and, no doubt, it is the affection +you bear to M. de Soubise which makes you behave so harshly to me. +Can I not, without displeasing you, defend myself when I am attacked?" + +"I did not say so; but is it necessary that he must be responsible +for the follies of his relations?" + +"In truth, sire, so much the worse for the father who cannot make +his children respect him. If the maréchal was respected by the +public, believe me he would be so by his family." + +This retort was perhaps too severe. I found this by the silence +of the king; but as, in fact, it imported little, and, by God's +help, I was never under much constraint with him, I saw him blush, +and then he said to me, + +"Now, I undertake to bring madame de Guémenée into proper order. +The favor I ask is, that you would not meddle. I have power +enough to satisfy you, but, for heaven's sake, do not enter into +more quarrels than you have already. It seems to me that you +ought to avoid them instead of creating such disturbances." + +He had assumed a grave tone in reading me this lecture: but as we +were in a place in which majesty could not be committed, I began +to laugh heartily, and to startle him, I said that henceforward I +would pilot my bark myself, and defend myself by openly assailing +all persons who testified an aversion to me. How laughable it +was to see the comic despair in which this determination threw the +king. It seemed to him that the whole court would be at loggerheads; +and he could not restrain himself from exclaiming, that he would a +hundred times rather struggle against the king of Prussia and the +emperor of Germany united, than against three or four females of +the château. In a word, I frightened him so completely, that he +decided on the greatest act of courage he had ever essayed in my +favor: it was, to desire the intervention of the duc de Choiseul +in all these quarrels. + +The credit of this minister was immense, and this credit was based +on four powerful auxiliaries; namely the parliament, the philosophers, +the <literati>, and the women. The high magistracy found in him +a public and private protector. The parliaments had themselves a +great many clients, and their voices, given to the duc de Choiseul, +gave him great power in the different provinces. The philosophers, +ranged under the banner of Voltaire, who was their god, and of +d'Alembert, their patriarch, knew all his inclinations for them, and +knew how far they might rely on his support in all attempts which +they made to weaken the power of the clergy, and to diminish the +gigantic riches which had been amassed by prelates and monasteries. +The writers were equally devoted to him: they progressed with the +age, and as on all sides they essayed to effect important reforms, +it was natural that they should rally about him in whose hands +was the power of their operations. + +The ladies admired his gallantry: in fact, the duc de Choiseul was +a man who understood marvellously well how to combine serious +labors with pleasure. I was, perhaps, the only woman of the court +whom he would not love, and yet I was not the least agreeable nor +the most ugly. It was very natural for them to exalt his merit +and take him under their especial protection. Thus was he +supported in every quarter by them; they boasted of his measures, +and by dint of repeating in the ears of every body that M. de +Choiseul was a minister <par excellence>, and the support of +monarchy, they had contrived to persuade themselves of the truth +of their assertion. In fact, if France found herself freed from +the Jesuits, it was to the duc de Choiseul that this was owing, and +this paramount benefit assured to him universal gratitude. + +The king was fully aware of this unanimity of public opinion in +favor of his minister. He was, besides, persuaded, that in +arranging the <pacte de famille>, and concluding the alliance +with the imperial house, the duc de Choiseul had evinced admirable +diplomatic talents, and rendered France real, and important, service. +His attachment to him was incumbent, and rested on solid +foundations. If, at a subsequent period, he dismissed him, it was +because he was deceived by a shameful intrigue which it will cost +me pain to develop to you, because I took by far too much a leading +part in it, which now causes me the deepest regret. + +Now, by the act of my presentation, the duc de Choiseul would be +compelled to meet me often, which would render our mutual situation +very disagreeable. On this account the king sought to reconcile +us, and would have had no difficulty in effecting his wishes had +he only had the resistance of the minister and his wife to +encounter. The lady had not much influence over her husband, and +besides she had too much good sense to struggle against the wishes +of the king: but the duchesse de Grammont was there, and this +haughty and imperious dame had so great an ascendancy with her +brother, and behaved with so little caution, that the most odious +reports were in circulation about their intimacy. + +It could scarcely be hoped that we could tame this towering spirit, +which saw in me an odious rival. Louis XV did not flatter himself +that he could effect this prodigy, but he hoped to have a greater +ascendancy over his minister. It was to the duc de Choiseul, +therefore, that he first addressed himself, desirous of securing +the husband and wife before he attacked the redoubtable sister. +The next morning, after my warm assault on the prince de Soubise, +he profited by an audience which the duke requested at an unusual +hour to introduce this negotiation of a new kind, and the details +I give you of this scene are the more faithful, as the king gave +them to me still warm immediately after the conversation +had terminated. + +The state affairs having been concluded, the king, seeking to +disguise his voluntary embarrassment, said to the duke, smiling, + +"Duc de Choiseul, I have formed for my private hours a most +delightful society: the most attached of my subjects consider +themselves highly favored when I invite them to these evening +parties so necessary for my amusement. I see with pain that you +have never yet asked me to admit you there." + +"Sire," replied the duke, "the multiplicity of the labors with +which your majesty has charged me, scarcely allows me time +for my pleasures." + +"Oh, you are not so fully occupied but that you have still some +time to spend with the ladies, and I think that I used to meet you +frequently at the marquise de Pompadour's." + +"Sire, she was my friend." + +"Well, and why, is not the comtesse du Barry? Who has put it into +your head that she was opposed to you? You do not know her: she +is an excellent woman: not only has she no dislike to you, but even +desires nothing more than to be on good terms with you." + +"I must believe so since your majesty assures me of it; but, sire, +the vast business with which I am overwhelmed--" + +"Is not a sufficing plea; I do not allow that without a special +motive, you should declare yourself against a person whom I honor +with my protection. As you do not know her, and cannot have any +thing to urge against her but prejudices founded on false rumors +and scandalous fabrications, I engage you to sup with me at her +apartments this evening, and I flatter myself that when I wish it +you will not coin a parcel of reasons in opposition to my desire." + +"I know the obedience that is due to your majesty," said +de Choiseul, bowing low. + +"Well, then, do first from duty what I flatter myself you will +afterwards do from inclination. Duc de Choiseul, do not allow +yourself to be influenced by advice that will prove injurious to +you. What I ask cannot compromise you; but I should wish that +with you all should be quiet, that no one should struggle against +me, and that too with the air of contending against a person's +station. Do not reply, you know perfectly what I would say, and +I know what belongs to myself." + +Here the conversation terminated. The duc de Choiseul did not +become my friend any the more, but behaved towards me with all +due consideration. He used grace and <finesse> in his proceedings, +without mingling with it anything approaching to nonsense. He never +allowed himself, whatever has been said, to dart out in my face any +of those epigrams which public malignity has attributed to him. +Perhaps like many other persons in the world, he has said many +pleasantries of me which have been reported as said in my presence, +but I repeat that he never uttered in my society a single word with +which I had cause to be offended. + +At this juncture I received a letter of which I had the folly to be +proud, altho' a little reflection should have made me think that +my situation alone inspired it: it was from M. de Voltaire. This +great genius was born a courtier. Whether he loved the protection +of the great, or whether he thought it necessary to him, he was +constantly aiming, from his youth upwards, at obtaining the +countenance of persons belonging to a high rank, which made him +servile and adulatory whilst they were in power, and full of +grimace towards them when the wind favor ceased to swell their +sails. It was in this way that mesdames de Chateauroux and de +Pompadour had had his homage. He had sung their praises, and, +of course, he could not forget me. You will recall to mind the +letter which he wrote to the duc d'Aiguillon, on occasion of the +piece of poetry entitled "<La Cour du Roi Petaud>." He had denied +having composed it, but this denial had not been addressed directly +to me. Having learnt, no doubt, that my credit was increasing, he +thought himself obliged to write to me, that he might rank me with +his party. He might have availed himself of the intermediation of +the duc d'Aiguillon, but preferred putting the duc de Richelieu into +his confidence, and begged him to fulfil the delicate function of +literary Mercury. I was alone when the maréchal came to me with +an assumed air of mystery. His first care was to look around him +without saying a word; and it was not until after he had shaken +the curtains, and peeped into every corner of the apartment, that +he approached me, who was somewhat surprised at his monkey tricks. + +"I am the bearer," he said, in a low voice, "of a secret and +important communication, which I have been entreated to deliver +after five or six hundred cautions at least: it is a, defection +from the enemy's camp, and not the least in value." + +Fully occupied by my quarrel with the ladies of the court, I +imagined that he had brought me a message of peace from some +great lady; and, full of this idea, I asked him in haste the name +of her whose friendship I had acquired. + +"Good," said he, "it is about a lady, is it? It is from a personage +fully as important, a giant in power, whose words resound from +one extremity of Europe to another, and whom the Choiseuls +believe their own entirely." + + "It is M. de Voltaire," I said. + +"Exactly so: your perspicacity has made you guess it." + + "But what does he want with me?" + +"To be at peace with you; to range himself under your banner, +secretly at first, but afterwards openly." + +"Is he then afraid openly to evince himself my friend?" I replied, +in a tone of some pique. + +"Rather so, and yet you must not feel offended at that. The +situation of this sarcastic and talented old man is very peculiar; +his unquiet petulance incessantly gives birth to fresh perils. He, +of necessity, must make friends in every quarter, left and right, +in France and foreign countries. The necessary consequence is, +that he cannot follow a straight path. The Choiseuls have served +him with perfect zeal: do not be astonished if he abandon them +when they can no longer serve him. If they fall, he will bid them +good evening, and will sport your cockade openly." + +"But," I replied, "this is a villainous character." + +"Ah, I do not pretend to introduce to you an Aristides or an +Epaminondas, or any other soul of similar stamp. He is a man of +letters, full of wit, a deep thinker, a superior genius, and our +reputations are in his hands. If he flatters us, posterity will +know it; if he laugh at us, it will know it also. I counsel you +therefore to use him well, if you would have him behave so +towards you." + +"I will act conformably to your advice," said I to the maréchal; +"at the same time I own to you that I fear him like a firebrand." + +"I, like you, think that there is in him something of the infernal +stone: he burns you on the slightest touch. But now, to this +letter; you will see what he says to you. He begs me most +particularly to conceal from every body the step he has taken +with you. What he most dreads is, lest you should proclaim from +the housetops that he is in correspondence with you. I conjure +you, on his behalf, to exercise the greatest discretion, and I +think that you are interested in doing so; for, if what he has done +should be made public, he will not fail to exercise upon you the +virulence of his biting wit." + +Our conversation was interrupted by a stir which we heard in the +château, and which announced to us the king. The maréchal hastily +desired me not to show Voltaire's letter to the king until I had +read it previously to myself. "He does not like this extraordinary +man," he added, "and accuses him of having failed in respect, +and perhaps you will find in this paper some expression which +may displease him." + +Scarcely had I put the epistle in my pocket, when the king entered. + +"What are you talking about," said he, "you seem agitated?" + +"Of M. de Voltaire, sire," I replied, with so much presence of +mind as to please the duc de Richelieu. + +"What, is he at his tricks again? Have you any cause of complaint +against him?" + +"Quite the reverse; he has charged M. d'Argental to say to M. de +Richelieu, that he was sorry that he could not come and prostrate +himself at my feet." + +"Ah," said the king, remembering the letter to the duc d'Aiguillon, +"he persists in his coquetries towards you: that is better than +being lampooned by him. But do not place too much confidence in +this gentleman of the chamber: he weighs every thing in two scales; +and I doubt much whether he will spare you when he evinces but +little consideration for me." + +Certainly Richelieu had a good opportunity of undertaking the +defence of his illustrious friend. He did no such thing; and I +have always thought that Voltaire was the person whom the duke +detested more heartily than any other person in the world. He did, +in fact, dread him too much to esteem him as a real friend. + +"M. d'Argental," said the king, "unites then at my court the double +function of minister of Parma and steward of Ferney.* Are these +two offices compatible?" + +*The name of Voltaire's residence- TRANS + +"Yes, sire," replied the duke, laughing, "since he has not +presented officially to your majesty the letters of his creation as +comte de Tournay." + +The king began to laugh. This was the name of an estate which +Voltaire had, and which he sometimes assumed. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Unpublished letter of Voltaire to madame du Barry--Reply of the +countess--The maréchale de Mirepoix--Her first interview with +madame du Barry--Anecdote of the diamonds of madame de Mirepoix-- +The king pays for them--Singular gratitude of the maréchale--The +portfolio, and an unpublished letter of the marquise de Pompadour + +By the way in which the king continued to speak to me of M. de +Voltaire, I clearly saw how right the duke was in advising me to +read the letter myself before I showed it to my august protector. I +could not read it until the next day, and found it conceived in the +following terms:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE:--I feel myself urged by an extreme desire +to have an explanation with you, after the receipt of a letter +which M. the duc d'Aiguillon wrote to me last year. This nobleman, +nephew of a gentleman, as celebrated for the name he bears as by +his own reputation, and who has been my friend for more than +sixty years, has communicated to me the pain which had been caused +you by a certain piece of poetry, of my writing as was stated, +and in which my style was recognised. Alas! madame, ever since +the most foolish desire in the world has excited me to commit a +great deal of idle trash to paper, not a month, a week, nay, even a +day passes in which I am not accused and convicted of some great +enormity; that is to say, the malicious author of all sorts of +turpitudes and extravagancies. Eh! <mon Dieu>, the entire +life-time of ten men would not be sufficient to write all with +which I am charged, to my unutterable despair in this world, and +to my eternal damnation in that which is to come. + +"It is no doubt, much to die in final impenitence; altho' hell may +contain all the honest men of antiquity and a great portion of those +of our times; and paradise would not be much to hope for if we +must find ourselves face to face with messieurs Fréron, Nonatte, +Patouillet, Abraham Chauneix, and other saints cut out of the same +cloth. But how much more severe would it be to sustain your +anger! The hatred of the Graces brings down misfortune on men +of letters; and when he embroils himself with Venus and the Muses +he is a lost being; as, for instance, M. Dorat, who incessantly +slanders his mistresses, and writes nothing but puerilities. + +"I have been very cautious, in my long career, how I committed +such a fault. If perchance I have lightly assailed the common cry +of scribblers or pendants who were worthless, I have never ceased +to burn incense on the altars of the ladies; them I have always sung +when I--could not do otherwise. Independently, madame, of the +profound respect I bear all your sex I profess a particular regard +towards all those who approach our sovereign, and whom he +invests with his confidence: in this I prove myself no less a +faithful subject than a gallant Frenchman; and I venerate the God +I serve in his constant friendships as I would do in his caprices. +Thus I was far from outraging and insulting you still more +grievously by composing a hateful work which I detest with my +whole heart, and which makes me shed tears of blood when I think +that people did not blush to attribute it to me. + +"Believe in my respectful attachment, madame, no less than in +my cruel destiny, which renders me odious to those by whom I +would be loved. My enemies, a portion of whom are amongst yours, +certainly succeed each other with frightful eagerness to try my wind. +Now they have just published under my name some attacks on the +poor president Henault, whom I love with sincere affection. What +have they not attributed to me to inculpate me with my friends, +with my illustrious protectors, M. le maréchal duc de Richelieu and +their majesties the king of Prussia and the czarina of Russia! + +"I could excuse them for making war upon strangers in my name, +altho' that would be a pirate's method; but to attack, under my +banner, my master, my sovereign lord, this I can never pardon, and +I will raise against them even a dying voice; particularly when they +strike you with the same blows; you, who love literature; you, who +do me the honor to charge your memory with my feeble productions. +It is an infamy to pretend that I fire on my own troops. + +"Under any circumstances, madame, I am before you in a very +delicate situation. There is in Versailles a family which overwhelms +me with marks of their friendship. Mine ought to appertain to it to +perpetuity; yet I learn that it is so unfortunate as to have no +conception of your merit, and that envious talebearers place +themselves between you and it. I am told that there is a kind of +declared war; it is added, that I have furnished supplies to this +camp, the chiefs of which I love and esteem. More wise, more +submissive, I keep myself out of the way of blows; and my reverence +for the supreme master is such, that I turn away my very eyes that +they may not be spectators of the fight. + +"Do not then, madame, think that any sentiment of affection has +compelled, or can compel me to take arms against you. I would +refuse any proposition which should rank me as hostile to you, if +the natural generosity of your enemies could so far forget it. In +reality they are as incapable of ordering a bad action as I am of +listening to those who should show themselves so devoid of sense +as to propose such a thing to me. + +"I am persuaded that you have understood me, and I am fully +cleared in your eyes. It would be delightful to me to ascertain +this with certainty. I charge M. le maréchal duc de Richelieu +to explain to you my disquietude on this head, and the favor I +seek at your hands, from you who command France, whilst I, I +ought to die in peace, not to displease any person, and live +wisely with all. I conclude, madame la comtesse, this long and +stupid epistle, which is, in fact, less a letter than a real case +for consideration, by begging you to believe me, etc., + "VOLTAIRE + +"<Ferney>, April 28, 1769. Gentleman in ordinary to the king. + +"P. S. My enemies say everywhere that I am not a Christian. I +have just given them the lie direct, by performing my Easter +devotions (<mes paques>) publicly; thus proving to all my lively +desire to terminate my long career in the religion in which I was +born; and I have fulfilled this important act after a dozen +consecutive attacks of fever, which made me fear I should die +before I could assure you of my respect and my devotion." + +This apology gave me real pleasure. I pretended to believe the +sincerity of him who addressed me, altho' he had not convinced +me of his innocence; and I wrote the following reply to M. de +Voltaire, which a silly pride dictates to me to communicate to +you, in conjunction with the letter of the philosopher: + +"MONSIEUR:--Even were you culpable from too much friendship +towards those you cherish, I would pardon you as a recompense for +the letter you address to me. This ought the more to charm me, as +it gives me the certainty that you had been unworthily calumniated. +Could you have said, under the veil of secrecy, things disagreeable +to a great king, for whom, in common with all France, you profess +sincere love? It is impossible. Could you, with gaiety of heart, +wound a female who never did you harm, and who admires your +splendid genius? In fact, could those you call your friends have +stooped so low as not to have feared to compromise you, by making +you play a part unworthy of your elevated reputation? All these +suppositions were unreasonable: I could not for a moment admit them, +and your two letters have entirely justified you. I can now give +myself up without regret to my enthusiasm for you and your works. +It would have been too cruel for me to have learnt with certainty +that he whom I regarded as the first writer of the age had become +my detractor without motive, without provocation. That it is not so +I give thanks to Providence. + +"M. the duc d'Aiguillon did not deceive you when he told you +that I fed on your sublime poetry. I am in literature a perfect +novice, and yet am sensible of the true beauties which abound +in your works. I am to be included amongst the stones which +were animated by Amphion: this is one of your triumphs; but to +this you must be accustomed. + +"Believe also that all your friends are not in the enemy's camp. +There are those about me who love you sincerely, M. de Chauvelin, +for instance, MM. de Richelieu and d'Aiguillon: this latter eulogizes +you incessantly; and if all the world thought as he does, you would +be here in your place. But there are terrible prejudices which my +candor will not allow me to dissemble, which you have to overcome. +There is <one> who complains of you, and this one must be won over +to your interests. He wishes you to testify more veneration for +what he venerates himself; that your attacks should not be so +vehement nor so constant. Is it then impossible for you to comply +his wishes in this particular? Be sure that you only, in setting no +bounds in your attacks on religion, do yourself a vast mischief with +the person in question. + +"It will appear strange that I should hold such language to you: +I only do it to serve you: do not take my statements unkindly. I +have now a favor to ask of you; which is, to include me in the list +of those to whom you send the first fruits of the brilliant +productions of your pen. There is none who is more devoted to +you, and who has a more ardent desire to convince you of this. + +"I am, <monsieur le gentilhomme ordinaire>, with real +attachment, etc." + +I showed this letter to M. de Richelieu. + +"Why," he inquired, 'have you not assured him as to your indiscretion, +which he fears?" + +"Because his fear seemed to me unjust, and I leave you to represent +me to him as I am; and now," I added, "it does not appear to me +necessary for the king to know anything of this." + +"You think wisely, madame; what most displeased him was to see +madame de Pompadour in regular correspondence with M. de Voltaire." + +I have related to you this episode of my history, that it may +recompense you for the tiresome details of my presentation. I +resume my recital. I told you that M. de Maupeou had told me +that he would endeavor to bring madame la maréchale de Mirepoix, +and introduce her to me, trusting to the friendship she had evinced +for madame de Pompadour during, the whole time of the favor and +life of her who preceded me in the affections of Louis XV. I +found, to my surprise, that he said nothing to me concerning it +for several days, when suddenly madame la maréchale de Mirepoix +was announced. + +At this name and this title I rose quite in a fluster, without +clearly knowing what could be the object of this visit, for which +I was unprepared. The maréchale, who followed closely on the +valet's heels, did not give me time for much reflection. She took +me really <a l'improviste>, and I had not time to go and meet her. + +"Madame la maréchale," said I, accosting her, "what lucky chance + brings you to a place where the desire to have your society is so great?" + +"It is the feeling of real sympathy," she replied, with a gracious +smile; "for I also have longed for a considerable time to visit +you, and have yielded to my wishes as soon as I was certain that +my advances would not be repulsed." + +"Ah, madame.," said I, "had you seriously any such fear? That +tells me much less of the mistrust you had of yourself than of the +bad opinion you had conceived of me. The honor of your visits--" + +"The honor of my visits! That's admirable! I wish to obtain a +portion of your friendship, and to testify to the king that I am +sincerely attached to him." + +"You overwhelm me, madame," cried I, much delighted, "and I beg +you to give me your confidence." + +"Well, now, all is arranged between us: I suit you and you please +me. It is long since I was desirous of coming to you, but we are +all under the yoke of the must absurd tyranny: soon we shall have +no permission to go, to come, to speak, to hold our tongues, without +first obtaining the consent of a certain family. This yoke has +wearied me; and on the first word of the chancellor of France I +hastened to you." + +"I had begged him, madame, to express to you how much I should be +charmed to have you when the king graced me with his presence. He +likes you, he is accustomed to the delights of your society; and I +should have been deeply chagrined had I come here only to deprive +him of that pleasure." + +"He is a good master," said the maréchale, "he is worthy of all +our love. I have had opportunities of knowing him thoroughly, +for I was most intimate with madame de Pompadour; and I believe +that my advice will not be useless to you." + +"I ask it of you, madame la maréchale, for it will be precious to me." + +"Since we are friends, madame," said she, seating herself in a +chair, "do not think ill of me if I establish myself at my ease, +and take my station as in the days of yore. The king loves you: +so much the better. You will have a double empire over him. He +did not love the marquise, and allowed himself to be governed by +her; for with him--I ask pardon of your excessive beauty--custom +does all. It is necessary, my dear countess, to use the double lever +you have, of your own charms and his constant custom to do +to-morrow what he does to-day because he did it yesterday, and +for this you lack neither grace nor wit." + +I had heard a great deal concerning madame de Mirepoix; but I +own to you, that before I heard her speak I had no idea what sort +of a person she would prove. She had an air of so much frankness +and truth, that it was impossible not to be charmed by it. The greater +part of the time I did not know how to defend myself from her--at +once so natural and so perfidious; and occasionally I allowed myself +to love her with all my heart, so much did she seem to cherish me +with all enthusiasm. She had depth of wit, a piquancy of expression, +and knew how to disguise those interested adulations with turns +so noble and beautiful that I have never met, neither before nor +since, any woman worthy of being compared with her. She was, +in her single self, a whole society; and certainly there was no +possibility of being wearied when she was there. Her temper was +most equable, a qualification rarely obtained without a loss of +warmth of feeling. She always pleased because her business was +to please and not to love; and it always sufficed her to render others +enthusiastic and ardent. Except this tendency to egotism, she was +the charm of society, the life of the party whom she enlivened by +her presence. She knew precisely when to mourn with the afflicted, +and joke with the merry-hearted. The king had much pleasure in +her company: he knew that she only thought how to amuse him; and, +moreover, as he had seen her from morning till evening with the +marquise de Pompadour, her absence from my parties was insupportable +to him, and almost contrary to the rules of etiquette at the château. + +I cannot tell you how great was his satisfaction, when, at the +first supper which followed our intimacy, he saw her enter. He +ran to meet her like a child, and gave a cry of joy, which must +have been very pleasing to the maréchale. + +"You are a dear woman," he said to her, with an air which accorded +with his words, "I always find you when I want you; and you can +nowhere be more in place than here. I ask your friendship for our +dear countess." + +"She has it already, sire, from the moment I saw her; and I +consider my intimacy with her as one of the happiest chances +of my life." + +The king showed the utmost good humor in the world during the +rest of the evening. He scolded me, however, for the mystery I +had made in concealing from him the agreeable visit of the +maréchale. I justified myself easily by the pleasure which this +surprise caused him; and, on my side, gave my sincere thanks +to the chancellor. + +"You owe me none," said he; "the good maréchale felt herself +somewhat ill at ease not to be on close terms with her who +possesses the affections of the king. It is an indispensable +necessity that she should play a part in the lesser apartments; +and as the principal character no longer suits her, she is +contented to perform that of confidante, and ran here on my +first intimation." + +"Never mind the motive that brought her," I said; "she is a +companion for me much more desirable than madame de Bearn." + +"First from her rank," said the chancellor, smiling maliciously, +"and then by virtue of her cousinship with the Holy Virgin." + +I confess that I was ignorant of this incident in the house of +Levi; and I laughed heartily at the description of the picture, +in which one of the lords of this house is represented on his +knees before the mother of God, who says to him, "<Rise, cousin"; +to which he replies, "<I know my duty too well, cousin.>" I took +care, however, how I joked on this point with the maréchale, who +listened to nothing that touched on the nobility of the ancestors of +her husband or on those of her own family. + +Great had been the outcry in the palace against the duc de la +Vauguyon and madame de Bearn, but how much louder did it become +on the defection of the marquise de Mirepoix. The cabal was +destroyed; for a woman of rank and birth like the maréchale was +to me a conquest of the utmost importance. The princesse de +Guémenée and the duchesse de Grammont were wofully enraged. +This they manifested by satirical sneers, epigrams, and verses, +which were put forth in abundance. All these inffictions disturbed +her but little; the main point in her eyes was to possess the +favor of the master; and she had it, for he felt that he was +bound to her by her complaisance. + +He was not long in giving her an unequivocal proof of his regard. +The duc de Duras asked her, in presence of the king and myself, +why she did not wear her diamonds as usual. + +"They are my representatives," was her reply. + +"What do you mean by representatives?" said I. + +"Why, my dear countess, they are with a Jew instead of my +sign-manual. The rogue had no respect for the word of a relation +of the Holy Virgin and the daughter of the Beauvau. I was in +want of thirty thousand francs; and to procure it I have given +up my ornaments, not wishing to send to the Jew the old plate of +my family, altho' the hunks wanted it." + +We all laughed at her frankness, and the gaiety with which she +gave this statement, but we went no further; to her great regret, +no doubt, for I believe that the scene had been prepared between +her and M. de Duras, either to let her profit in time of need, or +else that she wished to pluck a feather from our wing. When I +was alone with the king, he said, + +"The poor maréchale pains me; I should like to oblige her and +think I will give her five hundred louis." + +"What will such a petty sum avail her? You know what she wants; +either send her the whole or none. A king should do nothing by halves." + +Louis XV answered me nothing; he only made a face, and began to +walk up and down the room. "Ah," said I, "this excellent woman +loves your majesty so much, that you ought to show your gratitude +to her, were it only to recompense her for her intimacy with me." + +"Well, you shall carry her the sum yourself, which Lebel shall +bring you from me. But thirty thousand francs, that makes a +large pile of crown-pieces." + +"Then I must take it in gold." + +"No, but in good notes. We must not, even by a look, intimate +that she has <sold> her visits to us. There are such creatures in +the world!" + +The next morning Lebel brought me a very handsome rose-colored +portfolio, embroidered with silver and auburn hair: it contained +the thirty thousand francs in notes. I hastened to the maréchale. +We were then at Marly. + +"What good wind blows you hither?" said madame de Mirepoix. + +"A royal gallantry," I replied; "you appeared unhappy, and our +excellent prince sends you the money necessary to redeem +your jewels." + +The eyes of the lady became animated, and she embraced me heartily. +"It is to you that I owe this bounty of the king." + +"Yes, partly, to make the present entire; he would only have +given you half the sum." + +"I recognize him well in that he does not like to empty his casket. +He would draw on the public treasury without hesitation for +double the revenue of France, and would not make a division of a +single crown of his own private <peculium>." + +I give this speech <verbatim>; and this was all the gratitude +which madame de Mirepoix manifested towards Louis XV. I was +pained at it, but made no remark. She took up the portfolio, +examined it carefully, and, bursting into a fit of laughter, said, +while she flung herself into an arm-chair, + +"Ah! ah! ah! this is an unexpected rencontre! Look at this +portfolio, my dear friend: do you see the locks with which it is +decorated? Well, they once adorned the head of madame de +Pompadour. She herself used them to embroider this garland of +silver thread; she gave it to the king on his birthday. Louis XV +swore never to separate from it, and here it is in my hands." + +Then, opening the portfolio, and rummaging it over, she found in +a secret pocket a paper, which she opened, saying, "I knew he +had left it." + +It was a letter of madame de Pompadour, which I wished to have, +and the maréchale gave me it instantly; the notes remained with +her. I copy the note, to give you an idea of the sensibility of +the king. + +"SIRE,--I am ill; dangerously so, perhaps. In the melancholy +feeling which preys upon me, I have formed a desire to leave +you a souvenir, which will always make me present to your memory. +I have embroidered this portfolio with my own hair; accept it; +never part with it. Enclose in it your most important papers, +and let its contents prove your estimation of it. Will you not +accord my prayer? Sign it, I beseech you; it is the caprice, the +wish of a dying woman." + +Beneath it was written, + +"This token of love shall never quit me. Louis." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Conversation of the maréchale de Mirepoix with the comtesse du +Barry on court friendship--Intrigues of madame de Bearn--Preconcerted +meeting with madame de Flaracourt---Rage of madame de Bearn-- +Portrait and conversation of madame de Flaracourt with the +comtesse du Barry--Insult from the princesse de Guémenée--Her +banishment--Explanation of the king and the duc de Choiseul +relative to madame du Barry--The comtesse d'Egmont + +However giddy I was I did not partake in the excessive gaiety of +madame de Mirepoix. I was pained to see how little reliance +could be placed on the sensibility of the king, as well as how +far I could esteem the consideration of the maréchale for madame +de Pompadour, from whom she had experienced so many marks of +friendship. This courtier baseness appeared to me so villainous, +that I could not entirely conceal how I was affected with displeasure. +Madame de Mirepoix saw it, and, looking at me attentively, said, + +"Do you feel any desire to become pathetical in the country we +live in? I warn you that it will be at your own expense. We must +learn to content ourselves here with appearances, and examine +nothing thoroughly." + +"'There is then no reality?" said I to her. + +"Yes," she answered me, "but only two things, power and money: +the rest is 'leather and prunella' (<contes bleus>): no person +has time to love sincerely; it is hatred only that takes deep root +and never dies. To hope to give birth to a real passion, an +Orestean and Pyladean friendship, is a dream from which you must +be awakened." + +'Then you do not love me?" + +"You ask me a very awkward question, my darling, I can tell you. +I do love you, and very much, too: I have proved it by ranging +myself on your side, and by declaring, with the utmost frankness, +that I would rather see you in the situation in which you are, +than any other woman of the court. But there is a long space +between this and heroical friendship: I should deceive you if I +were to affirm the contrary, and there would be no common sense +in giving faith to my words. Every one has too much business, +too much intrigue, too many quarrels on hand, to have any leisure +to think of others: every one lives for himself alone. Mesdames +de Guémenée and de Grammont appear very intimate: that is easily +explained, they unite against a common enemy. But were your +station left vacant, no sooner would the king have thrown the apple +to one of them, but the other would detest her instantly." + +Contrary to custom I made no reply: I was absorbed in painful +reflections to which this conversation had given rise. The +maréchale perceived it, and said, + +"We should fall into philosophy if we probed this subject too +deeply. Let us think no more of this: besides, I have a new +defection to tell you of. Madame de Flaracourt told me yesterday +that she much regretted having misunderstood you, and that you +were worth more than all those who persecute you. She appeared +to me disposed to ally herself to you for the least encouragement +which you might be induced to hold out to her." + +"You know very well," I replied, "that I am willing to adopt +your advice. The house of Flaracourt is not to be despised, and +I ask no better than to be on amicable terms with the lady." + +"Well, then, come this morning and walk in the grove nearest the +pavilion, I shall be there with madame de Flaracourt: we will +meet by chance, compliments will follow, and the alliance will +be formed." + +The maréchale and I had scarcely separated when madame de Bearn +was announced. This lady besieged me night and day. Gifted +with a subtle and penetrating spirit--that talent which procures +advancement at court, she saw, with pain, that I sought to attract +other females about me: she would fain have remained my only +friend, that she might, unopposed, influence me in all I did. She +saw, therefore, the appearance of madame de Mirepoix in my +drawing-room with uneasiness: her bad humor was sufficiently +apparent to attract the notice of the maréchale, who laughed at it: +her social position as a titled woman, and the king's friendship, +giving her confidence that her credit would always exceed that of +my godmother. + +Madame de Bearn was compelled to submit to the ascendancy of the +maréchale, but yet did not the less relax in her efforts to keep +from me all other female society, she hoped that at last the king +would distinguish her, and call her into his intimacy as my friend; +she was not more fond of the comtesse d'Aloigny, altho' the nullity +of this lady need not have alarmed her much. For me, I began to +resent the irksomeness of having incessantly at my side a person +who manifested too openly her desire to compel me to submit to +her wishes, and I waited, to secure my freedom, only until the +circle of females I could admit to my society should be extended. + +Such were our reciprocal feelings during our stay at Marly. The +madame de Bearn watched me with more care than at Versailles, +fearing, no doubt, that the freedom of the country might facilitate +connections prejudicial to her interests. Little did she anticipate +on this day the stroke which was in preparation for her. I asked +her spitefully to take a turn with me into the park, and I took +care not to announce the meeting which we had arranged. + +Behold us then walking this way and that, quite by chance, without +however going any distance from the pavilion. Madame de Bearn, +not liking the vicinity of the château, was desirous to go into the +wood. I declined this under vain excuses, when suddenly madame +de Mirepoix and madame de Flaracourt appeared at the end of +a very short walk. + +"Let us turn this way," said the countess to me, "here comes one +of our enemies, whom it would be as well to avoid." + +"Why turn away?" I replied; "she is alone, we are two, and then +the maréchale de Mirepoix is not opposed to us." + +Saying this, I advanced towards them. Madame de Flaracourt appeared +very gracious: I replied to her advances with due politeness, and +instead of separating, we continued to walk about together. Madame +de Bearn saw clearly that chance was not the sole cause of this +meeting: she dissembled as well as she could. I afterwards learnt +that she owed me a spite, particularly for the mystery which I had +made of this occurrence. The marked silence, and the sullen air +she assumed during this interview, and which her sense and +knowledge of the world should have prevented her from manifesting, +proved to me, on this occasion, as on many other others, that +temper cannot always be conquered, and that at times it will burst +forth in spite of the experience and caution of the courtier. + +I did not give myself much trouble on this subject: I had well +recompensed the good offices of the countess: I had ample proof +that in serving me she had acted on the impulse of self-interest: +we were quits, I thought, and I saw no reason why I should +remain isolated just to serve her pleasure. + +When we returned to my apartments I saw plainly, by her mutterings, +her sighs, and the shrugging of her shoulders, that she was deeply +irritated at what had just taken place. She was desirous of +provoking an explanation, but as that could only tend to her +disadvantage, she contented herself with leaving me earlier than +her usual want, without saying anything disagreeable. Her custom +was not to leave me alone, and her abrupt departure confirmed me +in the idea I had imbibed, that this sort of comedy had much +thwarted her. + +In the course of the same day I received a visit from the comtesse +de Flaracourt. This lady, whose sparkling eyes shone with an air +of mischief, presented herself to me with an appearance of +openness and confidence which completely cloaked the malignity +and treachery of her character. She threw her arms round my neck +with as much grace as tenderness, and taking my hand, as if to +arrest my attention, said: + +"I ought, madame, to explain to you the delay that I have made +before I introduce myself to you, as well as the promptitude of +this my first visit. I was prejudiced against you, and had formed +a false estimate of you. My <liaison> with mesdames d'Egmont, +de Brionne, and de Grammont naturally placed me in the rank +opposed to you: so much for what has passed. But I have seen +you: I have studied you at a distance, as well as close, and I +have recognised, without difficulty, the injustice of your enemies. +I have been enraged with myself for having been deceived regarding +you: I wish to repair my wrongs. Enlightened by the opinion of +the maréchale de Mirepoix, I have not hesitated to approach you +under her auspices, and our first meeting has so happily furnished +me with an opportunity of appreciating you, that I would not delay +any longer the pleasure of making you a personal avowal of my +past sentiments, and of those with which you now inspire me." + +The tone in which madame de Flaracourt uttered these words was so +gracious and so persuasive, that I could not resist the pleasure of +embracing her. She returned my kiss with the same eagerness, +and would not listen to my thanks. + +"All is explained between us," she continued, "let us forget the +past, and let us do as if meeting for the first time to-day; we +henceforward date this as the first of our acquaintance." + +"The affability with which you have presented yourself to me," I +replied, "does not permit me to believe that I have only known +you from this morning; I am in an illusion which will only allow +me to look on our recent alliance as an ancient friendship." + +After having exchanged some conversation of the same tenor, we +talked of my situation as regarded the other females of the court. + +"They hate you for two reasons," said the countess: "in the first +place, because you have made a conquest which all the world envies +you; secondly because you are not one of us. There is not one +family who can lean on you in virtue of the rights of blood, or +alliances which stand instead of it. You have superseded a woman +who more than any other could have a claim to your good fortune: +she is sister to the prime minister, who has in her train, like +Lucifer, more than a third part of heaven, for all the courtiers +hang on her brother. + +"On the other hand, we are not accustomed to remain so long in +opposition to the will of the king. Such a resistance is not natural +to us; it weighs upon us, it harms us, the favor of our master +being our chief good. We are only something thro' him, and when +combatting against him we have neither the courage nor the +perseverance. Thus you may be very certain that the majority +of women who oppose you do it against the grain: and if you add +to this that they are incessantly exposed to the murmurs and +complaints of their husbands, sons, brothers, and lovers, you +will easily be convinced that they only aspire to finding a means +of reconciling the regard they owe to the Choiseuls and the terror +which they inspire, with the desire they have to seek your +protection and the friendship of the king. The cabal only flies +on one wing, and I cannot divine its situation at the commencement +of the next winter. Do not disquiet yourself any more with what +it can do: keep yourself quiet; continue to please the 'master,' +and you will triumph over the multitude as easily as you have +conquered the resistance of mesdames." + +Such was the language of the comtesse de Flaracourt: it agreed, +as you will perceive, with that of madame de Mirepoix, and I +ought the more to believe it, as it was the fruit of their +experience and profound knowledge of court manners. Their +example proved to me, as well as their words, that all those who +approached the king could not bear for a long time the position in +which he placed those whom he did not look upon with pleasure. +However, Louis XV evinced more plainly from day to day the +ascendancy I had over his mind. He assisted publicly at my toilet*, +he walked out with me, left me as little as possible, and sought +by every attention to console me for the impertinences with which +my enemies bespattered me. The following anecdote will prove to +you how little consideration he had for those persons who dared to +insult me openly. + +One day at Marly, I entered the drawing-room; there was a vacant +seat near the princesse de Guémenée, I went to it, and scarcely +was seated when my neighbor got up, saying, "What horror!" and +betook herself to the further end of the room. I was much confused: +the offence was too public for me to restrain my resentment, and +even when I wished to do so the thing was scarcely possible. The +comte Jean, who had witnessed it, and my sisters-in-law, who +learnt it from him, were enraged. I was compelled to complain to +the king, who instantly sent the princesse de Guémenée an order +to quit Marly forthwith, and betake herself to the princesse de +Marsan, <gouvernante> of the children of the royal family of France, +of whose post she had the reversion. + +Never did a just chastisement produce a greater effect. The +outcry against me was louder than ever, it seemed as tho' the +whole nobility of France was immolated at "one fell swoop." +To have heard the universal clamor, it would have been thought +that the princess had been sent to the most obscure prison in the +kingdom. This proof of the king's regard for me did much mischief, +no doubt, as it furnished my enemies with a pretext to accuse me +of a vindictive spirit. Could I do otherwise? Ought I to have +allowed myself to be overwhelmed with impunity, and was it +consistent with the dignity of my august protector, that I should +be insulted thus openly by his subjects, his courtiers, his guests, +even in the private apartments of his palace? + +However, this wrath of the nobility did not prevent the Choiseul +family from experiencing a feeling of fright. They had just +received a signal favor. The government of Strasbourg, considered +as the key of France and Alsace, had been given in reversion to +the comte de Stainville, brother of the duc de Choiseul. Certainly +this choice was a very great proof of the indulgence of the king, +and the moment was badly chosen to pay with ingratitude a benefit +so important. This did not hinder the duchesse de Grammont, and +all the women of her house, or who were her allies, from continuing +to intrigue against me. It was natural to believe that the king +would not permit such doing for a long time, and that should he +become enraged at them, that I should attempt to soothe his anger. + +Matters were in this state, when one morning, after his accustomed +routine, the duc de Choiseul requested a private audience of the +king. "I grant it this moment," said the prince, "what have you +to say to me?" + +"I wish to explain to your majesty how excessively painful is the +situation in which I am placed with regard to some of the members +of my family. All the females, and my sister at their head, attack +me about a quarrel which is strange to me, and with which I have +declared I would not meddle." + +"You do well, monsieur le duc," said the king, with cool gravity, +"I am much vexed at all that is going on, and have resolved not +to suffer it any longer." + +The decision of this discourse made a deep impression M. de +Choiseul: he sought to conceal it whilst he replied: + +"It is difficult, sire, to make women listen to reason." + +"All are not unreasonable," rejoined the king: "your wife, for +instance, is a model of reason and wisdom: she has perfect control +of herself. She is the wise woman of scripture." + +This flattery and justly merited eulogium, which the king made of +the duchess whenever he found an opportunity, was the more painful +to M. de Choiseul, as his conduct was not irreproachable towards +a woman whose virtues he alone did not justly appreciate. It was +a direct satire against his sister's conduct, whose ascendancy over +him, her brother, the king well knew. He replied that the good +behavior of his wife was the safeguard of his family, and he +greatly regretted that the duchesse de Grammont had not a right to +the same eulogium. + +"I beg you," said the prince, "to engage her to change her language, +and to conduct herself with less boldness, if she would not have +me force her to repent." + +"That, sire, is a mission painful to fulfil, and words very hard +to convey to her." + +"So much the worse for her," replied the king, elevating his +voice, "if she bear any friendship for you, let her prove it in +this particular: your interests should keep her mouth shut." + +The duke had no difficulty to comprehend the indirect menace +implied: he instantly renewed his regrets for the <disagreeable> +disturbances that had occurred. + +"Add <insulting>," said Louis XV. "I am content with you and +your services, duke. I have just proved this to you, by giving +your brother more than he could expect from me; but have not I +the right to have my intimacies respected? It appears to me that +if you spoke more decidedly in your family you would command +more attention." + +"This makes me fear, sire, that your majesty does not believe me +sincere in my expression of the regret which I just took the +liberty to utter to your majesty." + +"<Mon Dieu>, monsieur le duc, you certainly do not like +madame du Barry." + +"I neither like nor hate her, sire; but I see with trouble that +she receives at her house all my enemies." + +"Whose fault is that if it be so? Your own; you, who would never +visit her; she would have received you with pleasure, and I have +not concealed from you the satisfaction I should have experienced." + +These last words made the duke start, his eyes became animated. +After a moment's reflection he said to the king, + +"Sire, is it indispensably necessary for the service of the state +that I endeavor to attain the good-will of madame la comtesse +du Barry?" + +"No." + +"Well, then, sire, allow matters to remain as they are. It would +cost me much to quarrel with my whole family, the more so as +this sacrifice is not useful to you, and would in no wise alter +my position with your majesty." + +However painful to the king such a determination might be, he +did not allow the duke to perceive it; he dissembled the resentment +he felt, and contented himself with saying, + +"Duc de Choiseul, I do not pretend to impose chains on you; I +have spoken to you as a friend rather than as a sovereign. Now +I return to what was said at first, and accept with confidence the +promise you make me not to torment a lady whom I love most sincerely." + +Thus ended a conversation from which the duke, with a less haughty +disposition, might have extracted greater advantages and played +a surer game. It was the last plank of safety offered in the +shipwreck which menaced him. He disdained it: the opportunity of +seizing it did not present itself again. I doubt not but that if +he would have united himself freely and sincerely with me I +should not have played him false. Louis XV, satisfied with his +condescension in my behalf, would have kept him at the head of +his ministry: but his pride ruined him, he could not throw off +the yoke which the duchesse de Grammont had imposed on him: he +recoiled from the idea of telling her that he had made a treaty +of peace with me, and that was not one of the least causes of +his disgrace. + +The journey to Marly gave birth to a multitude of intrigues of +persons who thought to wrap themselves up in profound mystery, +and all whose actions we knew. The police were very active +about the royal abodes, especially since the fatal deed of the +regicide Damiens. To keep them perpetually on the watch, they +were ordered to watch attentively the amours of the lords and +ladies of the court. + +The daughter of the duc de Richelieu, the comtesse d'Egmont, whose +age was no pretext for her follies, dearly liked low love adventures. +She used to seek them out in Paris, when she could find none at +Versailles. She was not, however, the more indulgent towards me. +This lady was not always content with noble lovers, but sought +them in all classes, and more than once, simple mortals, men of +low order, obtained preference over demi-gods. Her conduct in +this respect was the result of long experience. She used to go out +alone, and traverse the streets of Paris. She entered the shops, +and when her eye rested on a good figure, having wide shoulders, +sinewy limbs, and a good looking face, she then called up all the +resources of her mind to form and carry on an intrigue, of which +the consequences, at first agreeable to him who was the object +of it, terminated most frequently fatally. The following adventure +will give you an idea of the talent of madame d'Egmont in this way, +and how she got rid of her adorers when she had exhausted with +them the cup of pleasure. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Intrigue of the comtesse d'Egmont with a shopman--His unhappy +fate--The comtesse du Barry protects him--Conduct of Louis XV +upon the occasion--The young man quits France--Madame du Barry's +letter to the comtesse d’Egmont--Quarrel with the maréchal +de Richelieu + +The comtesse d'Egmont was one day observed to quit her house +attired with the most parsimonious simplicity; her head being +covered by an enormously deep bonnet, which wholly concealed her +countenance, and the rest of her person enveloped in a pelisse, +whose many rents betrayed its long service. In this strange +dress she traversed the streets of Paris in search of adventures. +She was going, she said, wittily enough, "to return to the cits +what her father and brother had so frequently robbed them of." +Chance having led her steps to the rue St. Martin, she was +stopped there by a confusion of carriages, which compelled her +first to shelter herself against the wall, and afterwards to take +refuge in an opposite shop, which was one occupied by a linen-draper. + +She looked around her with the eye of a connoisseur, and perceived +beneath the modest garb of a shopman one of those broad-shouldered +youths, whose open smiling countenance and gently tinged complexion +bespoke a person whose simplicity of character differed greatly from +the vast energy of his physical powers: he resembled the Farnese +Hercules upon a reduced scale. The princess approached him, and +requested to see some muslins, from which she selected two gowns, +and after having paid for them, requested the master of the shop +to send his shopman with them, in the course of half an hour, to +an address she gave as her usual abode. + +The comtesse d'Egmont had engaged an apartment on the third floor +of a house in the rue Tiquetonne, which was in the heart of Paris. +The porteress of the dwelling knew her only as madame Rossin: her +household consisted of a housekeeper and an old man, both devoted +to a mistress whose character they well understood, and to whom +they had every motive to be faithful. + +Here it was, then, that the lady hastened to await the arrival +of the new object of her plebeian inclinations. Young Moireau +(for such was the shopman's name) was not long ere he arrived +with his parcel. Madame d'Egmont was ready to receive him: she +had had sufficient time to exchange her shabby walking dress for +one which bespoke both coquetry and voluptuousness; the softness +of her smile, and the turn of her features announced one whose +warmth of passions would hold out the most flattering hopes of +success to him who should seek her love. + +Madame Rossin and the young shopman were soon engaged in +conversation, further animated by the bright glances sent direct +from the eyes of madame to the unguarded heart of her admiring +visitor. Emboldened by the graciousness of her manner, he +presumed to touch her fair hand: the lady, in affected anger, +rose, and commanded him to quit the house. The terrified youth +fell at her feet, imploring pardon for his boldness, and then +hastily quitted the room ere the feigned madame Rossin could +pronounce the forgiveness he demanded. 'The fool," was (doubtless) +the princess's exclamation, "had he been brought up at court he +would have conducted himself very differently." + +This silliness of proceeding was, however, far from being +displeasing to the princess: on the contrary, it seemed to increase +her determination to prosecute the adventure. Accordingly, on +the following day she hastened to resume her former walking dress, +and in it to take the road which led to the rue St. Martin, and +again to present herself as a customer at the linen-draper's shop. +This time she purchased cloth for chemises. Indescribable and +unspeakable was the joy of young Moireau, when, after having +served the mistress of his thoughts, he heard her request of his +master to allow the goods she had selected to be sent to her +residence; and equally was he surprised that she omitted to name +him as the person she wished should convey them. Nevertheless, +as may be imagined, Moireau obtained possession of the parcel, +and was soon on his way to the rue Tiquetonne, where he found +the lady more languishing and attractive than before; and soon +they were deep in the most earnest and interesting conversation. +Moireau, who now saw that his boldness was not displeasing to the +lady, became more and more presuming: true, his overtures were +refused, but so gently, that it only fanned his flame; nor was it +till after reiterated prayers that be succeeded in obtaining her +promise to meet him on the following Sunday. The princess, like +a skilful manoeuvrer, reckoned upon the additional violence his +ardor would receive from this delay. The affection with which +she had inspired him would only gain strength by thus deferring +the day for their next meeting, whilst he would have time to +meditate upon the virtue as well as the charms of her he had won. + +The long looked for Sunday at length arrived, and Moireau was +first at the place of rendezvous. His simple dress augmented his +natural good looks, whilst the countess had spared no pains to +render her appearance calculated to captivate and seduce. All +reserve was thrown aside; and to satisfy the eager curiosity of +her lover, she stated herself to be the widow of a country lawyer, +who had come to Paris to carry on a lawsuit. It would be useless +to follow the princess during the further course of this meeting. +Suffice it to say, that Moirreau and madame d'Egmont separated +mutually happy and satisfied with each other. + +The youth, who was now ages gone in love, had only reached his +twenty-second year, and madame Rossin was his first attachment. +So ardent and impetuous did his passion hourly grow, that it +became a species of insanity. On the other hand, the high-born +dame, who had thus captivated him, felt all the attractions of +his simple and untutored love, further set off by the fine manly +figure of the young shopman. Indeed, so much novelty and interest +did she experience in her new amour, that, far from finding +herself, as she had expected, disposed to relinquish the affair +(as she had anticipated) at the end of two or three interviews, +which she had imagined would have satisfied her capricious fancy, +she put off, to an indefinite period, her original project of ending +the affair by feigning a return to the country. + +This resolution, however, she did not feel courage to carry into +effect; and two or three months rolled rapidly away without any +diminution of their reciprocal flame, when one fine Sunday +evening Moireau, whose time hung heavily on his hands, took it +into his head to visit the opera. This species of amusement +constitutes the <ne plus ultra> of the delights of a French cit. +Moireau seated himself in the pit, just opposite the box of the +gentlemen in waiting. The performance was "Castor and Pollux." +At the commencement of the second act a sudden noise and bustle +drew Moireau from the contemplative admiration into which the +splendor of the piece had thrown him. The disturbance arose from +a general move, which was taking place in the box belonging to +the gentlemen in waiting. Madame d'Egmont had just arrived, +attended by four or five grand lords of the court covered with +gold, and decorated with the order of the Holy Ghost, and two +ladies richly dressed, from whom she was distinguished as much by +the superior magnificence of her attire as by her striking beauty. + +Moireau could not believe his eyes; he felt assured he beheld +madame Rossin, yet he fancied he must be under the influence of +some fantastic dream; but every look, every gesture of the +princess, a thousand trifles, which would have escaped the +notice of a common observer, but which were engraved in indelible +characters on the heart of her admirer, all concurred to assure +him that he recognised in this lovely and dazzling female, so +splendidly attired and so regally attended, the cherished mistress +of his affections; she whom that very morning he had held in his +embrace. He addressed a thousand questions to those about him, +from whom he learnt his own good fortune and the exalted rank of +her he had won. Scarcely could he restrain the burst of joy, when +informed that the fair object, glittering with jewels and radiant +in beauty, was the daughter of Richelieu, and the wife of one of +the princes of the noble houses of Egmont. + +A thousand tumultuous and flattering ideas rushed in crowds to +the brain of young Moireau, and he saw in anticipation a long +and brilliant vista opening before him. Poor inexperienced +youth! He mistook the wisest and safest path, which would have +been to have appeared ignorant of the high rank of his mistress, +and to have induced her, from motives of affection, to preside +over his fortunes, and to rise by her means without allowing her +to suspect he guessed her ability to bestow riches and preferment. +He, on the contrary, hastened to her with the account of his +having discovered her real rank and station. Madame d'Egmont, +whose self-possession enabled her to conceal the terror and +uneasiness his recital inspired her with, listened calmly and +silently till he had ceased speaking, and then asked him, with a +playful smile, if he was quite sure of being in his right senses? +"For how otherwise could you," said she, "confuse a poor obscure +widow like myself with the rich and powerful princess you speak +of? My friend, you are under the influence of a dream; believe +me, I am neither more nor less than poor widow Rossin, and can +boast of no claim to the illustrious name of Egmont or Richelieu." + +But the more she spoke the less she persuaded, and young Moireau +was not to be reasoned out of his conviction. of her identity +with the high-born princess of Egmont, and he alternately employed +threats and promises to induce her to confess the fact; but the +lady was firm and immovable. Resolved at all risk to preserve +her incognito, she found herself compelled to bring the affair +to a conclusion, by feigning extreme anger at the pertinacity +with which Moireau importuned her upon a subject which she +protested she knew nothing: her lover retaliated, and a desperate +quarrel ensued. Moireau rushed angrily from her presence, vowing +that he would publish his adventure thro'out Paris; an empty +threat, which his devotion to the princess would never have +permitted him to carry into execution. + +Madame d'Egmont, however, was not so sure that her secret was +safe, and she lost not an instant in repairing to the house of M. +de Sartines, to obtain from him a <lettre de cachet> against the +aspiring shopman, who, seized in the street, was conveyed away, +and confined as a maniac in a madhouse, where, but for a +circumstance you shall hear, he would doubtless be still. + +I happened to be with the king when the lieutenant of police +arrived upon matters connected with his employment. According +to custom, Louis inquired whether he had anything very amusing +to communicate to him? "Many things, sire," replied he, "and +amongst others an anecdote of madame d'Egmont"; and he began to +relate to us, word for word, what I have written you. The king +laughed till he cried; as for me, altho' I could not help finding +the tale sufficiently comic to induce risibility, I listened with +more coolness; and when it was completed, I exclaimed, + +"Can it be, sire, that you will permit this unfortunate young man +to be the eternal victim of so unprincipled a woman?" + +"What would you have me do?" said Louis; "how can I interfere +without compromising the reputation of madame d'Egmont?" + +"Allow me to say," replied I, "that this fear ought not to prevent +your majesty's interference. You are father of your subjects; +and the respect you entertain for madame d'Egmont should not +outweigh your duty, which imperatively calls upon you to command +the release of this wretched young man." + +"But," argued the king, "by such a step I shall for ever disoblige +the duc de Richelieu and his family." + +"Fear it not," cried I, "if your majesty will trust to me, I will +undertake to bring the maréchal and his nephew to approve of +your proceedings; and as for the rest of his family, let them go +where they will; for the empire of the world I should be sorry +to bear them company." + +This manner of speaking pleased the king; and, turning to M. de +Sartines, "Lieutenant of police," said he, "you have heard my +fair chancellor; you will act in strict conformity with the orders +she will transmit you from me." + +"Then take these orders now, sir," said I: "in the first place, +this ill-treated young Moireau must immediately be set at liberty, +and my own police (for I must tell you I had them) will give me +the faithful account of all your proceedings in this affair." + +The king comprehended my meaning. "You will keep a careful watch," +added he to M. de Sartines, "that no harm befalls this unfortunate +youth, whom, I beg, you will discreetly recommend to quit France +ere the malice of those who have reason to fear his reappearance +works him some evil." + +"And who, sire," asked I, "shall dare injure one whom your +majesty deigns to honor with your protection?" + +"Madame," replied M. de Sartines, "even his majesty's high patronage +cannot prevent a secret blow from some daring hand; a quarrel +purposely got up; a beverage previously drugged; a fall from any +of the bridges into the river; or, even the supposition of one +found dead, having destroyed himself." + +"You make me shudder," said I, "in thus unveiling the extent of +human depravity. So, then, this young man, whose only fault +appears to have been that captivating the eyes of a noble lady, +should perish in a dungeon, or save his life at the sacrifice of +country, friends, connections; and all this for having listened to +the passion of a woman, as licentious in manners as illustrious +by birth: this frightful injustice rouses all my indignation. +Well, then, since the power of the monarch of France is insufficient +to protect his oppressed subject in his own realms, let him +shield him from want in a foreign land, by allowing him a pension +of one hundred louis. I will take upon myself to defray the +expenses of his journey." + +Thus saying, I was hastening to the adjoining room, where stood +my <secretaire>, to take from it a thousand crowns I wished to +give for the purpose. The king held me back by my arm, saying +to me, + +"You are the most excellent creature I know of, but you see I am +always master. I will undertake to provide for this young man. +M. de Sartines," pursued he, "I wish to secure to him a thousand +crowns yearly; and, further, you will supply him with six thousand +francs ready money, which M. de la Borde will repay to your order. +<Now are you satisfied, Couci?>" said the king, turning to me. + +My only reply was to throw my arms around his neck without ceremony, +spite of the presence of a witness, who might blush at my familiarity. +"You are indeed," said I, "a really good prince; it is only a pity +you will not assert your right to rule alone." + +"You are a little rebel," cried he, "to doubt my absolute power." +This tone of playful gaiety was kept up some time after the +departure of the lieutenant of police. + +M. de Sartines returned next day to tell me that everything had +been accomplished to my desire. "M. Moireau," said he, "has left +prison, and departs for Spain to-morrow morning: his intention +is to join some friends of his at Madrid. He is informed of all +he owes you, and entreats your acceptance of his most grateful +and respectful acknowledgments. Will you see him?" + +"That would be useless," answered I; "say to him only, that I +request he will write to me upon his arrival at Madrid, and give +me the history of his late adventure in its fullest details." + +Moireau did not disappoint me; and so soon as his letter reached +me I hastened to copy it, merely suppressing the date of the place +from which it was written, and forwarded it immediately to the +comtesse d'Egmont, with the following note:-- + +"The many proofs of tender attachment with which the widow +Rossin honored young Moireau make me believe that she will learn +with pleasure of my having the good fortune to rescue the ill-fated +youth from the cruelty of the comtesse d'Egmont. This interesting +young man no longer groans a wretched prisoner in the gloomy +abode that haughty lady had selected for him, but is at this minute +safe in a neighboring kingdom, under the powerful patronage of +king of France, who is in possession of every circumstance relative +to the affair. I likewise know the whole of the matter, and have in +my keeping the most irrefragable proofs of all that took place and +should I henceforward have any reason to complain of the comtesse +d'Egmont, I shall publish these documents with permission of those +concerned. + +"The public will then be enabled to judge of the virtue and +humanity of one who affects to treat me with a ridiculous disdain. +There exists no law against a fair lady having lovers and admirers, +but a stern one forbids her to command or procure their destruction. +I KNOW ALL; and madame d'Egmont's future conduct will decide my +silence and discretion. The affair with Moireau is not the only one, +others of even a graver sin preceded it. I can publish the whole +together; and, I repeat, my determination on this head depends +wholly and entirely upon the manner in which madame d'Egmont shall +henceforward conduct herself towards me. I beg madame de Rossin +will allow me to subscribe myself, with every feeling she so well, +merits, + +"Her very humble and most obedient servant, + +"THE COMTESSE DU BARRY" + +I had communicated to no one the secret of this vengeance; I wished +to keep the delight of thus exciting the rage of the princesse +d'Egmont all to myself. I was certain, that whatever might +henceforward be her line of conduct towards me, that whenever +she found herself in my presence, she would bitterly feel the +stings of an accusing conscience, and the gnawings of that worm +which dieth not in the heart of hypocritical and wicked persons, +more especially when compelled to meet the eye of those who +could unmask them in a minute. + +On the following day I received a visit from the duc de Richelieu. +Spite of the many endeavors he made to appear smiling and good +humored, a deep rage kept its station round his mouth, and +contracted his lips even in the midst of the artificial smile with +which he sought to dissimulate his wrath. + +"Madame, good morning," said he to me, "I come to offer my +congratulations, you really are become quite one of us; upon my +word, the most experienced courtier has nothing more to teach you." + +"I am as yet in ignorance of the cause to which I may ascribe +these compliments, M. le maréchal, which I greatly fear surpass +my poor merits; and which even you will be compelled to retract +them when I am better known to you." + +"Fear it not, madame," said he, "your commencement is a master-stroke; +and the letter you yesterday addressed to the comtesse d'Egmont--" + +"Ah, sir," exclaimed I, with unfeigned astonishment, "in her place +I certainly should not have selected you as my confidant in +the affair." + +"And who could she better have selected than her father? But +that is not the matter in hand. My daughter is filled with anger +against you; and if I must speak the truth, I do not think your +behavior towards her quite what it should have been." + +"Really, monsieur, I was not prepared for a reproach of this kind; +and what can madame d'Egmont allege against me? 'Tis she who +has pursued me with the most bitter sarcasms, the most determined +malice; and, I may add, the most impertinent behavior. I entreat +your pardon for using such strong expressions, but her behavior +allows of none milder. And what have I done in my turn? snatched +from a lingering death an unfortunate young man, whose only +crime consisted in having pleased this unreasonable madame +d'Egmont. I procured the king's protection for the miserable +object of the princess's affection; I obtained his safe removal +to another country; and, having done all this, I communicated my +knowledge of the transaction to the comtesse d'Egmont. Does this +bear any comparison with her line of conduct towards me?" + +"But your letter, madame; your letter--" + +"Would bear alterations and amendments, sir, I am aware: I admit I +did not sufficiently insist upon the atrocity of such an abuse +of power." + +"You are then resolved, madame, to make us your enemies." + +"I should be very sorry, monsieur le duc, to be compelled to such +extremities; but if your friendship can only be purchased at the +price of my submitting to continually receive the insults of your +family, I should be the first to cease to aspire to it. If +Madame d'Egmont holds herself aggrieved by me, let her carry her +complaint before the parliament; we shall then see what redress +she will get. She has compromised the king's name by an arbitrary +act; and since you thus attack me, you must not take it amiss if +I make the king acquainted with the whole business." + +The maréchal, surprised at so severe a reply, could no longer +restrain the rage which filled him. "I should have thought, +madame," said he, "that my daughter, in whose veins flows royal +blood, might have merited some little consideration from the +comtesse du Barry." + +"It is well, then, monsieur le duc," replied I, "to point out to +you your error. I see in my enemies their works and actions +alone, without any reference to their birth, be it high or low; +and the conduct of madame d'Egmont has been so violent and +unceasing towards me, that it leaves me without the smallest +regret for that I have pursued towards her." + +I had imagined that this reply would still further irritate the +angry feelings of the duc de Richelieu, but it did not: he easily +guessed that nothing but the king's support could have inspired +me to express myself with so much energy; and, if paternal +vanity strove in his heart, personal interests spoke there with +even a louder voice. He therefore sought to lay aside his anger, +and, like a skilful courtier, changing his angry look and tone +for one of cheerfulness: + +"Madame," said he, "I yield; I see it will not do to enter the +lists against you. I confess I came this morning but to sound +your courage, and already you have driven me off the field +vanquished. There is one favor I would implore of your generosity, +and that is, to be silent as to all that has transpired." + +"I shall not speak of it, monsieur le duc," replied I, much moved, +"unless you or madame d'Egmont set me the example." + +"In that case the affair will for ever remain buried in oblivion; +but, madame, I will not conceal from you, that my daughter has +become your most bitter and irreconcilable enemy. " + +"The motives which have actuated me, monsieur le maréchal, are +such as to leave me very little concern upon that subject. I +flatter myself this affair will not keep you away from me, who +would fain reckon as firmly on your friendship as yon may do on mine." + +The maréchal kissed my hand in token of amity, and from that +moment the matter was never mentioned. + +A similar scene had already occurred with the prince de Soubise, +relative to the exile of his daughter. Was it not somewhat +strange, as well as unjust, that all the noblemen of the day wished +to preserve to their relations the right of offending me with +impunity, without permitting me even the right of defending myself. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Madame du Barry separates from madame de Bearn--Letters between +these ladies--Portrait of madame de l’Hôpital--The ladder--The +bell--Conversation with madame de Mirepoix--First visit to Chantilly-- +Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thither--The king's +Displeasure towards the princesses--The archbishop de Senlis +The spoiled child of fortune, I had now attained the height of my +wishes. The king's passion augmented daily, and my empire became +such as to defy the utmost endeavors of my enemies to undermine +it. Another woman in my place would have employed her power in +striking terror amongst all who were opposed to her, but for my +own part I contented myself with repulsing their attempts to injure +me, and in proceeding to severity only when my personal interests +were too deeply concerned to admit of my passing the matter +over in silence. + +There was no accusation too infamous to be laid to my charge; +amongst other enormities they scrupled not to allege that I had +been the murderess of Lebel, the king's <valet-de-chambre>, who +died by poison! Was it likely, was it probable that I should seek +the destruction of him to whom I owed my elevation, the most +devoted of friends, and for whom my heart cherished the most +lively sense of gratitude? What interest could I possibly derive +from the perpetration of such a crime? The imputation was too +absurd for belief, but slander cares little for the seeming +improbability of such an event. The simple fact remained that +Lebel was dead, of course the cruel and unjust consequence +became in the hands of my enemies, that I had been the principal +accessory to it. + +My most trifling actions were misrepresented with the same black +malignity. They even made it a crime in me to have written to +madame de Bearn, thanking her for her past kindnesses, and thus +setting her at liberty to retire from the mercenary services she +pretended to have afforded me. And who could blame me for seeking +to render myself independent of her control, or for becoming weary +of the tyrannical guidance of one who had taken it into her head +that I had become her sole property, and who, in pursuance of +this idea, bored and tormented me to death with her follies and +exactions, and even took upon herself to be out of humor at the +least indication of my attaching myself to any other lady of the +court. According to her view of things, gratitude imposed on me +the rigorous law of forming an intimacy with her alone; in a word, +she exercised over me the most galling dominion, which my family +had long counselled me to shake off; in truth, I was perfectly +tired of bearing the yoke her capricious and overbearing temper +imposed upon me, but I determined, if possible, to do nothing +hastily, and to endure it with patience as long as I could. But +now that the number of my female friends was augmented by the +addition of the marquise de Montmorency and the comtesse de +l'Hôpital I determined no longer to bear the constant display of +madame de Bearn's despotic sway, and finding no chance of accommodating +our tastes and humors, I resolved to free myself from her thraldom. +Another powerful reason for this measure was the dislike with +which the king regarded her; not that she was deficient in birth or +good breeding, but amidst the polish of high life she occasionally i +ntroduced the most vulgar and provincial manners, a fault of all +others most offensive to the king, whose disgust was further +excited by the undisguised avidity with which, at every opportunity, +she sought to turn her admission to the king's private society to +account, by preferring some request or soliciting some particular +favor. Instead of giving herself up to the joy and hilarity that +reigned around, she seemed always on the watch to seize every +possible advantage to herself. Immediately that the king was +apprized of my intention of dismissing her from any further cares +for me, "You are quite right," said he, "to get rid of this +troublesome woman, who never visits us without calculating the +degree of interest she can derive from it, and seems to me, +whenever she approaches me, as tho' she were devising some fresh +petition to obtain from me. And now, too, that the first ladies +of the court fill your drawing-rooms, why should you endure her +importunate presence?" + +Strengthened by these sentiments on the king's part, I lost no +time in writing to madame de Bearn a letter, of which many false +copies were circulated; however, I subjoin the following as the +veritable epistle addressed by me to the countess:-- + +"MADAME,--It would be the height of selfishness on my part to +tax further the kindness and attention you have been pleased to +show me. I am well aware how many public and private duties claim +your care, and I therefore (with much regret) beg to restore to you +that liberty you have so generously sacrificed to my interests. +Conscious of the ennui which oppresses you in this part of the +country, I write to entreat that you will allow no consideration +connected with me to detain you longer in a place so irksome, but, +since our visit to Marly is concluded, fly upon the wings of +impatience to the gay scenes of Paris and Luxembourg. Be assured +that it will at all times afford me much pleasure to evince the +gratitude with which I shall ever remain, + +"Madame, yours sincerely, + +"THE COMTESSE Du Barry." + +"P. S. I am commissioned to entreat your acceptance of the +accompanying casket; it is the gift of one whose favors are never +refused; you will easily guess, to whom I allude, and I doubt not +bring yourself to conform to the usual custom." + +The jewels sent were a pair of ear-rings and an <agrafe> of emeralds +encircled with diamonds. The king was desirous of bestowing upon +madame de Bearn this particular mark of his recollection of her +services towards me, but it did not allay the indignation with +which she expressed her sense of my bitter ingratitude, as she +termed it, as tho' her interested cooperation had not been +sufficiently repaid . Nevertheless, she forbore to come to a +decided quarrel with me, but satisfied herself with loading me +with every reproach in private, whilst she wrote to thank me for +all the favors I had bestowed upon her, and entreated I would keep +her remembrance alive in the mind of my royal protector. +As there was nothing offensive in the style of the letter I +showed it to the king; when he came to the part where madame de +Bearn recommended herself to his kind recollection, and expressed +her desire to be permitted to throw herself once more at his feet, +"Heaven preserve me," cried he, "from receiving this mark of the +lady's respect. No, no, she is bad enough at a distance; I should +be bored to death were she so near to me as she prays for. Thank +God we have got rid of her, and now trust to your own guidance; +try the powers of your own wings to bear you in safety, I feel +persuaded you will never be at a loss." + +About this time the prince de Soubise, anxious to evince that he +no longer retained any feelings of coolness towards me, requested +his mistress, madame de l'Hôpital, to call upon me. This lady, +without being a regular beauty, was yet very attractive. She was +past the meridian of her charms, but what she wanted in youth +she amply compensated for by the vivacity and brilliancy of her +conversation, as well as the freedom of her ideas, which made +her the idol of all the old libertines of the court. The prince +de Soubise was greatly attached to her, and preferred her in +reality, to mademoiselle Guimard, whom he only retained for form's +sake, and because he thought it suitable to his dignity to have +an opera dancer in his pay; this nobleman (as you will find) had +rather singular ideas of the duties attached to his station. + +Madame de l'Hôpital had had a vast number of gallant adventures, +which she was very fond of relating. I shall mention two of the +most amusing, which will serve to convey an idea of the skilfulness +and ready wit with which she extricated herself from the most +embarrassing circumstances. + +A young man, whose love she permitted, whose name was the chevalier +de Cressy, was obliged, in order to visit her, to scale a terrace +upon which a window opened, which conducted to the sleeping-room +of his mistress. He was generally accompanied by his valet, a +good-looking youth, who, disliking a state of idleness, had +contrived to insinuate himself into the good graces of the lady's +maid. The valet, during his master's stay with madame, had +likewise ascended the terrace, and penetrated, by the aid of another +window, into the chamber where reposed the object of his tender +love. All this was accomplished with as little noise as possible, +in order to prevent the mischance of awakening the marquis de +l'Hôpital, who was quietly asleep in an adjoining room. + +One clear moonlight night, at the very instant when M. de Cressy +was about to step out of the window, in order to return to his own +apartment, a terrible crash of broken glass was heard. The +terrified chevalier sought the aid of his ladder, but it had +disappeared. Not knowing what to do, the chevalier returned to +madame de l'Hôpital, who, seized with terror, had only just time +to conceal him in her chamber, when the marquis opened his window +to ascertain the cause of all this confusion. In an instant the +alarm spread, and heads were popped out of the different windows +of the castle, each vieing with the other in vociferating "Thieves! +thieves! murder! fire!" + +The unfortunate author of all this disturbance was the unlucky +valet; who, in his overeagerness to reach his Dulcinea, had +attempted to climb his ladder so nimbly, that it fell down, and, +striking against the windows of a room near which he had fixed +it, had broken several panes of glass. The poor valet never +stopped to replace the ladder; but, terrified as well as hurt by +his rapid descent, scrambled off as well as he could, abandoning +his master in his present critical situation. + +The ladder thrown down in the courtyard was abundant proof that +some audacious attempt had been made upon the lives and safety +of the inhabitants of the castle; and the general determination +was to catch the thieves: for, it was presumed, as no outlet for +their escape was discernible, that they must be concealed within +its walls. The servants, with their master at their head, were +speedily assembled for the purpose, when the absence of the +chevalier de Cressy was observed. Where could he be? was the +general wonder. Was it possible that, amidst the universal +uproar with which the castle had resounded, he had slept so +soundly as to be yet unconscious of all this bustle? An +over-officious friend was upon the point of going to his chamber, +to ascertain the cause of his absenting himself at such a moment, +when madame de l'Hôpital sent to request her husband would come +to her immediately. "Sir," said she, when they were alone, "the +disturbance which has thus broken our rest is not the work of +thieves, but originates in the shameless licentiousness of a man +unworthy of his name and the rank he occupies. The chevalier de +Cressy, forgetful of his being your guest, and of respecting the +honor of all beneath your roof, has dared to carry on a base +intrigue with my woman, in whose apartment you will find him at +this very minute. A conduct so profligate and insulting fills me +with an indignation which I think that you, sir, after what you +have heard, cannot but partake." + +The marquis de l'Hôpital, who did not see the thing in the same +serious light, sought to appease the virtuous indignation of his +lady, and went himself to release the chevalier from his place of +concealment; leading him thro' his own apartment to join the +crowd of armed servants, who, as may be supposed, were unable to +detect the supposed invaders of their repose. + +On the following morning the chevalier as agreed upon, wrote a +penitential letter to madame, entreating her pardon for his +improper attentions to her servant, whom she affected to dismiss +with every mark of gravest displeasure. The weeping Abigail +threw herself at the feet of her mistress: and the compassionate +marquis (before whom the scene was enacted), touched with pity, +implored his lady to receive the afflicted and penitent Javotte +once more into her service. This was at length granted to his +solicitations; and Javotte received a hundred louis as the price +of her silence, and found it sufficient compensation for the bad +opinion the marquis entertained of her virtue. + +The second trick the marchioness played her husband was not +less amusing. + +The chevalier de Cressy and herself could not meet so frequently +as both desired; and whilst suffering under the void occasioned +by his absence, chance threw in her way a young relative of her +husband's, a youth of about eighteen, as beautiful as Love, and +as daring as that god. They were then in the country during the +fine days of summer, and both time and place were favorable to +the prosecution of their growing passion. One day madame de +l'Hôpital and her cousin were sauntering about the park heedless +of the approaching dinner-hour, and equally deaf to the sound of +the dinner-bell, which rung its accustomed peal in vain for them +whose ears were occupied in listening to sweeter sounds. At +length the master of the house, alarmed at the protracted absence +of his wife and friend, went himself, attended by many guests +assembled at his house, in search of the stray ones; the servants +likewise received orders to disperse themselves over the grounds +in different directions; and madame de l'Hôpital and her companion +were only aroused to a recollection of the flight of time by +hearing their names loudly shouted by a dozen different voices. +Fortunately they were just in time to separate in opposite paths, +and thus to enter the castle without any suspicion being excited +of their having been so recently in each other's company. The +marquis angrily remonstrated with his lady for having obliged +him to send in search of her, and she excused herself by protesting +that she had not heard the dinner-bell. The marquis replied, that +the thing was impossible; and after some angry discussion the +matter rested there. + +A few days after this the marchioness, with her husband and +cousin, were rambling over the grounds, when they found themselves +at the entrance of a hermitage, where madame de l'Hôpital had +told the marquis she had sat down to rest herself on the day of +her failing to attend the dinner-hour. M. de l'Hôpital resumed +the dispute, by protesting that from this situation the dinner-bell +might easily be heard: the lady continued firm in protesting it +could not, till, at last, feigning extreme anger, she exclaimed. +"Well then, sir, since you refuse to believe <my> assertion, go +yourself and ring the bell as loudly as you please, your cousin +will remain here with me, and determine if it be possible to +distinguish the sound from here." + +The fool of a marquis set off in the height of his zeal to convince +his wife, and, arriving at the turret where the bell was placed, +began ringing it with all his might and main, leaving the lovers + the undisturbed opportunity they were not slow in taking advantage +of. When the marquis had ceased his chimes, the loving pair went +to meet him. + +"Well, my good cousin," inquired he, as they approached, "which +of us was right? Could you hear it or not?" + +"Yourself, most assuredly," replied the young man, not without a +slight blush. "I can assure you that both madame and myself +heard the bell the whole time you were ringing it." + +"There, I told you so; I told you so"; cried the delighted husband, +triumphantly rubbing his hands. + +I thought when this lively and piquant adventure was related to +me, that it was well worthy of being immortalized by the pen of +a La Fontaine. The marchioness gave these anecdotes with a grace +and talent peculiarly her own; and I sometimes imagined that +some of the many she favored us with had perhaps taken place in +a more recent period than that she assigned to them; and that, +in order to divert our suspicions as to who were the real actors, +she frequently substituted the <past> for what should have been +with more correctness the <present> time. With manners so +calculated to win, she could not fail being a delightful companion, +altho' in my heart I could not help giving the preference to the +society of the maréchale de Mirepoix. + +Besides, the preference evinced by this lady in so generously +separating herself from all her family, in order to attach herself +to me, was not without its full value in my eyes. I knew myself +to be generally disliked by her brother and sister-in-law, the +prince and princesse de Beauvau, the latter of whom was secretly +the mistress of the duc de Choiseul, over whom she exercised an +equal empire with the duchesse de Grammont, and I was every day +the object of some fresh attack on their part. I used sometimes +to complain of this to the maréchale. "My dear friend," she would +reply, "I am sorry, but cannot help it; in the midst of times such +as we live in, and in such a court too, the prince de Beauvau +aspires to be a noble Roman, and would fain be the Cato of his +country at least. When I recommend to him a greater degree of +prudence, he talks to me of virtue, as tho' at Versailles duty +did not consist in implicit obedience to the wishes of our royal +master; either obedience or absence from court is the golden rule +laid down, from which none dare deviate. As to my sister-in-law +she aims at the heroic likewise, altho her models are formed from +another school; in fact, she has pored over the romances of Cyrus. +Cassander, and Clelia, till she is half bewildered, and holds forth +upon the virtues of these famous heroines, till I am frequently +upon the point of exclaiming, "Ah, my dear, it is all very fine; +but Clelia and Mandane would not have shared their bed with +the duc de Choiseul." + +By these lively sallies the maréchale succeeded in diverting my +anger from her relations, and I generally forgot my resentment +in a hearty fit of laughter, brought on by her sprightly +conversation. I found myself becoming daily more attached to +her, and her presence helped to console me for the many vexations +I continually encountered. + +The greatest disagreeableness I encountered was occasioned by the +capricious behavior of the princesses, who sometimes received me +with pleasure and at others evinced a disposition to annoy me in +every possible way, according as it suited the whims and wishes +of those about them. The following may serve as an instance of +their versatility. + +The prince de Condé having announced his intention of giving a +grand Fête at Chantilly, the princesses declared they would not +be present if I were there. The prince de Condé, spite of his +claims to the character of a great man, was nevertheless one of +the most subtle courtiers; and as soon as he was informed of the +princesses' intention, he came, without ceremony, to explain the +matter to me. This was the first visit he had honored me with. +"Madame," said he, "I had flattered myself you would have embellished +Chantilly with your presence; but the beauties of the court, too +justly alarmed at the idea of being eclipsed by your dazzling +charms, have so successfully manoeuvred, that they have wrought +upon the royal daughters of our august monarch to declare, that +the beauty of their attending nymphs shall not be effaced by yours. +You have too much good sense to see the affair in any but its true +light; and the disappointment your absence will inflict on me would +be too cruelly felt for endurance, did I not seek to pacify my +anxious wishes on the subject, by obtaining your promise to pay +me a visit when the king next honors Chantilly with his presence." + +I felt deeply flattered by the invitation. The prince continued +to pay me several elegant and gallant compliments; and I was, +upon the whole, charmed with our interview. However, the king +was highly displeased with his daughters' proceedings. "I have +a great inclination," said he, "to forbid their going to Chantilly at +all. Upon my word, if I were to listen to them, they would fain +make of me the same puppet they allow themselves to become in +the hands of the greatest simpleton who will take the trouble of +leading them." + +I endeavored to appease his anger, by reminding him, that he could +not expect perfection from his daughters; and that, forced as they +were to hear me continually spoken ill of by my enemies, it was +next to impossible they should be able to prevent themselves from +adopting the opinion of those around them. "And that," said he, +"is what I principally find fault with. What have they to do with +aping the tone of those about them; and what point of their duty +teaches them to detest those whom I love? I will take care to let +them know my displeasure." + +All my endeavors were in vain; I could obtain no change of his +purpose; and, summoning the archbishop de Senlis, he spoke to +him in a manner that plainly evinced his intention of making him +responsible for the actions of the princesses. Poor M. de +Roquelaure called all the saints in paradise to witness his innocence. + +"Silence, sir," exclaimed the king, "I am perfectly certain this +affair has not gone on without your knowledge and probable +participation. I know you well for a person devoted to the +ladies, as a gay, gallant gentleman need be: I know likewise +that you expend the revenues of your bishopric and livings upon +the prettiest girls of Paris; thus I can hardly suppose you would +have counselled my daughters' conduct. No, I blame those wicked +and vindictive scandal-mongers, whose age is their only protection, +and those intriguing men who beset my daughters' ears." + +"Sire," protested the trembling bishop, "I entreat you to believe +I am innocent of the whole affair." + +"Sir," interrupted the king, "I know well that you are as good a +courtier as a prelate, but still I believe you merely ape your +betters; and far from entertaining any personal dislike to the +comtesse du Barry, you would not object to receive either the +archbishopric of d'Albi or Sens from her hands, were they in her +power to bestow." + +The conversation went on in this style for more than half an +hour. The king, who had amused himself highly at the terror of +the bishop, left off in excellent humor. + +This interview had not been productive of equal amusement to M. +de Roquelaure, whose self-love had been deeply humbled by the +way in which the king had spoken. No sooner did he feel himself +at liberty, than he hastened to communicate to the princesses the +violent displeasure they had excited; and these ladies, so brave +and daring whilst their father appeared to offer no show of +authority or anger, durst proceed no further when they heard of +his seriously disapproving of it; and they felt the full +inconsistency of their conduct, in first admitting me into their +presence, and then refusing to meet me at any other place. The +consequence of their deliberation upon the subject was to depute +the bishop de Senlis to call upon me. This accommodating prelate +discharged his mission with the utmost amenity, presenting me +with the united compliments of the royal sisters, who all joined +in requesting the pleasure of meeting me at Chantilly. Had not +the prince de Condé held out the flattering prospect of giving +me a Fête wholly to myself, in all probability I should have +profited by their invitation; but knowing of the secret intention +of the prince, I returned for answer, "that it was sufficiently +flattering and gratifying to me, to find that I still preserved +any portion of the princesses' kind favor, but that I was +abundantly honored by the intimation of my presence +being agreeable. Nevertheless, as I had good authority for +conjecturing that it might not be equally so to many of the +ladies of their court, I should abstain from giving offence to +any one by my presence." + +"Ah, madame,,, cried M. de Roquelaure, "I entreat of you not to +insist upon my carrying the latter part of this message to the +princesses, they would be so much grieved." + +"Well, then, sir," said I, "tell them that I am indisposed, and +that the state of my health will detain me at Versailles." + +'That indeed," said he, " is a more respectful message; and +further I would venture to ask of your goodness, that since it +is not your pleasure to honor Chantilly with your presence, that +you will have the kindness to mention in the proper quarter, that +far from my royal ladies opposing any obstacle to your going, +they would have been much delighted with your presence there." + +"Be assured, sir," answered I, " that I shall ever feel proud and +honored by the princesses' notice; and I will take care that the +faithful account of all their gracious condescension shall be +faithfully and loudly reported." + +The bishop departed much pleased with the success of +his negotiation; and, above all, with the agreeable turn +the affair had taken. + +When I next saw the king, I said to him, "Your daughters, sire, +are as amiable as you would have them; they have been informed +that some evil disposed persons have asserted, that they had +prohibited my being of the party to Chantilly; and in order to +testify how differently they were disposed towards me, they +despatched the bishop de Senlis." + +"A most fit person to be intrusted with such a commission," +replied the king; "for I have, in every instance, endeavored to +justify the wishes of this holy pillar of the church, this worthy +prelate with his double-faced politeness, towards those whom +he openly compliments, and reviles in private, just as his interest +may require it. Well! and what did you say to him?" + +"That I most humbly thanked the princesses, but that the state +of my health did not permit of my visiting Chantilly for the present." + +"That is all very well," answered Louis XV; "you have framed +your excuse with much generosity, which I greatly fear will meet +with a very different turn; for if you do not accompany me to +Chantilly, the report circulated will be, that the princesses have +forbidden you their presence; which my dearly beloved daughters, +whose characters I fully understand, will neither affirm nor deny +before the public, whilst in private they will vow that they +prohibited you from following them. Always excepting madame +Louise, who is an angel upon earth, as she will most assuredly be +one day in heaven, where I trust her prayers for me and mine +will be heard." + +I did not at the time pay any particular attention to the latter +part of the king's discourse, for, indeed, the beginning was far +more interesting to me; but when I afterwards learnt that madame +Louise had quitted the grandeurs of Versailles for the gloom and +austerity of a convent I recollected it, and easily comprehended +that it was spoken in allusion to an event which took place some +time afterwards, and of which I shall speak in its proper place. +However, the king's prediction was exactly verified; and the +report in general circulation was, that the princesses had +declared their intention of not going to Chantilly; it was +further rumored, that I was there, but in a private and concealed +manner. This is wholly untrue; the king would never have permitted +such a humiliation; nor do I believe I should have submitted to it +had he even desired it. However all this may be, he sought to +recompense me for his absence by writing a most delightful letter, +which I will subjoin for your gratification. To me it was of so +much the greater value, that having its royal writer's permission +to show it, it became the first death-blow I aimed at the cabal +against me. The king possessed a much greater portion of wit and +talent than the weakness and timidity of his character permitted +to appear. + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Unpublished letter of Louis XV--Madame du Barry's cousin, M. de +Maupeou--The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young girl +seduced by the arts of the curé of her village--She obtains pardon +of the comte and comtesse de Louerne--The king presents her with +Lucienne--A second meeting with the youthful prophet--His further +predictions--He is sought for--His mysterious letter to the countess + +"How does my sweet friend contrive to bear our tedious +separation? is she happy and amused? In that case I can +say, she has greatly the advantage over him who now +addresses her. No, my lovely countess, I am dragging +on a tedious and uninteresting existence, spite of the +great and earnest endeavors of my good cousin and host +to provide for my enjoying the gaiety by which I am +surrounded; but, alas! amidst the many faces with +which his mansion is thronged, that one which is +dearest to me is wanting, and all becomes a blank +in my eyes; and I yawn with irrepressible weariness +in the midst of the glittering pageants given to +honor my arrival; and you may rest assured that I +shall hail with delight the termination of a visit, +which seems already to have swelled the period of +our separation into ages. I will not attempt to +conceal from you, that those who have good cause +to envy your supreme dominion over my heart, have +set every scheme in action to lead me even into a +temporary oblivion of you, but their attempts are +as vain as their impotent rivalry, and need cause +no uneasiness to you, my beloved friend. I +frequently smile at the vast pains and precautions of +which my '<sacred person>' is the object; and I am +<continually> encountering '<by chance>' some of +those fair ladies who would fain usurp your place, +sometimes bedecked with jewels rare, and sometimes, +as Racine says, + +"<------ dans le simple appareil +D'une beaute, qu'on vient d'arracher au sommeil.>' + +"Madame de Grammont, for instance, takes an infinity of +trouble respecting my choice of your successor, which +she is resolved shall be either herself or one of her +choosing. I protest to you that I find all these plots +and counterplots very amusing; and can only say, that +my daughters, who are completely duped by those +practising them, must be more completely deceived +than I had imagined possible. Nor can I quite deny +that I feel a half mischievous delight in reducing to +despair, + +"'<-------ce peuple de rivales +Qui toutes, disputant, d'un si grand interet, +Des yeux d'Assuérus attendent leur arret.>' + +"<Assuérus> (which, of course, means me) keeps one +perpetual reply to all their high-sounding praises and +eulogiums of such or such a lady. 'She is well enough, + certainly; but the comtesse du Barry excels her a +hundredfold': then follow such shrugs, such contortions +of countenance, and such vain efforts to repress the +rage of disappointed vanity and ambition, that I am +nearly ready to die with laughter. + +"Apropos of dying; I inquired the number of deaths +which took place at Chantilly last week; only four, +they say! Now I think that number quite sufficient +for the size of the place. I walked as far as the +village cemetery, which is large and judiciously +placed. I must tell you, that one of my footmen has +gone to that last journey from which none return: +he was a tall, presuming sort of fellow, remarkable +for nothing but his impertinence, and the continual +scrapes he was forever getting into amongst the +soubrettes. However, he met with his death in some +sudden brawl. My people sought to conceal this +piece of intelligence from me; but having once heard +of it, I despatched Flamarens to ascertain in what +corner of the cemetery he has been interred. + +"The duc de Tresmes talks much of you, and boasts +greatly to the honor of your friendship; he has dubbed +himself your '<sapajou>'; this is not amiss for a peer +of France, and what is still more gratifying, he has +assumed a title which, I believe, no one in the kingdom +will attempt to dispute his incontestable claim to call +his own. Villeroi is all impatience to return to +Versailles. The dukes of Richelieu and d'Aiguillon, +both uncle and nephew, recommend themselves to your +kind recollection. Thus you see you may reckon upon +a few devoted and attached friends, even without +him, whose hand is busily tracing these lines, and he, +I can promise you, is inferior to none in the truest +love and affection for you. + +"The ladies of whom I would have you be most on your +guard are mesdames de C., de B., de P., de G. They +really throw themselves in my way till I can call them +nothing but fools for their pains; but I must do them +the justice to say that they are less ambitious than +you, and so that they could rob you of your place +would care very little whether I could offer them my +heart with the other honors to which they aspire; in +fact, 'tis time we were together again, for the people +here seem determined to profit by my stay amongst +them. My cousin entertains us magnificently, and +pleasure succeeds pleasure in a continual round of +enchantment: he tells me he has others still more +charming in store against the time when you will +honor him with your presence. Am I right in +promising this will be ere very long? Adieu, what a +long letter have I written you. I will now conclude +by bestowing an imaginary kiss on that lovely face, +which must satisfy me till I have the felicity of +seeing you again. + +"And now, my dear friend and fairest countess, I will +end my lengthened epistle by praying God to have you +ever in His holy care and keeping." + +The receipt of this letter afforded me the liveliest pleasure, and +I wrote to the king regularly every night and morning. I might +here introduce a specimen of my own epistolary style, but I will +not; for altho' the whimsical and extravagant things my pen gave +utterance to were exactly to the king's taste, they might surprise +you; but my royal correspondent loved the wild and bizarre turn +of my expressions, and I fulfilled his wishes; perhaps it was not +the only instance in which I gratified his inclination. + +My <cousin>, the chancellor of France, had remained to keep me +company instead of joining the party at Chantilly. <My cousin>, +say you, and by what right or title could M. de Maupeou become +such? I will tell you. First of all he only aspired to the honor +of relationship, but afterwards, turning over the archives of his +family, he found the most incontestable proofs of his belonging +to the ancient families of the du Barry; and full of joy, he +hurried to me, unrolling at my feet his genealogical tree, to the +great amusement of comte Jean and my sisters-in-law, who, after +a long examination, declared that he was justly entitled to the +appellation of first cousin; from that period he always addressed +me <cousin>, which I flattered him by returning whenever I was +in the humor. + +About this period I was the happy instrument in saving from death +a young girl whose judges (as will be seen) were about to sentence +her to be hanged without fully understanding whether she were +innocent or guilty. This unfortunate creature was a young and +pretty country girl, whose worthy pastor, the curé de Liancourt, +had availed himself of the influence he possessed, and of the +advantages of his authority over the poor creature's mind, to +seduce her from the paths of virtue. Unfortunately, just at the +time when she expected to produce a living witness of their amour, +and when she trusted to the cares of the curé to procure for her +those comforts her unfortunate situation required, the author of +her shame was suddenly carried off by a violent death, and the +wretched girl, either thro' ignorance or the shame of having +listened to the illicit passion of a priest, neglected to make any +of those formal declarations required by the law, and gave birth +to a dead infant. The justice of the village, informed of her +fault, caused her to be arrested, and recorded against her sentence +of death, a decision which was afterwards approved by parliament. + +The poor girl was in this extremity when, happily for her, M. de +Mandeville, a worthy man from either Normandy or Picardy, who +had served in the black musketeers, resolved upon attempting +the revocation of the severe sentence which had been passed upon +her, by addressing the king thro' my mediation; he accordingly +followed me to Marly, where I then was, and lost no time in +forwarding to me the following billet:-- + +"MADAME,-- Beauty has ever been found the +inseparable companion of goodness; to yours I +would appeal to obtain the favor of an immediate +audience. My reasons for requesting it are not +to solicit either place or pension, but to save the +life of an erring creature whose crime has been +that of ignorance. I await your reply with the +most lively impatience, and have the honor to +remain, etc., etc." + +This note puzzled me excessively, however I gave orders for the +immediate introduction of M. de Mandeville, whose appearance +was even more prepossessing than his note; he looked and spoke +like an honorable man endowed with that sensibility so precious +and so rare; he put into my hands the petition, whilst he explained +to me the particulars relative to it, and I instantly wrote to the +chancellor the following note, of which a thousand copies were +taken in the course of the day. Altho' it has been many times in + print, I shall offer no apologies for again submitting it to +your perusal. + +"MONSIEUR LE CHANCELLOR,--I do not profess +to understand your laws, but they seem to me as +unjust as barbarous. They are contrary to both +reason and humanity, if they put to death an +unfortunate female for giving birth to a +still-born child without having previously disclosed +her situation to any one; and yet, according to +the memorial annexed to this, the petitioner is +so circumstanced. Here is an unhappy girl +about to pay with the forfeit of her life for +her ignorance of such a law, or because the +modesty and even shame attendant upon her +disgraced condition prevented her conforming +to it. I appeal to your sense of justice; the +wretched girl, concerning whom I write, is a +fit object for the exercise of your lenity, and I +venture to assure myself that you will at least +effect the commutation of her punishment. +Your own kind feelings will dictate all I would +ask further for her. + +"I am, etc., etc." + +I felt very certain that, from the manner in which I had expressed +myself, the consent of M. de Maupeou was quite certain; I therefore +said to my visitor, the handsome musketeer, + +"And now, sir, the noble work of charity, in which you have +associated me must be completed: go yourself and see the chancellor, +tell him you come from me, and do not quit him till you obtain +the reply I have solicited." + +M. de Mandeville loaded me with thanks and praises which I did +not really merit, because in the present instance I acted as much +from the wish to gratify my own feelings as his. My name and my +letter were talismans before which all doors flew open, and he +reached, without difficulty, the presence of the chief administrator +of justice, who, having read the memorial and the note I had +affixed to it, said, "That is sufficient, sir; have the goodness to +assure madame la comtesse du Barry, my cousin, that the reprieve +she desires is already granted; and as my fair relation appears to +fear trusting implicitly to my personal friendship and humanity, +I will set her mind at rest by putting you in possession of the +legal forms requisite for the prisoner." + +He immediately issued the necessary orders for suspending the +execution of the sentence, which M. de Mandeville lost no time +in communicating to the poor girl, who, a very few days afterwards, +received a full pardon, and was thus, in a manner, snatched from +an unmerited and ignominious death. The musketeer requested +permission to present my <protegee> to my notice. She really +was a very pretty girl, her feelings overpowered her, and she +fainted in her attempt to throw herself at my feet; I soon revived +her by the aid of those restoratives which my staring people +stupidly did not try to offer, and then to send her away perfectly +happy and cheerful, I slipped into the pocket of her apron a +<rouleau> of fifty louis which the king had given me for her use. +And here I must remark, that this prince, avaricious as he naturally +was, was yet always ready to perform a good action, and, indeed, +in this respect, he possessed many excellent qualities to which no +one has ever yet done justice. +When I next saw the chancellor--"Do you know, my fair cousin," +said he, "that if I wished to set you and the parliament quarreling +together I need only just whisper in what manner you treat our laws?" + +"Your laws," exclaimed I, "are barbarous edicts, made rather for +tigers than for men. Your punishments are atrocious, nor do I +see their application to correct a single malefactor; particularly +in the case of this young girl it is abominable, and if the king +would listen to me such savage edicts should not long remain unrepealed." + +"That may do very well," replied M. de Maupeou, "some time hence, +but not just now; ere our penal code can be revised we must have +magistrates more supple than those who now dispute our slightest +innovation; and if, by the grace of God, we can manage to make a clear +house of them, why we may confidently anticipate the noblest results." + +By these and similar insinuations the chancellor bespoke that aid +and assistance which I afterwards so largely rendered him when he +commenced the ruin of parliaments. + +Upon another occasion my credit and influence were employed with +equal success. The objects of my present exertions were the +comte and comtesse de Louerne. Both husband and wife were deeply +loaded with debts, a thing common enough with the nobility of the +time; these debts they never paid, another thing by no means unusual; +their creditors, whose flinty hearts were but little moved by the +considerations of their rank and high blood, sent officers to +enforce payment, when the Louernes opposed them with positive +force and violence, and the laws, thus outraged, condemned them +to suffer death. In vain did persons of the highest rank in the +kingdom intercede in their behalf, imploring of the chancellor to +interpose with the king; altho' deaf to every other entreaty he +instantly granted a reprieve at my solicitation, declaring I was +the only person who could have effected so much in behalf of the +distressed culprits, as well as being the only source thro' which +the king's mercy could be obtained. + +Immediately upon this notification, I was waited upon by the +comtesse de Moyau, their daughter, and the baronne d'Heldorf, +their daughter-in-law; both these ladies came to me in the deepest +sorrow, and I mingled my sighs and tears with those they so +plentifully shed; but this was rendering poor service, and if I +desired to aid their cause it was requisite I should speak to the +king, who was little disposed to show any indulgence in such +cases, and was never known to pass over any attempts on the part +of the nobility to resist the laws; he looked with horror on +every prospect of the return of those times which he hoped and +believed were passed and gone never to return. I well knew his +sentiments on the subject, and yet, trusting to my great influence +over his mind, I did not despair of success; besides Chon, my +sister-in-law, was constantly reminding me that people of a +certain rank should support one another, and that now was the +time or never. I therefore resolved upon befriending the daughters +of comte de Louerne to the utmost of my power, and for that +purpose I placed them both in a corner of the drawing-room so as +to catch the king's eye as he entered; he observed them, and +inquired who those two ladies were. "Sire," replied I, "they +are the heart-broken daughters of the comte and comtesse de +Louerne, who implore clemency of your majesty to save the lives +of the authors of their being." + +"Ah!" returned he, "madame, you know I can do nothing against +the law which they have offended." + +At these cruel words the two young ladies threw themselves at his +feet, exclaiming, "Pardon, pardon, sire; in the name of heaven and +your illustrious ancestors." + +"Rise, ladies," said the king; "I would willingly serve you, +but I have not the power." + +"No, sire," cried I, "you must not, you cannot refuse our united +prayers; and I here vow to remain kneeling at your feet till your +lips shall pronounce the word which shall restore life and happiness +to so many afflicted hearts." + +"Madame," said the king, altho' in a tone less firm, "you force +me to do what my principles condemn; but since it must be so, I +yield; and only rejoice that the first personal favor you request +of me is to perform an act of beneficence. Ladies," added he, +turning towards the comtesse de Moyau and her sister-in-law, +"you owe the lives of your parents to the generous mediation +of the comtesse du Barry." + +The joy of the Louernes was only equalled by the base calumny of +my enemies, who accused me of having prepared this scene, which +was got up by the king and myself to produce effect and excite +popularity. Could such disgusting falsehoods have entered the +minds of any but the most depraved? Yet those who continually +watched and misrepresented my least action appeared anxious to +deprive me of even the taste for, as well as the power of, doing +good. This took place at Choisy, which we very shortly after +quitted for Compiègne, where I passed my time very agreeably. +The king would not suffer either the duchesse de Grammont or the +comtesses d'Egmont and de Brienne to accompany us upon this +excursion. It has likewise been asserted, that neither the duchesse +de Grammont nor the princesse de Beauvau was present during the +king's first visit to Chantilly: that is not correct; it was at +the second that they were forbidden by Louis to join the party. +Those who fabricated such accounts, in all probability derived +their information from either the stable or the kitchen, which +was all they knew of the court of Louis XV. + +During my abode at Compiègne I dined several times at the house +of my brother-in-law, Cleon du Barry, then a captain in the +regiment de Beauce, who was, with a detachment, quartered in +the neighborhood of the castle; and he, with the rest of his brother +officers, vied in endeavors to please and amuse me. They gave +fêtes in my honor, were perpetually devising fresh schemes to +render the place agreeable to me; and in that they perfectly + succeeded, for I quitted Compiègne with no other regret than +that my stay there was at an end. + +The king appeared each day more and more solicitous to render me +happy, and even anticipated any wishes I might form. Amongst +other marks of his favor, he bestowed upon me the splendid pavilion +de Lucienne, sold by the duc de Penthièvre after the death of his +son, the prince de Lamballe. You know this charming spot, which +both nature and art have so liberally contributed to adorn: I have +converted it into the most perfect and delightful habitation in +which a mortal could desire to end her days. Nevertheless, this +hope of passing my life tranquilly and happily within its sheltering +bosom will prove but fallacious, if I may credit a prediction +which has been verified already in part. You doubtlessly remember +the young man who so obstinately pursued me to announce the high +destiny to which I should attain, ere I had for one moment +contemplated such an elevation. Well! You will scarcely credit +me when I declare, that all recollection of him had entirely +escaped me; but, in truth, the constant vortex of a court life +leaves no time for the recollection of the past, and fills our +minds with no other ideas but to provide for the present, and +occasionally to glance at the future. + +However, I thought no more of my young prophet, when one Sunday, +after my return to Versailles from Compiègne, I attended mass at +the castle; all at once I caught a glimpse of my mysterious +acquaintance, leaning his back against the wall behind the altar. +He was examining my countenance with a deep and fixed attention. +You may picture to yourself my astonishment and surprise at +recognising in this place the person who had so long ago foretold +my brilliant destiny. The color rushed to my cheeks, and he could +distinctly observe how much I was agitated by his presence, and +his beautiful countenance was lit up with a pleasant smile; after +which he gracefully waved his hand round his head as tho' he +would say, "Are you not queen of France?" This gesture excited +my astonishment still further; however, I returned his mute inquiry +by a slight inclination of the head, intended to say, "You are +right." In a moment a sort of cloud seemed to cover my eyes. So +soon as I could recover from the sudden dimness which obscured +my vision, I endeavored to bend my looks in an opposite direction; +for so greatly was I the point of general observation, that I +feared to awaken suspicion by an indiscreet attention to one +particular person or place: and when after some little time had +elapsed, and I ventured to turn my eyes again to the spot where +the young man had been standing, he had disappeared. + +I was unable to recover my astonishment at the whole affair, and +the suddenness of his departure inspired me with a lively desire to +know more of him, whether he were man or demon. I mentioned it +to Chon the same day, who, having listened to me with extreme +attention, "Upon my word," said she, "this is a most marvellous +event in your history. Why do you not mention the fact to M. +de Sartines? " + +"Because it appears to me folly to disturb or annoy a person who +has given me no offence; and were I to put him into the hands of +the police, I might possibly find reason to repent having acted +so. On the other hand, I would give any sum of money for one +more interview with this wonderful person." + +There the conversation ended; but my sister-in-law, by an unpardonable +curiosity she ought not to have indulged in, wrote, unknown to +me, to the lieutenant of the police, entreating of him to use the +most active measures to trace out the object of my curiosity. M. +de Sartines delighted at having an opportunity of proving to me and +mine his skill and zeal, turned all his bloodhounds loose upon the +track of this unfortunate being. During these proceedings I +received a letter, sealed with five black seals, bearing the +impress of a death's head. I thought at first that it was to +notify the decease of some friend, and I looked upon the style as +gloomy as it was strange; but, upon opening it, I found it to +contain the following words:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--I am perfectly aware +that the strict pursuit made after me in your name +is without your knowledge or sanction: those sent +in search of me have spared no pains nor trouble + to ascertain my name and abode. My abode! +Let all as they value themselves avoid meeting +me there; for, when they enter it, it will be never +to quit it more. Who am I? That can only be known +when this life has been exchanged for another. I +charge you, madame, to command the lieutenant, +M. de Sartines., to cease his researches after me; +they would be fruitless, and might only compromise +your safety. Remember, I predicted your good +fortune; was I not correct in it? I have also +foretold reverses: I am equally correct in them also. +You will see me twice more; and should I +unfortunately cross your path a third time, prepare +to bid adieu to the light of heaven and the pleasures +of this world." + +It is impossible to convey an idea of the excessive terror with +which I was filled upon the perusal of this billet. I summoned +my sister-in-law, and complained of the harshness of conduct +thus adopted against my pleasure. Chon was equally alarmed, +and confessed to me what she had done in asking the aid of M. +de Sartines; at the same time that she was the first to declare that +it was requisite to put an end to all further search, which, in +one shape or other, might bring on the most fatal consequences. +I therefore wrote myself to M. de Sartines, thanking him for his +exertions; but saying, that my sister-in-law and myself had +learned from the lips of the mysterious stranger all we were +desirous of knowing, and that any future researches being +unpleasant to him would be equally disagreeable to me. M. de +Sartines obeyed my request; and from that period till the death +of the king I heard no more of this singular personage. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon-- +The comtesse du Barry at Chantilly--Opinion of king and comte de +la Marche respecting the "Iron Mask"--Madame du Barry visits +madame de Lagarde + +My acquaintance with the singular being I was speaking of in the +last chapter did not end here, as you will find in the sequel. I +will now give you an account of an equally strange affair, in +nearly the same words as Louis XV himself related it to me. +Altho' strongly recommended by my sister-in-law and M. de Sartines +to conceal the whole story of my mysterious friend from the +king, yet, unaccustomed to the prudential observation of court +reserve, I, one fine evening, in order to fill up a long blank in +the conversation, related the story from beginning to end. His +majesty listened with attention until I had concluded. + +"This is indeed," said he, "a most singular history; and I think +you have acted very wisely in putting an end to all such interference +on the part of the police; for in such cases you frequently run +great risks to procure a trifling gratification. We have seen +something of the same sort in our family." + +This discourse excited my curiosity; and I entreated of him to +explain himself more fully. "I ought not to do so," replied he; +"such transactions should be kept for ever concealed; but as more +than half a century has elapsed since the event I allude to took +place, I think I may venture to break the silence I have religiously +observed until now. You are the only person I have ever mentioned +it to, and I must bind you to the strictest secrecy." + +This I faithfully promised; and so long as Louis XV lived I kept +my word. + +"At the conclusion of the last century, during the month of +September," resumed the king, "it happened that Louis XIV, and +madame de Maintenon formed the wish of consulting together some +learned astrologer, in order to ascertain whether the coming age +would be productive of good or ill to them. As neither of them +knew to whom to apply, in order to attain their object, madame de +Maintenon was compelled to confide her wishes to her friend, +madame de Montchevreuil, who readily engaged to find for her the +person she required; for, spite of the severity with which the law +visited such practices, there was no scarcity of dealers in augury, +who promised good or bad fortune accordingly as they were paid for it. + +"Whilst this lady was making diligent search after one perfectly +competent to satisfy madame de Maintenon, this latter, in +conjunction with the king, despite the superiority of their minds, +was greatly disturbed at the probable consequences of the step +they meditated. Their desire to penetrate into futurity appeared +to them as ridiculous as it was criminal, but their weaker feelings +triumphed; and the result of their deliberations was that far +from relinquishing their intention of searching the book of fate, +they should lose neither pains nor trouble to attain their object; +and to encourage each other, they reckoned upon their fingers +the names of every person of their acquaintance, or even belonging +to the court, who had derived profit and advantage from the +predictions of fortune-tellers. + +"The minds of all at this period were still imbued with those +superstitious feelings, of which many of the most illustrious +persons had given ample proof even in the preceding reign. We +have become either more wicked or more sceptical, whichever +you please to term it; but this is certain, that many of the +things predicted were accomplished with an exact punctuality, +which might serve to overthrow the finest arguments of the +greatest philosophers, and which has indeed destroyed many +ingenious theories. Doubtless the hidden laws of nature have +reference to other beings than ourselves; and, beyond dispute, +may be said to govern the creatures of an unknown world as well +as exercising control over poor mortals like us." After this short +digression, of which I give you the precise wording, the king +continued as follows: + +"On the following day madame de Montchevreuil paid a visit to +madame de Maintenon, in which she declared, that upon mature +reflection, she could not proceed with the commission she had +undertaken: that it was tempting Providence, and had better be +abandoned. This remonstrance had no effect upon madame de +Maintenon, who shielded herself from any necessity of retracting, +by repeating to herself, that she had pledged herself to join +Louis XIV in the undertaking, and it would never do for her to +forfeit her character for firmness and good sense by now appearing +trifling and capricious. However, she feigned a seeming +compliance with the advice of madame de Montchevreuil, whilst, +in reality, her mind was resolved upon executing her project. + +"There was in her household a female who was not immediately one +of her establishment, altho' generally ranking as such; one of +those active, stirring persons, who thrust themselves into a +noble family under the equivocal title of half servant, half lady. +This one had charge of all the necessary purchases of linen, +Engaged the servants, kept watch over their conduct, procured +for the marchioness whatever particulars she might require upon +any subject; and took upon herself, in a word, any piece of service +by which she could more firmly plant herself in the family of her +employers. She received no fixed wages, but their absence was +abundantly compensated in the numerous rich presents that were +continually made her. Her sleeping apartment was always +immediately adjoining that of madame de Maintenon in the castle. +A person of this description (as may be readily supposed) knew +the world too well to find any difficulty in procuring a mere +fortune-teller; and as her discretion might be confidently relied +on, it was resolved by her mistress to intrust her with the design. + +"Two days after, she had removed all difficulties by discovering +an Italian priest, famed as the most skilful necromancer of his +day, one who undertook to reveal the decrees of fate to all +those who should consult him, as clearly and readily as tho' its +leaves lay open, as a book before his eyes. But this gifted +person lived in the utmost dread of attracting the notice of +parliament, and exercised his art only under the strictest +assurances of secrecy, in the most retired and secluded manner, +with every precaution to prevent the possibility of a surprise. + +"These conditions were too gratifying to madame de Maintenon to +cause much delay in subscribing to them; and it was finally +arranged, that the prophet and his new applicants should meet at a +house in Sévres belonging to the royal family, then in the +occupation of madame Cerfol (the lady of whom mention has been +already made). The marchioness was to repair thither at one +o'clock in the morning with a single friend. To have taken such a +measure in open daylight would have been to proclaim their +secret to all Paris. One person besides madame de Cerfol was +necessarily admitted into their confidence, and that was the +duc de Noailles, who was charged, by the king's express orders, +to take every possible precaution to ensure their safety, as far +as it could be done without attracting public attention to so +extraordinary an affair. + +"At the hour appointed madame de Maintenon and the duc de Noailles +ascended a carriage which awaited them at one of the park gates, +and soon conveyed them to Sévres, whither the Italian priest had +gone the preceding night. This wretched man had celebrated alone +the sacrifice of the mass, and had consecrated several wafers. + +"Everything confirmed the opinion, that the conjuror, up to the +present moment, merely supposed himself sent for to satisfy the +curiosity of some country nobleman and his lady, who were both +anxious and eager to read their future fortune thro' his assistance. +I can only suppose, if he had been in ignorance of the real rank +of those who addressed him, the sight of the king must have +quickly undeceived him, as the conclusion of the story proves he +well knew to whom he spoke when he delivered his prediction. +However this may have been, he was no sooner alone with the +marchioness, than he commenced the necessary preparations for +the performance of his sorceriesand enchantments; he burned +perfumes, offered prayers,and with loud invocations adjured the +powers of hell to answer him; and in the midst of a wild and +agitating sound which pervaded the whole building, during the +heavy swell of noises too dreadful to have arisen from mortal +sources, and whilst a thousand visions were flitting to and fro, +he drew the horoscope of the king and madame de Maintenon. He +promised Louis XIV that he should succeed in all his undertakings; +and that, on the very day on which he spoke the words (the 2nd +of October) one of his children had been called to the inheritance +of an immense fortune. Then giving him a small packet, wrapped +in new parchment, 'The day in which you form the fatal resolution +of acquainting yourself with the contents of this packet,' said +he, 'will be the last of your prosperity; but if you desire to +carry your good fortune to the highest pitch, be careful upon +every great festival, that is to say, Easter, Whit-Sunday, the +Assumption, and Christmas, to plunge a pin in this talisman, so +that the point shall pass directly thro' it; observe to do this, +and you will live perfectly happy.' + +"The king accepted this fatal present, and swore upon the Gospel +never to open the packet; he richly rewarded the priest, who from + that period lived in a retreat so well concealed as to evade the +most diligent researches of those who sought to discover it. + +"Some time after news was received, that on the very 2nd of +October, 1700, named by the priest, Charles II, king of Spain, +had appointed in his will Philip of France, son of the dauphin, +his successor and heir, an inheritance truly immense, as the +astrologer had foretold. You may well think how highly this +realization of the prediction inspired the king with confidence +as to the fulfilment of the remainder: and, on his part, he never +failed upon any saint's day or other solemn festival to stick the +mysterious pin in the talisman upon which so much depended. + +"Nevertheless, spite of all these observances, his undertakings d +id not invariably succeed, which astonished him greatly; when one +day the great Bossuet, happening to be at madame de Maintenon's, +the conversation turned upon magic and sorcery, necromancy and +their horrible profanations; and he expressed himself with so much +force and energy, that the king and madame de Maintenon looked +at each other without knowing what to say, and began, for the +first time, to feel compunction for what they had done, and to +regret their imprudence. They talked of it much together, and at +length resolved to reveal their crime to their confessors. The +punishment imposed on the king by his spiritual adviser was, that +he should evince his contempt for the talismanic properties of +the parchment packet, by immediately opening it. + +"Louis XIV did not by any means admire this method of expiating +his fault; and a sort of involuntary dread took possession of him, +as, in obedience to the command of his confessor, he went to +procure the magic parcel, which he tore open in the presence of +madame de Maintenon and father la Chaise. The packet contained +nothing but a consecrated wafer, pierced thro' with as many pins +as there had been saints' days since the king had received it. At +the sight of this horrible sacrilege my grandfather was filled +with deep remorse and consternation, from which it was a long +time ere he recovered; and it was not until he had undergone +many severe penances, fastings, and caused numberless masses to +be said, that he felt himself at all relieved from the weight of +his crime. + +"But all this was only the commencement of the divine vengeance: +and those in the secret of this unfortunate affair remarked, that +this great monarch lost from that time as many male descendants +in a direct line as he had stuck pins into the holy wafer." + +Louis XV here terminated his singular history, which struck my +mind with a sort of religious terror. I strove by every possible +effort to dissimulate, concealing from the king the emotions to +which his narration had given rise. I contented myself with +observing, "that after hearing his marvelous recital, I should +only be more confirmed in my determination to leave my young +prophet to the tranquillity he desired." + +"It will be far best so," added Louis; "I know so many +fatal results which have followed any indiscreet curiosity, +that I am persuaded you had much better leave such +mysterious affairs to work their own solution." + +I promised to follow his advice, and we then conversed +upon other subjects. Since then this anecdote has recurred to +my memory; and without wishing to impeach the sincerity of +Louis XV, I have asked myself, whether, by the opportune relation +of this adventure, probably invented by himself, he did not seek +to destroy the confidence I appeared to entertain in the predictions +of my prophet. I say invented, because the king had a peculiar +readiness and facility in composing these sort of wonderful tales, +carefully noting down every circumstance which fell under his +knowledge deviating from the ordinary course of things. He had +a large collection of these legends, which he delighted in narrating; +and this he did with an ease and grace of manner I have never +seen equalled. + +About this period the prince de Condé, whose gallantry never +failed, entreated the king to pay a second visit to Chantilly: and +it was upon this occasion that Louis erased from the list of court +ladies all those whose presence would be disagreeable to me +during our stay at Chantilly. One scene of pleasure followed +another, and one fête succeeded another. I accompanied his +majesty without ever quitting him; and if hitherto there had +existed any doubts as to the sincerity of the king's attachment, +the most sceptical person would now have been convinced of the +fact. Louis XV was never from my side, and appeared solely +occupied in gratifying my slightest wish; the princes of the +court carefully followed his example; and such a life as I then +led was abundant compensation for all the pains and anxieties +I had endured from the malice and jealousy of certain females, +as well as the sarcastic bitterness of men, who feared lest my +influence should destroy theirs. + +I may, with truth, affirm that I received the honors and attention +of a queen; verses, plays, all written to convey some praise or +compliment to me; and the king testified the lively gratification +it afforded him to see me thus an object of general solicitude, +as well as of the most flattering distinction. His conduct +towards the prince de Condé became more gracious than it had +ever been observed to be to the princes of the blood; for there +existed a singular coolness in the royal family towards all the +princes of this branch. The king looked upon it as vastly inferior +to his own, because it had been separated from the throne before +the accession of Henry IV to the crown; he even asserted, that +there was much to be said upon this subject, and prudence compels +me to pass over the many histories and circumstances related by +him to me of this brilliant portion of his noble race. + +Neither the prince de Condé, whom I knew well, nor the prince de +la Marche, entertained much regard for their relations; and they +had always some spiteful story in store respecting the posterity +of Louis XIII. There is one historical fact which has never been +cleared up. + +One day I was conversing with the comte de la Marche upon the +disputes concerning the parliaments, and expressing my fear, that, +if driven to desperate measures, the people would rise in open +rebellion in favor of the magistracy. "They would be still more +clamororous," replied he, "if they knew all I could tell them." + +"And what do you know more than myself?'" asked I; "your highness +alarms me by speaking thus." + +"Amongst events now passed and gone is one that would materially +affect the public peace, if known." + +"You must explain yourself, my lord," said I. He refused; but I +persisted in pressing the matter with so much earnestness, that +at last he said, in a low voice, + +"Did you ever hear of the man who wore the iron mask?" + +"Yes, certainly," replied I, "who was he?" + +"A great prince, and a most unfortunate man." + +"But who was he really?" + +"In the eyes of the law the crown of France should have been +his; but in the conscientious view of things he certainly had +no claim." + +The comte de la Marche stopped here; and, as I was not very +deeply read in history, I did not exactly comprehend the +distinction he had just made. I had frequently heard talk of the +"Iron Mask," whom people reported to be either allied to, or +sprung from, the royal family; but all these particulars were +confused in my memory. However, I was much struck with the +conversation I had had with the comte de la Marche; and when +next the conversation fell on this mysterious personage, I asked +the duc de Richelieu what he thought of him. + +"Upon my honor," replied he, "I never could find out who he really +was; not that I did not try," added he, assuming an air of modest +vanity, which well became his green old age. "I had a mistress +of tolerably high birth, mademoiselle d'Orleans, as indeed I had +the honor of having the princesses, her august sisters. However, +the former, known under the name of mademoiselle de Charollais, +was dying to do some act of kindness that should be agreeable to +me. Well, I requested she would obtain from the regent, her +father, the solution of the secret relative to the 'Iron Mask.' +She used every possible device, but nothing could she obtain +from her father, who protested that the mystery should never +escape his lips; and he kept his word, he never did divulge it. +I even imagine that the king himself is ignorant of it, unless +indeed the cardinal de Fleury informed him of it." The maréchal +told me afterwards that he thought the opinion adopted by Voltaire +the most probable, viz: that this unknown person was the son of +the queen Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV. These last words +helped, in a measure, to resolve the enigma which comte de la +Marche had left me to unravel; and, with a view to satisfy myself +more positively on the subject, I availed myself of the first +time I was alone with the king, to lead the conversation to +this story. + +At the mention of the "Iron Mask," Louis XV started. "And do +you really credit such a fable?" asked he. + +"Is it then entirely untrue?" inquired I. + +"Certainly not," he replied; "all that has been said on the matter +is destitute of even common sense." + +"Well," cried I, "what your majesty says only confirms what I +heard from the maréchal de Richelieu." + +"And what has he been telling you?" + +"Very little, sire; he told me only, that the secret of who the +'Iron Mask' really was had not been communicated to you." + +‘The maréchal is a simpleton if he tells you so. I know the +whole affair, and was well acquainted with the unhappy business." + +"Ah!" exclaimed I, clapping my hands in triumph, "just now you +affected perfect ignorance; you knew nothing at all about it, +and now--" + +"You are a very dangerous woman," cried the king, interrupting +me by loud fits of laughter, "and you are cunning enough even +to surprise the secrets of the state." + +"'Tis you, rather, who could not resist the inclination to let me +see that you knew what the maréchal had declared you ignorant of. +Which of us two is the more to blame, I wonder?" + +"Myself, I think," answered the king; "for after all, you did but +act with the candor and curiosity of your sex: it was for me to +have employed more of the prudence of a king in my replies to +your interrogatories." + +"Well, but," said I, "since you really do know all about this man +with the iron mask, you will tell it to me, will you not?" + +"I should be very careful how I gratified your curiosity," said +he; "this is a point of history which must never be cleared up; +state reasons require that it should for ever remain a matter of doubt." + +"And <I> must have you tell me," returned I; "do pray tell, and I +will love you with all my heart." + +"It cannot be." + +"And why not? This unfortunate person has been long dead without +leaving any posterity." + +"Are you quite sure of that?" inquired the king, in a serious tone. + +"But what signifies," said I, "whether he be dead or alive? I +entreat of you to bestow upon me this proof of your confidence. +Who of all those who have spoken of him have told the truth?" + +"Nobody; but Voltaire has approached it more nearly than any +one else." + +After this partial confession the king implored of me to change +the conversation, which I could easily perceive was extremely +disagreeable to him. Nevertheless, it seemed to me quite clear, +that this celebrated person belonged to the royal family, but by +what title I could not devise. It was in vain that I afterwards +revived the subject; not even during the most tender confidences +could I obtain the information I desired. Possibly had I lived +with him some years more I might have succeeded in drawing from +him all he knew respecting the object of my curiosity. Old men, +like children, can conceal nothing from those they love, and who +have obtained over them an influence they willingly submit to. + +Before I proceed to more important events, I would fain speak of +persons with whom I lived before my elevation. My godfather, +M. Billard du Monceau, was still living, as well as madame Lagarde, +with whom I had resided as companion. My interview with the +former is well known; and the authors of "Anecdotes of My Life," +published thirteen years since, have strictly adhered to the truth, +with the exception of some vulgarisms they have put into the +mouth of that excellent man which he never uttered. + +As to madame Lagarde, she was strangely surprised to see me arrive +at her house; and the evident embarrassment my presence occasioned +her was a sufficient revenge on my part for the many unkind things +she had said and done respecting me. I would not prolong her +uncomfortable situation, but studied to conduct myself with the +same unaffected simplicity of former days. I talked over the +past, inquired after her family, and offered my best services and +protection without malice for what was gone by, and with perfect +sincerity for the future. But spite of all my endeavors to spare +her feelings, it was evident that rage and humiliation at the +advantage my altered fortunes gave me over her, struggled within +her, and the conflict of her mind was but too plainly depicted in +her countenance. However, that was the least of my troubles; I +soon restored her to comparative calmness; and before I quitted +her, made her promise she would come and see me. + +She would gladly have evaded this request; but her son, the master +of requests, who sufficiently misjudged me to fear my resentment, +and who possessed great influence over her, induced her to present +herself at my house. She accordingly came to call upon me, with a +mind bursting with spite and jealousy; yet she choked down her +angry passions, and so far humbled herself, as to entreat my +pardon for her own sake and that of her family, for all her +unkindness towards me. I would not allow her to finish; "Madame," +said I, "I only allow agreeable recollections to find a place in +my memory; had I entertained the slightest resentment against +either you or yours, you may be quite certain I should not have +again entered your dwelling; and I again repeat the offer I +made the other day, of gladly seizing the first opportunity +of being useful to you." + +Each of these words expressive of the kindest feelings towards +her was like the stab of a poniard. She, however, extolled them +with the most exaggerated praise, imploring me to believe how +deeply she regretted her behavior, and talked so long and so much +about it, that when she quitted me, it was with the most certain +impression on my mind, that in her I possessed a most violent and +implacable enemy, and in this conclusion I was quite correct. M. +Dudelay, her son, had the effrontery to request to be presented to +me, and charged the excellent M. de Laborde to make known his +wishes to me. I begged he would inform M. Dudelay, that I admitted +into the circle of my acquaintance only such as were known to the +king; and that if he thought proper to apply to his majesty, I +should obey his royal will on the subject, whatever it might be. +He justly considered this repulse as a biting raillery, for which +he never forgave me. I entertained no ill will against him for his +past perfidy, but I considered it strange that he should presume to +approach me with familiarity. I should not have adopted the same +line of conduct towards the farmer-general, his brother, who, +less assuming, contented himself with assuring me of his devotion, +and the sincere regret with which he contemplated the past, without +ever seeking to introduce himself into my presence. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +The chevalier de la Morlière--Portrait of the duc de Choiseul-- +The duc de Choiseul and the comtesse du Barry--No +reconciliation effected--Madame du Barry and the duc +d'Aiguillon--Madame du Barry and Louis XV + +About this period I received a piece of attention, any thing but +gratifying if considered in a strictly honourable sense. The +contemptible chevalier de la Morlière, who detested me, and +subsequently pursued me with rage, presumed to dedicate to me +some wretched collection of his compositions, and I had the +weakness to accept the dedication; I had even the still greater +folly to receive its author at my house; this piece of condescension +injured me greatly. Until that period I had not, like madame de +Pompadour, shown myself the protectress and patroness of men of +letters; and even my warmest friends could not deny, that in +stepping forwards as the encourager of literature, I had made a +very unfortunate choice in selecting the chevalier de la Morlière +as the first object of my patronage. But how could I have done +otherwise? The prince de Soubise, who found this man serviceable +upon many occasions, would have sacrificed any thing to promote +his advancement; and I have been assured, that had the maréchal +taken half the pains on the day previous to the battle of Rasbach, +we should not have left it so disgracefully. + +The king well knew the unfortunate chevalier for a man as destitute +of modesty as merit; when therefore he saw his book upon the +mantel-piece of my drawing-room, he said, + +'So! you are the inspiring muse of the chevalier de la Morlière; +I only warn you, when the day comes for him to be hanged, +not to ask me to pardon him." + +"Be assured," replied I, "that I will never deprive the Place de +Grêve of one so formed to do honour to it." + +In fact, the chevalier was within an ace of reaching it before +his friends anticipated; for, very shortly after this conversation, +he was guilty of the most detestable piece of knavery I ever +heard of. He learned that an unfortunate young man from the +country, into whose confidence he had wormed himself, was to +receive 15,000 livres on his father's account; he invited him to +supper, and, by the aid of two villains like himself, stripped him +of his last sous. Not satisfied with this, he wrote the father +such an exaggerated account of his son's loss and general bad +habits, that the enraged and irritated parent procured an order +to confine his son at Saint Lazare! Did you ever hear of a more +infamous and accomplished rogue than my honourable <protégé>? +However, I shall give him up to his fate, be it good or bad, and +proceed with the relation of my affair with duc de Choiseul. + +I had named to madame de l'Hôpital the hour at which I could +receive the duke. She had requested, in pursuance of her directions, +no doubt, that the conversation between us should take place +either amidst the groves of Versailles or in the labyrinth of +Marly;--the self-love of M. de Choiseul inducing him to desire +that this interview should be so contrived, as to wear the air of +a mere chance rencontre. To this I would not consent; saying, +that it did not suit my pleasure to quit the house; and that when +a gentleman solicited the favour of speaking to a lady, it became +his business to wait upon her, without expecting she should come +in search of him; and, spite of all the arguments of madame de +l'Hôpital, I persisted in my determination: she had no alternative +but to submit, and I awaited the coming of M. de Choiseul on the +following day. + +The duc de Choiseul possessed a greater reputation than his +talents were entitled to; and his advancement was more attributable + to his good fortune than his merit. He had found warm and +powerful assistants in both philosophers and women; he was a +confirmed egotist, yet passed for a man who cared little for self. +He was quick at matters of business, and he obtained the character +of a deep and profound politician. It must, however, be admitted, +that he was witty, gallant, and gifted with manners so elegant and +fascinating, that they never failed to remove the first unfavourable +impression caused by his excessive plainness. The tide of public +favour was with him; and, in order to contest it, it required all +the influence of a woman, and that woman to be no less than the +beloved mistress of the king of France. + +He presented himself before me tastefully and magnificently dressed, +both look and voice wearing the stamp of high-born pride and +haughtiness. Nevertheless, amidst all this pomp, it was evident +that he did not entirely feel the ease he assumed, and that a +species of remorse rankled at his heart, spite of the courtier-like +gallantry with which he had invested himself. + +"Madam," said he, bowing twice most profoundly, "the moment has +arrived which I have long most ardently desired." + +"The fault has not been mine, my lord," said I, "that it has been +delayed until now. My door has never been shut against any +visit you might have honoured me with." + +"Ah, madam! why have I not known this sooner? Some evil planet +ruled my thoughts when it occurred to me that I might not be so +happy as to meet with a favourable reception." + +"There, my lord, you were indeed in error; for though I might not +feel a very tender friendship towards you whilst supposing I had +many causes for complaint, I could not refuse you those marks of +respect your rank and station entitle you to receive." + +"Then, madam, I may flatter myself that I should have been +kindly received?" + +"Yes, sir, you would ever have been welcome, but not those +belonging to you, for I will be perfectly candid; always excepting +the duchesse de Choiseul, for whom I entertain the greatest +veneration and respect." + +"She is indeed well worthy the exalted opinion you express of her; +and had I followed her advice, I should not have been found +amongst the ranks of your enemies." + +"You confess the fact then, monsieur le duc?" said I. + +"I trust, madam, you will not take advantage of an inadvertent +expression to turn it against myself. What I fear is, that without +ever having been your enemy, I may have passed for such in your +estimation; and such indeed is the cruel position in which I +am placed." + +"Stay, my lord duke," cried I; "be candid, and acknowledge that +you are my enemy as you have ever been; and that it is only +because there has been war between us that you are now come to +conclude a treaty of peace--" + +"Peace or war, madam," replied he, "as you please to will it; all +I will admit is, that things have turned out most unfavourably for +my wishes. Your arrival at Versailles, your grace, beauty, and +wit, excited universal jealousy; and, amidst the general panic +caused by your all-excelling merit, was it not necessary I too +should keep myself on my guard? For the first time in my life +a beautiful woman became an object of alarm to me; you may +further believe me, when I protest that, at the outset, I warmly +defended you; but how could I wage war against so many--how +oppose the general torrent? It bore me down." + +"And you fear lest it should carry you beyond your depth, and +would fain return to <terra firma>; is it not so, my lord duke?" + +At this ironical speech an expression of heavy displeasure rose +to the countenance of M. de Choiseul, and he remained for several +minutes like a man who fears to trust himself to reply. Then +he added, + +"Madam, when I solicited the favour of this conversation, it was +with the sincerest desire of adjusting all differences between +us, and it would but ill advance that purpose were I now to reply +to you with warmth and petulance; condescend, on your part, to +lay aside sarcasm and raillery. You have already too many advantages +over me, and it would ill accord with your wonted generosity to +insult a half-conquered foe." + +"You are right, my lord," answered I; "jests and recrimination +will effect nothing; let us rather proceed at once to consider +what is best for the interest of both." + +"Willingly," replied he. 'Now you speak to the purpose; and as I +was prepared to hear you--are you inclined for a serious discussion +of our business?" + +"Pray begin, my lord, I am all attention." + +"Well, madam, I deeply regret all that has passed, and deplore +that my friends and part of my family should be disagreeable to +you; I take upon myself to engage that their hostility shall end, +and am willing to afford you the most perfect satisfaction upon +this point. Impressed with highest respect for his majesty, and +the most lively desire to serve him, I ask for nothing more than +to be on good terms with those he loves; and as for the future, +my unshrinking loyalty may be relied on." + +"I am well assured of it, my lord duke; and likewise you have +never taken any part in the calumnies which have been aimed at +me. Let us then forgive the and since we are agreed as to the +future, let us speak but of the present. I have friends fitted +to serve the king, whose ambition leads them to aspire to that +honour. What will you do to assist them?" + +"Ere I promise that, madam, it is necessary I should be acquainted +with them." + +"What would it avail to name them to you? You perfectly well +comprehend to whom I allude. I am resolutely decided to support +them, and to employ for this purpose the friendship with which +his majesty deigns to honour me." + +The duke coloured deeply at these words. + +"Then, madam," said he, " you would fain strip me to enrich others?" + +"No, my lord, I ask but a division of your possessions. You cannot +have every thing; and it would not be fair that our reconciliation +should be profitable to you only." +"I did not anticipate, madam, in coming hither, that you would +command me to offer up myself as a sacrifice upon an altar raised +by you to the interests of your friends." + +"Meaning to say, my lord duke, that you will keep every thing to +yourself. I cannot compliment you upon your liberality, however +I may for your candour." + +"Madam, I have never since my entry into the ministry sought to +live at the expense of my country, and let me resign office when +I may, I shall retire loaded only with debts, whilst you and your +friends draw large revenues from the nation." + +The conversation became warm and angry, the duke and myself, with +crimson cheeks and inflamed countenances, surveyed each other +with haughty defiance. At length he added, + +"I had hoped that I should have quitted you more kindly disposed +towards me." + +"And I, my lord, fancied that you were coming with an ardent +desire for peace; but no, the spirit of your sister leads you +astray, and you would fain punish me for her absence from court." + +"Madam, I beseech you to leave my sister in peace; she has gone, +that ought to satisfy you. We will not, if you please, speak of her." + +"I only wish that she would likewise do me the honour to be silent +respecting me. I am not ignorant that she continues to aim her +slanders at me from afar as she did when near me. One might +suppose that the sole object of her journeyings was but to excite +all France against me." + +"Madam, you are mistaken. My sister--" + +"Continues to play the same part in the country she did in Paris. +She detests me because I happen to have youth and beauty on my +side. May her hatred last forever." + +"Ah, madam, say not so; for with your charms you are indeed too +formidable an antagonist; and the more so, as I clearly perceive +you are not inclined for peace." + +"At least," said I, "the war on my side shall be fair and open, +and those belonging to you have not always waged it with me upon +those terms." + +The duke merely warded off this last assertion by some unmeaning +compliment, and we separated greater enemies than ever. + +The first person to whom I could communicate what had passed was +the duc d'Aiguillon. He listened to my recital without any decided +expression of his opinion; but no sooner had I concluded, than he +took me by the hand, and pressing it with a friendly grasp, + +"How I congratulate you," said he, "upon the good fortune which +has extricated you from this affair. Do you know that a reconciliation +with the duc de Choiseul would have involved your inevitable +disgrace? What evil genius counselled you to act in such a manner?" + +"I fancied I was doing right," said I, "in thus proving to the +king that I was not an unreasonable woman." + +"The Choiseuls," replied he, "would have entangled you in their +nets, and, separated from your real friends, would have made you +the innocent author of your own destruction. Tell the king just +so much, that the duc de Choiseul has been to see you, that you +conversed together some time, and that he has offended you more +than ever." + +"I promise you, my kind friend," said I, "to follow your advice." + +When I next saw the king, I apprized him of the visit. + +"That does not astonish me," said Louis XV, "the duke is anxious +to be on friendly terms with you." + +"He has then taken a very contrary road to arrive at my friendship," +said I; "if he really desires that we should be on good terms, he +must conduct himself very differently"; and there the conversation +ended. But several days afterwards, having sent away my <mâitre +d'hôtel>, with whom I had reason to be dissatisfied, and the +king appearing surprised at seeing a fresh countenance amongst +my household, I said to him, "Sir, I have got rid of <my> Choiseul, +when will it please you to get rid of yours?" The king, without +replying to me, began to laugh; in which, for want of a better +termination to my remark, I was constrained to join. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Dorine--Mademoiselle Choin and the maréchal d'Uxelles--Zamor-- +M. de Maupeou's wig--Henriette--The duc de Villeroi and Sophie-- +Letter from the comtesse du Barry to the duc de Villeroi--His +reply--The countess writes again--Madame du Barry and Sophie-- +Louis XV and the comtesse du Barry + +Among the number which composed my household were three beings +who played conspicuous parts in my family, and who received the +kindest caresses in honour of their mistress. These three favoured +objects were Dorine, Zamor, and Henriette. Following the order or +disorder in which I have written thus far, I will first introduce +my dear Dorine to your notice. + +Sweet, beautiful Dorine! how amiably affectionate and attached +to thy mistress wert thou! The poor animal still exists; for I +would have you know that I am speaking of a most faithful little +dog; now indeed grown old, asthmatic and snappish; but fifteen +years since, distinguished for her lightness, swiftness, and grace, +for her pretty little countenance, white teeth, large sparkling +eyes, long tufted tail, and above all, for her snow-white coat, +spotted here and there with the most beautiful brown. + +Dorine was just three months old when madame de Montmorency +brought her to me in her muff; her throat was adorned with a rich +gold collar, bearing the arms of the du Barrys, and clasped with a +large sapphire surrounded with diamonds. The moment she saw me +Dorine leaped upon my lap with the most endearing familiarity, +and from that period has never quitted me. My train of courtiers +hastened to become those of the new favourite likewise; and +pastrycooks and confectioners racked their brains to procure +tempting morsels for the gentle Dorine. She sipped her coffee +daily from a golden saucer, and Zamor (between whom and Dorine +a mutual dislike existed) was appointed her cupbearer. The +wonderful instinct of the highly gifted animal soon taught her, +that although she had free permission to bark at all the rest of +the world, there was one person in it to whom it behoved her to +show herself in her most gracious and smiling moods; who this +person was I leave it to your sagacity to divine. She, however, +indemnified herself for this extra complaisance by barking and +biting at all who approached; and the handsomest, best turned +leg in the court was not secure from the sharp teeth of mademoiselle +Dorine. Nevertheless, all vied in praising and fondling her, and +I was enchanted with the general admiration she excited, as well +as the attention she received. One day that I was exultingly +relating to the duc d'Aguillon the cares and praises lavished on +my dog, he replied, "The grand dauphin, son of Louis XIV, after +the death of his wife, Marie Christine of Bavaria, secretly espoused +mademoiselle Choin. The maréchal d'Uxelles, who was not ignorant +of this marriage, professed himself the most devoted friend of +the lady; he visited her regularly morning and evening, and +even carried his desire to please her so far, as to send a servant +with a dish of grilled hare for the house dog, who had a particular +fancy for game dressed in that manner! These attentions and +assiduities were faithfully continued for several years, till the +grand dauphin died, and then no more morning and evening visits, +no more presents to either mistress or dog. Apply the story well," +added the duke, as he terminated his recital. Unfortunately the +application of the tale presented itself but too soon, and I have +experienced the sad truth of the history of mademoiselle Choin. +At the death of the king so, did my visitors disappear; and poor +Dorine has partaken of the disgrace of the comtesse du Barry. + +The second object of my regard was Zamor, a young African boy, +full of intelligence and mischief; simple and independent in his +nature, yet wild as his country. Zamor fancied himself the equal +of all he met, scarcely deigning to acknowledge the king himself +as his superior. This son of Africa was presented to me by the +duc de Richelieu, clad in the picturesque costume of his native +land; his head ornamented with feathers of every colour, a short +petticoat of plaited grass around his waist, while the richest +bracelets adorned his wrists, and chains of gold, pearls, and +rubies, glittered over his neck and hung from his ears. Never +would any one have suspected the old maréchal, whose parsimony +was almost proverbial, of making such a magnificent present. + +In honour of the tragedy of Alzire, I christened my little negro +Zamor, to whom by degrees I became attached with all the tenderness +of a mother. You ask me why? Indeed that is more than I can +tell; perhaps at first I looked upon him as a sort of puppet or +plaything, but, imperceptibly to myself, I became passionately +fond of my little page, nor was the young urchin slow in perceiving +the ascendancy he had gained over me, and, in the end, to abuse +his influence, and attained, as I have before said, an almost +incredible degree of insolence and effrontery. Still I pardoned +all his folly, and amused myself from morning to night with +watching his nimble fingers perform a thousand tricks of jugglery. +Even now that I have lost the gaiety of my happy days, when I +recall his irresistibly comic ways, I catch myself laughing, like +an old simpleton, at the bare recollection of his monkey feats. +I could relate twenty of his mischievous pranks, each more +amusing than the other. I will, however, excuse you from hearing +nineteen of them, upon condition that you shall listen to the +twentieth, which I select as being the shortest. + +One day, upon which I had invited some select friends to dinner, a +superb pie was brought to table as a present which the ungallant +M. de Maupeou had had the politeness to send me in the morning. +One of the company proceeded to cut it, when scarcely had he +pierced the crust, than its perfidious contents proved to be an +immense swarm of cockchafers, which spread humming and buzzing +all over the chamber. Zamor, who had never before seen these +insects, began to pursue them all over the room, buzzing and +humming as loudly as they did. The chase lasted a long time; but +at last the poor cockchafers weary of carrying on the war, and +mistaking the peruke of M. de Maupeou for an impregnable fortress, +flew to take refuge there. What did Zamor do, but run to the +chancellor, snatch off his wig, and carry it in triumph to a +corner of the room with its colony of cockchafers, leaving us all +to admire the bald head of the chief magistrate. I could willingly +have enjoyed a hearty laugh at this scene, but, out of respect for +M. de Maupeou, I feigned to be much displeased with Zamor, whom +I desired one of the attendants to flog for his rudeness. However, +the guests and the chancellor uniting in entreaties that I would +pardon him, I was obliged to allow my assumed anger to give way +to their request, and the culprit received a pardon. + +There was but one person in the world whom Zamor really feared; +he was however on good terms with all my friends, and did not +disdain the society of the king. You have heard that the latter, +by way of amusement, bestowed on my little negro the title of +governor of the Pavillon de Lucienne, with a revenue arising +therefrom of a thousand crowns, and that the chancellor caused +the necessary papers to be prepared and delivered to him sealed +with the state seal. + +But of all the persons who visited me, the one most beloved by +Zamor was madame de Mirepoix, who never came without bringing +him amusing presents or some sweetmeats. The sight of her threw +him into ecstasies of delight; and the moment he caught sight of +her, he would clap his hands, leap with joy, dance around her, +and kiss her hand, exclaiming, "<Ah! mame la chale!>" " ("Ah! +Madame la maréchale "). The poor maréchale always dreaded +meeting the king when she came to visit me and Zamor; for the great +delight of his majesty was to make my little negro repeat a name +of Israelitish origin, which he did in so ridiculous a manner, that +the modesty of my fair friend was most shockingly put to the blush. + +One person alone never vouchsafed to bestow the slightest glance +of encouragement upon my little imp of Africa, and this was comte +Jean, who even went so far as to awe him into silence either by a +frown or a gesture of impatience; his most lively tricks could +not win a smile from the count, who was either thoughtful or +preoccupied with some ambitious scheme of fortune. Zamor +soon felt a species of instinctive dread of this overpowering and +awe-inspiring genius, whose sudden appearance would chill him +in his wildest fits of mirthful mischief, and send him cowering +to a corner of the room; where he would remain huddled together, +and apparently stupefied and motionless, till the count quitted +the apartment. + +At the moment of my writing this, Zamor still resides under my +roof. During the years he has passed with me he has gained in +height, but in none of the intellectual qualities does he seem to +have made any progress; age has only stripped him of the charms +of infancy without supplying others in their place; nor can I +venture to affirm, that his gratitude and devotion to me are such +as I have reason to expect they should be;* for I can with truth +affirm, that I have never ceased to lavish kindness on him, and +to be, in every sense of the word, a good mistress to him. + +*This wretch, whom the comtesse du Barry +loaded with her favours and benefits, conducted +her to the scaffold.- EDITOR (i.e., author) + +There was one member of my establishment, however, whom I preferred +to either Dorine or Zamor and this was Henriette, who was sincerely +attached to me, and who, for that very reason, was generally +disliked throughout the castle. I bad procured a good husband +for her, on whom I bestowed a post which, by keeping both himself +and his wife in the close vicinity of the castle, prevented my kind +friend from quitting me. However, my poor Henriette was not fated +to enjoy a long connubial felicity, for her husband, being seized +with a violent fever, in a fit of delirium threw himself from a +window into the court below, and was taken up dead. Slander +availed herself even of this fatal catastrophe to whisper abroad, +that the death of the unhappy man arose from his deep sense of +his wife's misconduct and infidelity. This I can positively assert +was not the case, for Henriette was warmly and truly attached to +him, and conducted herself as a wife with the most undeviating +propriety. The fact was, that Henriette had drawn upon herself a +general hatred and ill will, because she steadily refused all +gossiping invitations, where my character would have been pulled +to pieces, and the affairs of my household discussed and commented +upon: there, indeed, she had sinned beyond all hope of pardon. + +She it was who pointed out to me the perfidious conduct of the +duc de Villeroi. This gentleman, from the very beginning of my +rise in the royal favour, had demonstrated the most lively friendship +for me, of which he sought to persuade me by the strongest +protestations, which, weak and credulous as I was, I implicitly +believed, until one day that Henriette, availing herself of my +being quite alone, let me into the secrets of my establishment +and furnished me with a key to the assiduities of M. de Villeroi. + +Amongst the females in my service was one named Sophie, young, +beautiful both in face and form, of a sweet disposition, and every +way calculated to inspire the tender passion. M. de Villeroi felt +the full force of her charms, and became the whining, sighing +lover--her very shadow. Up to this period I had had no cause of +complaint against M. de Villeroi; and certainly I should not have +interfered with his plebeian flame had he not thought proper, +when questioned by my enemies as to his continual presence at +the castle, and great assiduities there, to protest that his visits +thither were not in honour of my charms, but for those of my +waiting-maid. However, my vanity had rendered me his constant dupe. + + I felt perfectly astonished as I listened to Henriette's recital; +and when she had ceased, I conjured her to tell me candidly, +whether she had not invented the whole tale either out of spite +to Sophie or with a design to make me break off further friendship +with the duke.This she most solemnly denied, and recommended me +to make inquiries amongst my friends, who would be compelled to +bear testimony to the truth of all she had asserted. I determined +to do so; and the first person whom I was enabled to interrogate +respecting the affair was the bishop de Senlis. This prelate +came frequently to see me, and I found his society each day more +pleasing. He served me as a kind of gazette of all that passed +with the princesses, in whose opinion I had still the misfortune +not to be in the very highest estimation. When occasion required +it, M. de Roquelaure would venture to take my part, and that +without making a single enemy; for who could be offended with +one so affable, so good, so full of kindness towards all? In +fact, the worthy bishop was so fortunate as to obtain the love of +every person who knew him; and, in the most select society of +opposing parties, each would reserve a place for good M. de Roquelaure. + +When I questioned him as to his knowledge of the affair, his +embarrassment was evident. + +"What a world is this! "cried he. "Why, let me ask, do you +listen to those who repeat such mortifying tales to you?" + +"Because, my lord, my friends will not see me made the sport of a +heartless and perfidious friend; and, if you entertain the slightest +regard for me, I conjure you to tell me all you know upon the subject." + +"And do you, my good madam, conceive that it would become my +sacred calling to speak ill of my neighbour? besides, surely you +would not attach any belief to the idle reports spread about the +castle by ill-disposed persons?" + +"All this has nothing to do with my question, my lord," resumed I. +"I ask you once again, whether you ever heard the duc de Villeroi +assign his passion for one of my women as the reason for his +visits to me? Have you, my lord bishop? I entreat you to answer." + +"Madam, I have not," said the good prelate, colouring deeply. + +"Ah, monsieur de Roquelaure," cried I, "you must not say mass +to-morrow, for I greatly fear you have just committed a certain +fault which is styled fibbing." + +The bishop made no reply, and his silence spoke volumes of confirmation. + +Scarcely had he quitted me than the duc d'Aiguillon entered, to +whom I put the same question; and he frankly confessed, that the +excuse alleged to have been used by the duc de Villeroi was +strictly the expression of that gentleman. + +"I was wrong," said the duke, "not to have mentioned it to you, +but I was silent from a desire to preserve peace between you. +Now that the affair has been revealed to you, I will not sully +my lips with a falsehood for the pleasure of upholding an +unprincipled man." + +"I will not ask you to tell me more," replied I. "I know enough +to make me despise the cowardly spirit of him whom I reject as +unworthy of my friendship." So saying, I ran to my writing-table, +and wrote to the duc de Villeroi the following note:-- + +"MONSIEUR LE DUC,--I love my friends with +all their faults, but I cannot pardon their perfidy; +and, since from what I have heard I am left to +conclude, that but for the charms of my attendant +Sophie, I should not have been favoured with so +many of your visits, I now write to warn you, +that I this day dismiss the unfortunate object of +your admiration from my service, and therefore +recommend you to cease all further communication. +Your presence in my house would be any thing +but agreeable to me; and since the fair object which +has hitherto attracted you will no longer dwell +under my roof, I presume your presenting yourself +before me would only be more painful than you have +hitherto found it. The frankness of my conduct may +offend you, but it cannot surprise or grieve you +more than your duplicity has me. + +"I remain with befitting sentiments, monsieur +le duc, + +"Your most humble and obedient servant." + +When I had completed my letter, I rang, and a footman attended. +"Go, "said I to him," carry this note immediately to the duc de +Villeroi, and wait, if it be necessary, the whole day, until you +can return with the assurance that you have delivered it into +his own hand." + +Whilst I was thus speaking to the man, who had been engaged by +my steward, and very recently entered into my service, I chanced +to look at him inadvertently, when my attention was arrested by +seeing him rapidly change colour. I could not at the moment +conceive what could thus agitate him, and making a sign for him +to depart immediately upon his commission, he slowly left the +room, regarding me as he went in such a manner, that I could not +fail recognising him: and here, my friend, I must lay aside every +particle of self-love and vanity ere I can make you a complete +confession; the retrospect of my life brings many events, of which +the remembrance is indeed painful to me, and only the solemn +promise I am under to conceal nothing restrains me from consigning +many particulars to oblivion. I am once more about to incur the +chance of drawing down your contempt by my candour, but before I +enter upon the subject, permit me to conclude my affair with the +duc de Villeroi. + +My letter was a thunderbolt to the duke. He better than any one +knew the extent of my credit, which he dreaded, lest I might +employ it to his injury; he therefore hastened to reply to me in +the following words:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--I am a most unhappy, +or rather a vilely calumniated man; and my enemies +have employed the most odious means of making me +appear despicable in your eyes. I confess, that not +daring to aspire to you, I stopped at the footstool +of your throne, but I wholly deny the words which +have been laid to my charge. I venture to expect +from your justice that you will grant me the favour +of an opportunity of exculpating myself from so +black a charge. It would be cruel indeed to condemn +a man without hearing him. + +"I am with the most profound respect, &c." + +To this hypocritical epistle I replied by another note as follows:-- + +"Every bad and unfavourable case may be +denied, monsieur le duc, therefore I am not +astonished at your seeking to repel the charge of +having uttered the disrespectful words laid to +your charge. As for the explanations you offer +me they would be fruitless; I will have none with +those who have either been my friends or appeared +to be such. I must therefore beg you will cease +all attempts at a correspondence which can lead +to no good results. + +"I have the honour to remain, &c., &c." + +After this business was despatched, I caused Sophie to be sent +for to attend me. + +"Well, Sophie," said I, " you perceive the confusion you have +occasioned through your folly. Is it then true that the duc de +Villeroi has spoken of love to you?" + +"Yes, indeed, madam," replied the poor girl, weeping bitterly. + +"And you return his passion." + +"I believe so, madam." + +This <naïf> confession made me smile. I continued-- + +"Then you are not quite sure of the fact?" + +"No, madam; for when I do not see him I forget all about it; but +when he is before me, so handsome and so generous, so full of +love, I try to make myself equally fond of him; but somehow I +cannot help preferring his courier, M. l'Eclair." + +These last words completely destroyed all attempts at preserving +my gravity, and I burst into the most uncontrollable laughter, +which, however, soon gave place to a painful recollection of how +soon this young and artless creature, as simple as she was beautiful, +was likely to lose this open-heartedness in the hands of her seducer. + +"Sophie," said I to her at last, "this unfortunate affair forbids +my retaining you any longer in my service; I am compelled to +send you from me. I trust this noble lover of yours will never +forsake you; have a care only to conceal from him, should you +persist in encouraging his addresses, that he has a rival in the +person of his courier, l'Eclair." + +Sophie threw herself weeping at my feet. I raised and encouraged +her by the kindest words to pursue the right path, but I remained +steady in my determination of sending her from me. + +I was not mistaken. The duc de Villeroi became the possessor of +poor Sophie, and publicly boasted of having her under his protection. +He did not, however, proceed to these extreme measures until he +had essayed every possible means of effecting a reconciliation +with me, and he employed more than a hundred persons in the vain +attempt of inducing me to pardon him. With this view the maréchale +de Mirepoix, whose succour he had implored, observed to me that +it was sometimes necessary to feign to overlook an insult; I +replied, that dissimulation was an art I knew nothing of, nor did +I wish ever to acquire it. + +"Really, my dear countess," cried she, "you should not live at +court, you are absolutely unfit for it." + +"It may be so," replied I; "but I would rather quit Versailles +altogether than be surrounded by false and perfidious friends." + +All the remonstrances of the good-natured maréchale were fruitless, +I could not bring myself to pardon a man who had so openly +outraged my friendship. + +Directly I saw the king, I related the whole affair to him. + +"It must be confessed," said he, "that the duke has behaved very +ill towards you, but he has certainly shown his taste as far as +regards Sophie. She is a sweet creature." + +"Ah! you are all alike," cried I. "You gentlemen think a pretty +face an excuse for every fault; and he only deserves blame who +can attach himself where beauty is wanting." + +"Because he is a simpleton for so doing," said Louis XV with the +utmost gravity, giving me at the same time an affectionate embrace. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +The prince des Deux Ponts--Prince Max--The dauphin and Marie +Antoinette--The comtesse du Barry and Bridget Rupert--The countess +and Geneviève Mathon--Noël--Fresh amours--Nocturnal adventure-- +Conclusion of this intrigue + +All my friends were not treacherous as the duc de Villeroi; and I +may gratefully assert I have possessed many true and sincere ones +who have ever faithfully adhered to my fortunes. One in particular +I shall mention here, that I may recommend him to your warmest +esteem; for, although of high and distinguished rank, he did not +despise the good opinion of the meanest citizen. I speak of the +prince de Deux Ponts, Charles Auguste Christian. This prince, who +chanced to visit France during the zenith of my court favour, was +very desirous of seeing me, and both he and his brother were +presented to me by the comte de la Marche, their friend, and +they quickly requested the honor of my friendship. Auguste +Christian pleased me most by his gentle and amiable manners, +although most persons gave the preference to his brother, Maximilian +Joseph, better known by the name of prince Max. Auguste Christian, +in the fervour of his attachment, speaking openly to me of the +delicacy of the situation, proposed to me, in case of any reverse, +that I should seek an asylum in his dominions; and I must do him +the justice to say, that at the death of the king, far from +forgetting his proffer, he lost no time in reminding me of it. +Fidelity and attachment such as his, is sufficiently rare to +merit a place in my journal. The prince des Deux Pouts was +presumptive heir to an immense inheritance, that of the electorate +of Bavaria, and the electorate Palatine, to the latter of which +he was direct heir after the decease of his cousin, the present +elector. I could almost wish that he had already succeeded to +these possessions: he can never reign too soon for the happiness +of his subjects. + +Prince Max had served in France; he was extremely well looked +upon at court both by the king and the princesses. As for the +dauphiness, prejudiced against him as she was by her mother, +she naturally regarded him with an eye of cool mistrust, and +manifested her open dislike by never inviting him to any of her +parties. Prince Max spoke of this pointed neglect to the king, +who immediately summoned the dauphin. "My son," said he to +him, "I see with regret that prince Max is never an invited guest +at any of your balls and fêtes. Remember, he belongs to a family +which has been our most ancient ally, and do not take up the +quarrels of a house which, until your marriage, has ever been +disposed in deadly hatred to us." + +If the dauphin was not gifted with a very extensive capacity, he +was possessed of sufficient plain sense to comprehend, and to +enter into the views of his grandfather, to whom he pledged his +word, that henceforward prince Max should be treated with more +respect; and he kept his word, for the instant he returned to his +apartments, he commanded the duc de la Vauguyon to add the name +of prince Max to the list of invited persons. When the paper was +drawn out it was carried to the dauphiness, who was with her +husband. She read on till she came to the name of prince Max, +which she desired might be erased; but the dauphin interfered. +"Oblige me," cried he, "by suffering this name to remain; his +ancestors have for ages been the friends of our family, and his +alliance may one day be useful to us in Germany." + +The dauphiness comprehended the signification of these words, +and her fine eyes were filled with tears. However, she no longer +insisted upon the erasure, when her husband, who most tenderly +loved her, further declared it to be the king's desire that +nothing should be done which could in any way displease the +prince des Deux Ponts. He was, therefore, from that period +invited to the house of Marie Antoinette, who indemnified herself +for this compulsory civility, by refusing to bestow upon him one +single smile or gracious word. It must indeed be agreed that the +dauphiness had brought with her into France too many Austrian +notions, which she was long in losing for those of a wife and +mother; but now at the moment of my writing this, she is much +changed, and is as true a French woman as though she had been +born and bred in Paris. Unfortunately, the people appear slow in +giving her credit for her altered opinions, and to this mistake +will she owe the loss of that general love and popularity to +which she has such just claims. + +Prince Auguste Christian entertained for me a sincere regard, +which I returned with the truest friendship. My feelings were +as pure and simple as his own, spite of the odious calumnies +with which my enemies have attacked this harmless acquaintance; +but their slander in this matter was no worse than the manner in +which they spoke of every person who visited me. According to +their report, I was the mistress of all who presented themselves. +'Tis well for you, ye courtly dames, that you may convert friends +into lovers with impunity; be the number ever so large none dares +arraign your conduct; but for those of more humble pretensions it +is indeed considered atrocious to number more than two admirers; +should we ask to swell the list to a third--what comments, what +scandal, what vilifying reports are in circulation! In this +letter, my friend, I shall speak to you exclusively of myself. +You will find little in my conduct to praise, and I fear, much +to blame. You will easily perceive my heart was better than my +head; and dear as your opinion is to me, I write on in the hope, +that should my candid avowal lose me any portion of your esteem, +it will yet obtain me a larger share of your friendship. The +dismissal of Sophie from my service occasioned a vacancy in my +household. Immediately her departure was known, I received +numberless solicitations from all who heard of it. Three days +afterwards, Henriette came to inform me that the wife of an +attorney of Chatelet solicited the task of serving me in Sophie's +stead; that she was a well-looking and respectable person, and +might very probably suit me. + +"Will you see her, madam?" continued Henriette. "She is +recommended by the marchioness de Montmorency." + +"Willingly," answered I; "desire her to come in." Henriette left +me and quickly returned, introducing the new candidate. + +At the first glimpse I recognised Brigitta Rupert, that haughty +girl, who had been my early friend and companion at Saint Aure, +but who found it impossible to continue her friendship and favour +to a humble milliner's girl. The sight of her occasioned me a +surprise by no means of a pleasing nature; and the involuntary +start I gave, evidently recalled me to her recollection. In a +moment her cheeks assumed the paleness of death, and her self-love +seemed to suffer the most horrible torments at the light in which +our rencontre mutually placed us. As soon as she could command +herself sufficiently to speak, she cried, + +"Ah! madam, do I then appear in your presence?" + +"Yes," replied I, "before the poor and humble milliner to whom you +so harshly refused your friendship," + +"Fortune has well avenged you, madam," said Brigitta, in a +melancholy tone; "and as I can easily imagine how unpleasant the +sight of me must be, I will hasten to relieve you from it." + +These last words touched me, and restored me in a degree to my +natural good temper. + +"Brigitta," said I to her, "after the little affection you have +ever manifested for me, it would be impossible as well as unwise +to take you into my service; but let me know in what way I can +best promote the interest of yourself and husband, and I pledge +myself to accomplish it for you." + +"I thank you, madam," answered she, resuming her accustomed +haughtiness, "I came to solicit a situation near the person of the +comtesse du Barry. Since that is refused me, I have nothing more +to request." + +"Be it as you please," replied I. Brigitta made a low courtesy, +and quitted the room. + +Henriette, who had been the witness of this scene, expressed her +apprehensions that I should be displeased with her for introducing +an unwelcome visitor to me. "No," cried I, "'tis not with you I +am vexed., but myself." + +"And why so, dear madam?" + +"Because I reproach myself with having in my own prosperity +forgotten one of my earliest and dearest friends, who loved me +with the tenderest affection. Possibly she may now be in trouble +or difficulties, from which I might have a thousand ways of +relieving her; but it is never too late to do good. To-morrow, +early, you shall set out for Paris; when there, go to the rue Saint +Martin, inquire for the sign of la Bonne Foi; it is kept by a +pastrycook, named M. Mathon, of whom I wish you to learn every +particular relative to his daughter Geneviève." + +My wishes were laws to Henriette, who instantly retired to prepare +for her journey. I had not ventured to desire her to glean any +information concerning the brother of Geneviève, and yet at the +recollection of the handsome Nicolas my heart beat impetuously. +With what impatience did I await the return of Henriette! at +length she came. + +"Well!" said I. + +"I have found out M. Mathon," answered Henriette. + +"Which, the father?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"And what is his present occupation?" + +"As usual, madam, superintending his kitchen and shop." + +"Is he alone in his business?" + +"Oh, no! madam; he is assisted by his son, a fine dark handsome +young man." + +"His son then lives with him?" + +"Yes, madam, and he is married." + +"Married!--but it is not of this young man I wish to speak, but +of his sister, of Geneviève; tell me of her." + +"I only learned, madam, that she had married a tailor, named +Guérard--who, after having been very unsuccessful in business, +died suddenly, leaving her wholly destitute with two young children." + +I immediately wrote the following note to my early friend:-- + +"The comtesse du Barry having heard of the misfortunes of madame +Guérard, and knowing how much she is deserving of a better fate, +is desirous of being useful to her. She therefore requests madame +Guérard will call next Monday, at two o'clock, on her at her +hotel, rue de la Pussienne." + +Poor Geneviève nearly fainted when she received this note, which +was conveyed to her by a footman wearing my livery. She could +not imagine to whom she was indebted for procuring her such exalted +patronage, and she and her family spent the intervening hours +before her appointed interview in a thousand conjectures on the +subject. On Monday, punctually at two o'clock, she was at the +hotel dressed in her best, her lovely countenance setting off the +humble style of even her holiday garb. She knew me the instant +she saw me; and, in the frank simplicity of her own heart imagining +she could judge of mine, she ran to me, and threw herself into +my arms, exclaiming, + +"Oh, my dear Jeannette, what pleasure does it afford me to meet +you again. Oh! I see how it is; you are the friend of the comtesse +du Barry, and it is to you I shall owe my future good fortune, as +I do this present mark of her favor." + +"No, my good Geneviève," cried I, weeping for joy, "she who now +embraces you is the comtesse du Barry." + +After we had a little recovered ourselves, I took my friend by the +hand, and led her to a sofa, where we seated ourselves side by +side. Returning to the scenes of our early youth, I related to +Geneviève all that had occurred since--my adventures, faults, +and favour. When I had concluded my recital, Geneviève commenced +hers, but it was soon told. There is little to relate in the life +of a woman who has passed her days in the virtuous discharge of +her duties. + +Our mutual confidences being over, and having again exchanged a +most affectionate embrace, I put into the hands of my companion +a portfolio, containing 30,000 livres in bank bills. I promised +her likewise to obtain for her some lucrative situation. "Do +more than this for me!" cried Geneviève. "Since you will still +grant me your friendship, secure for me the happiness of occasionally +meeting you. I can with truth declare, that of all your proofs of +kindness and regard, that which I prefer is the pleasure of seeing you." + +This ingenuous request touched my heart, and I replied to it by +fondly caressing the warm-hearted Geneviève, and assuring her that +my purse and my house should be ever open to her. We then resumed +our interesting reminiscences, and Geneviève was the first to +speak of her brother. At the name of Nicolas I felt the blood +mount to my very forehead, and an indefinable sensation passed +over me at the mention of him who had possessed my virgin love. +I strove, however, to conceal from my friend the powerful emotion +which agitated me, and I replied, with apparent tranquillity, +that I should be happy to assist her brother with the best of my +credit and influence; and I kept my word by obtaining for him, +at the solicitation, of his sister, some lucrative situation, the +exact nature of which I do not now recollect, where they resided +together in ease and comfort. I had only to recommend them to +the notice of M. de Boulogne, who felt himself much flattered at +being selected by me to make the fortunes of my two friends. + +>From this time Geneviève visited me as frequently as she could, +and her society delighted me; whilst, in her conversation I found + a frankness and sincerity which I had vainly sought for at court. +She had loved me when a simple milliner, and she cherished the +same fond regard for me in my improved situation. Her friendship +has not forsaken me in my reverses; and I feel quite assured that +death only will dissolve the tender friendship which still subsists +between us. As for her brother, he spared me much shame and +confusion by never seeking my presence; a meeting with him would +indeed have overwhelmed me with painful recollections. + +And now, my friend, I am about to relate to you an adventure, the +bare mention of which covers my cheek with guilty blushes; fain +would I conceal it from you, but my promise is given to lay my +whole heart before you, and it shall be done, cost what it may. + +I know not why it should ever have been permitted you gentlemen +to frame laws, which, while they permit you, in the gratification +of your passions, to descend ever so low in the scale of society +without any disgrace attaching itself to you from the obscure +condition of the object of your search, to us females it is +prohibited, under penalty of incurring the utmost degradation, +to gratify the inclination of our hearts when awakened by one of +more humble rank than our own. A great lord may love a kitchen +maid, a noble duke, like M. de Villeroi, may indulge his fancy +for a waiting-woman, and yet lose no portion of his dignity, or +of the esteem in which the world holds him; but, on the other +hand, woe to the high-born dame who should receive the homage +of an obscure citizen, or the noble countess who should lend a +favourable ear to the sighs of her <valet de chambre>; the public +voice would loud and angrily inveigh against so flagrant a breach +of decorum. And why should this be? But, my friend, do you not +see in my seeking to defend so weak a cause sufficient intimation +that such a justification involves a consciousness of requiring +it? Alas! I plead guilty, and will no longer delay the painful +confession I have to make. + +Do you remember a singularly handsome young man, who, during my +abode with madame Lagarde, fascinated me till my very senses seemed +bewildered by my passion. You know how he betrayed me, and how, +through him, I was expelled the house, as well as the termination +of this foolish adventure. You are now to pass over seven or +eight years, and take your place with me in the drawing-room, in +which I stood when I rang to summon a servant to convey a letter +to the duc de Villeroi. You may remember what I told you in the +last chapter of the person who entered, of his agitation and his +blushes, and of his fixing his eyes with deep meaning upon me till +he quitted the room-this servant was Noël! + +Had I listened to the dictates of prudence, I should, without +loss of time, have obtained against him a <lettre de cachet>, +which would have freed me from all chance of discovery through +his means; but I could not listen to such cool-blooded, though +cautious, suggestions. One idea only took possession of my +mind--the absurd desire to know what had become of Noël since we +separated, and by what accident I now found him wearing my livery +in the castle. With this intent I availed myself of the first +moment I was secure from interruption, to summon him to my presence. +He threw himself at my feet, imploring of me to pardon his audacity. +"Alas, madam!" said he, "I am more unfortunate than guilty. I saw +you walking some time since, and I could obtain no rest or peace +till I was fortunate enough to obtain admission to your establishment. +Punish me for my temerity if you will; expel me from the castle, +have me confined in a prison, I deserve it all; but, voluntarily, +I cannot leave this house; and if you will only permit my stay, I +solemnly vow you shall see nothing in my conduct but the zeal +of an attached and respectful servant." + +I was weak enough to pardon Noël and shortly after to raise him +to the rank of <valet de chambre>, which brought him infinitely +too much about me. + +Yes, my friend, the woman is, after all attempts to excuse it, +blamable for bestowing her affection on one below herself in the +scale of society. Nature herself appears to have planted in our +bosoms a kind of instinct, which warns us from it, and a prejudice +against all those who so degrade themselves. It is different +with men; they can confer rank and elevation on the beloved object. +A woman should always have reason to look up to and feel proud +of the man to whom she consigns her heart; this species of vanity +is mixed with the noblest love, and the woman who can overlook +it, acts from passion of the lowest, basest kind. How easy is it +to reason! Alas! Why have I not always acted as well as I speak. + +I was thus again a second time enthralled by Noël, and much more +so, too, than I will now tell you. My faithful Henriette, whose +devoted attachment for me kept her ever watchful of my safety and +reputation, was thunderstruck at perceiving what I vainly strove +to conceal from her; and, as she has since told me, was long in +deciding whether to speak to me of the affair, when an unexpected +incident arose, which determined her, at every risk of my +displeasure, to use her endeavors to put an end to so disgraceful +a connexion, which must infallibly have ended in my disgrace. + +One night, or rather midnight, all was at rest in the castle, and +I was sleeping peacefully in the arms of Noël, when all at once +I was awakened by the sudden opening of an outer door, which +announced to me the approach of the king, who had merely one +more door to open ere he would be in my apartment. Noël, terrified, +leaped quickly out of bed, and ran to seek refuge in a small +chamber adjoining where Henriette slept. Happily she was yet +awake; and, by the light of a night-lamp or <veilleuse> recognized +Noël, who, with clasped hands, conjured her to take pity upon him. +Henriette saw the danger, and putting out her hand, seized him, +and drawing him rapidly towards her, made him lie down beside +her. Noël, struck with her goodness, was preparing to offer her +the same marks of his gratitude he had shown me of his respect; +but repulsing him, she said in a low voice, "Wretch, think not it +is on your account I thus expose my reputation; 'tis to save that +of my beloved mistress; either conduct yourself with silent respect +or you are lost." At this threat Noël 's courage melted away +and he lay still as a frightened child. "Listen," said Henriette, +"if you do not quit this place to-morrow at break of day, without +seeking to see madame again, I will denounce you to the king, +who will inflict upon you the most dreadful punishment." + +Whilst these things were passing in the chamber of Henriette, I +did not feel perfectly at ease on my side, and many were the wise +reflections I made upon my folly, as well as the promises I gave +never again to expose myself to such imminent danger. Nor did my +terrors abate till after the king had quitted me. At the sound of +my bell Henriette hastened to my bed-side. + +"My good Henriette," said I to her, trembling from head to foot, +"what a night of anxiety have I passed, I must indeed confess--" + +"Fear not, my beloved mistress," replied she; "I will watch over +your safety, and trust to be enabled fully to provide for it." + +I durst not then ask for any further explanation of her words, for +such was the ascendancy her good and steady conduct had given her +over me, that she would certainly have blamed me for my glaring +imprudence. I pressed her hand in mute thankfulness; she +comprehended my silence and left me to myself. + +At the end of some days, seeing nothing of Noël, I ventured to +question her as to his fate: she then related to me all you have +been told, and added, that the day following this shameful and +unfortunate night she had lost no time in apprizing the comte +Jean of all that had occurred, who had quickly despatched Noël +out of the kingdom, furnishing him with a purse of ten thousand +livres to defray his travelling expenses. Such was the fortunate +termination of this disgraceful affair; and now, having completed +my painful confession, I will change the subject to others doubtless +more calculated to interest you than the recital of such lapses. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +Madame du Barry succeeds in alienating Louis XV from the due de +Choiseul--Letter from madame de Grammont--Louis XV--The chancellor +and the countess--Louis XV and the abbé de la Ville--The maréchale +de Mirepoix and madame du Barry + +Matters now assumed an air of importance. My struggle with the +des Choiseuls had become a deadly war, which could only be +terminated either by his downfall or my dismissal from court; +this latter measure was not very probable; an old man is not +easily detached from a woman whom he loves, and each day only +added to my ascendancy over the mind of the king. It is true, +that the same force of habit which enchained Louis XV to me +bound him likewise to M. de Choiseul. The idea of change terrified him; +and so great was his dread of fresh faces, that he would have +preferred dying with his old minister, to creating a younger one +who might witness his end. Happily the duke himself brought on +the crisis of his fate; his power was cramped on all sides, yet, +resolved not to lay it down till the last extremity, he sought +to stay his failing credit with the rising influence of the dauphiness. +His enemies were not slow in pointing out to the king his minister's +frequent visits and great assiduities to a foreign princess, and +enlarged upon the fatal effects this new alliance might produce +to the monarchy. + +Meanwhile the chancellor, threatened by the parliaments, saw +only one way of averting the storm which was about to burst on +his head. This was to introduce into the cabinet persons entirely +devoted to himself; but to accomplish his purpose, it was necessary +to exclude the duc de Choiseul and his party. M. de Maupeou came +to me in December, and after having gently scolded me for what +he termed my carelessness, he showed me a letter from the duchesse +de Grammont, which, he said, would wonderfully aid our plans. +This letter was written to one of the presidents of the parliament +of Toulous, M. de ----. I cannot give you his name; for, although +I have preserved the original of the letter, I have mislaid the +envelope on which the address was written. I here give you a +copy of this curious and important production:-- + +"MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT,-- I promised to give +you the exact details of all that passed in this gay +metropolis, and 'tis with much pleasure I sit down +to fulfill my engagement. Things go on much +as usual, or, perhaps, I should be speaking more +correctly, were I to say they are rapidly +progressing from bad to worse. We have +no longer a king in France; all power is lodged +in the hands of one sprung from the most infamous +origin; who, in conjunction with others as +intriguing as herself, seeks only to ruin the +kingdom, and to degrade it in the eyes of +other nations. + +"The noble firmness of sovereign courts is +odious to people of this class; thus you may +imagine the detestation in which they regard +the candid and loyal conduct of the duke. I +n the hopes of procuring the dismissal of my +brother, they have chosen for his successor +wretch loaded with crimes, a coward, an +extortioner, a murderer--the duc d'Aiguillon. +As for you gentlemen, who now constitute our +parliament, your places will soon be filled by a +magistracy drawn from the dregs of society; a +troop of slaves, deaf and blind, except +as he who pays them best will have them +exercise those powers. + +"This is no time for indolent repose; we must +at once courageously and unanimously defeat +the guilty schemes of our enemies. So long as +my brother retains his present post he will +support you with his best interest; but, should +he be dismissed, your business will soon be finished. + +"I beg my best remembrances, first, to your +excellent lady, and after her, to madame B. +and madame L., not forgetting the marquise de +Chalret, whose wit is truly Attic; nor the marquise +de P--s, who conceals beneath the graceful exterior +of a Languedocian the soul of one of Corneille's +Roman matrons. For yourself rely upon my warmest +friendship and endeavours to serve you. My brother +is most anxious to know you, after the flattering +manner in which I have mentioned you to him. +When will you gratify us both by visiting Paris? + +"Ever yours," + +Nothing could have arrived more <à propos> for our purpose than +this letter. I was still engaged in its perusal when the king was +announced; I wished to hurry it back into the hands of M. de +Maupeou; but he, more crafty than I, requested I would keep it. + +"It is fitting," said he, "that it should be seen by the right person." + +Louis XV, astonished at the strange scene, inquired what it meant. + +"A most shameful piece of scandal, sire," replied I. + +"An infamous epistle," added the chancellor, "which one of my +friends managed to abstract from the post-office, and forwarded +to me: I brought it to madame la comtesse, that she might admire +the determined malice of our enemies." + +"You excite my curiosity," cried Louis XV. "Madame, have the +kindness to allow me to see this paper." + +"Indeed, sire," exclaimed I, "I know not whether I ought to obey +your majesty, so entirely has the writer of the letter forgotten +the respect duc to your sacred person." + +"Oh," said the king, "I do not fear that; I am but too well used +to the offence to feel astonishment at its occurrence." + +I placed the paper in the hand of Louis XV, whose eye easily +recognised the handwriting of madame de Grammont. "Ah, ah!" +cried he, "is it so? let us see what this restless lady has to +say of us all." I watched the countenance of the king as he read, +and saw the frown that covered it grow darker and darker; +nevertheless he continued to read on without comment till he +had reached the end; then sitting down and looking full at the +chancellor, he exclaimed, + +"Well, M. de Maupeou, and what do you think of this business?" + +"I am overwhelmed with consternation, sire," replied he, "when I +think that one of your majesty's ministers should be able to +conspire thus openly against you." + +"Stay," cried Louis hastily, "that fact is by no means proved. +The duchesse de Grammont is a mad woman, who involves the safety +of her brother; if I only believed him capable of such treachery, +he should sleep this night in the Bastille, and to-morrow the +necessary proceedings should be commenced against him: as for his +sister, I will take care of her within four good walls, and avenge +myself for her past misconduct, by putting it out of her power to +injure me further." + +"Sire," said I, in my turn, "remember she is a woman; I beseech +you to pardon her, and let the weight of your just indignation +fall upon her brother." + +"Chancellor," cried the king, "this business must not be lightly +passed over." + +"Nor without due consideration," replied M. de Maupeou, "your +majesty may look upon this letter as the basis of a secret plot: +as for the duchess, I am of my cousin's opinion; despise her +audacious attempts, but spare not her brother; he alone is the +guilty as well as dangerous person." + +The king made no answer, but rose, and crushing the letter in +his hand, threw it from him. + +"Would," exclaimed he at last, "that the fiends had those who +take such delight in disgusting me with my very existence. Heavens! +how justly may I say I despise all men; nor have I a much better +opinion of your sex, madame la comtesse, I must warn you." + +"Much obliged, sire," cried I; " really I was not prepared for +such gallantry. It is rather hard that you should quarrel with +me because this disagreeable duchess behaves ill! Upon my word +it is very unpleasant!" + +"Come, come," said Louis XV, kissing my cheek, "don't you be a +naughty child; if I had not you, where should I turn for consolation +amidst the torments by which I am surrounded? Shall I tell you? +In the midst of all these perplexing affairs, there are moments +in which I fear I may not be promoting the happiness of my people." + +"Your majesty is greatly mistaken," replied the chancellor; "the +nation in general must esteem themselves most happy under your +reign; but it will always happen that ill-disposed persons seek to +pervert the public opinion, and to lead men's minds astray. The +duchess, when travelling, was the faithful and active agent of +her brother. The duke, to secure his stay in the ministry, will +eagerly avail himself of every adventitious aid; within your +kingdom he seeks the support of the parliaments and philosophers; +without, he claims the succour of Germany and Spain. Your +majesty is certainly master of your own will, and it would ill +become me to point out the path you should tread; but my duty +compels me to say, that the duc de Choiseul is the greatest enemy +of the royal house: of this he gave me a convincing proof in the +case of your august son; and now, if he fancied he should find it +more advantageous to have the dauphin for his master--" + +"Chancellor of France," cried Louis, much agitated, "do you +know what you are asserting?" + +"The truth, sire," I exclaimed. "The public voice accuses the +duc de Choiseul of the death of your son; they declare--" + +"How! you, too, madam!" exclaimed the king looking at +me fixedly. + +"And why not, sire? I am merely repeating what is in every +one's mouth." + +"I have heard this horrible charge before," added the king; "the +Jesuits informed me of it, but I could not give credit to such +a monstrosity." + +"So much the worse," replied I; "in the world in which we live +we should always be on our guard." + +"Sire," added the chancellor, with the most diabolical address, "I +am persuaded that M. de Choiseul is the most honourable man in +the world, and that he would shudder at the bare idea of any +attempt upon the life of your majesty; but his relations, friends, +and creatures believe, that, supported by the dauphiness, he +would continue in office under your successor. Who can answer +for their honour? Who can assure you, that some one among them +may not do that for the duke which he would never venture to +attempt himself? + +"This is the personal danger your majesty runs so long as M. de +Choiseul continues in office; were he dismissed, the world would +soon abandon the disgraced minister, and the dauphiness be +amongst the first to forget him." + +The king was pale with agitation, and for some minutes continued +traversing the apartment with hasty strides; then he suddenly stopped. + +"You are then convinced, M. de Maupeou," cried he, "that the duke + is leagued with the parliaments to weaken my authority?" + +"There are palpable proofs to that effect," replied the chancellor; +"your majesty may recollect the skilful manner in which, on the +3d of last September, he avoided attending you to parliament; +most assuredly, had he not been the friend of rebels, he would +not have shrunk from evincing by his presence how fully he shared +your just indignation." + +"That is but too true," cried Louis XV; "and I felt much annoyed +at the time, that he preferred going to amuse himself at the house +of M. de Laborde, when his duty summoned him to my side." + +"Your majesty cannot fail to perceive how everything condemns +him; his personal conduct, equally with that of his sister, proves +how little he regards his royal master's interest; and should your +clemency resolve upon sparing him now, you may find your mercy +produce fatal effects to yourself." + +"His dismissal," resumed the king, "would disorganize all my +political measures. Who could I put in his place? I know no +one capable of filling it." + +"Your majesty's wisdom must decide the point," replied the +chancellor. "My duty is to lay before you the true state of +things; this I have done, and I know myself well enough not to +intrude my counsel further. Nevertheless, I cannot help remarking, +that in your majesty's court there are many as capable as M. de +Choiseul of directing affairs--M. d'Aiguillon, for example." + +"Ah!" answered Louis XV; "this is not the moment, when M. +d'Aiguillon is smarting from his severe contest with the long robes, +to elevate him over the head of my hitherto-esteemed minister." + +M. de Maupeou and myself perceived that we should best serve +my friend's cause by refraining from pressing the matter further, +and we therefore changed the conversation. Nevertheless, as what +had already passed had taken its full effect upon the king's mind, +he suggested an idea which I should never have dreamed of recommending; +and that was to consult the abbé de la Ville on the subject. + +The abbé de la Ville, head clerk of foreign affairs, was a man +who, at the advanced period of fourscore, preserved all the fire +and vivacity of youth; he was acquainted with ministerial affairs +even better than M. de Choiseul himself. Having formerly belonged +to the Jesuits, to whom he was entirely devoted, he had appeared +to accelerate the period of their destruction; never had he been +able to pardon his patron the frightful part he had compelled +him to enact in the business. Years had not weakened his ancient +rancour, and it might be said, that he had clung to life with more +than natural pertinacity, as unwilling to lay it down till he had +avenged himself on de Choiseul. Louis XV wrote to him, desiring +he would avail himself of the first pretext that occurred to +request an audience. This note was forwarded by a footman, +the good abbé easily divined that this mystery concealed some +great design; he therefore hastened to solicit an audience as +desired. When introduced into the cabinet of the king, his +majesty inquired at once, + +"Monsieur l' abbé, can I depend upon your discretion?" + +"Sire," replied the abbé, with a blunt frankness, "I am sorry +your majesty can doubt it." + +"Be satisfied, sir," replied the king, "I had no intention to +offend you; but I wish to consult you upon a point, the importance +of which you will fully appreciate; answer me without disguise. +Do you believe that the services of the duc de Choiseul are +useful to my kingdom, and that my interests would suffer were I +to dismiss him?" + +"Sire," replied M. de la Ville, without hesitation, "I protest to +you, as a man of honour, that the presence of the duc de Choiseul +is by no means essential to the ministry, and that your majesty's +interests would sustain not the slightest injury by his absence." + +After this the abbé de la Ville entered into particulars unnecessary +to repeat here; it is sufficient to say, that all +he advanced materially aided our wishes. He afterwards reaped +the reward of his friendly services, for when the duc d'Aiguillon +had displaced the duc de Choiseul, he bestowed on M. de la Ville +the title of <director of foreign affairs>, an office created for +him, and the bishopric <in partibus> of Tricomie. The good abbé +did not, however, long enjoy his honours, but ended his career in 1774. + +This conversation had been repeated to me; and, on my side, I +left no means untried of preventing Louis XV from placing further +confidence in his minister; but, feeble and timid, he knew not on +what to determine, contenting himself with treating the duke +coolly; he sought, by continual rebuffs and denials to his slightest +request, to compel him to demand that dismissal he had not the +courage to give. + +Whilst these things were in agitation, madame de Mirepoix, who +had been for some days absent from Versailles, came to call upon +me. This lady possessed a considerable share of wit; and, although +on the most intimate terms with me, had not altogether broken off +with the des Choiseuls, to whom she was further bound on account +of the prince de Beauvau, her brother. It therefore excited in +me no surprise, when I heard that the des Choiseuls had called +on her to ascertain, whether it would not be possible, through her +mediation, to come to some terms with me. + +"And you must not be angry with me," continued she, "for +undertaking the <negotiation>; I well foresaw all the difficulties, +and entertained no hopes of its success, but upon second thoughts, +I considered it better I should accept the mission; for, in case +of a negative being returned, it will be safe in my keeping, and +I will not add to the chagrin of a failure the shame of a defeat." + +"It is my opinion," replied I, "that all propositions coming from +these people should be rejected; they have compelled me to raise +between them and myself an immense wall of hatred, not less +difficult to surmount than the grand wall of China." + +"Yet," replied the maréchale, smiling, "they are disposed to pay +any price for so doing." + +"I have friends," said I, "from whom I can never separate myself." + +"They are willing that your friends shall be theirs likewise," +cried she, "for they see that M. de Maupeou, the duc de la +Vrillière, and the abbé Terray, are provided for, and that the +duc d'Aiguillon alone remains to be suitably established; M. de +Choiseul would be happy to aid him in obtaining the post of +minister of naval affairs." + +"Well, and the duchesse de Grammont," inquired I, "would she +visit me?" + +"Oh, as to that, I know nothing about it, and can venture no +opinion; my commission does not extend so far." + +"I understand you," said I; "she seeks for peace only as it +would enable her the better to carry on her hostilities against +me. I am sorry, madame la maréchale, that I cannot accept +your terms for a reconciliation." + +"Remember, I pray of you, that I have been an ambassadress, and +nothing more," said madame de Mirepoix; "recollect I have spoken +to you in the words of others, not my own. I must beg of you to +be secret; if you divulge the particulars of this morning's +conversation, it is I who will suffer by it: your friends will be +displeased with me for my interference; and I have no inclination +to provoke the anger of a party so powerful as yours." + +I promised the maréchale to observe an inviolable secrecy; and, +so well have I kept my promise, that you are the first person to +whom I ever breathed one syllable of the affair. I must own, +that it struck me as strange, that the duc de Choiseul should +abandon his cousin, and consent to take his seat beside the duc +d'Aiguillon, whom he detested: perhaps he only sought to deceive +us all by gaining time, till the death of the king. But what +avails speculation upon the words and actions of a courtier, +whose heart is an abyss too deep for gleam of light to penetrate? + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Baron d'Oigny, general post-master--The king and the countess +read the opened letters--The disgrace of de Choiseul resolved +upon--<Lettre de cachet >--Anecdote--Spectre of Philip II, king +of Spain--The duc de Choiseul banished--Visits to Chanteloup--The +princesses--The dauphin and dauphiness--Candidates for the ministry + +The interference of madame de Mirepoix, originating, as it did, +in the duc de Choiseul, let me at once into the secret of his +fears and the extent of my own power. The knowledge of the +weakness of my adversary redoubled my energy; and from this +moment, I allowed no day to pass without forwarding the great +work, till I succeeded in effecting the duke's ruin and securing my +own triumph. The pamphleteers in the pay of my enemies, and +those who merely copied these hirelings, assert that one evening +after supper, when Louis was intoxicated with wine and my seductions, +I prevailed upon him to sign a <lettre de cachet> against his +minister, which he immediately revoked when the break of day had +restored to him his senses. This was a malicious falsehood. +You shall hear the exact manner in which the <lettres de cachet> +were signed. + +On the evening of the 23d of December, his majesty having engaged +to sup with me, I had invited M. de Maupeou, the duc de la Vrillière, +and the prince de Soubise. It appears, that the king, previously +to coming, had gone to visit the dauphiness; he had not mentioned +whither he was going, so that his attendants believed him to be +in my apartments, and directed M. d'Oigny, post-master general, +to seek him there. The baron brought with him a packet of opened +letters; when he saw me alone he wished to retire, for the servants, +believing him to be one of the expected guests, had ushered him in. +However, I would not permit him to go until the king's arrival; +and, half sportively, half seriously, I took from him his letters, +protesting I would detain them as hostages for his obedience to +my desires. At this moment Louis XV entered the room; and +M. d'Oigny, having briefly stated his business, bowed and departed. +The baron was a very excellent man, possessing an extensive and +intelligent mind; he wrote very pleasing poetry, and had not his +attention been occupied by the post he filled, he might have made +a conspicuous figure in literature. + +When we were left to ourselves, I said to the king, + +"Now, then, for this interesting and amusing budget; for such, +I doubt not, it will prove." + +"Not so fast, madam, if you please," replied Louis XV; "perhaps +these papers may contain state secrets unfit for your eye." + +"Great secrets they must be," said I, laughing, "confided thus to +the carelessness of the post." So saying, I broke the seal of +the envelope so hastily, that the greater part of the letters and +notes were scattered over the carpet. + + "Well done," cried the king. + +"I entreat your majesty's pardon," said I, "but I will repair +the mischief as far as I can." + +I stooped to collect the fallen papers, and the king had the +gallantry to assist me: we soon piled the various letters upon a +tray, and began eagerly to glance over their contents. My good +fortune made me select from the mass those epistles addressed to +the members of the country parliaments; they were filled with +invectives against me, insulting mention of the king, and praises +of the duc de Choiseul. I took especial care to read them in a +loud and distinct voice. + +"This really is not to be endured," cried Louis XV; "that the +mistaken zeal of these long-robed gentlemen should make them +thus compliment my minister at my expense." + +"So much the worse for you, sire," replied I, "considering that +you continue to prefer your minister to every other consideration." + +As I continued searching through the letters, I found and read +the following phrase:--"Spite of the reports in circulation, I do +not believe it possible that M. de Choiseul will be dismissed; he +is too necessary to the king, who, without him would be as +incapable as a child of managing his affairs: his majesty must +preserve our friend in office in spite of himself." + +When I had finished, the king exclaimed, in an angry tone, "We +shall see how far the prophecy of these sapient gentlemen is +correct, and whether their 'friend' is so important to me that +I dare not dismiss him. Upon my word, my minister has placed +himself so advantageously before his master, as to exclude him +entirely from the eyes of his subjects." + +Whilst these words were speaking, M. de Maupeou and M. de la +Vrillière were announced; the king, still warm, let fall some words +expressive of his displeasure at what had happened. The gauntlet +was thrown; and so well did we work upon the irritated mind of +Louis XV, that it was determined M. de Choiseul should be dismissed +the following day, December 24, 1770. Chanteloup was chosen +for the place of his retreat, and M. de la Vrillière, by the +dictation of the king, wrote the following letter to the duke:-- + +"Cousin,-, The dissatisfaction caused me by +your conduct compels me to request you will +confine yourself to your estate at Chanteloup, +whither you will remove in four and twenty +hours from the date hereof. I should have chosen +a more remote spot for your place of exile, were it +not for the great esteem I entertain for the duchesse +de Choiseul, in whose delicate health I feel much +interest. Have a care that you do not, by your +own conduct, oblige me to adopt harsher +measures; and hereupon I pray God to have you +in his keeping." + +(Signed) "Louis, + +(and lower down) "PHILIPPEAUX" + +When this letter was completed, I said to the king, + +"Surely, sire, you do not mean to forget the duke's faithful ally, +M. de Praslin? It would ill become us to detain him when the +head of the family has taken leave of us." + +"You are right," replied the king, smiling; "besides, an old broom +taken from a masthead would be as useful to us as he would." + +Then, turning to M. de la Vrillière, the king dictated the +following laconic notice:-- + +"COUSIN,--I have no further occasion for +your services; I exile you to Praslin, and +expect you will repair thither within four and +twenty hours after the receipt of this." + +"Short and sweet," cried I. + +"Now let us drop the subject," said Louis; "let madame de Choiseul +repose in peace to-night, and to-morrow morning, at eleven +o'clock, go yourself, M. de la Vrillière, and carry my orders to +the duke, and bring back his staff of office." + +"To whom will you give it, sire?" inquired the chancellor. + +"I have not yet considered the subject," replied the king. + +At this instant M. de Soubise was announced. "<Motus!>" exclaimed +the king, as M. de Soubise, little suspecting the nature of our +conversation, entered the room. I profited by his coming to slip +out of the room into my boudoir, from which I despatched the +following note to M. d'Aiguillon: + +"MY DEAR DUKF,--Victoria! We are conquerors; +master and man quit Paris to-morrow. We shall +replace them by our friends; and you best know +whether you are amongst the number of them." + + When I returned to the drawing-room, the king exclaimed, + +"Come, madam., you are waited for; the prince de Soubise has a +very curious anecdote to relate, which befell a lady of his +acquaintance; I begged of him to defer telling it till you +rejoined us." + +"Are you afraid of ghosts?" inquired the maréchal of me. + +"Not this evening," replied I; "to-morrow, perhaps, or the next +day, I may be." + +This jest amused the king and the duc de la Vrillière, whilst M. +de Maupeou, who seemed to fear lest I should by any indiscretion, +reveal our secret, made a signal of impatience; to which I +replied, by shrugging up my shoulders. Poor M. de Soubise, +although he did not comprehend my joke, laughed at it as heartily +as heartily as the rest who saw its application. "Oh! you +courtier," thought I We then entreated of him to commence the +recital of his tale, which he did in the following words-- + +"There is in Lower Brittany a family gifted with a most singular +endowment: each member of the family, male or female, is warned +exactly one month previous to his or her decease of the precise +hour and day in which it will take place. A lady belonging to +this peculiar race was visiting me rather more than a month since; +we were conversing quietly together, when, all at once, she +uttered a loud cry, arose from her seat, endeavored to walk +across the room, but fell senseless upon the floor. Much grieved +and surprised at this scene, I hastily summoned my servants, who +bestowed upon the unfortunate lady the utmost attention, but it +was long ere she revived. I then wished to persuade her to take +some rest. 'No,' cried she, rising and giving me orders for her +immediate departure, "I have not sufficient time for rest; scarcely +will the short period between me and eternity allow me to set my +affairs in order.' Surprised at this language, I begged of her to +explain herself. 'You are aware,' said she, 'of the fatal power +possessed by my family; well, at the moment in which I was sitting +beside you on this sofa, happening to cast my eyes on the mirror +opposite, I saw myself as a corpse wrapped in the habiliments of +death, and partly covered with a black and white drapery; beside +me was an open coffin. This is sufficient; I have no time to lose: +farewell, my friend, we shall meet no more' Thunderstruck at these +words, I suffered the lady to depart without attempting to combat +her opinion. This morning I received intelligence from her son that +the prophecy had been fulfilled--she was no more." + +When the maréchal had finished, I exclaimed, + +"You have told us a sad dismal tale; I really fear I shall not +be able to close my eyes at all to-night for thinking of it." + +"We must think of some means of keeping up your spirits," answered +Louis XV. " As for your story, maréchal, it does not surprise me; +things equally inexplicable are continually taking place. I read +in a letter addressed by Philip V, of Spain, to Louis XIV, "that +the spirit of Philip II, founder of the Escurial, wanders at +certain intervals around that building. Philip V affirms that +he himself witnessed the apparition of the spectre of the king." + +At this moment supper was announced. "Come, gentlemen," said I, +"let us seek to banish these gloomy ideas around our festive +board." Upon which the king conducted me to the supper-room, +the rest of the company following us. Spite of all my efforts +to be gay, and induce others to be so likewise, the conversation +still lingered upon this dismal subject. + +"Heaven grant," exclaimed the chancellor, "that I may not soon +have to dread a visit from the ghost of the deceased parliament; +however, if such were the case, it would not prevent my sleeping." + +"Oh!" cried the king, "these long-robed gentlemen have often +more effectually robbed me of sleep than all the spectres in the +world could do; yet one night--" + +"Well, sire," said I, seeing that Louis was silent, "and what +happened to you that night?" + +"Nothing that I can repeat," answered Louis XV, glancing around +with a mournful look. + +A dead silence followed, which lasted several minutes; and this +evening, which was to usher my day of triumph, passed away in the +most inconceivable dullness. What most contributed to render me +uneasy was the reflection, that, at the very moment when we had +freed ourselves of our enemies, we were ignorant who would fill +their vacant places. This was an error, and a great one. My +friends would not listen to the nomination of the Comte de Broglie, +the Comte de Maillebois, the duc de la Vauguyon, any more than +either M. de Soubise or M. de Castries. The abbé Terray, having +upon one occasion proposed the maréchal duc de Richelieu, he +very narrowly escaped having his face scratched by M. d'Aiguillon, +who cared very little for his dear uncle; but I have unintentionally +wandered from the thread of my narrative; I will therefore +resume it at once. + +I had hoped that the king would this night have retired to his +own apartment, and that I should have been enabled to hold a +secret council with M. de Maupeou, and the ducs de la Vrillière +and d'Aiguillon; but no such thing. Imagining, no doubt, that I +should be kept awake by my fear of ghosts, his majesty insisted +upon remaining with me, and I was compelled to acquiesce. He +passed a very agitated night, much more occupied with the des +Choiseuls than me; he could think of nothing, speak of nothing, +but the sensation which their disgrace would produce; he seemed +to dread his family, the nobility, the nation, Europe, and the +whole world. I strove to re-assure him, and to inspire him with +fresh courage; and, when he quitted me in the morning, I felt +convinced that he would not again alter his determination. + +As soon as Louis XV had left me, Comte Jean entered. Although +concealed behind the curtain, and apparently not on the best terms +with me, my brother-in-law nevertheless directed my actions, and +gave me most excellent advice. It was not long ere the duc +d'Aiguillon arrived; he had seen M. de Maupeou during the night, +and learned from him the exile of the late minister, but beyond +that fact he knew nothing. He inquired of me, with much uneasiness, +whether anything had been decided in his behalf. I replied, that +the king was as yet undecided in his choice of ministers, but +that, if the duc d'Aiguillon came into office, he would, in all +probability, be nominated to the administration of foreign affairs: +the direction of the war-office had been my noble friend's +ardent desire. + +Whilst we were thus conversing together on the 24th of December, +1770, eleven o'clock struck; and we could, from the windows, +perceive M. de la Vrillière taking his way towards that part of +the building occupied by M. de Choiseul when at the castle. This +latter was in conversation with M. Conzié, bishop of Arras, when +the arrival of the duc de la Vrillière, bearing the king's commands, +was signified to him. The prelate, not doubting but the mission +related to affairs of importance, took his leave; de la Vrillière +then presented the <lettre de cachet>, accompanying it with some +remarks of his own upon the talents of the minister, and his regret +at being selected for so unpleasant an office. "A truce to your +feigned regrets, my lord duke," replied the disgraced minister, +sarcastically, "I am well assured my dismissal could not have been +brought me by hands more ready to discharge the trust than yours." +Saying this, M. de Choiseul placed his credentials in the hands +of the duke, and slightly bowing, turned his back upon him, as +though he had forgotten his presence. M. de Choiseul then retired +to summon his sister, to communicate to her and his wife the +misfortune which had befallen him: he then set out for Paris, to +make the necessary preparations for removing to Chanteloup. +There an officer from the king, charged to accompany him to his +place of exile, gave him his majesty's orders that he should see +no person, and receive no visits. + +This order did not proceed from me, but was the work of the duc +de la Vrillière, who sought, by this paltry action, to avenge himself +upon M. de Choiseul for the reception he had given him. It was +wholly useless, however, for in the exile of the duke was seen a +thing unheard of, perhaps, before, and, in all probability, unlikely +ever to occur again--the sight of a whole court espousing the part +of an exiled minister, and openly censuring the monarch who could +thus reward his services. You, no doubt, remember equally well +as myself the long file of carriages that for two days blocked up +the road to Chanteloup. In vain did Louis XV express his dissatisfaction; +his court flocked in crowds to visit M. de Choiseul. + +On the other hand, the castle was not in a more tranquil state. +At the news of the dismissal and banishment of M. de Choiseul, a +general hue and cry was raised against me and my friends: one +might have supposed, by the clamours it occasioned, that the +ex-minister had been the atlas of the monarchy; and that, deprived +of his succour, the state must fall into ruins. The princesses +were loud in their anger, and accused me publicly of having +conspired against virtue itself! The virtue of such a sister and +brother! I ask you, my friend, is not the idea truly ludicrous? + +The dauphiness bewailed his fall with many tears; at least, so I +was informed by a lady of her suite, madame de Campan. This +lady was a most loquacious person; she frequently visited my +sister-in-law; and, thanks to her love of talking, we were always +well-informed of all that was passing in the household of Marie +Antoinette. However, the dauphin was far from sharing the grief +Of his illustrious spouse. When informed of the dismissal of the +duke, he cried out, "Well, madame du Barry has saved me an infinity +of trouble--that of getting rid of so dangerous a man, in the event +of my ever ascending the throne." The prince did not usually +speak of me in the most flattering terms, but I forgave him on +the present occasion, so much was I charmed with his expression +relative to the late minister; it afforded me the certainty that +I should not have to dread the possibility of his recalling de Choiseul. + +Whilst many were bewailing the downfall of the des Choiseuls, +others, who had an eye more to self-interest, presented themselves +to share in the spoils of his fortune. There were the princes +de Soubise and de Condé, the duc de la Vauguyon, the comtes de +Broglie, de Maillebois, and de Castries, the marquis de Monteynard +and many others, equally anxious for a tempting slice of the +ministry, and who would have made but one mouthful of the finest +and best. + +The marquise de 1' Hôpital came to solicit my interest for the +prince de Soubise, her lover. I replied, that his majesty would +rather have the maréchal for his friend than his minister; that, +in fact, the different appointments had taken place; and that, if +the names of the parties were not immediately divulged, it was +to spare the feelings of certain aspirants to the ministry: madame +de 1' Hôpital withdrew, evidently much disconcerted at my reply. +Certainly M. de Soubise must have lost his reason, when he supposed +that the successor of M. de Choiseul would be himself, the most +insignificant prince of France; he only could suppose that he was +equal to such an elevation. However this may be, he took upon +himself to behave very much like an offended person for some days; +but, finding such a line of conduct produced no good, he came +round again, and presented himself as usual at my parties, whilst +I received him as though nothing had occurred. + +I had more difficulty in freeing myself from the importunities +of Messieurs de Broglie and de Maillebois. I had given to each +of them a sort of promise; I had allowed them to hope, and yet, +when the time came to realize these hopes, I told them, that I +possessed much less influence than was generally imagined; to +which they replied, that they knew my power to serve them was +much greater than I appeared to believe. After a while, I +succeeded in deadening the expectations of M. de Broglie, but +M. de Maillebois was long ere he would abandon his pursuit. When +every chance of success had left him, he gave way to so much +violence and bitterness against M. d'Aiguillon, that the duke was +compelled to punish him for his impudent rage. I will mention +the other candidates for the ministry at another opportunity. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du Barry--The countess and +the prince de Condé--The duc de la Vauguyon and the countess-- +Provisional minister--Refusal of the secretaryship of war--Displeasure +of the king--The maréchale de Mirepoix--Unpublished letter from +Voltaire to Madame du Barry--Her reply + +The comte de la Marche had always evinced the warmest regard for +me, and he sought, on the present occasion, to be repaid for his +attachment. Both he and the prince de Condé had their ambitious +speculations in the present change of ministers; and both fancied, +that because their relation, the duke, had governed during the +king's minority, the right to the several appointments now vacant, +belonged as a matter of course to their family. The count had +already sent to solicit my interest, through the mediation of +madame de Monaco, mistress to the prince de Condé; and, as I +shrewdly suspect, the occasional <chère amie> of himself. Finding +this measure did not produce all the good he expected, he came, +without further preface, to speak to me himself about it. Unwilling +to come to an open rupture with him, I endeavoured to make him +comprehend, that the policy of the sovereign would never permit +his placing any of the administrative power in the hands of the +princes of his family; that he had consented, most reluctantly, to +investing them with military command, and that it would be fruitless +to urge more. + +The comte de la Marche appeared struck by the justness of my +arguments; he replied, + +"Well, madam, since I cannot be a minister, I must e'en give up +my wishes; but, for the love of heaven intreat of the king to +bestow his favours in the shape of a little pecuniary aid. Things +look ill at present; they may take a worse turn, but he may +confidently rely on my loyalty and devotion: the supreme courts, +driven to the last extremity, will make a stand, and princes and +peers will range themselves under the banners. We well know +how much this resistance will displease his majesty; I pledge +myself never to forsake your cause, but to defend it with my life; +that is, if my present pressing necessity for money be satisfied. +How say you, madam; can you procure it for me?" + +"Very probably I may be enabled to assist you," replied I; "but +you must first inform me how much will satisfy you." + +"Oh," answered he, carelessly, "something less than the mines of +Peru will suffice; I am not extravagant, and merely ask for so +much as is absolutely necessary. In the first place 60,000 +livres paid down, and secondly, a yearly payment of 200,000 more." + +This demand did not appear to me unreasonable, and I undertook +to arrange the matter to the prince's satisfaction, well pleased +on my own side to secure so illustrious an ally at so cheap a +rate, I procured the assent of the king and the comptroller-general; +the 60,000 livres were bestowed on the comte de la Marche in two +separate payments, the pension settled on him, and, still further, +an annuity of 30,000 livres was secured to madame de Monaco; and +I must do the count the justice to say, that he remained faithful +to our cause amidst every danger and difficulty; braving alike +insults, opprobrium, and the torrent of pamphlets and epigrams +of which he was the object; in fact, we had good reason for +congratulating ourselves upon securing such devotion and zeal at +so poor a price. + +The prince de Condé, surrounded by a greater degree of worldly +state and consideration, was equally important to us, although +in another way. He had in some degree compromised popularity +by attaching himself to me from the commencement of my court +favour, and the reception he bestowed on me at Chantilly had +completed his disgrace in the eyes of nobility. He visited at my +house upon the most friendly footing; and whenever he found me, +he would turn the conversation upon politics, the state of affairs, +and the great desire he felt to undertake the direction of them +in concert with me; he would add, "You might play the part of +madame de Pompadour, and yet you content yourself with merely +attempting to do so; you are satisfied with possessing influence +when you might exercise power and command. Your alliance with a +prince of the blood would render you sole mistress in this kingdom; +and should I ever arrive, through your means, to the rank of +prime minister, it would be my pleasure and pride to submit all +things to you, and from this accord would spring an authority +which nothing could weaken." + +I listened in silence, and, for once, my natural frankness received +a check; for I durst not tell him all I knew of the king's sentiments +towards him. The fact was, Louis XV was far from feeling any +regard for the prince de Condé; and, not to mince the matter, had +unequivocally expressed his contempt for him. He often said to +me, when speaking of him, "He is a conceited fellow, who would +fain induce persons to believe him somebody of vast importance." +Louis XV had prejudices, from which no power on earth could have +weaned him; and the princes of the house of Condé were amongst +his strongest antipathies: he knew a score of scandalous anecdotes +relating to them, which he took no small pleasure in repeating. + +However, all the arguments of the prince de Condé were useless, +and produced him nothing, or, at least, nothing for himself, +although he procured the nomination of another to the ministry, +as you will hear in its proper place; but this was not sufficient +to allay the cravings of his ambition; and, in his rage and +disappointment, when open war was proclaimed between the king +and his parliament, he ranged himself on the side of the latter. +He soon, however, became weary of his new allies; and, once more +abandoning himself to the guidance of interest, he rejoined our +party. Well did M. de Maupeou know men, when he said they all +had their price; and great as may be the rank and title of princes, +with plenty of money, they too may be had. + +But amongst all the candidates for the ministry, the one who +occasioned me the greatest trouble was the duc de la Vauguyon, +who insisted upon it that he had done much for me, and complained +bitterly of his unrequited services, and of my having bestowed +my confidence on others. Up to the moment of the disgrace of the +des Choiseuls, he had been amongst the most bitter of the +malcontents; but no sooner were they banished from court than +M. de la Vauguyon forgot every thing, and hastened to me with +every mark of the warmest friendship. + +"Ah!" exclaimed he," I have much to scold you for, but I will +forgive you all your past misdeeds, if you will perform your +promise to me." + +"My dear father," cried I (for I used jestingly to style him so, +in the same manner as I designated the bishop of Orleans +<gros père>), "are you, indeed displeased with me? That is very +naughty: for you know I love you with all my heart." + +"If it be true that you entertain any regard for me, why have +you evinced so little towards me? Am I not of the right materials +for making ministers? Why, then, have you never procured my +appointment to any of the vacant situations?" + +"Stay, stay, my dear father," cried I, "how you run on! To hear +you talk, any person would suppose that places and appointments +rained down upon me, and that I had only to say to you, my dear +duke, choose which you please; then, indeed, you might complain +with justice; but you know very well, that all these delightful +things are in the hands of the king, who alone has a right to +bestow them as he judges best, whilst I am wholly powerless in +the business." + +"Say, rather," replied the duke, quickly, "that you find it suits +your present purpose to put on this want of power. We all know, +that your veto is absolute with his majesty, and it requires +nothing more to obtain whatsoever you desire." + +The duc de la Vauguyon was powerful, and represented the whole +of a party--that of the religionists, which was still further +supported by the <princesses>; but for this very reason the +triumvirate, consisting of messieurs d' Aiguillon, de Maupeou, +and the abbé Terre, would not have accepted his services at +any price. + +The good duke returned several times to the charge; sometimes +endeavouring to move me by gentle intreaties and, at others, +holding out threats and menaces; good and bad words flowed from +his lips like a mixture of honey and gall, but when he found that +both were equally thrown away upon me, he retired offended; and +by the expression of his rage and disappointment, succeeded in +incensing both the dauphin and dauphiness against me. May +heaven preserve you, my friend, from the anger of a bigot! + +I think I have detained you long enough with the relation of the +intrigues by which I was surrounded upon the dismissal of the +des Choiseuls, and I will now return to the morning of the 24th +of December. When the exiles were fairly out of Paris, the king +found himself not a little embarrassed in the choice of a prime +minister. Those who would have suited our purposes did not meet +with the king's approbation, and he had not yet sufficient courage +to venture upon electing one who should be disagreeable to us; he +therefore hit upon a curious provisional election; the abbé Terray, +for instance, was placed at the head of the war department. This +measure was excused by the assertion, that it would require the +head of a financier to look into and settle the accounts, which +the late minister had, no doubt, left in a very confused state. +Upon the same principle, M. Bertin was appointed to the direction +of foreign affairs, and M. de Boynes was invested solely with the +management of naval affairs. This man, who was counsellor of +state, and first president of the parliament of Besancon, knew +not a letter of the office thus bestowed upon him, but then he +was bound body and soul to the chancellor; and it was worth +something to have a person who, it might be relied on, would +offer no opposition to the important reforms which were to be set +on foot immediately. We required merely automata, and M. de Boynes +answered our purpose perfectly well; for a provisional minister +nothing couldhave been better. + +The king had at length (in his own opinion), hit upon a very +excellent minister of war; and the person selected was the +chevalier, afterwards comte de Muy, formerly usher to the late +dauphin: he was a man of the old school, possessing many sterling +virtues and qualities. We were in the utmost terror when his +majesty communicated to us his election of a minister of war, +and declared his intention of immediately signifying his pleasure +to M. de Muy. Such a blow would have overthrown all our projects. +Happily chance befriended us; the modern Cato declared that he +should esteem himself most honored to serve his sovereign by every +possible endeavour, but that he could never be induced to enter +my service upon any pretext whatever. The strangeness of this +refusal puzzled Louis XV not a little. He said to me. "Can you +make out the real motive of this silly conduct? I had a better +opinion of the man; I thought him possessed of sense, but I see +now that he is only fit for the cowl of a monk; he will never be +a minister." The king was mistaken; M. de Muy became one under +the auspices of his successor. + +Immediately that the prince de Condé was informed of what had +passed, he recommenced his attack; and finding he could not be +minister himself, he determined, at least, to be principally +concerned in the appointment of one; he therefore proposed the +marquis de Monteynard, a man of such negative qualities, that the +best that could be said of him was, that he was as incapable of a +bad as of a good action; and, for want of a better, he was elected. +Such were the colleagues given to M. de Maupeou to conduct the +war which was about to be declared against the parliaments. I +should tell you, <en passant>, that the discontent of the magistracy +had only increased, and that the parliament of Paris had even +finished by refusing to decide the suits which were referred to +them; thus punishing the poor litigants for their quarrel with +the minister. + +Meanwhile, the general interest expressed for the duc de Choiseul +greatly irritated the king. + +"Who would have thought," said he to me, "that a disgraced minister +could have been so idolized by a whole court? Would you believe +that I receive a hundred petitions a day for leave to visit at +Chanteloup? This is something new indeed! I cannot understand it." + +"Sire," replied I, "that only proves how much danger you incurred +by keeping such a man in your employment." + +"Why, yes," answered Louis XV; "it really seem as though, had he +chosen some fine morning to propose my abdicating the throne in +favour of the dauphin, he would only have needed to utter the +suggestion to have it carried into execution. Fortunately for me, +my grandson is by no means partial to him, and will most certainly +never recall him after my death. The dauphin possesses all the +obstinacy of persons of confined understanding: he has but slender +judgment, and will see with no eye but his own." + +Louis XV augured ill of his successor's reign, and imagined that +the cabinet of Vienna would direct that of Versailles at pleasure. +His late majesty was mistaken; Louis XVI is endowed with many +rare virtues, but they are unfortunately clouded over by his +timidity and want of self-confidence. + +The open and undisguised censure passed by the whole court upon +the conduct of Louis XV was not the only thing which annoyed his +majesty, who perpetually tormented himself with conjectures of +what the rest of Europe would say and think of his late determinations. + +"I will engage," said he, "that I am finely pulled to pieces at +Potsdam. My dear brother Frederick is about as sweet-tempered as +a bear, and I must not dismiss a minister who is displeasing to +me without his passing a hundred comments and sarcastic remarks. +Still, as he is absolute as the Medes and Persians, surely he can +Have no objection to us poor monarchs imitating him; and allow me +the same privilege in mine. After all, why should I need his or +any other person's opinion; let the whole world applaud or condemn, +I shall still act according to my own best judgment." + +On my side I was far from feeling quite satisfied with the +accounts I continued to receive from Chanteloup; above all I +felt irritated at the parade of attachment made by the prince +de Beauvau for the exiles, and I complained bitterly of it to +the maréchale de Mirepoix. + +"What can I do to help it," said she; "my sister-in-law is a +simpleton; who, after having ruined her brother, will certainly +cause the downfall of her husband. I beseech you, my dear, out +of regard for me, to put up with the unthinking conduct of the +prince de Beauvau for a little while; he will soon see his error +and amend it." He did indeed return to our party, but his +obedience was purchased at a heavy price. + +Some days after the disgrace of the duc de Choiseul, I received +a letter from M. de Voltaire. This writer, who carped at and +attacked all subjects, whether sacred or profane, and from whose +satires neither great nor small were exempt, had continual need +of some powerful friend at court. When his protector, M. de +Choiseul, was dismissed, he saw clearly enough that the only +person on whom he could henceforward depend to aid and support +him, was she who had been chiefly instrumental in removing his +first patron. With these ideas he addressed to me the following +letter of condolence or, to speak more correctly, of congratulation. +It was as follows:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--Fame, with her hundred +tongues, has announced to, me in my retreat the fall +of M. de Choiseul and your triumph. This piece of +news has not occasioned me much surprise, I always +believed in the potency of beauty to carry all before +it; but, shall I confess it? I scarcely know whether +I ought to congratulate myself on the success +you have obtained over your enemies. M, de +Choiseul was one of my kindest friends, and his +all-powerful protection sufficed to sustain me +against the malice of my numerous enemies. +May a humble creature like me flatter himself +with the hope of finding in you the same generous +support? for when the god Mars is no longer +to be found, what can be more natural than to +seek the aid of Pallas, the goddess of the line arts? +Will she refuse to protect with her aegis the +most humble of her adorers? + +"Permit me, madam, to avail myself of this +opportunity to lay at your feet the assurance +of my most respectful devotion. I dare not +give utterance to all my prayers in your behalf, +because I am open to a charge of infidelity +from some, yet none shall ever detect me +unfaithful in my present professions; at my +age, 'tis time our choice was made, and our +affections fixed. Be assured, lovely countess, +that I shall ever remain your attached friend; +and that no day will pass without my teaching +the echoes of the Alps to repeat your +much-esteemed name. + +"I have the honour to remain, malady, yours, etc., etc." + +You may be quite sure, my friend, that I did not allow so singular +an epistle to remain long unanswered. I replied to it in the +following words:-- + +"SIR,--The perusal of your agreeable letter made me +almost grieve for the disgrace of the duc de +Choiseul. Be assured, that to his own conduct, +and that of his family, may be alone attributed +the misfortune you deplore. + +"The regrets you so feelingly express for the +calamity which has befallen your late protector +do honour to your generous heart; but +recollect that your old friends were not the +only persons who could +appreciate and value your fine talents; to +be esteemed worthy the honourable appellation +of your patron is a glory which the proudest +might envy; and, although I cannot boast of +being a Minerva, who, after all, was possibly +no wiser than the rest of us, I shall always +feel proud and happy to serve you with my +utmost credit and influence. + +"I return you my best thanks for the wishes +you express, and the attachment you so kindly +profess. You honour me too much by repeating +my name amidst the bosom of the Alps! be assured, +that I shall not be behindhand in making the saloons +of Paris and Versailles resound with yours. Had I +leisure for the undertaking, I would go and +teach it to the only mountain worthy of re-echoing +it--at the foot of Parnassus. + +"I am, sir, yours, etc., etc." + +You perceive, my friend, that I intended this reply should be +couched in the wittiest style imaginable, yet, upon reading it +over at this lapse of time, it appears to me the silliest thing +ever penned; nevertheless, I flattered myself I had caught the +tone and manner in which M. de Voltaire had addressed me: he +perceived my intention, and was delighted with the flattering +deference it expressed. You know the vanity of men of letters; +and M. de Voltaire, as the first writer of the age, possessed, +in proportion, the largest portion of conceit. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + + A few words respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau--The comtesse du Barry +is desirous of his acquaintance--The countess visits Jean Jacques +Rousseau--His household furniture-- His portrait--Thérèse-- second +visit from madame du Barry to Jean Jacques Rousseau--The countess +relates her visit to the king--Billet from J. J. Rousseau to madame +du Barry--The two duchesses d'Aiguillon + +Spite of the little estimation in which I held men of letters, +generally speaking, you must not take it for granted that I +entertained an equal indifference for all these gentlemen. I +have already, I fear, tired your patience when dwelling upon my +ardent admiration of M. de Voltaire; I have now to speak to you +of that with which his illustrious rival, Jean Jacques Rousseau, +inspired me--the man who, after a life so filled with constant +trouble and misfortunes, died a few years since in so deplorable +a manner. At the period of which I am now speaking this man, +who had filled Europe with his fame, was living at Paris, in a +state bordering upon indigence. I must here mention, that it was +owing to my solicitation that he had been permitted to return +from his exile, I having successfully interceded for him with +the chancellor and the attorney-general. M. Seguier made no +difficulty to my request, because he looked upon Jean Jacques +Rousseau as the greatest enemy to a set of men whom he mortally +hated--the philosophers. Neither did M. de Maupeou, from the +moment he effected the overthrow of the parliament, see any +objection to bestowing his protection upon a man whom the +parliaments had exiled. In this manner, therefore, without his +being aware of it, Rousseau owed to me the permission to +re-enter Paris. Spite of the mortifying terms in which this +celebrated writer had spoken of the king's mistresses, I had a +lively curiosity to know him; all that his enemies repeated of +his uncouthness, and even of his malicious nature, far from +weakening the powerful interest with which he inspired me, rather +augmented it, by strengthening the idea I had previously formed +of his having been greatly calumniated. The generous vengeance +which he had recently taken for the injuries he had received +from Voltaire particularly charmed me.* I thought only how I +could effect my design of seeing him by one means or another, +and in this resolution I was confirmed by an accident which befell +me one day. + +*Jean Jacques Rousseau in his journey through +Lyons in June 1770 subscribed for the statue +of Voltaire.--author + +It was the commencement of April, 1771, I was reading for the +fourth time, the "<Nouvelle Heloise>,"and for the tenth, or, +probably, twelfth, the account of the party on the lake, when +the maréchale de Mirepoix entered the room. I laid my open +volume on the mantel-piece, and the maréchale, glancing her eye +upon the book I had just put down, smilingly begged my pardon for +disturbing my grave studies, and taking it in her hand, exclaimed, + +"Ah! I see you have been perusing '<La Nouvelle Heloise>'; I +have just been having more than an hour's conversation respecting +its author." + +"What were you saying of him?" asked I. + +"Why, my dear, I happened to be at the house of madame de +Luxembourg, where I met with the comtesse +de Boufflers." + +"Yes, I remember," said I, "the former of these ladies was the +particular friend of Jean Jacques Rousseau." + +"And the second also," answered she; "and I can promise you, that +neither the one or the other spoke too well of him." + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed I, with a warmth I could not repress. + +"The duchess," resumed madame de Mirepoix, "says he is an ill-bred +and ungrateful man, and the countess insists upon it he is a +downright pedant." + +'Shameful, indeed," cried I; "but can you, my dear friend, +account for the ill-nature with which these ladies speak of +poor Rousseau?" + +"Oh! Yes," replied the maréchale, "their motives are +easily explained, and I will tell you a little secret, for +the truth of which I can vouch. Madame de Luxembourg had at +one time conceived the most lively passion for Jean Jacques." + +"Indeed!" cried I; "and he--" + +"Did not return it. As for madame de Bouffiers, the case was +exactly reversed; and Rousseau has excited her resentment by +daring long to nurse a hopeless flame, of which she was the +object: this presumption on the part of the poet our dignified +countess could never pardon. However, I entreat of you not to +repeat this; remember, I tell you in strictest secrecy." + +"Oh, be assured of my discretion," said I; "I promise you not to +publish your secret" (which, by the way, I was very certain was +not communicated for the first time when told to me). + +This confidence on the part of the maréchale had, in some +unaccountable manner, only increased the ardent desire I felt +to see the author of the "<Nouvelle Heloise>"; and I observed +to madame de Mirepoix, that I had a great curiosity to be +introduced to Rousseau. + +"I fear," said she, "you will never be able to persuade him to +visit at the château." + +"How then can I accomplish my desire of seeing this celebrated man?" + +"By one simple method; if he will not come to you, you must go +to him. I would willingly accompany you, but he knows me, and +my presence would spoil all. The best thing you can do is to +dress yourself quite plainly, as a lady from the country, taking +with you one of your female attendants. You may take as a +pretext for your visit some music you would wish to have copied. +Be sure to treat M. de Rousseau as a mere copyist, and appear +never to have heard of his superior inerit: do this, and you will +receive the best possible reception." + +I greatly approved of the maréchale 's advice, which I assured +her I would delay no longer than till the following day to put +into practice; and, after some further conversation upon +J. J. Rousseau, we parted. + +Early the next day I set out for Paris accompanied by Henriette; +there, in pursuance of the suggestion of madame de Mirepoix, I +dressed myself as a person recently arrived from the country, and +Henriette, who was to accompany me, disguised herself as a villager. +I assure you, our personal attractions lost nothing by the change +of our attire. From the rue de la Jussienne to the rue Platriere +is only a few steps; nevertheless, in the fear of being recognised, +I took a hired carriage. Having reached our place of destination, +we entered, by a shabby door, the habitation of Jean Jacques Rousseau: +his apartments were on the fifth floor. I can scarcely describe +to you, my friend, the emotions I experienced as I drew nearer +and nearer to the author of "Heloise." At each flight of stairs +I was compelled to pause to collect my ideas, and my poor heart +beat as though I had been keeping an assignation. At length, +however, we reached the fifth story; thereafter having rested a +few minutes to recover myself, I was about to knock at a door +which was opposite to me, when, as I approached, I heard a sweet +but tremulous voice singing a melancholy air, which I have never +since heard anywhere; the same voice repeated the romance to +which I was listening several times. When it had entirely ceased +I profited by the silence to tap with my knuckles against the door, +but so feeble was the signal, that even Henriette, who was close +behind me, could not hear it. She begged I would permit her to +ring a bell which hung near us; and, having done so, a step was +heard approaching the door, and, in a minute or two, it was +opened by a man of about sixty years of age, who, seeing two +females, took off his cap with a sort of clumsy gallantry, at +which I affected to be much flattered. + +"Pray, sir," said I, endeavouring to repress my emotion, "does a +person named Rousseau, a copier of music, live here?" + +"Yes, madam; I am he. What is your pleasure?" + +"I have been told, sir, that you are particularly skilful in +copying music cheaply; I should be glad if you would undertake +to copy these airs I have brought with me." + +"Have the goodness to walk in, madam." + +We crossed a small obscure closet, which served as a species of +antechamber, and entered the sitting-room of M. de Rousseau, +who seated me in an arm-chair, and motioning to Henriette to sit +down, once more inquired my wishes respecting the music. + +"Sir," said I, "as I live in the country, and but very rarely +visit Paris, I should be obliged to you to get it done as early +as possible." + +"Willingly, madam; I have not much upon my hands just now." + +I then gave to Jean Jacques Rousseau the roll of music I had +brought. He begged I would continue seated, requested permission +to keep on his cap, and went to a little table to examine the +music I had brought. + +Upon my first entrance I had perceived a close and confined smell +in these miserable apartments, but, by degrees, I became accustomed +to it, and began to examine the chamber in which I sat with as +strict a scrutiny as though I had intended making an inventory +of its contents. Three old elbow-chairs, some rickety stools, a +writing-table, on which were two or three volumes of music, some +dried plants laid on white-brown paper; beside the table stood an +old spinet, and, close to the latter article of furniture, sat a +fat and well-looking cat. Over the chimney hung an old silver +watch; the walls of the room were adorned with about half a +dozen views of Switzerland and some inferior engravings, two +only, which occupied the most honourable situations, struck me; +one represented Frederick II, and under the picture were written +some lines (which I cannot now recollect) by Rousseau himself; +the other engraving, which hung opposite, was the likeness of a +very tall, thin, old man, whose dress was nearly concealed by the +dirt which had been allowed to accumulate upon it; I could only +distinguish that it was ornamented with a broad riband. When I +had sufficiently surveyed this chamber, the simplicity of which, +so closely bordering on want and misery, pained me to the heart, +I directed my attention to the extraordinary man who was the +occasion of my visit. He was of middle height, slightly bent by +age, with a large and expansive chest; his features were common +in their cast, but possessed of the most perfect regularity. His +eyes, which he from time to time raised from the music he was +considering, were round and sparkling but small, and the heavy +brows which hung over them, conveyed an idea of gloom and severity; +but his mouth, which was certainly the most beautiful and fascinating +in its expression I ever saw, soon removed this unfavourable +impression. Altogether there belonged to his countenance a +smile of mixed sweetness and sadness, which bestowed on it an +indescribable charm. + +To complete my description, I must not forget to add his dress, +which consisted of a dirty cotton cap, to which were fixed strings +of a riband that had once been scarlet; a pelisse with arm-holes, +a flannel waistcoat, snuff-coloured breeches, gray stockings, and +shoes slipped down at the heel, after the fashion of slippers. +Such was the portrait, and such the abode of the man who believed +himself to be one of the potentates of the earth and who, in fact, +had once owned his little court and train of courtiers; for, in +the century in which he lived, talent had become as arbitrary as +sovereign power--thanks to the stupidity of some of our grandees +and the caprice of Frederick of Prussia. + +Meanwhile my host, undisturbed by my reflections, had quietly +gone over his packet of music. He found amongst it an air from " +<Le Devin du Village>," which I had purposely placed there; he +half turned towards me and looking steadfastly at me, as if he +would force the truth from my lips. + +"Madam," said he, "do you know the author of this little composition?" + +"Yes," replied I, with an air of as great simplicity as I could +assume, "it is written by a person of the same name as yourself, +who writes books and composes operas. Is he any relation to you?" + +My answer and question disarmed the suspicions of Jean Jacques, +who was about to reply, but stopped himself, as if afraid of +uttering a falsehood, and contented himself with smiling and +casting down his eyes. Taking courage from his silence, I ventured +to add,--"The M. de Rousseau who composed this pretty air has +written much beautiful music and many very clever works. Should I +ever know the happiness of becoming a mother I shall owe to him +the proper care and education of my child." Rousseau made no +reply, but he turned his eyes towards me, and at this moment the +expression of his countenance was perfectly celestial, and I could +readily imagine how easily he might have inspired a warmer sentiment +than that of admiration. + +Whilst we were conversing in this manner, a female, between the +age of forty and fifty, entered the room. She saluted me with +great affectation of politeness, and then, without speaking to +Rousseau, went and seated herself familiarly upon a chair on the +other side of the table: this was Thérèse, a sort of factotum, +who served the master of these apartments both as servant and +mistress. I could not help regarding this woman with a feeling +of disgust; she had a horrible cough, which she told us was more +than usually troublesome on that day. I had heard of her avarice; +therefore to prevent the appearance of having called upon an +unprofitable errand, I inquired of Jean Jacques Rousseau how +much the music would cost. + +"Six sous a page, madam," replied he, "is the usual price." + +"Shall I, sir," asked I, "leave you any cash in hand for the +purchase of what paper you will require?" + +"No, I thank you, madam," replied Rousseau, smiling; "thank +God! I am not yet so far reduced that I cannot purchase it for +you. I have a trifling annuity--" + +"And you would be a much richer man," screamed Thérèse, "if you +would insist upon those people at the opera paying you what they +owe you." These words were accompanied with a shrug of the +shoulders, intended to convey a vast idea of her own opinion. + +Rousseau made no reply; indeed he appeared to me like a frightened +child in the presence of its nurse; and I could quickly see, that +from the moment of her entering the room he had become restless +and dejected, he fidgeted on his seat, and seemed like a person +in excessive pain. At length he rose, and requesting my pardon +for absenting himself, he added, "My wife will have the honour +to entertain you whilst I am away." With these words he opened +a small glass-door, and disappeared in the neighbouring room. + +When we were alone with Thérèse, she lost no time in opening +the conversation. + +"Madam," cried she, "I trust you will have the goodness to excuse +M. Rousseau; he is very unwell; it is really extremely vexatious." + +I replied that M. Rousseau had made his own excuses. Just then +Thérèse, wishing to give herself the appearance of great utility, +cried out, + +"Am I wanted there, M. Rousseau?" + +"No, no, no," replied Jean Jacques, in a faint voice, which died +away as if at a distance. + +He soon after re-entered the room. + +"Madam," said he, "have the kindness to place your music in other +hands to copy; I am truly concerned that I cannot execute your +wishes, but I feel too ill to set about it directly." + +I replied, that I was in no hurry; that I should be in Paris some +time yet, and that he might copy it at his leisure. It was then +settled that it should be ready within a week from that time; +upon which I rose, and ceremoniously saluting Thérèse, was +conducted to the door by M. Rousseau, whose politeness led him +to escort me thither, holding his cap in his hand. I retired, +filled with admiration, respect, and pity. + +When next I saw the duc d'Aiguillon, I could not refrain from +relating to him all that had happened. My recital inspired him +with the most lively curiosity to see Rousseau, whom he had +never met in society. It was then agreed, that when I went to +fetch my music he should accompany me, disguised in a similar +manner to myself, and that I should pass him off as my uncle. At +the end of the eight days I repaired early as before to Paris; +the duke was not long in joining me there. He was so inimitably +well disguised, that no person would ever have detected the most +elegant nobleman of the court of France beneath the garb of a +plain country squire. We set out laughing. like simpletons at +the easy air with which he wore his new costume; nevertheless +our gaiety disappeared as we reached the habitation of J. J. +Rousseau. Spite of ourselves we were compelled to honour and +respect the man of talent and genius, who preferred independence +of ideas to riches, and before whom rank and power were compelled +to lay aside their unmeaning trappings ere they could reach his +presence. When we reached the fifth landing-place I rang, and +this time the door was opened by Thérèse, who told us M Rousseau +was out. + +"But, madam," answered I, "I am here by the direction of your +husband to fetch away the music he has been engaged in copying +for me." + +"Ah, madam," exclaimed she, "is it you? I did not recollect you +again; pray walk in. M. Rousseau will be sure to be at home for you." + +"So, then," thought I, "even genius has its visiting lists." We +entered; Jean Jacques formally saluted us, and invited us to be +seated. He then gave me my music; I inquired what it came to; +he consulted a little memorandum which lay upon the table, and +replied, " So many pages, so much paper, eighteen livres twelve +sous;" which, of course, I instantly paid. The duc d'Aiguillon, +whom I styled my uncle, was endeavoring to lead Rousseau into +conversation, when the outer bell rang. Thérèse went to open +the door, and a gentleman entered, of mature age, although still +preserving his good looks. The duke regarded him in silence and +immediately made signs for me to hasten our departure; I obeyed, +and took leave of Rousseau, with many thanks his punctuality. He +accompanied us as before to door, and there I quitted him never +to see him more. As we were descending the staircase, M. d'Aiguillon +told me that the person who had so hastened our departure was +Duclas, and that his hurry to quit Rousseau arose from his dread +of being recognised by him. Although M. Duclas was a very excellent +man, I must own that I owed no small grudge for a visit which had +thus abridged ours. + +In the evening the duc d'Aiguillon and myself related to the king +our morning's pilgrimage. I likewise recounted my former visit, +which I had concealed until now. Louis XV seemed greatly interested +with the recital of it; he asked me a thousand questions, and would +fain hear the most trifling particulars. + +"I shall never forget," said Louis XV, "the amazing success +obtained by his '<Devin du Village.>' There certainly were some +beautiful airs", and the king began to hum over the song of + +"<J'ai perdu tout mon bonheur." + +"Yes, madam," continued his majesty, " I promise you, that had +Rousseau after his success chosen to step forward as a candidate +for public favour, he would soon have overthrown Voltaire." + +"Pardon me," replied I; " but I cannot believe that would have +been possible under any circumstances." + +"And why not?" asked the king; "he was a man of great talent." + +"Doubtless, sire, but not of the kind to compete with Voltaire." + +The king then changed the conversation to Thérèse, inquiring +whether she possessed any attractions? + +"None whatever, sire," replied the duke; "at least none that we +could perceive." + +"In that case," rejoined his majesty, "she must have charmed her +master by some of those unseen perfections which take the deepest +hold of the heart; besides I know not why we should think it +strange that others see with different eyes to ourselves." + +I made no secret with the comte Jean of my visit, and he likewise +expressed his desire to know a man so justly celebrated, and, in +its proper place, you, may hear how he managed to effect this, +and what befell him in consequence--but, to finish for the present +with Rousseau, for I will not promise that I shall not again +indulge in speaking of him. I will just say, that after the lapse +of two or three days from the time of my last visit, the idea +occurred to me of sending him a thousand crowns in an Indian +casket. This I sent by a servant out of livery, whom I strictly +enjoined not to name me but to say simply that he came from a +lady. He brought back the casket to me unopened, and the following +billet from Rousseau:-- + +"MADAM,--I send back the present you would force +upon my acceptance in so concealed a manner; if it +be offered as a testimony of your esteem I may +possibly accept it, when you permit me to know +the hand from which it comes. Be assured, madam, +that there is much truth in the assertion of its being +more easy to give than to receive. + +"I have the honour to remain, madam, yours, etc., etc., + +"J. J. ROUSSEAU." + +This was rather an uncouth manner of refusing; nevertheless, when +at this distance of time I review the transaction, I cannot help +admitting that I well deserved it. Perhaps when it first occurred +I might have felt piqued, but since I have quitted the court I +have again read over the works of J. J. Rousseau, and I now +speak of him, as you see, without one particle of resentment. + +I must now speak to you of a new acquaintance I made about this +Period--that of the two duchesses d'Aiguillon. From my first +entrance into the château until the close of 1770, madame +d'Aiguillon, the daughter-in-law, observed a sort of armed +neutrality towards me; true, she never visited me, but she always +met me with apparent satisfaction at the houses of others; thus she +managed to steer clear of one dangerous extreme or the other till +the downfall of the des Choiseuls; when the duc d'Aiguillon having +been nominated to the ministry, she perceived that she could not, +without great ingratitude, omit calling to offer me her acknowledgments, +and accordingly she came. On my side, I left no means untried +of rendering myself agreeable to her; and so well did I succeed, +that from that moment her valuable friendship was bestowed on me +with a sincerity which even my unfortunate reverses have been +unable to shake; and we are to this day the same firm and true f +riends we were in the zenith of my power. Not that I would seek +to justify the injury she sought to do our queen, but I may and +do congratulate myself, that the same warmth which pervades her +hatreds likewise influences her friendships. + +I cannot equally boast of the treatment I received from the duchess +dowager d'Aiguillon, who, as well as her daughter-in-law, came +to see me upon the promotion of her son. She overloaded me with +caresses, and even exceeded her daughter-in-law in protestations +of devotion and gratitude. You should have heard her extol my +beauty, wit, and sweetness of disposition; she, in fact, so +overwhelmed me with her surfeiting praises, that at last I +became convinced that, of the thousand flattering things she +continually addressed to me, not one was her candid opinion; +and I was right, for I soon learned, that in her circle of intimates +at the houses of the Beauffremons, the Brionnes, and above all, +the marquise du Deffant, she justified her acquaintance with me, +by saying it was a sacrifice made to the interests of her son, and +amused these ladies by censuring my every word and look. The +dowager's double-dealing greatly annoyed me; nevertheless, not +wishing to vex her son, or her daughter- in-law, I affected to be +ignorant of her dishonourable conduct. However, I could not +long repress my indignation, and one day that she was praising +me most extravagantly, I exclaimed, "Ah, madam, how kind it +would be of you to reserve one of these pretty speeches to repeat +at madame du Deffant's." This blow, so strong yet just, rather +surprised her; but, quickly rallying her courage, she endeavoured +to persuade me that she always spoke of me in the same terms. "It +may be so," replied I; "but I fear that you say so many flattering +things to me, that you have not one left when out of my sight." + +The maréchale de Mirepoix used to say, that a caress from madame +d'Aiguillon was not less to be dreaded than the bite of M. d'Ayen. +Yet the duchess dowager has obtained a first-rate reputation for +goodness; every one styled her <the good duchesse d'Aiguillon>. +And why, do you suppose? Because she was one of those fat, +fresh, portly-looking dames of whom you would have said, her +very face and figure bespoke the contented goodness of her +disposition; for who would ever suspect malice could lurk in so +much <embonpoint>? I think I have already told you that this +lady expired whilst bathing, of an attack of apoplexy, in the +month of June, 1772. Her son shed many tears at her loss, whilst +I experienced but a very moderate share of grief. + +Adieu, my friend; if you are not already terrified at the +multiplicity of the letters which compose my journal, I have yet +much to say; and I flatter myself the continuance of my adventures +will be found no less interesting than those you have perused. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +The king's friends--The duc de Fronsac--The duc d'Ayen's remark-- +Manner of living at court--The marquis de Dreux –Brézé--Education +of Louis XV--The <Parc-aux-Cerfs>--Its household--Its inmates--Mère +Bompart--Livres expended on the <Parc-aur-Cerfs>-- Good advice-- +Madame + +I was now firmly fixed at court, the king, more than ever devoted +to me, seemed unable to dispense with my constant presence. I +had so successfully studied his habits and peculiarities, that my +empire over him was established on a basis too firm to be shaken, +whilst my power and unbounded influence convinced my enemies, +that, so long as the present monarch sat upon the throne of France, +their attempts at diminishing my credit and influence would only +recoil upon themselves. Louis XV generally supped in my apartments +every evening, unless indeed, by way of change, I went to sup with +him. Our guests were of course of the first order, but yet not +of the most exemplary morals. These persons had tact, and saw +that, to please the king, they must not surpass him; so that, if +by chance he should reflect on himself, he would appear to +advantage amongst them. Poor courtiers! It was labour in vain. +The king was in too much fear of knowing himself to understand +that study: he knew the penetration and severity of his own +judgment, and on no account would he exercise it at his own expense. + +The duc de Duras, although a man of little wit, was yet gay and +always lively. He amused me; I liked his buoyant disposition, +and forgave him although he had ranged himself with the protesting +peers. In fact, I could not be angry with him. The folly of +opposition had only seized on him because it was epidemic. The +dear duke had found himself with wolves, and had begun to howl +with them. I am sure that he was astonished at himself when he +remembered the signature which he had given, and the love he had +testified for the old parliament, for which, in fact, he cared no +more than Jean de Vert. God knows how he compensated for this +little folly at the château. It was by redoubling his assiduities +to the king, and by incessant attentions to me. In general, those +who wished to thrive at court only sought how to make their +courage remembered; M. de Duras was only employed in making +his forgotten. + +The prince de Terigny, the comte d'Escars, the duc de Fleury, +were not the least amusing. They kept up a lively strain of +conversation, and the king laughed outrageously. But the vilest +of the party was the duc de Fronsac. Ye gods! what a wretch! +To speak ill of him is no sin. A mangled likeness of his father, +he had all his faults with not one of his merits. He was perpetually +changing his mistresses, but it cannot be said whether it was +inconstancy on his part, or disgust on theirs, but the latter +appears to me most probable. Though young, he was devoured by +gout or some other infirmity, but it was called gout out of +deference to the house of Richelieu. They talked of the duchess +de ------, whose husband was said to have poisoned her. + +The saints of Versailles--the duc de la Vauguyon, the duc d'Estissac, +and M. de Durfort--did like others. These persons practised +religion in the face of the world, and abstained from loose +conversation in presence of their own families; but with the king +they laid aside their religion and reserve, so that these hypocrites +had in the city all the honours of devotion, and in the royal +apartments all the advantages of loose conduct. As for me, I +was at Versailles the same as everywhere else. To please the +king I had only to be myself. I relied, for the future, on my +uniformity of conduct. What charmed him in the evening, would +delight again the next day. He had an equilibrium of pleasure, +a balance of amusement which can hardly be described; it was +every day the same variety; the same journeys, the same fêtes, +the balls, the theatres, all came round at fixed periods with the +most monotonous regularity. In fact, the people knew exactly +when to laugh and when to look grave. + +There was in the château a most singular character, the grand +master of the ceremonies of France. His great-grandfather, his +grandfather, his father, who had fulfilled these functions for a +century, had transmitted to him their understanding and their +duties. All he thought of was how to regulate the motions and +steps of every person at court. He adored the dauphin and dauphiness, +because they both diverted and fatigued themselves according to +the rules in such cases made and provided. He was always preaching +to me and quoted against me the precedents of Diane de Poitiers, +or Gabrielle d'Estreés. One day he told me that all the misfortunes +of Mademoiselle de la Vallière occurred in consequence of her +neglect of etiquette. He would have had all matters pass at court +during the old age of Louis XV as at the period of the childhood +of Louis XIV, and would fain have had the administration of the +<Parc-aux-Cerfs>, that he might have arranged all with due ceremonies. + +Since this word <Parc-aux-Cerfs> has escaped my pen, I will tell +you something of it. Do you know, my friend, that but little is +known of this place, of which so much has been said. I can tell +you, better than any other person, what it really was, for I, like +the marquise de Pompadour, took upon myself the superintendence +of it, and busied myself with what they did there. It was, <entre +nous>, the black spot in the reign of Louis XV, and will cost me +much pain to describe. + +The vices of Louis XV were the result of bad education. When an +infant, they gave him for governor the vainest, most coxcombical, +stupidest of men--the duc de Villeroi, who had so well served the +king (<si bien servi le roi>),* + +* The countess alludes to the <chanson> written, after his +famous defeat, "<Villeroi, Villeroi a fort bien servi le roi>." +(Ed.) i.e., author + +Never had courtier so much courtiership as he. He saw the +young prince from morning till night, and. from morning till +night he was incessantly repeating in his ears that his future +subjects were born for him, and that they were all dependent on +his good and gracious pleasure. Such lessons daily repeated, +necessarily destroyed the wise instructions of Massillon. When +grown up, Louis XV saw the libertinism of cardinal Dubois and +the orgies of the regency: madame de Maillis' shameless conduct +was before his eyes and Richelieu's also. Louis XV could not +conduct himself differently from his ministers and his family. His +timid character was formed upon the example of others. At first +he selected his own mistresses, but afterwards he chose some one +who took that trouble off his hands. Lebel became purveyor in +chief to his pleasures; and controlled in Versailles the house +known as the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>. + +As soon as the courtiers knew of the existence and purposes of +this house, they intrigued for the control of it. The king laughed +at all their efforts, and left the whole management to Lebel, under +the superintendence of the comte de Saint-Florentin, minister of +the royal household. They installed there, however, a sort of +military chief, formerly a major of infantry, who was called, +jestingly, M. de Cervieres; his functions consisted in an active +surveillance, and in preventing young men from penetrating the + seraglio. The soldiers at the nearest station had orders to +obey his first summons. His pay was twelve thousand livres a year. + +A female styled the <surintendante> had the management of the +domestic affairs; she ruled with despotic sway; controlled the +expenses; preserved good order; and regulated the amusement of +her charges, taking care that they did not mix one with the other. +She was an elderly canoness of a noble order, belonging to one of +the best families in Burgundy. She was only known at the <Parc> as +<Madame>, and no one ventured to give her any other title. Shortly +after the decease of Mme. De Pompadour, she had succeeded in +this employ a woman of low rank, who had a most astonishing mind. +Louis XV thought very highly of her, and said that if she were a +man he would have made her his minister. She put the harem on +an admirable system, and instructed the <odalisques> in all the +necessary etiquette. + +The Madame of my time was a woman of noble appearance, tall, +ascetic, with a keen eye and imperious manner. She expressed a +sovereign contempt for all the low-born beauties confided to her +trust. However, she did not treat her wards ill, for some one of +them might produce a passion in the heart of the king, and she +was determined to be prepared for whatever might fall out. As to +the noble ladies, they were her favourites. Madame did not divide +her flock into fair and dark, which would have been natural, but +into noble and ignoble. Besides Madame, there were two +under-mistresses, whose duties consisted in keeping company with +the young ladies who were placed there. They sometimes dined +with new comers, instructed them in polite behaviour, and aided +them in their musical lessons or in dancing, history, and literature +in which these <éléves> were instructed. Then followed a dozen +women of lower station, creatures for any service, half waiting +women, half companions, who kept watch over the young ladies, +and neglected nothing that could injure each other at every +opportunity. The work of the house was performed by proper +servants and male domestics, chosen expressly for their age and +ugliness. They were paid high, but in return for the least +indiscretion on their part, they were sent to linger out their +existence in a state prison. A severe watch was kept over every +person of either sex in this mysterious establishment. It was +requisite, in fact, that an impenetrable veil should be cast over +the frailties of the king; and that the public should know nothing +of what occurred at the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>. + +The general term <élèves> was applied to the young persons who +were kept there. They were of all ages from nine to eighteen +years. Until fifteen they were kept in total ignorance of the +city which they inhabited. When they attained that age, no more +mystery was made of it; they only endeavoured to prevent them +from believing that they were destined for the king's service. +Sometimes they were told that they were imprisoned as well as +their family; sometimes, a lover rich and powerful kept them +concealed to satisfy his love. One thought she belonged to a +German prince, another to an English lord. There were some, +however, who, better informed, either by their predecessors, or +by chance, knew precisely what was in store for them, and accordingly +built some exceedingly fine castles in the air. But when they +were suspected to be so knowing, they were sent away, and either +married (if pregnant), or compelled to enter a cloister or chapter. + +The noble damsels were served with peculiar etiquette, their +servants wore a green livery. Those who belonged to the ignobles, +had their valets clothed only in gray. The king had arranged this, +and applauded it as one of the most admirable decisions of his +life, and contended with me that the families who paid this impost +for his pleasures, were greatly indebted to him for it. I assure +you, my friend, that there are often very peculiar ideas in the +head of a king. + +After <madame>, the <sous-madames>, the young ladies, came a +lady, who had no title in the house, because she "carried on the +war" out of doors, but still was a most useful personage. In +very truth la Mère Bompart was a wonderful animal. Paint to +yourself a woman rather small than large, rather fat than lean, +rather old than young, with a good foot, a good eye, as robust as +a trooper, with a decided "call" for intrigue, drinking nothing +but wine, telling nothing but lies, swearing by, or denying God, +as suited her purpose. Fancy such an one, and you will have before +you <la Mère Bompart, Pourvoyeuse en chef des celludes du +Parc-aux-Cerfs>. + +She was in correspondence with all sorts of persons, with the +most celebrated <appareilleuses>, and of course with the most +noted pimps. She treated Lebel as her equal, went familiarly to +M. de Sartines and occasionally condescended to visit M. de +Saint-Florentin. Everybody at court received her graciously; +everybody but the king and myself, who held her in equal horror. + +The <Parc-aux-Cerfs> cost enormous sums. The lowest expense +was calculated at 150,000 livres, to pay only the functionaries +and the domestics, the education and the board of the < élèves >, +etc. This does not include the cost of the <recruiting service>, +the indemnities paid to families, the dowry given with them in +marriage, the presents made to them, and the expenses of the +illegitimate children: this was enormous in cost, at least 2,000,000 +livres a year, and yet I make the lowest estimation. The +<Parc-aux-Cerfs> was kept up for thirty-four years: it cost +annually 4 or 5,000,000 livres, and that will amount to +nearly 150,000,000 (£ 6,250,000). If you think I mistake, go +through the calculation. + +A short time after my sojourn at Versailles, when I was the +acknowledged mistress of the king, the duc de Richelieu asked me +if I had heard of the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>? I asked him, in my turn, +what he meant, and if I could procure any account of the place. +He then told me of the care which madame de Pompadour bestowed +On the place, the advantage she drew from it, and assured me of +the necessity for following her example. I spoke of this to comte +Jean, and begged his advice. My brother-in-law replied:-- + +"You must do as the marquise de Pompadour did, and as the duc de +Richelieu has advised. They spend a vast deal of money in this +house, and I undertake to look over their accounts. Nominate me +your prime minister, and I shall be the happiest of men. It is +impossible but there must be something to be gleaned from +his majesty." + +"In truth, my dear brother-in-law, you would be in your element; +money to handle and young girls to manage. What more could you +covet? You will establish a gaming table at the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>, +and never quit it again." + +Comte Jean began to laugh, and then seriously advised me to +follow the plain counsel of the duc de Richelieu. + +I decided on doing so. I sent for Madame. She came with all the +dignity of an abbess of a regally founded convent. But in spite +of her pretensions, I only saw in her the rival of Gourdan and +Paris, and treated her as such; that is, with some contempt, for +with that feeling her office inspired me. She told me all I have +described to you, and many other things which have since escaped +me. At that time there were only four < élèves > in the house. +When she had given me all the details I wished, I sent her away, +desiring to be informed of all that passed in her establishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Fête given by the comtesse de Valentinois--The comtesse du Barry +feigns an indisposition--Her dress--The duc de Cossé--The comte +and comtesse de Provence--Dramatic entertainment--Favart and +Voisenon--A few observations--A pension--The maréchale de Luxembourg +--Adventure of M. de Bombelles--Copy of a letter addressed to him-- +Louis XV--M. de Maupeou and madame du Barry + +My present situation was not a little embarrassing; known and +recognised as the mistress of the king, it but ill accorded with +my feelings to be compelled to add to that title the superintendent +of his pleasures; and I had not yet been sufficiently initiated +into the intrigues of a court life to accept this strange charge +without manifest dislike and hesitation. Nevertheless, whilst so +many were contending for the honour of that which I condemned, +I was compelled to stifle my feelings and resign myself to the +bad as well as the good afforded by my present situation; at a +future period I shall have occasion again to revert to the +<Parc-aux-Cerfs> during the period of my reign, but for the +present I wish to change the subject by relating to you what +befell me at a fête given me by madame de Valentinois, while she +feigned to give it in the honour of madame de Provence. + +The comtesse de Valentinois, flattered by the kindness of the +dauphiness's manner towards her, and wishing still further to +insinuate herself into her favour, imagined she should promote +her object by requesting that princess would do her the honour +to pass an evening at her house; her request was granted, and +that too before the duchesse de la Vauguyon could interfere to +prevent it. Furious at not having been apprized of the invitation +till too late to cause its rejection, she vowed to make the triumphant +countess pay dearly for her triumph; for my own part I troubled +myself very little with the success of madame de Valentinois, +which, in fact, I perceived would rather assist than interfere +with my projects. Hitherto I had not made my appearance at any +of the houses of the nobility when the princesses were invited +thither; this clearly proved to the public, in general, how great +was the opposition I experienced from the court party. I was +now delighted to prove to the Parisians that I was not always to +lead the life of a recluse, but that I could freely present myself +at those parties to which other ladies were invited. However, +as my friends apprehended that the comtesse de Provence might +prevail upon her lady of honour not to invite me, by the advice +of the chancellor and the minister for foreign affairs, it was +arranged that I should for a week previous to the fête feign a +severe indisposition. It would be impossible to describe the joy +with which these false tidings were received by my enemies. We +are all apt to picture things as we would have them, and already +the eager imaginations of the opposing party had converted the +account of my illness into an incurable and mortal disease. + +Every hour my friends brought me in fresh anecdotes of the avidity +with which the rumour of my dangerous state had been received, +whilst I lay upon what the credulous hopes of my enemies had +determined to be my death-bed, laughing heartily at their folly, +and preparing fresh schemes to confound and disappoint their +anticipated triumph. + +One very important object of consideration was my dress for the +coming occasion. The king presented me with a new set of jewels, +and himself selected the materials for my robe and train, which +were to be composed of a rich green satin embroidered with gold, +trimmed with wreaths of roses, and looped up with pearls; the lower +part of this magnificent dress was trimmed with a profusion of +the finest Flemish lace. I wore on my head a garland of full blown +roses, composed of the finest green and gold work; round my +forehead was a string of beautiful pearls, from the centre of +which depended a diamond star; add to this a pair of splendid ear-rings, +valued at 100,000 crowns, with a variety of jewels equally costly, +and you may form some idea of my appearance on that eventful +evening. The, king, who presided at my toilette, could not +repress his admiration; he even insisted upon clasping my necklace, +in order that he might, as he said, flatter himself with having +completed such a triumph of nature and art. + +At the hour fixed upon I set out, conducted by the ducs d'Aiguillon +and de Cossé, and now I remember I have introduced this latter to +you for the first time, however I will promise that it will not +be for the last; he possessed, and still possesses all the virtues +of his noble house, he was impetuous from a deeply feeling heart, +and proud from a consciousness of being properly appreciated. +Young, handsome, and daring, he was pre-eminently calculated both +to inspire love, and to feel it; it was quite impossible for him +to fail in winning the affections of any female he exerted himself +to please, and even at the present time that he has lost some of +his earlier graces, he is still irresistible as ever; his naturally +gay disposition was but ill suited to nourishing grave or philosophic +reasoning, but then he was the soul of company, and possessed a +fine and delicate wit which ever vented itself in the most brilliant +sallies. M. de Cossé, like the knights of old, was wholly devoted +to his king and his mistress, and would, I am sure, had the +occasion required it, have nobly died in defence of either; I only +pray he may never be put to the proof. I saw much of him at the + beginning of our acquaintance, but as his many amiable qualities +became better known, I found myself almost continually in his +society, indeed as I have something to confess in the business, I +could hardly choose a better opportunity than the present, did I +not recollect that the good duc d'Aiguillon is waiting all this +while for me to announce the < entrée > of our party into the +ante-room of Madame de Valentinois. + +My entrance was a complete <coupe-de-théâtre>. I had been +imagined languishing on the bed of sickness, yet there I stood +in all the fulness of health and freshness of beauty. I could +very easily read upon each countenance the vexation and rage my +appearance of entire freedom from all ailment excited; however, +I proceeded without any delay to the mistress of the house, whom +I found busily engaged in seating her visitors, and playing the +amiable to the dauphiness. This princess seemed equally astonished +at my unexpected apparition; nevertheless, taken off her guard, +she could not prevent herself from courteously returning the +profound salutation I made her. As for the duchesse de la +Vauguyon, when she saw me, she turned alternately from red to +white, and was even weak enough to give public vent to her fury. +The comte de Provence, who had been told that I was not expected, +began to laugh when he perceived me, and taking the first +opportunity of approaching me, he said, "Ah, madame! so you too +can mystify your friends, I see! Have a care; the sight of charms +like yours is sufficient to strike terror into any adversaries, +without having recourse to any expedient to heighten their effect." +Saying this he passed on without giving me the opportunity of +replying, as I could have wished to have done. + +The maréchale de Mirepoix, to whom I had confided my secret, and +of whose fidelity I was assured, was present at the fête. I availed +myself of the offer of a seat near her and directly we were seated, +"You are a clever creature," said she, "for you have completely +bewildered all the female part of this evening's society, and by +way of a finishing stroke will run away with the hearts of all the +flutterers here, before the fair ladies they were previously +hovering around, have recovered their first astonishment." + +"Upon my word," said I, smiling, "I do not wonder at the kind +looks with which the ladies favour me, if my presence is capable +of producing so much mischief." + +"Pray, my dear," answered the maréchale, "be under no mistake: +you might be as much beloved as others are, if you did not +monopolize the king's affections; the consequence is, that every +woman with even a passable face looks upon you as the usurper of +her right, and as the fickle gentlemen who woo these gentle ladies +are all ready to transfer their homage to you directly you appear, +you must admit that your presence is calculated to produce no +inconsiderable degree of confusion." + +The commencement of a play which formed part of the evening's +entertainment obliged us to cease further conversation. The first +piece represented was "<Rose et Colas>,"a charming pastoral, to +which the music of Monsigny gave a fresh charm; the actors were +selected from among the best of the Comedie Italienne--the divine +Clairval, and the fascinating mademoiselle Caroline. I was +completely enchanted whilst the play lasted; I forgot both my +cabals and recent triumph, and for a while believed myself +actually transported to the rural scenes it represented, surrounded +by the honest villagers so well depicted; but this delightful +vision soon passed away, and soon, too soon I awoke from it to +find myself surrounded by my <excellent> friends at court. + +"<Rose et Colas>" was followed by a species of comedy mixed with +songs. This piece was wholly in honour of the dauphiness, with +the exception of some flattering and gallant allusions to myself +and some gross compliments to my cousin the chancellor, who, in +new silk robe and a fine powdered wig, was also present at this fête. + +The performers in this little piece, who were Favart, the actor, +and Voisenon, the priest, must have been fully satisfied with the +reception they obtained, for the comedy was applauded as though +it had been one of the <chefs d'oeuvre> of Voltaire. In general +a private audience is very indulgent so long as the representation +lasts, but no sooner has the curtain fallen than they indulge in +a greater severity of criticism than a public audience would do. +And so it happened on the evening in question; one couplet had +particularly excited the discontent of the spectators, male and +female; I know not what prophetic spirit inspired the lines. + +The unfortunate couplet was productive of much offence against +the husband and lover of madame Favart, for the greater part of +the persons present perfectly detested my poor cousin, who was +"to clip the wings of chicanery." Favart managed to escape just +in time, and the abbé de Voisenon, who was already not in very +high favour with his judges, was compelled to endure the full +weight of their complaints and reproaches; every voice was +against him, and even his brethren of the French academy, departing +from their accustomed indulgence upon such matters, openly +reprimanded him for the grossness of his flattery; the poor abbé +attempted to justify himself by protesting that he knew nothing +of the hateful couplet, and that Favart alone was the guilty +person upon whom they should expend their anger. + +"I am always," cried he, "doomed to suffer for the offences of +others; every kind of folly is made a present to me." + +"Have a care, monsieur l' abbé," exclaimed d'Alembert, who was +among the guests, "have a care! men seldom lavish their gifts +but upon those who are rich enough to return the original present +in a tenfold degree." This somewhat sarcastic remark was most +favourably received by all who heard it, it quickly circulated +through the room, while the poor, oppressed abbé protested, +with vehement action. + +The fête itself was most splendidly and tastefully conducted, +and might have sent the different visitors home pleased and +gratified in an eminent degree, had not spite and ill-nature +suggested to madame de la Vauguyon, that as the chancellor and +myself were present, it must necessarily have been given with a +view of complimenting us rather than madame de Provence. She +even sought to irritate the dauphiness by insinuating the same +mean and contemptible observations, and so far did she succeed, +that when madame de Valentinois approached to express her hopes +that the entertainment which she had honoured with her presence +had been to her royal highness's satisfaction, the dauphiness +coolly replied, "Do not, madame, affect to style this evening's +fête one bestowed in honour of myself, or any part of my family; +'tis true we have been the ostensible causes, and have, by our +presence, given it all the effect you desired, but you will pardon +our omitting to thank you for an attention, which was in reality, +directed to the comtesse du Barry and M. de Maupeou." + + FACSIMILE OF LETTER FROM MME. DU BARRY + +TO THE DUC DE BRISSAC. + +(photograph of original handwritten note omitted) +TRANSLATION + + Heavens! my dear friend, how sad are the days +when I am deprived of the happiness of passing the time +with you, and with what joy do I watch for the moment +which will bring you to me. I shall not go to Paris +to-day, because the person I was going to see is +coming Thursday. As you will be going away, I shall +visit the barracks instead, for I believe you approve +of the object. Adieu. I await you with impatience, +with a heart wholly yours, which, in spite of your +injustice, could never belong to any other, even +if I had the wish. I think of you and that word of +yours which you will surely regret; and still another +regret is that I am deprived of you. That is the +watchword of each instant. + +THE COUNTESS Du Barry + +At Louvecienne, Noon. + +Madame de Valentinois came to me with tears in her eyes to repeat +the cruel remark of the princess; the maréchale de Mirepoix, +who heard her, sought to console her by assurances, that it would +in no degree affect her interest at court. "Never mind, my good +friend," said she; "the pretty bird merely warbles the notes it +learns from its keeper la Vauguyon, and will as quickly forget as +learn them. Nevertheless, the king owes you recompense for the +vexation it has occasioned you." + +Immediately that I found myself alone with the maréchale, I inquired +of her what was the nature of the reparation she considered +madame de Valentinois entitled to expect from the hands of his +majesty. She replied, "'Tis on your account alone that the poor +countess has received her late mortification; the king is therefore +bound to atone for it in the form of a pension. Money, my dear, +money is a sovereign cure at court; calms every grief and heals +every wound." + +I fully agreed with the good-natured maréchale; and, when I bade +the sorrowful madame de Valentinois good night, I assured her I +would implore his majesty to repair the mischief my presence had +caused. Accordingly on the following day, when the king questioned +me as to how far I had been amused with the fête given by madame +de Valentinois, I availed myself of the opening to state my entire +satisfaction, as well as to relate the disgrace into which she had +fallen, and to pray his majesty to bestow upon her a pension of +15,000 livres. + +"Upon my word," exclaimed Louis XV, hastily traversing the chamber, +"this fête seems likely to prove a costly one to me." + +"Nay, sire," said I, "it was a most delightful evening; and you +will not, I hope, refuse me such a trifle for those who lavished +so much for my amusement." + +"Well," cried he, "be it so; the countess shall have the sum she requires, but upon +condition that she does not apply to me again." + +"Really your majesty talks," replied I, "as though this trifling +pension were to be drawn from your own purse." + +The king began to smile at my remark, like a man who knows himself +found out. I knew him well enough to be certain that, had he +intended the pension awarded madame de Valentinois to come from +his own privy purse, he would scarcely have consented to bestowing +on her more than a shabby pittance of a thousand livres per annum. +It is scarcely possible to conceive an idea of the excessive +economy of this prince. I remember, that upon some great occasion, +when it was requisite to support the public treasury, which was +failing, by a timely contribution, the duc de Choiseul offered the +loan of 250,000 livres, whilst the king, to the astonishment of +all who heard him, confined his aid to 2,000 louis! The maréchale +de Mirepoix used to assert that Louis XV was the only prince of +his line who ever knew the value of a crown. She had, +nevertheless, managed to receive plenty from him, although, I +must own, that she had had no small difficulty in obtaining them; +nor did the king part with his beloved gold without many a sigh +of regret. + +At the house of madame de Valentinois I met the maréchale de +Luxembourg, who had recently returned from Chanteloup. There +really was something of infatuation in the general mania which +seemed to prevail of treating the king's sentiments with +indifference, and considering his displeasure as an affair of no +consequence. Before the disgrace of the Choiseuls they were +equally the objects of madame de Luxembourg's most bitter hatred, +nor was madame de Grammont backward in returning her animosity; +yet, strange as it may seem, no sooner was the Choiseul party +exiled, than the maréchale never rested till she saw her name +engraved on the famous pillar erected to perpetuate the remembrance +of all those who had visited the exiles. She employed their +mutual friends to effect a reconciliation, which was at length +effected by letter, and a friendly embrace exchanged by proxy. +These preliminaries over, the maréchale came to the king to make +the request to which he had now become accustomed, but which did +not the less amuse him. Of course Louis XV made no hesitation in +granting her the request she solicited. Speaking to me of the +subject, he said, "The <tender> meeting of madame de Grammont +and the maréchal de Luxembourg must indeed be an overpowering +sight; I only trust these two ladies may not drop the mask too +soon, and bite each other's ear while they are embracing." + +Madame de Luxembourg, daughter of the duc de Villeroi, had been +first married to the duc de Boufflers, whose brows she helped to +adorn with other ornaments than the ducal coronet; nor whilst her +youth and beauty lasted was she less generous to her second +husband: she was generally considered a most fascinating woman, +from the loveliness of her person and the vivacity of her manners; +but behind an ever ready wit, lurked the most implacable malice +and hatred against all who crossed her path or purpose. As she +advanced in life she became more guarded and circumspect, until +at last she set herself up as the arbitress of high life, and the +youthful part of the nobility crowded around her, to hear the +lessons of her past experience. By the number and by the power +of her pupils, she could command both the court and city; her +censures were dreaded, because pronounced in language so strong +and severe, as to fill those who incurred them with no hope of +ever shining in public opinion whilst so formidable a <veto> was +uttered against them; and her decrees, from which there was no +appeal, either stamped a man with dishonour, or introduced him as +a first-rate candidate for universal admiration and esteem, and +her hatred was as much dreaded as ever her smiles had been courted: +for my own part, I always felt afraid of her, and never willingly +found myself in her presence. + +After I had obtained for madame de Valentinois the boon I solicited, +I was conversing with the king respecting madame de Luxembourg, +when the chancellor entered the room; he came to relate to his +majesty an affair which had occasioned various reports, and much +scandal. The viscount de Bombelles, an officer in an hussar +regiment, had married a mademoiselle Camp, Reasons, unnecessary +for me to seek to discover, induced him, all at once, to annul his +marriage, and profiting by a regulation which forbade all good +Catholics from intermarrying with those of the reformed religion, +He demanded the dissolution of his union with mademoiselle Camp. +This attempt on his part to violate, upon such grounds, the +sanctity of the nuptial vow, whilst it was calculated to rekindle +the spirit of religious persecution, was productive of very +unfavourable consequences to the character of M. de Bombelles; +the great cry was against him, he stood alone and unsupported in +the contest, for even the greatest bigots themselves would not +intermeddle or appear to applaud a matter which attacked both +honour and good feeling: the comrades of M. de Bombelles refused +to associate with him; but the finishing stroke came from his old +companions at the military school, where he had been brought up. +On the 27th of November, 1771, the council of this establishment +wrote him the following letter:-- + +"The military school have perused with equal +indignation and grief the memorials which have +appeared respecting you in the public prints. Had +you not been educated in this establishment, we +should merely have looked upon your affair with +mademoiselle Camp as a scene too distressing for +humanity and it would have been buried in our +peaceful walls beneath the veil of modesty and +silence; but we owe it to the youth sent to us by +his majesty, for the inculcation of those principles +which become the soldier as the man, not to pass +over the present opportunity of inspiring them with +a just horror of your misguided conduct, as well +as feeling it an imperative duty to ourselves not +to appear indifferent to the scandal and disgraceful +confusion your proceedings have occasioned in +the capital. We leave to the ministers of our +religion, and the magistrates who are appointed +to guard our laws. to decide upon the legality of +the bonds between yourself and mademoiselle Camp, +but by one tribunal you are distinctly pronounced +guilty towards her, and that is the tribunal of +honour, before that tribunal which exists in the +heart of every good man. You have been universally +cited and condemned. There are some errors which +all the impetuosity of youth is unable to excuse, +and yours are unhappily of that sort. The different +persons composing this establishment, therefore, +concur not only in praying of us to signify their +sentiments, but likewise to apprize you, that you +are unanimously forbidden to appear within these +walls again." + +The chancellor brought to the king a copy of this severe letter, +to which I listened with much emotion, nor did the king seem +more calm than myself. + +'This is, indeed," said he at length, "a very sad affair; we shall +have all the quarrels of Protestantism renewed, as if I had not +had already enough of those of the Jansenists and Jesuits. As +far as I can judge, M. de Bombelles is entitled to the relief he +seeks, and every marriage contracted with a Protestant is null +and void by the laws of France." + +"Oh, sire," cried I, " would I had married a Protestant." + +The king smiled for a moment at my jest, then resumed: + +"I blame the military school." + +"Is it your majesty's pleasure," inquired the chancellor, "that I +should signify your displeasure to them?" + +"No, sir," replied Louis, "it does not come within your line of +duty, and devolves rather upon the minister of war; and very +possibly he would object to executing such a commission; for how +could I step forward as the protector of one who would shake off +the moral obligation of an oath directly it suits his inclinations +to doubt its legality? This affair gives me great uneasiness, +and involves the most serious consequences. You will see that I +shall be overwhelmed with petitions and pamphlets, demanding of +me the revocation of the edict of Nantes." + +"And what, sire," asked the chancellor gravely, "could you do, +that would better consolidate the glory of your reign?" + +"Chancellor," exclaimed Louis XV, stepping back with unfeigned +astonishment, "have you lost your senses? What would the clergy +say or do? The very thought makes me shudder. Do you then believe, +M. de Maupeou, that the race of the Clements, the Ravaillacs, the +Damiens, are extinct in France?" + +"Ah, sire, what needless fears." + +"Not so needless as you may deem them," answered the king. "I +have been caught once, I am not going to expose myself to danger +a second time. You know the proverb,--no, no, let us leave things +as my predecessors left them; besides, I shall not be sorry to +leave a little employment for my successor; he may get through it +how he can, and spite of all the clamouring of the philosophers, +the Protestants shall hold their present privileges so long as I +live. I will have neither civil nor religious war, but live in +peace and eat my supper with a good appetite with you, my fair +comtesse, for my constant guest, and you, M. de Maupeou, for t +his evening's visitor." + +The conversation here terminated. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + + Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer +--Louis XV and madame de Rumas--M. de Rumas and the comtesse du +Barry--An intrigue--<Denouement>--A present upon the occasion--The +duc de Richelieu in disgrace--100,000 livres + +This Marin, a provençal by birth, in his childhood one of the +choristers, and afterwards organist of the village church, was, +at the period of which I am speaking, one of the most useful men +possible. Nominated by M. de St. Florentin to the post of censor +royal, this friend to the philosophers was remarkable for the +peculiar talent, with which he would alternately applaud and +condemn the writings of these gentlemen. Affixing his sanction +to two lines in a tragedy by Dorat had cost him twenty-four hours' +meditation within the walls of the Bastille; and for permitting +the representation of some opera (the name of which I forget) he +had been deprived of a pension of 2,000 francs; but, wedded to +the delights of his snug post, Marin always contrived, after +every storm, to find his way back to its safe harbor. He had +registered a vow never to resign the office of censor, but to keep +it in despite of danger and difficulty. I soon discovered that +he passed from the patronage of Lebel to that of Chamilly, and I +was not slow in conjecturing that he joined to his avocations of +censor and gazetteer that of purveyor to his majesty's <petits amours>. + +Spite of my indefatigable endeavors to render Louis XV happy and +satisfied with the pleasures of his own home, he would take +occasional wandering fits, and go upon the ramble, sometimes in +pursuit of a high-born dame, at others eager to obtain a poor and +simple <grisette>; and so long that the object of his fancy were +but new to him, it mattered little what were her claims to youth, +beauty, or rank in life. The maréchale de Mirepoix frequently +said to me, "Do you know, my dear creature, that your royal +admirer is but a very fickle swain, who is playing the gay gallant +when he ought to be quietly seated at his own fireside. Have a +care, he is growing old, and his intellect becomes more feeble +each day; and what he would never have granted some few years +back, may be easily wrung from him now. Chamilly aspires at +governing his master, and Marin seconds him in his project." + +At length, roused to a sense of impending evil, by the constant +reminding of the maréchale, I summoned Marin to my presence. +"Now, sir," said I, as he approached, "I would have you to know +that I am apprised of all your tricks: you and your friend Chamilly +are engaged in a very clever scheme to improve your own fortunes +at the expense of the king your master." + +Marin burst into loud protestations of his innocence, declaring +that he was as innocent as the lamb just born. I refused to +believe this, and desired he would explain to me why he went so +frequently to the apartments of M. Chamilly. + +"Alas, madam!" replied Marin, "I go thither but to solicit his +aid in craving the bounty of his majesty." + +"You are for ever pleading poverty, miserly being," cried I; "you +are far richer than I am; but since you want money I will supply +you with it, and in return you shall be my secret newsman, and +royal censor in my service. Now understand me clearly; every +month that you faithfully bring me an account of certain goings +on, I will count into your hand five and twenty <louis d'or>." + +I must confess that Marin only accepted my proposition with much +reluctance, but still he did accept it, and withdrew, meditating, +no doubt, how he should be enabled to satisfy both Chamilly +and myself. + +A long time elapsed before Marin brought me any news of importance, +and I began to feel considerable doubts of his fidelity, when he +came to communicate a very important piece of intelligence. He +had just learned that Chamilly frequently went to Paris, the +bearer of letters from the 'king to a young and pretty female, +named madame de Rumas, who resided in the old rue du Temple. + +Here was a pretty discovery; the king actually engaged in a love +affair, letters passing between him and his mistress, whilst the +head <valet de chambre> was acting the part of Mercury to the +lovers. This indeed required some speedy remedy, and I lost no +time in summoning my privy counsellor, Comte Jean, whom I acquainted +with what had occurred, and begged his advice as to the best +measures to be pursued. "Indeed," replied my brother-in-law, "what +others would do in our place would be to throw M. Chamilly from +one of the windows of the château, and treat this his friend Marin +with a lodging in the Bastille; but, as we are persons of temper +and moderation, we will go more gently to work. I will, in the +first place, gain every information relative to the affair, that +I may satisfy myself Marin is not seeking to show his honest +claims to your gold, by imposing a forged tale upon your credulity; +when that is ascertained we will decide upon our next best step." + +Comte Jean departed to seek the assistance of M. de Sartines, +who was at that time entirely devoted to my interests; and, after +having diligently searched the whole rue du Temple, he succeeded +in discovering madame de Rumas. He learnt that this lady had +recently married a person of her own rank, to whom she professed +to be violently attached; that they lived together with great +tranquillity, and had the reputation of conducting themselves as +persons of extreme propriety and regularity; paid their debts, +and avoided, by their air of neatness, order, and modest reserve, +the scandal of even their most ill-natured neighbors. The husband +was said to be a great religionist, which increased the suspicions +of Comte Jean. With regard to the epistolary correspondence +carried on by the lady, no information could be gleaned in in +that quarter. + +Marin was again sent for by my brother-in-law, who questioned +and cross-questioned with so much address, that Marin found it +impossible to conceal any longer the remaining part of the affair, +of which he had before communicated but so much as his policy +deemed advisable. He confessed that he had originally mentioned +madame de Rumas (whom he himself had long known) to Chamilly, +had shown him several of her letters; and, as he expected, the +style of these epistles so pleased the head valet, that he expressed +a wish to see the fair writer. Marin accordingly introduced him +to the rue du Temple, where he was most graciously received, and +returned home enchanted with the lady: he spoke of her to the +king, strongly recommending his majesty to judge for himself. + Accordingly his majesty wrote to madame de Rumas, who received +the letter from the hands of her friend Chamilly with all pomp and +state, talked first of her own virtue and honor, and afterwards +of her dutiful respect for his majesty. She replied to the royal +note in so prudent yet obliging a manner, that the king was +enchanted. This effective billet was answered by a second letter +from the king, which obtained a reply even more tenderly charming +than the one which preceded it. An interview was next solicited +and granted; for a visit was such a trifle to refuse. The royal +guest became pressing and the lady more reserved, till the time +was lost in attempts at convincing each other. At the next +interview madame de Rumas freely confessed her sincere attachment +for his majesty, but added, that such was her desire to possess +his whole and undivided regard, that she could never give herself +up to the hope of keeping him exclusively hers whilst I interposed +between her and the king's heart--in a few words then she demanded +my dismissal. This was going too far; and Louis XV, who thought +it no scandal to have a hundred mistresses, was alarmed at the +thoughts of occasioning the bustle and confusion attendant upon +disgracing his acknowledged favorite and recognised mistress; he +therefore assured her, her request was beyond his power to grant. + +Madame de Rumas now sought to compromise the affair, by talking +of a share in his favor. She asked, she said, but the heart of her +beloved monarch, and would freely leave me in possession of all +power and influence. The king whose heart was regularly promised +once a day, did not hesitate to assure her of his fidelity, and +his wily enslaver flattered herself, that with time and clever +management, she should succeed in inducing him to break off +those ties which he now refused to break. + +Things were in this state when Marin divulged to us the intrigue +conducted by Chamilly, and directed, though in a covert manner, +by the maréchal duc de Richelieu. This spiteful old man possessed +no share of the talent of his family; and, not contented with the +favor bestowed on his nephew, thought only of his personal credit +and influence, which he fancied he should best secure by introducing +a new mistress to the king. This well-concocted scheme threw +both Comte Jean and myself into a perfect fury. We dismissed +Marin with a present of fifty louis, and my brother-in-law +besought of me to grant him four and twenty hours undisturbed +reflection, whilst, on my side, I assured him I should not rest +until we had completely discomfited our enemies. + +On the following day Comte Jean laid before me several projects, +which were far from pleasing in my eyes; too much time was required +in their execution. I knew the king too well to be blind to the +danger of allowing this mere whim of the moment to take root in +his mind. One idea caught my fancy, and without mentioning it to +Comte Jean, I determined upon carrying it into execution. + +The maréchale de Mirepoix happened at this moment not to be at +Paris at her hotel in the rue Bergere, but at her country house, +situated au Port à l'Anglaise. I signified to the king my intention +of passing a couple of days with the maréchale, and accordingly +set out for that purpose. Upon my arrival at Paris I merely +changed horses, and proceeded onwards with all possible despatch +to rejoin the maréchale, who was quite taken by surprise at my +unexpected arrival. After many mutual embraces and exchange of +civilities, I explained to her the whole affair which had brought +me from Versailles. The good-natured maréchale could not believe +her ears. She soon, however, comprehended the nature of my alarms; +and so far from seeking to dissipate them, urged me to lose no +time in crushing an affair, which grew more threatening from each +day's delay. I was fully of her opinion, and only asked her +assistance and co-operation in my plan of writing to M. de Rumas, +and inviting him to come on the following day to the house of +madame de Mirepoix. + +That lady would doubtless have preferred my asking her to assist +me in any other way, but still she could not refuse to serve me +in the manner described: for I either bestowed on her all she +desired, or caused others to gratify her slightest request; and +how could she be sure, that were my reign to end, she might derive +the same advantages from any new favorite? Self-interest therefore +bound her to my service, and accordingly she wrote to M. de Rumas +a very pressing letter, requesting to see him on the following day +upon matters of the highest importance. This letter sent off, I +dined with the maréchale, and then returned to sleep at Paris. + +On the following day. at an early hour, I repaired to the Port +à l'Anglaise; M. de Rumas arrived there a few minutes after +myself. He had the air and look of an honest man, but perhaps +no species of deceit is more easily detected than that quiet, +subdued manner, compressed lips, and uplifted eye. Now-a-days +such a mode of dissembling would be too flimsy to impose even on +children; and hypocrites are ever greater proficients in their +art than was even M. de Rumas. + +Madame de Mirepoix left us alone together, in order that I might +converse more freely with him. I knew not how to begin, but +made many attempts to convey, in an indirect manner, the reasons +for his being summoned to that day's conference. However, hints +and insinuations were alike thrown away upon one who had determined +neither to use eye's nor ears but as interest pointed out the +reasonableness of so doing; and accordingly, unable longer to +repress my impatience, I exclaimed abruptly, + +"Pray, sir, do you know who I am?" + +"Yes, madam," replied he, with a profound bow, and look of the +deepest humility, "you are the comtesse du Barry." + +"Well, sir," added I, "and you are equally well aware, no doubt, +of the relation in which I stand to the king?" + +"But, madam--" + +"Nay, sir, answer without hesitation; I wish you to be candid, +otherwise my exceeding frankness may displease you." + +"I know, madam," replied the hypocrite, "that his majesty finds +great pleasure in your charming society." + +"And yet, sir," answered I, "his majesty experiences equal delight +in the company of your wife. How answer you that, M. de Rumas?" + +"My wife, madam!" + +"Yes, sir, in the company of madame de Rumas; he pays her many +private visits, secretly corresponds with her--" + +"The confidence of his majesty must ever honor his subjects." + +"But," replied I, quickly, "may dishonor a husband." + +"How, madam! What is it you would insinuate?" + +"That your wife would fain supplant me, and that she is now the +mistress of the king, although compelled to be such in secret." + +"Impossible," exclaimed M. de Rumas, "and some enemy to my wife +has thus aspersed her to you." + +"And do you treat it as a mere calumny?" said I. "No, sir, +nothing can be more true; and if you would wish further confirmation, +behold the letter which madame de Rumas wrote to the king only +the day before yesterday; take it and read it." + +"Heaven preserve me, madam," exclaimed the time-serving wretch, +"from. presuming to cast my eyes over what is meant only for his +majesty's gracious perusal; it would be an act of treason I am not +capable of committing." + +"Then, sir," returned I, "I may reasonably conclude that it is with +your sanction and concurrence your wife intrigues with the king?" + +"Ah, madam," answered the wily de Rumas, in a soft and expostulating +tone, "trouble not, I pray you, the repose of my family. I know +too well the virtue of madame de Rumas, her delicacy, and the +severity of her principles; I know too well likewise the sentiments +in which her excellent parents educated her, and I defy the blackest +malice to injure her in my estimation." + +"Wonderfully, sir!" cried I; "so you determine to believe your +wife's virtue incorruptible, all the while you are profiting by +her intrigues. However, I am too certain of what I assert to +look on with the culpable indifference you are pleased to assume, +whilst your <virtuous> wife is seeking to supplant me at the +château; you shall hear of me before long. Adieu, sir." + +So saying, I quitted the room in search of the maréchale, to +whom I related what had passed. + +"And now, what think you of so base a hypocrite?" asked I, when +I had finished my account. + +"He well deserves having the mask torn from his face," replied +she; " but give yourself no further concern; return home, and +depend upon it, that, one way or other, I will force him into +the path of honor." + +I accordingly ordered my carriage and returned to Versailles, +where, on the same evening, I received the following letter +from the maréchale:-- + +"MY DEAR COUNTESS, --My efforts have been +attended with no better success than yours. Well +may the proverb say, 'There is none so deaf as he +who will not hear,' and M. de Rumas perseveres in +treating all I advanced respecting his wife as +calumnious falsehoods. According to his version +of the tale, madame de Rumas has no other +motive in seeing Louis XV so frequently, but to +implore his aid in favor of the poor in her +neighborhood. I really lost all patience when +I heard him attempting to veil his infamous conduct +under the mask of charity; I therefore proceeded at +once to menaces, telling him that you bad so many +advantages over his wife, that you scorned to +consider her your rival: but that, nevertheless, +you did not choose that any upstart pretender +should dare ask to share his majesty's heart. +To all this he made no reply; and as the sight of +him only increased my indignation, I at length +desired him to quit me. I trust you will pardon +me for having spoken in as queenlike a manner +as you could have done yourself. + +"Adieu, my sweet friend." + +This letter was far from satisfying me, and I determined upon +striking a decisive blow. I sent for Chamilly, and treating him +with all the contempt he deserved, I told him, that if the king +did not immediately give up this woman he might prepare for his +own immediate dismissal. At first Chamilly sought to appease my +anger by eager protestations of innocence,but when he found I +already knew the whole affair, and was firmly fixed in my +determination, he becamealarmed, threw himself at my knees, and +promised to do all I would have him. We then agreed to tell +Louis XV some tale of madame de Rumas that should effectually +deter him from thinking further of her. + +In pursuance with this resolution, Chamilly informed the king, +that he had just been informed that madame de Rumas had a lover, +who boasted of being able to turn his majesty which way he pleased, +through the intervention of his mistress. Louis XV wrote off +instantly to M. de Sartines, to have a watchful eye over the +proceedings of the Rumas family. The lieutenant of police, who +had some regard for me, and a still greater portion of fear, was +faithful to my interests, and rendered to Louis XV the most +horrible particulars of the profligate mode of life pursued by +madame de Rumas; assuring him, that from every consideration of +personal safety, his majesty should shun the acquaintance. The +king, incensed at the trick put upon him by these seemingly +virtuous people, was at first for confining both husband and wife +in prison, but this measure I opposed with all my power; for, +satisfied with the victory I had gained, I cared for no further +hurt to my adversaries. I contrived, to insinuate to the worthy +pair the propriety of their avoiding the impending storm by a +timely retreat into the country, a hint they were wise enough to +follow up, so that I was entirely freed from all further dread +of their machinations. + +All those who had served me in this affair I liberally rewarded; +Marin received for his share 500 louis. It is true he lost the +confidence of Chamilly, but he gained mine instead, so that it +will easily be believed he was no sufferer by the exchange. I +caused the maréchale to receive from the king a superb Turkey +carpet, to which I added a complete service of Sèvres porcelain, +with a beautiful breakfast set, on which were landscapes most +delicately and skilfully drawn in blue and gold: I gave her also +two large blue porcelain cots, as finely executed as those you +have so frequently admired in my small saloon. These trifles +cost me no less a sum than 2800 livres. I did not forget my +good friend M. de Sartines, who received a cane, headed with gold, +around which was a small band of diamonds. As for Chamilly, I +granted him his pardon; and I think you will admit that was being +sufficiently generous. + +After having thus recompensed the zeal of my friends, I had +leisure to think of taking vengeance upon the duc de Richelieu +for the part he had acted. He came of his own accord to throw +himself into the very heat of my anger. He had been calling on +the maréchale de Mirepoix, where he had seen with envious eyes +the magnificent carpet I had presented her with; the cupidity of +the duke induced him, after continually recurring to the subject, +to say, that where my friends were concerned, no one could accuse +me of want of liberality. "No, sir," answered I, "I consider that +no price can sufficiently repay the kind and faithful services of +a true friend, nor can baseness and treachery be too generally +exposed and punished." From the tone in which I spoke the old +maréchal easily perceived to what I was alluding. He was wise +enough to be silent, whilst I followed up this first burst of my +indignation, by adding, + +"For instance, monsieur le duc, how can I sufficiently repay your +friendly zeal to supply the king with a new mistress?" + +"I, madam?" + +"Yes, sir, you; I am aware of all your kind offices, and only +lament my inability to reward them in a suitable manner." + +"In that case I shall not attempt to deny my share in the business." + +"You have then sufficient honor to avow your enmity towards me?" + +"By no means enmity, madam. I merely admit my desire to contribute +to the amusement of the king, and surely, when I see all around +anxious to promote the gratification of their sovereign, I need +not be withheld from following so loyal an example. The duc de +Duras was willing to present his own relation for his majesty's +acceptance, the abbé Terray offers his own daughter, Comte Jean +his sister-in-law, whilst I simply threw a humble and modest +female in his majesty's path. I cannot see in what my fault +exceeds that of the gentlemen I have just mentioned." + +"You really are the most audacious of men," replied I, laughing; +"I shall be obliged to solicit a <lettre de cachet> to hold you +a prisoner in Guienne. Upon my word, your nephew and myself +have a valuable and trustworthy friend in you." + +"Hark ye, madam," rejoined the maréchal. "I know not, in the +first place, whether his majesty would very easily grant you +this <lettre de cachet>, which most certainly I do not deserve. +You have served my nephew and neglected me; I wished to try the +strength of my poor wings, and I find, like many others, that I +must not hope to soar to any height." + +While we were thus talking the maréchale de Mirepoix was announced. +I was still much agitated, and she immediately turned towards the +duke, as if to inquire of him the cause of my distress: upon which, +M. de Richelieu related all that had passed with a cool exactitude +that enraged me still further. When he had finished, I said, + +"Well, madame la maréchale, and what is your opinion of all this?" + +"Upon my word, my dear countess," answered madame de Mirepoix, +"you have ample cause for complaint, but still this poor duke is +not so culpable as you imagine him to be. He has large expenses +to provide for: and to obtain the money requisite for them he is +compelled to look to his majesty, whose favor he desires to win +by administering to his pleasures." + +"Alas!" replied the duke, "can you believe that but for the +pressure of unavoidable circumstances I would have separated +myself from my nephew and my fair friend there?" + +"Come, come," cried the maréchale, " I must restore peace and +harmony between you. As for you, my lord duke, be a true and +loyal subject; and you, my sweet countess, use your best endeavors +to prevail on the king to befriend and assist his faithful servant." + +I allowed myself to be managed like a child; and instead of +scratching the face of M. de Richelieu, I obtained for him a +grant of 100,000 livres, which the court banker duly counted +out to him. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +A prefatory remark--Madame Brillant--The maréchale de Luxembourg's +cat--Despair of the maréchale--The ambassador, Beaumarchais, and +the duc de Chaulnes--the comte d'Aranda--Louis XV and his relics--The +abbé de Beauvais--His sermons--He is appointed bishop + +When I related to comte Jean my reconciliation with the duc de +Richelieu, and the sum which this treaty had cost me, my +brother-in-law flew into the most violent fury; he styled the +maréchal a plunderer of the public treasury. Well may the scripture +tell us we see the mote in our neighbor's eye, but regard not +the beam which is in our own eye. I was compelled to impose +silence on comte Jean, or in the height of his rage he would +have offered some insult to the old maréchal, who already most +heartily disliked him for the familiarity of his tone and manner +towards him. I did all in my power to keep these two enemies +from coming in each other's way, counselled to that by the +maréchale de Mirepoix, whose line of politics was of the most +pacific nature; besides I had no inclination for a war carried +on in my immediate vicinity, and, for my own part, so far from +wishing to harm any one, I quickly forgave every affront offered +to myself. + +But hold! I perceive I am running on quite smoothly in my own +praise. Indeed, my friend, it is well I have taken that office +upon myself, for I fear no one else would undertake it. The +most atrocious calumnies have been invented against me; I have + been vilified both in prose and verse; and, amongst the great +number of persons on whom I have conferred the greatest obligations, +none has been found with sufficient courage or gratitude to stand +forward and undertake my defence. I do not even except madame de +Mirepoix, whose conduct towards me in former days was marked by +the most studied attention. She came to me one evening, with a +face of grief. + +"Mercy upon me," cried I, "what ails you?" + +"Alas!" replied she, in a piteous tone, "I have just quitted a +most afflicted family; their loss is heavy and irreparable. The +maréchale de Luxembourg is well nigh distracted with grief." + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "can the duchesse de Lauzun be dead?" + +"Alas! no." + +"Perhaps poor madame de Boufflers?" + +"No, my friend." + +"Who then is the object of so much regret? Speak; tell me." + +"Madame Brillant." + +"A friend of the old maréchale 's?" + +"More than a friend," replied madame de Mirepoix; "her faithful +companion; her only companion; her only beloved object, since +her lovers and admirers ceased to offer their homage--in a word, +her cat." + +"Bless me!" cried I, "how you frightened me! But what sort of a +cat could this have been to cause so many tears?" + +"Is it possible that you do not know madame Brillant, at least +by name?" + +"I assure you," said I, "this is the very first time I ever heard +her name." + +"Well, if it be so, I will be careful not to repeat such a thing +to madame de Luxembourg; she would never pardon you for it. +Listen, my dear countess," continued madame de Mirepoix; "under +the present circumstances it will be sufficient for you to write +your name in her visiting-book." + +I burst into a fit of laughter. + +"It is no joke, I promise you," exclaimed the maréchale; "the +death of madame Brillant is a positive calamity to madame de +Luxembourg. Letters of condolence will arrive from Chanteloup; +madame du Deffant will be in deep affliction, and the virtues and +amiable qualities of the deceased cat will long furnish subjects +of conversation." + +"It was then a singularly engaging animal, I presume?" + +"On the contrary, one of the most stupid, disagreeable, and +dirty creatures of its kind; but still it was the cat of madame +de Luxembourg." + +And after this funeral oration the maréchale and myself burst +into a violent fit of laughter. + +When the king joined us, I acquainted him with this death, and my +conversation with the maréchale. Louis XV listened to my recital +with an air of gravity; when I had finished, he said, "The present +opportunity is admirably adopted for satisfying the request of one +of my retinue, one of the best-hearted creatures, and at the same +time one of the silliest +men in the kingdom." + +"I beg your pardon, sire," cried I, "but what is his name? For +the description is so general, that I fear lest I should be at +a loss to recollect of whom you are speaking." + +"You are very ill-natured," cried Louis XV, "and I hardly know +whether you deserve to be gratified by hearing the name of the +poor gentleman: however, I will tell it to you; he is called Corbin +de la Chevrollerie. A few days since this simple young man, +having solicited an audience, informed me, that he was desirous +of marrying a rich heiress, but that the young lady's family were +resolved she should marry no one who was not previously employed +as an ambassador. I expressed my surprise at so strange a caprice, +but the poor fellow endeavored to vindicate his bride's relations, +by stating that that they were willing to consider him as my +ambassador if I would only commission him to carry some message +of compliment or condolence. Accordingly I promised to employ +him upon the occasion of the first death or marriage which should +take place in a ducal family. Now, I think I cannot do better +than make him the bearer of my inquiries after the maréchale +de Luxembourg." + +This idea struck me as highly amusing, and I immediately dispatched +a servant to summon M. de la Chevrollerie to the presence of the +king. This being done, that gentleman presented himself with all +the dignity and importance of one who felt that a mission of high +moment was about to be entrusted to him. + +His majesty charged him to depart immediately to the house of madame +de Luxembourg, and to convey his royal master's sincere condolences +for the heavy loss she had sustained in madame Brillant. + +M. Corbin de la Chevrollerie departed with much pride and +self-complacency upon his embassy: he returned in about half an hour. + +"Sire," cried he, "I have fulfilled your royal pleasure to madame +de Luxembourg. She desires me to thank you most humbly for your +gracious condescension: she is in violent distress for the severe +loss she has experienced, and begged my excuse for quitting me +suddenly, as she had to superintend the stuffing of the deceased." + +"The stuffing!" exclaimed the king; "surely you mean the embalming?" + +"No, sire," replied the ambassador, gravely, "the stuffing." + +"Monsieur de la Chevrollerie," cried I, bursting into a violent +fit of laughter, "do you know in what degree of relationship the +deceased madame Brillant stood to madame de Luxembourg?" + +"No, madam," replied the ambassador, gravely, "but I believe she +was her aunt, for I heard one of the females in waiting say, that +this poor madame Brillant was very old, and that she had lived +with her mistress during the last fourteen years." + +Thus finished this little jest. However, Louis XV, who was +extremely kind to all about him, especially those in his service, +shortly after recompensed his simple-minded ambassador, by +intrusting him with a commission at once profitable and honorable. + +Another event which took place at this period, caused no less +noise than the death of madame Brillant. At this time, mademoiselle +Mesnard was, for her many charms of mind and person, the general +rage throughout Paris. Courtiers, lawyers, bankers, and citizens +crowded alike to offer their homage. Frail as fair, mademoiselle +Mesnard received all kindly, and took with gracious smiles the +rich gifts showered upon her by her various adorers. The first +noblemen of the court, knights of the different orders, farmers- +general, all aspired to the honor of ruining themselves for her. +She had already satisfied the ruinous propensities of at least a +dozen of lovers, when the duc de Chaulnes entered the lists, and +was fortunate enough to eclipse all his rivals. He might long +have enjoyed the preference thus obtained, but for an act of the +greatest imprudence of which a lover could be guilty. He was so +indiscreet as to invite several of his most intimate friends to +sup with himself and Mademoiselle Mesnard. Amongst the number +was Caron de Beaumarchais, a man possessed of the grace of a +prince and the generous profusion of a highwayman. Caron de +Beaumarchais attracted the fancy of the fickle mademoiselle +Mesnard, a mutual understanding was soon established between +them, and in a snug little cottage surrounded by beautiful grounds +in the environs of Pere la Chaise, the enamored lovers frequently +met to exchange their soft vows. + +Happily the deity who presided over the honor of the duke was +carefully watching their proceedings. This guardian angel was no +other than madame Duverger, his former mistress, who, unable to +bear the desertion of her noble admirer, had vowed, in the first +burst of rage and disappointment, to have revenge sooner or later +upon her triumphant rival. With this view she spied out all the +proceedings of mademoiselle Mesnard, whose stolen interviews +and infidelity she was not long in detecting; she even contrived +to win over a <femme de chambre>, by whose connivance she was +enabled to obtain possession of several letters containing +irrefragable proofs of guilt, and these she immediately forwarded +to the duc de Chaulnes. + +This proud and haughty nobleman might have pardoned his mistress +had she quitted him for a peer of the realm and his equal, but to +be supplanted by a mere man of business, an author, too!--the +disgrace was too horrible for endurance. The enraged lover flew +to Beaumarchais, and reproached him bitterly with his treachery; +the latter sought to deny the charge, but the duke, losing all +self-possession, threw the letters in his face, calling him a base +liar. At this insult, Beaumarchais, who, whatever his enemies may +say of him, was certainly not deficient in courage, demanded +instant satisfaction. The duke, by way of answer, seized the man +of letters by the collar, Beaumarchais called his servants, who, +in their turn, summoned the guard, which speedily arrived accompanied +by the commissary, and with much difficulty they succeeded in +removing M. de Chaulnes. (who appeared to have entirely lost +his reason) from the room. + +The conduct of the duke appeared to us completely out of place, +and he would certainly have answered for it within the walls of +the Bastille, had not his family made great intercession for him. +On the other hand, Beaumarchais, who eagerly availed himself of +every opportunity of writing memorials, composed one on the +subject of his quarrel with M. de Chaulnes, complaining that a +great nobleman had dared to force himself into his house, and lay +forcible hands on him, as though he were a thief or a felon. The +whole of the pamphlet which related to this affair was admirably +written, and, like the "Barber of Seville," marked by a strongly +sarcastic vein. However, the thing failed, and the duc de la +Vrillière, the sworn enemy of men of wit and talent, caused +Beaumarchais to be immediately confined within Fort 1'Eveque. +So that the offended party was made to suffer the penalty of +the offence. + +In the same year the comte de Fuentes, ambassador from Spain to +the court of Louis XV, took leave of us. He was replaced by the +comte d'Aranda, who was in a manner in disgrace with his royal +master: this nobleman arrived preceded by a highly flattering +reputation. In the first place, he had just completed the destruction +of the Jesuits, and this was entitling him to no small thanks and +praises from encyclopedists. Every one knows those two lines +of Voltaire's-- + +"Aranda dans l'Espagne instruisant les fidèles, +A l'inquisition vient de rogner les ailes." * + + *"Aranda in Spain instructing the faithful + at the Inquisition has just clipped wings." + --Gutenberg ed. + +The simplicity of comte d'Aranda indemnified us in some degree +for the haughty superciliousness of his predecessor. Although no +longer young, he still preserved all the tone and vigor of his +mind, and only the habit which appeared to have been born with +him of reflecting, gave him a slow and measured tone in speaking. +His reserved and embarrassed manners were but ill-calculated +to show the man as he really was, and it required all the +advantages of intimacy to see him in his true value. You may +attach so much more credit to what I say of this individual, as I +can only add, that he was by no means one of my best friends. + +When Louis XV heard of the nomination of the comte d'Aranda to +the embassy from Spain to France, he observed to me, + +"The king of Spain gets rid of his Choiseul by sending him to me." + +"Then why not follow so excellent an example, sire?" replied I; " +and since your Choiseul is weary of Chanteloup, why not command +him upon some political errand to the court of Madrid." + +"Heaven preserve me from such a thing," exclaimed Louis XV. "Such +a man as he is ought never to quit the kingdom, and I have been +guilty of considerable oversight to leave him the liberty of so +doing. But to return to comte d'Aranda; he has some merit I +understand; still I like not that class of persons around me; they +are inexorable censors, who condemn alike every action of my life." + +However, not the king's greatest enemy could have found fault +with his manner of passing his leisure hours. A great part of +each day was occupied in a mysterious manufacture of cases for +relics, and one of his <valets de chambre>, named Turpigny, was +intrusted with the commission of purchasing old shrines and +reliquaries; he caused the sacred bones, or whatever else they +contain, to be taken out by Grandelatz, one of his almoners, +re-adjusted, and then returned to new cases. These reliquaries +were distributed by him to his daughters, or any ladies of the +court of great acknowledged piety. When I heard of this I mentioned +it to the king, who wished at first to conceal the fact; but, as +he was no adept at falsehood or disguise, he was compelled to +admit the fact. + +"I trust, sire," said I, "that you will bestow one of your +prettiest and best-arranged reliquaries on me." + + "No, no," returned he, hastily, "that cannot be." + + "And why not?" asked I. + +"Because," answered he, "it would be sinful of me. Ask anything +else in my power to bestow, and it shall be yours." + +This was no hypocrisy on the part of Louis XV, who, spite of his +somewhat irregular mode of life, professed to hold religion in +the highest honor and esteem; to all that it proscribed he paid +the submission of a child. We had ample proofs of this in the +sermons preached at Versailles by the abbé de Beauvais, afterwards +bishop of Senetz. + +This ecclesiastic, filled with an inconsiderate zeal, feared not +openly to attack the king in his public discourses; he even went +so far as to interfere with many things of which he was not a +competent judge, and which by no means belonged to his jurisdiction: +in fact, there were ample grounds for sending the abbé to the +Bastille. The court openly expressed its dissatisfaction at this +audacity, and for my own part I could not avoid evincing the +lively chagrin it caused me. Yet, would you believe it, Louis XV + declared, in a tone from which there was no appeal, that this +abbé had merely done his duty, and that those who had been less +scrupulous in the performance of theirs, would do well to be +silent on the subject. This was not all; the cardinal de la +Roche Aymon, his grand almoner, refused to sanction the nomination +of M. de Beauvais to the bishopric, under the pretext of his not being +nobly descended. + +M. de Beyons, bishop of Carcassone, a prelate of irreproachable +character, was deeply distressed to find that the want of birth +would exclude M. de Beauvais from the dignities of his holy +profession. He went to discuss the matter with the grand almoner, +who again advanced his favorite plea for excluding M. de Beauvais. +"My lord," replied M. de Beyons, "if I believed that nobility of +descent were the chief requisite for our advancement in our +blessed calling, I would trample my crosier under foot, and +renounce for ever all church dignities." + +M. de Beyons sought the king, and loudly complained to him of +the infatuation and obstinacy of M. de la Roche Aymon. Louis XV +however commanded that M. de Beauvais should be appointed to +the first vacant see, and when the grand almoner repeated his +objections to the preferment, the king answered, "Monsieur le +cardinal, in the days of our blessed Saviour the apostles had no +need to present their genealogical tree, duly witnessed and +attested. It is my pleasure to make M. de Beauvais a bishop; +let that end the discussion of the matter." + +The command was too peremptory to admit of any course but +instant and entire submission. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +M. D----n and madame de Blessac--Anecdote--The rendezvous and the +Ball--The wife of Gaubert--They wish to give her to the king-- +Intrigues--Their results--Letter from the duc de la Vrillière to +the countess--Reply--Reconciliation + +Amongst the pages of the chapel was one whom the king distinguished +so greatly, that he raised him to the rank of a gentleman of the +bedchamber, and confided to his charge the cabinet of medals, +for which he had imbibed a taste since his liaison with madame +de Pompadour. This esteemed page was named M. D-----n, who united +to the most amiable wit a varied and deep knowledge of men and +things. He had had adventures at an age when they are usually +just understood, and talked of them with the utmost indiscretion. +But this so far from doing him any injury in the eyes of the world +only served to make him the more admired; for women in general +have an inclination for those who do not respect their reputation. + +At the period I allude to a madame de Blessac, a very well-looking +woman, took upon herself to be very kindly disposed towards the +gentleman-in-waiting. She told him so, and thereupon M. de +D------n ranged himself under her banner, and swore eternal +constancy. However, the lady, by some accident, became greatly +smitten with the prince de la Trimouille, and without quitting +the little keeper of medals, gave him a lord for a substitute. +M. D------n soon learnt this fact, that he was not the sole +possessor of a heart which formed all his joy and glory. He +found he was deceived, and he swore to be revenged. + +Now the prince de la Trimouille had for his mistress mademoiselle +Lubert, an opera-dancer, very pretty and extraordinarily silly. +M. D------n went to her; "Mademoiselle," said he, "I come to +offer my services to you in the same way that M. de la Trimouille +has offered his to madame de Blessac, with whom I was on +exceedingly intimate terms." + +The services of young D------n were accepted, and he was happy. +He then wrote to his former mistress, saying, that anxious to give +her a proof of his sincere attachment he had visited mademoiselle +Lubert, that he might leave her at leisure to receive the visits +of the prince de la Trimouille. + +Madame de Blessac, stung to the quick, quarrelled with the prince, +who was excessively enraged with his rival; and there certainly +would have been an affair between these two gentlemen, had not +the king preserved the peace by sending his gentleman to St. +Petersburg as <attaché> to the embassy. M. D------n went to +Russia, therefore, and on his return came to see me, and is now one +of the most welcome and agreeable of the men of my private circle. + +As to madame de Blessac, she continued to carry on the war in +grand style. Her husband dying she married again a foolish count, +three parts ruined, and who speedily dissipated the other quarter +of his own fortune and the whole of his wife's. Madame Ramosky +then attacked the rich men of the day one after another. One +alone stood out against her; it was M. de la Garde, who had been +one of my admirers. Madame Ramoski wrote to him; he did not +answer. At length she determined on visiting him, and wrote him +a note, to say that she should call upon him about six o'clock in +the evening. What did M. de la Garde? Why he gave a ball on +that very evening; and, when madame Ramoski reached his hotel, +she found it illuminated. As she had come quite unprepared she +was compelled to return as she came, very discontentedly. + +But to leave madame de Blessac and M. D------n, and to talk of +my own matters. We had at this period a very great alarm at the +château, caused by the crime of a man, who preferred rather to +assassinate his wife than to allow her to dishonor him. It is +worthy of narration. + +A pretty shopkeeper of Paris, named Gaubert, who lived in the +rue de la Montagne Sainte- Geneviève, had recently married a +woman much younger than himself. From the Petit Pont to the rue +Mouffetard, madame Gaubert was talked of for her lovely face and +beautiful figure; she was the Venus of the quarter. Everybody +paid court to her, but she listened to none of her own rank, for +her vanity suggested that she deserved suitors of a loftier rank. + +Her husband was very jealous. Unfortunately M. Gaubert had for +cousin one of the valets of the king: this an, who knew the taste +of his master, thought how he could best turn his pretty cousin +to account. He spoke to her of the generosity of Louis XV, of +the grandeur of Versailles, and of the part which her beauty +entitled her to play there. In fact, he so managed to turn the +head of this young woman, that she begged him to obtain for her +a place in the king's favor. Consequently Girard (that was his + name) went to madame de Laugeac, and told her the affair as it +was. She pleased with an opportunity of injuring me, went to +Paris, and betook herself <incog.> to the shop of madame Gaubert. +She found her charming, and spoke of her to the duc de la +Vrillière, and both agreed to show her portrait to his majesty. +But how to procure this portrait? Her husband was her very shadow, +and never left her. <Le petit saint>, who was never at a loss, +issued a <lettre de cachet> against him, and the unfortunate man +was shut up in Fort l'Evéque. It was not until the portrait was f +inished that he was set at liberty. + +He returned to his home without guessing at the motives of his +detention, but he learned that his wife had had her portrait +painted during his absence, and his jealousy was set to work. +Soon a letter from Girard, a fatal letter, which fell into his +hands, convinced him of the injury done him. He took his wife +apart, and, feigning a resignation which he did not feel, "My +love," he said, "I loved thee, I love thee still: I thought, too, +that thou wert content with our competence, and wouldst not have +quitted thine husband for any other in the world: I have been +convinced otherwise. A letter from Girard informs me, that with +thine own consent the king, whom thy portrait has pleased, desires +to see thee this very day. It is a misfortune, but we must +submit. Only before thou art established at Versailles, I should +wish thee to dine with me once more. You can invite cousin +Girard, too, for I owe him something for what he has done for thee." + +The young wife promised to return and see her husband. That +evening at the performance at the court she was seated in the +same box with the marquise de Laugeac; the king's glass was +directed towards her the whole time, and at the termination of +the spectacle it was announced to her, that she was to sleep at +the château the next evening. The project was never realized. + +The next day, according to promise, the young wife went to Paris +with the valet. She informed her husband of the success which +had befallen her, and he appeared delighted. Dinner being ready, +they seated themselves at table, ate and drank. Girard began to +laugh at his cousin for his complaisance, when suddenly all desire +to jest left him. He experienced most horrible pains, and his +cousin suffered as well as himself. "Wretches!" said Gaubert to +them, "did you think I would brook dishonor? No, no! I have +deceived you both the better to wreak my vengeance. I am now +happy. Neither king nor valet shall ever possess my wife. I have +poisoned you, and you must die." The two victims implored his +pity. "Yes," said he to his wife, "thy sufferings pain me, and +I will free you from them." e then plunged a knife to her heart; +and, turning to Girard, said, "As for thee, I hate thee too much +to kill thee; die. "And he left him. + +The next day M. de Sartines came and told me the whole story. He +had learnt them from the valet, who had survived his poisoning for +some hours. Gaubert could not be found, and it was feared that +he would attempt some desperate deed. No one dared mention it to +the king, but the captain of the guards and the first gentleman +in waiting took every possible precaution; and when Louis XV +asked for the young female who was to be brought to him, they +told him that she had died of a violent distemper. It was not +until some days afterwards that the terror which pervaded the +château ceased. They had found the body of the unfortunate +Gaubert on the banks of the Seine. + +In spite of what had passed, the duc de la Vrillière had the +impudence to present himself to me. I treated him with disdain, +reproaching him and Laugeac for their conduct. He left me in +despair, and wrote me the following letter:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE,-Your anger kills me. I am +guilty, but not so much so as you may imagine. The +duty of my office compels me to do many things +which are disagreeable to me. In the affair for +which you have so slightingly treated me there +was no intent to injure you, but only to procure +for the king an amusement which should make him +the more estimate your charms and your society. +Forgive a fault in which my heart bore no share; I +am sufficiently miserable, and shall not know +repose until I be reinstated in your good graces. + +"As for the poor marchioness she is no more to +blame than myself. She feels for you as much esteem +as attachment, and is anxious to prove it at any +opportunity. I beseech you not to treat her +rigorously. Think that we only work together for +the good of the king, and that it would be unjust +of you to hate us because we have endeavored to +please this excellent prince. I hope that, contented +with this justification, you will not refuse to grant +me the double amnesty which I ask of your goodness." + +I replied thus:-- + +"Your letter, monsieur le duc, seduces me no +more than your words. I know you well, and +appreciate you fully. I was ignorant up to this +time, that amongst the duties of your office, +certain such functions were imposed upon you. +It appears that you attend to them as well as to +others, and I sincerely compliment you thereupon; +I beg of you to announce it in the 'Court Kalendar.' +It will add, I am convinced, to the universal esteem +in which you are held. + +"As to madame de Laugeac, she is even more +insignificant than you, and that is not saying much. +I thank her for her esteem and attachment, but +can dispense with any marks of them; no good can +come from such an one as she. Thus, M. le duc, +keep quiet both of you, and do not again attempt +measures which may compromise me. Do your +business and leave me to mine. + +"I am, with all due consideration, + +"Your servant, + +"COMTESSE DU BARRY" + +I mentioned this to the king, who insisted on reconciling me with +<le petit saint>, who came and knelt to me. I granted the pardon +sought, out of regard for Louis XV; but from that moment the +contempt I felt for the duke increased an hundredfold. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Conversation with the king--Marriage of the comte d'Artois-- +Intrigues--The place of lady of honor--The maréchale de Mirepoix-- +The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame du Barry--The comtesse de +Forcalquier and madame Boncault + +The king was much annoyed at the indifference I evinced for all +state secrets, and frequently observed to me, "You are not at all +like madame de Pompadour: she was never satisfied unless she +knew all that was going on, and was permitted to take an active +part in every transaction; she would frequently scold me for not +telling her things of which I was myself ignorant. She was at +the bottom of the most secret intrigues, and watched every turn +of my countenance, as though she sought to read in my eyes the +inmost thoughts of my mind. Never," continued the king, "did +woman more earnestly desire supreme command; and so completely +had she learned to play my part, that I have frequently surprised +her giving private instructions to my ambassadors, differing +altogether from what I myself had dictated to them. Upon the same +principle she maintained at various courts envoys and ministers, +who acted by her orders, and in her name; she even succeeded in +obtaining the friendship of the grave and austere Marie Thérèse, +who ultimately carried her condescension so far, as only to address +the marchioness by the title of 'cousin' and 'dear friend.' I must +confess, however, that these proceedings on the part of madame +de Pompadour were by no means agreeable to me, and I even prefer +your ignorance of politics to her incessant interference with them." + +This was said by Louis XV upon the occasion of the approaching +marriage of the comte d'Artois, the object of universal cabal and +court intrigue to all but myself, who preserved perfect tranquillity + amidst the general excitement that prevailed. + +Various reasons made the marriage of this prince a matter of +imperative necessity. In the first place, the open gallantry of +the young count had attracted a crowd of disreputable personages +of both sexes to Versailles, and many scandalous adventures +occurred within the château itself; secondly, a motive still more +important in the eyes of Louis XV, originated in the circumstance +of neither the marriage of the dauphin nor that of the comte de +Provence having been blest with any offspring. The king began +to despair of seeing any descendants in a direct line, unless +indeed heaven should smile upon the wedded life of the comte +d'Artois. Louis XV disliked the princes of the blood, and the +bare idea that the duc d'Orleans might one day wield his sceptre +would have been worse than death. + +Many alliances were proposed for the prince. Marie Josèphe, +infanta of Spain, was then in her twentieth year, and consequently +too old. The princess Marie- Françoise-Bénédictine-Anne-Elizabeth- +Josèphe-Antonine-Laurence-Ignace- Thérèse -Gertrude-Marguerite- +Rose, etc., etc., of Portugal, although younger than the first- +mentioned lady, was yet considered as past the age that would +have rendered her a suitable match for so young a bridegroom. +The daughter of any of the electoral houses of Germany was not +considered an eligible match, and the pride of the house of Bourbon +could not stoop to so ignoble an alliance. There was no +alternative left therefore, but to return to the house of Savoy, +and take a sister of the comtesse de Provence. This proposal +was well received by the royal family, with the exception of +the dauphiness, who dreaded the united power and influence of +the two sisters, if circumstances should ever direct it against +herself or her wishes; and I heard from good authority, that +both the imperial Marie Thérèse and her daughter made many +remonstrances to the king upon the subject. "The empress," said +Louis XV, one day, "believes that things are still managed here +as in the days of the marquise de Pompadour and the duc de +Choiseul. Thank heaven, I am no longer under the dominion of my +friend and her pensionaries. I shall follow my own inclinations, +and consult, in the marriage of my grandson, the interests of +France rather than those of Austria." + +The little attention paid by Louis XV to the representations of +Marie Thérèse furnished my enemies with a fresh pretext for +venting their spleen. They accused me of having been bribed by +the court of Turin, which ardently desired a second alliance with +France. I was most unjustly accused, for I can with truth affirm, +that the comte de la Marmora, ambassador from Piedmont to Paris, +neither by word nor deed made any attempt to interest me in his +success. The king was the first person who informed me of the +contemplated marriage, and my only fault (if it could be called +one) was having approved of the match. + +More than one intrigue was set on foot within the château to +separate the princes. Many were the attempts to sow the seeds +of dissension between the dauphin and the comte d'Artois, as +well as to embroil the dauphin with <monsieur>. The first +attempt proved abortive, but the faction against <monsieur> +succeeded so far as to excite a lasting jealousy and mistrust +in the mind of Marie Antoinette. This princess was far from +contemplating the marriage of the comte d'Artois with any feelings +of pleasure, and when her new sister-in-law became a mother, she +bewailed her own misfortune in being without children with all + the feelings of a young and affectionate heart. Heaven did not, +however, always deny her the boon she so ardently desired. + +You will, readily believe that the same anxiety prevailed upon +the occasion of this approaching marriage as had existed at the +unions of the dauphin and the comte de Provence, to obtain the +various posts and places the ambition of different persons led +them to desire in the establishment of the newly married pair. +Wishing on my own part to offer the maréchale de Mirepoix a proof +of my high estimation of her friendship towards me, I inquired +of her whether a superior employment about the person of the +comtesse d'Artois would be agreeable to her? + +"Alas! my dear creature," replied the good-natured maréchale, "I +am too old now to bear the toil and confinement of any service. +The post of lady of honor would suit me excellently well as far +as regards the income attached to it, but by no means agree with +my inclinations as far as discharging its functions goes. You see +I am perfectly candid with you. Listen to me; if you really wish +to oblige me, you can do this--give the title to another, and +bestow the pecuniary part of the engagement on me. In that +manner you will be able to gratify two persons at the same time." + +"I will endeavor," said I, "to meet your wishes as far as I +possibly can, and you may be assured that you shall derive some +advantage from this marriage." + +And I kept my word by shortly after obtaining for the maréchale +a sum of 50,000 livres; a most needful supply, for the poor +maréchale had to re-furnish her house, her present fittings-up +being no longer endurable by the eye of modish taste: she likewise +received an augmentation of 20,000 livres to her pension. This +proceeding was highly acceptable to her, and the king afforded +his assistance with the best possible grace. He could be generous, +and do things with a good grace when he pleased. + +The refusal of the maréchale, which it was agreed we should keep +secret, obliged me to cast my eyes upon a worthy substitute, and +I at length decided upon selecting the comtesse de Forcalquier, +a lady who possessed every charm which can charm and attract, +joined to a faultless reputation; and, setting aside her strict +intimacy with myself, the court (envious as it is) could find no +fault with her. I was convinced she would not be long in +acquiring an ascendency over the mind of the princess and I was +equally well assured she would never turn this influence against +myself; this was a point of no small importance to me. + +Madame de Forcalquier most ardently desired the place of lady of +honor, without flattering herself with any hopes of obtaining it; +and, not liking to ask me openly for it, she applied to the duc +de Cossé. I felt some regret that she had gone to work in so +circuitous a manner, and in consequence wrote her the +following note:-- + +"MADAM, --I am aware that you are desirous of +obtaining the post of lady of honor. You should +not have forgotten that I am sufficiently your +friend to have forwarded your wishes by every +possible exertion. Why did you apply to a third +person in preference to seeking my aid? I really +am more than half angry with you for so doing. +Believe me, my friends need not the intervention +of any mediator to secure my best services. You, +too, will regret not having made your first +application to me, when I tell you that I was +reserving for you the very place you were seeking +by so circuitous a route. Yes, before you had asked +it, the post of lady of honor was yours. I might +have sought in vain for a person more eminently +qualified for the office than yourself, or one in +whom I could place more unlimited confidence. +Come, my friend, I pray of you, not to thank me, +who have found sufficient reward in the pleasure +of obliging you, but to acknowledge the extreme +kindness and alacrity with which his majesty has +forwarded your wishes. + +"Believe me, dear madam, + +"Yours, very sincerely, + +"THE COMTESSE Du Barry." + +Madame de Forcalquier was not long in obeying the summons contained +in my note; she embraced me with the warmest gratitude and +friendship, delighted at finding herself so eligibly established +at court, for at that period every person regarded the comte +d'Artois as the only hope of the monarchy; and blinded by the +universal preference bestowed on him, the young prince flattered +himself that the crown would infallibly ornament his brows. I +have been told, that when first the queen's pregnancy was +perceived, a general lamentation was heard throughout the castle, +and all ranks united in deploring an event which removed the +comte d'Artois from the immediate succession to the throne. + +Up to the present moment I knew Madame de Forcalquier only as +one whose many charms, both of mind and person, joined to great +conversational powers and the liveliest wit, had rendered her the +idol of society, and obtained for her the appellation of +<Bellissima>. I knew not that this woman, so light and trifling +in appearance, was capable of one of those lively and sincere +attachments, which neither time nor change of fortune could +destroy or diminish. She had a particular friend, a madame +Boncault, the widow of a stockbroker, and she was anxious to +contribute to her well-doing. With this view she solicited of me +the place of lady in waiting for this much-esteemed individual. +Astonished at the request I put a hasty negative on it. + +"If you refuse me this fresh favor," said madame de Forcalquier, +"you will prevent me from profiting by your kindness to myself." + +"And why so?" inquired I. + +"I owe to madame Boncault," answered she, "more than my life; I +am indebted to her for tranquillity, honor, and the high estimation +in which the world has been pleased to hold me. I have now an +opportunity of proving my gratitude, and I beseech of you to +assist my endeavors." + +"But tell me, first," cried I, "what is the nature of this very +important service you say madame de Boncault has rendered you; +is it a secret, or may I hear it?" + +"Certainly," replied the countess, "although the recital is +calculated to bring the blush of shame into my cheek. Are we +alone, and secure from interruption?" + +I rang and gave orders that no person should be suffered to +disturb us; after which madame de Forcalquier proceeded +as follows:-- + +"I was scarcely seventeen years old, when my parents informed me +that they had disposed of my hand, and that I must prepare myself +to receive a husband immediately. My sentiments were not inquired +into, nor, to confess the truth, was such an investigation usual, +or deemed a matter of any import. A young female of any rank +has no voice in any transaction till the day which follows her +marriage; until then her wishes are those of her family, and her +desires bounded by the rules of worldly etiquette. I had scarcely +conversed twice or thrice with my future lord, and then only for +a few minutes at a time, before he conducted me to the foot of +the altar, there to pronounce the solemn vow which bound me his +for life. I had scarcely seen him, and barely knew whether he +was agreeable or disagreeable. He was neither young nor old, +handsome nor ugly, pleasing nor displeasing; just one of those +persons of whom the world is principally composed; one of those +men who enter or leave a saloon without the slightest curiosity +being excited respecting him. I had been told that I ought to +love my husband, and accordingly I taught myself to do so; but +scarcely had the honeymoon waned, than my fickle partner transferred +his affections from me to one of my attendants; and to such a +height did his guilty passion carry him, that he quitted his home +for Italy, carrying with him the unfortunate victim of his seductive +arts. It was during his absence that I first became acquainted +with madame Boncault; she was my own age, and equally unfortunate +in her domestic life; the same tests, griefs, and a great similarity +of temper and disposition soon united us in the bonds of the +firmest friendship; but as she possessed a stronger and more +reasonable mind than I did, she forgot her own sorrows to administer +to mine. However, if the whole truth must be owned, I ought to +confess that my chief consolation was derived from a young cousin +of my own, who freely lavished upon me that unbounded affection +I would fain have sought from my husband. + +"Meanwhile, wearied of his folly, this latter returned; and, +after having transferred his capricious fancies to at least half +a dozen mistresses, he finished where he should have begun by +attaching himself to her, who, as his wife, had every claim to +his homage. Men are unaccountable creatures, but unfortunately +for my husband his senses returned too late; my heart was too +entirely occupied to restore him to that place he had so hastily +vacated. My affections were no longer mine to bestow, but equally +shared by my estimable friend madame Boncault and my young and +captivating cousin. I was a bad hand at dissimulating, and M. de +Forcalquier perceived enough of my sentiments to excite his jealous +suspicions, and immediately removed with me to one of his estates. + +"However, my cousin (whom my husband was far from suspecting) and +madame Boncault accompanied me in my retreat; there myself and +my admirer, more thrown together than we had been at Paris, began +insensibly to lay aside the restraint we had hitherto imposed on +our inclinations, and commenced a train of imprudences which +would quickly have betrayed us had not friendship watched over +us. The excellent madame Boncault, in order to save my reputation, +took so little care to preserve her own, that M. de Forcalquier +was completely caught by her manoeuvre. One morning, finding +me alone, he said, + +"' Madam, I am by no means satisfied with what is going on here. +Your friend is wholly devoid of shame and modesty; she has been +with us but one short fortnight, and is now the open and confessed +mistress of your cousin.' + +"'Sir,' exclaimed I, trembling for what was to follow, 'you are, +you must be mistaken: the thing is impossible. Madame Boncault +is incapable--' + +"'Nonsense, madam,' replied M. de Forcalquier; 'I know what I am +saying. Several things have induced me to suspect for a long +while what I now assert with perfect confidence of its truth; but +if you are still incredulous, behold this proof of guilt which I +found just now in your cousin's chamber.' + +"So saying, my husband put into my hands a letter written by my +cousin evidently to some female in the château, whom he solicited +to admit him that evening to the usual place of rendezvous, where +he flattered himself their late misunderstanding would be cleared up. + +"After having read, or, to speak more correctly, guessed at the +contents of this fatal letter, I conjured my husband to replace +it where he had found it, lest his guests should suspect him of +having dishonorably obtained possession of their secret. He +quitted me, and I hastened in search of my friend: I threw myself +on my knees before her, and related all that had passed, accusing +myself of the basest selfishness in having consented to save my +honor at the expense of hers; then rising with renewed courage I +declared my intention of confessing my imprudence to my husband. +Madame Boncault withheld me. 'Do you doubt my regard for you?' +asked she; 'if indeed you do justice to my sincere attachment to +you, permit me to make this one sacrifice for your safety. Leave +your husband at liberty to entertain his present suspicions +respecting me, but grant me one favor in your turn. Speak to +your cousin; request him to quit the château, for should he +remain the truth will be discovered, and then, my friend, you are +lost past my endeavors to save you.' + +"Less generous than madame Boncault, I consented to follow her +advice. However, I have never forgotten her generous devotion; +and now that the opportunity has presented itself of proving my +gratitude, I beseech of you, my dear countess, to aid me in the +discharge of my debt of gratitude." + +As madame de Forcalquier finished speaking, I threw myself into +her arms. "From this moment," cried I, "madame Boncault is my +dear and esteemed <protégée>; and if I have any influence over +the mind of the king, she shall be appointed lady in waiting to +our young princess. Such a woman is a treasure, and I heartily +thank you for having mentioned her to me." + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + + Marriage of madame Boncault--The comte de Bourbon Busset --Marriage +of comte d'Hargicourt--Disgrace of the comte de Broglie--He is +replaced by M. Lemoine--The king complains of ennui--Conversations +on the subject--Entry into Paris + +Spite of the merit of madame Boncault, and the many eulogiums I +bestowed on her whilst relating her history to the king, I could +not immediately obtain the post madame de Forcalquier had requested +for this paragon of friends. His majesty replied to me by saying, +that no doubt so many virtues merited a high reward, but that +ere madame Boncault could be appointed lady in waiting to his +granddaughter, she must be presented at court under some other +name than the one she now bore. + +"Oh, if that be all, sire,"' replied I, "it will soon be effected. +Ladies who have the good fortune to possess a rich dowry and +powerful friends need never look far for a choice of husbands. +Only let madame Boncault have reason to reckon upon your patronage, +and she will have no lack of admirers." + +The king, always ready to oblige me, caused it to be understood +throughout the château that he was desirous of seeing madame +Boncault well established, as he had it in contemplation to confide +to her a place of great trust. Immediately a score of suitors +presented themselves; the preference was given to the comte de +Bourbon Busset as the person most calculated in every respect to +answer our purpose; he possessed elegant manners, an unblemished +reputation, and a descent so illustrious as to be traced even to +the reigning family. No sooner were the celebrations of this +marriage over, than I procured the formal appointment of madame +de Bourbon Busset to the post of lady in waiting to the new +princess. This nomination tended greatly to increase the high +opinion entertained of the judgment and discrimination of the +comtesse de Forcalquier, and you may easily believe, from the f +riendship I bore this lady, that I fully entered into her triumph +on the occasion. + +When the comtesse de Bourbon Busset came to return me her +acknowledgments for what I had done, she accompanied it with a +request for a fresh interference on my part: this was to obtain +for her husband the title of duke and peer. Accordingly I +mentioned her wishes to the king, observing at the same time how +very surprising it was that one so nearly related to the house of +Bourbon should not have reached the honors of the ducal peerage: +to which Louis XV replied, that he had no desire to increase the +number of princes of the blood, of whom there were quite sufficient +of legitimate birth without placing the illegitimate upon the same +footing; that Louis XIV had been a sufficient warning of the folly +of acting too indulgently towards these latter, who were only so +many additional enemies to the royal authority. To all this I +answered, that it was not fitting to treat the family of Bourbon +Busset, however illegitimate might be its origin, as though it +merely belonged to the <petite noblesse>, etc.; but my arguments +were in vain, and, as the proverb says, "I talked to the wind." +My friends recommended me not to press the subject, and the matter +ended there. However, in order to smooth the refusal as much as +possible, I procured M. de Bourbon Busset the appointment of first +gentleman usher to the young prince. + +The establishment of the comtesse d'Artois was now formed. M. +de Chéglus, bishop of Cahors, had the post of first almoner; and +strange to say, although a prelate, was a man of irreproachable +virtue; he had little wit but strong sense, and was better known +by his many charitable deeds than by the brilliancy of his +sayings. He was eminently suited for the office now conferred on +him; and those who knew him best were the least surprised to find +the nomination had fallen on him. + +I also procured a post in the establishment of the young couple +for my sister-in-law, the comtesse d'Hargicourt. Her maiden +name was Fumel, an ancient family in Guienne, and M. de Fumel, +her father, was governor of the château Trompette at Bordeaux. +This marriage had at first encountered many difficulties from the +deadly hatred which existed in the château against us. Comte +Jean, perceiving that things were going against us, applied to +the king himself for assistance in the affair. Louis XV could +not endure him, but his dislike was manifested only by an uneasy +timidity in his presence, and he freely granted any request that +would the soonest free him from his presence. The king acted +upon the same principle in the present conjuncture; he bestowed +a million of livres upon the comte d'Hargicourt, that is to say, +500,000 livres to be employed in paying the debts of the comte de +Fumel, and in freeing his estates from a dowry of 60,000 livres to +be paid to his daughter on her marriage, with various other +clearances and payments; besides this my brother-in-law, comte +d'Hargicourt, was appointed captain in the prince's Swiss guards, +one of the most honorable commissions that could have been +conferred on him. + +The comte de Crussel and the prince d'Henin were named captains +of the guard to M. d'Artois. This prince d'Henin was of such +diminutive stature that he was sometimes styled, by way of jest, +the "prince of dwarfs," "the dwarf of princes." He was the +beloved nephew of the maréchale de Mirepoix, whose fondness +could not supply him with the sense he so greatly needed; he was +besides very profligate, and continually running into some +difficulty or other by his eager pursuit after pleasure. It is +related of him, that the duc de Lauragnais, wearied with seeing +the prince d'Henin for ever fluttering about his mistress, +mademoiselle Arnoult, drew up a consultation, to inquire whether +it were possible to die of ennui: this he submitted to several +physicians and celebrated lawyers, who having united in replying +affirmatively, he caused the consultation with its answer to be +forwarded to the prince d'Henin, warning him henceforward to +cease his visits to mademoiselle Arnoult; or, in the event of her +death, he would certainly be taken up as a party concerned in +effecting it. + +The opposite party was now more irritated than ever by the many +places and employments I caused to be given either to my own +friends, or to those for whom they solicited my interest. The +duchesse de Grammont, flattering herself that she might now take +the field against me with advantage, arrived in Paris one fine +morning from Chanteloup. Those about me were full of wrath, I +know not for why, at her arrival, but I explained to them, that +they were mistaken in supposing madame de Grammont an exile; she +had voluntarily accompanied her brother into his retreat, and when +that was no longer agreeable to her she returned to Paris. However, +her journey did neither good nor harm; she had many invitations +to fêtes given in honor of herself, was frequently asked to dinners, +balls, etc., but that was all; no person set their wits to work to +reinstate her in the good graces of the king. I soon comprehended +the forlorn hopes of my poor enemy, and my former animosity soon +gave way to the play with which she inspired me. + +About the period of the marriage of the comtesse d'Artois, an +individual of some eminence fell into disgrace; this was the +comte de Broglie. This gentleman, as you know, was private +minister to Louis XV, intrusted for some time past with his +correspondence, and affected the airs of a favorite. He solicited +upon the present occasion the honor of going to meet the princess +at the bridge of Beauvoisin, a request which was granted. This +was not sufficient for him; he begged for a month's leave of +absence, with permission to proceed to Turin: this depended on +the duc d'Aiguillon, who was by no means partial to the comte de +Broglie. He said to me when speaking of him, + +"I feel no inclination to oblige this minister; on the contrary, +he may wait long enough for what he desires as far as I am concerned. + +"I fear he will be greatly offended with you," answered I. + +"Oh, never mind that," replied the duke; "if he grows sullen +about it, why well; if he is loud and vehement, better still; +and should his anger lead him to the commission of any act of +folly, depend upon it we will take advantage of it." + +As I foresaw, the comte de Broglie was deeply offended, and wrote +to the duc d'Aiguillon a letter full of imprudent expressions. This +was exactly what this latter desired, who eagerly carried and read +the paper to the different members of the council, who heard it +with every expression of surprise and displeasure; the king viewed +it as a piece of open rebellion, and resolved to punish the writer +with his heaviest displeasure; the duc d'Aiguillon asked nothing +better, and ere an hour had elapsed, the duc de la Vrillière +received orders to draw up a <lettre de cachet> in which the +king expressed his discontent of the comte de Broglie, deprived +him of the commission he had given him to go and receive the +princess of Savoy, and exiled him to Buffée, one of his estates +near Angoulême. + +This was a matter of great talk at the château; no one could +imagine what had made the comte de Broglie conduct himself so +foolishly. It was at this period that M. d Marchault said of +him, when he saw him pass his house on his way to Buffée, "He has +the ministry by the tail." + +M. de Broglie having gone, his majesty was compelled to look out +for another confidant, and raised to that eminence M. Lemoine, +clerk of his closet. M. Lemoine, in an inferior station had shown +himself competent to fill the highest offices in the state. Such +abilities are rare. He was an excellent lawyer, admirable +chancellor of exchequer, and had the king said to him, "I make +thee a general," he would, the next day, have commanded armies +and gained victories. Despite his merit he lived long unknown: +the reason was obvious--he knew nothing of intrigue; and his wife, +though pretty, was discreet; and these are not the means to advance +a man at court. + +Louis XV, who knew something of men when he chose to study them., +was not slow in detecting the talent of Lemoine, and in consequence +gave him that station in which de Broglie had been installed. No +sooner had Lemoine glanced over the affairs submitted to his +control, than he became master of them, as much as though they +had occupied the whole of his life, and in a short time he gave +to his situation an importance which it had never before reached. +Unwilling, however, to incur hatred, he enveloped himself in +profound mystery, so much so that nobody, with the exception of +Messrs. d'Aiguillon and de Sartines, knew anything of his labors. +This pleased the king, who was averse to publicity. + +The duc d'Aiguillon could not conceal his joy at being freed +from de Broglie, his most troublesome colleague. It was a grand +point gained for him, as he could now make sure of the post of +secretary-at-war, the main object of his ambition. He wished to +be placed in the duc de Choiseul's position, and to effect this +he redoubled his attentions towards the king, who, though not +really regarding him, at length treated him as the dearest of his +subjects. There are inexplicable mysteries in weak characters; +obstinacy alarms them, and they yield because they hate resistance. + +The king was <ennuied> to death, and became daily more dull and +heavy. I saw his gloom without knowing how to disperse it, but +it did not make me particularly uncomfortable. Occupied with my +dear duc de Brissac I almost forgot his majesty for him: the +maréchale de Mirepoix, who had more experience than I had in the +affairs at Versailles, and who knew the king well, was alarmed +at my negligence, and spoke to me of it. + +"Do you not see," she said, one day, "what a crisis is at hand?" + +"What crisis?" I asked. + +"The king is dying of ennui." + +"True." + +"Does it not alarm you?" said the maréchale. + +"Why should it?" + +"What makes him so? Think well when I tell you that your mortal +enemy has seized Louis XV; your most redoubtable enemy, <ennui>!" + +"Very well; but what would you have me do?" + +"You must amuse him." + +'That is easier said than done." + +"You are right, but it is compulsory. Believe me, kings are not +moulded like other men: early disgusted with all things, they +only exist in a variety of pleasures; what pleases them this evening +will displease them tomorrow; they wish to be happy in a different +way. Louis XV is more kingly in this respect than any other. +You must devise amusements for him." + +"Alas," I replied, "how? Shall I give him a new tragedy of la +Harpe's,--he will yawn; an opera of Marmontel,--he will go to +sleep. Heavens! how unfortunate I am!" + +"Really, my dear," replied the maréchale, "I cannot advise you; +but I can quote a powerful example. In such a case madame de +Pompadour would have admitted a rival near the throne." + +"Madame de Pompadour was very amiable, my dear," I replied, "and +I would have done so once or twice, but the part of Mother Gourdan +does not suit me; I prefer that of her young ladies." + +At these words the maréchale laughed, whilst I made a long grave +face. At this instant comte Jean entered, and exclaimed, + +"Really, ladies, you present a singular contrast. May I ask you, +sister, what causes this sorrow? What ails you?" + +"Oh, brother!" was my response, "the king is dying of ennui." + +"That is no marvel," said my brother-in-law. + +"And to rouse him," I added, "it is necessary, the maréchale says, +that I must take a pretty girl by the hand, and present her to +the king with these words: 'Sire, having found that you grow +tired of me, I present this lady to you, that you may amuse +yourself with her." + + 'That would be very fine," replied comte Jean; "it would show +him that you had profited by my advice." Then, whispering in my +ear, "You know, sister, I am capable of the greatest sacrifices +for the king." + +"What are you saying, Comte Jean?" asked the maréchale, who +had heard some words. + +"I said to my sister," answered he, coolly, "that she ought to be +executed to please the king." + +"And you, too, brother," I cried. + +"Yes, sister," said he, with a theatrical tone, "I see the dire +necessity, and submit to it unrepiningly. Let us yield to fate, +or rather, let us so act as to make it favorable to us. The +king requires some amusement, and let us find him a little wench. +We must take heed not to present any fine lady: no, no; by all +the devils--! Excuse me, maréchale, 'tis a habit I have." + +"It is nature, you mean," replied the maréchale: "the nightingale +is born to sing, and you, comte Jean, were born to swear; is it +not true?" + + "<Morbleu>, madam, you are right." + +After this conversation the maréchale went out, and Comte Jean +departed to arrange his plans for the king's amusement. + +However, the ennui of Louis XV was somewhat dissipated by the +tidings of the various incidents which occurred at the grand entry +of the dauphin and dauphiness into Paris. We learnt that the duc +de Brissac, as governor of Paris, on receiving the dauphiness, said, + +"Madam, you see about you two hundred thousand lovers." He was +right; the princess looked like an angel. I had taken a mortal +aversion to her. Alas! circumstances have too fully avenged me: +this unfortunate queen loses popularity daily; her perfidious +friends have sacrificed her to their interests. I pity her. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Visit from a stranger--Madame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical +monk--Continuation of this history--Deliverance of a state prisoner-- +A meeting with the stranger + +One day, at an hour at which I was not accustomed to see any person, +a lady called and requested to see me; she was informed that I was +visible to no person. No matter, she persisted in her request, +saying that she had to speak to me upon matters of the first +importance, and declared, that I should be delighted with her +visit. However, my servants, accustomed to the artifices practised +by persons wishing to see me for interested purposes, heeded +very little the continued protestations of my strange applicant, +and peremptorily refused to admit her; upon which the unknown +retired with the indication of extreme anger. + +Two hours afterwards a note, bearing no signature, was brought +me, in which the late scene was described to me, and I was further +informed, that the lady, so abruptly repulsed by my servants, +had presented herself to communicate things which concerned not +only my own personal safety but the welfare of all France; a +frightful catastrophe was impending, which there was still time +to prevent; the means of so doing were offered me, and I was +conjured not to reject them. The affair, if treated with +indifference, would bring on incalculable misfortunes and horrors, +to which I should be the first victim. All this apparent mystery +would be cleared up, and, the whole affair explained, if I +would repair on the following day, at one o'clock, to the Baths +of Apollo. A grove of trees there was pointed out as a safe +place of rendezvous, and being so very near my residence, calculated +to remove any fears I might entertain of meeting a stranger, who, +as the note informed me, possessed the means of entering this +secluded spot. I was again conjured to be punctual to the appointed +hour as I valued my life. + +The mysterious and solemn tone of this singular epistle struck +me with terror. Madame de Mirepoix was with me at the moment I +received it. This lady had a peculiar skill in physiognomy, and +the close attention she always paid to mine was frequently extremely +embarrassing and disagreeable She seemed (as usual) on the present +occasion to read all that was passing in my mind; however, less +penetrating eyes than hers might easily have perceived, by my +sudden agitation, that the paper I held in my hand contained +something more than usual. + +"What ails you?" asked she, with the familiarity our close +intimacy warranted; "does that note bring you any bad news?" + +"No," said I; "it tells me nothing; but it leaves me ample room +for much uneasiness and alarm: but, after all, it may be merely +some hoax, some foolish jest played off at my expense; but judge +for yourself." So saying, I handed her the letter: when she had +perused it, she said, + +"Upon my word, if I were in your place, I would clear up this +mystery; good advice is not so easily met with as to make it a +matter of difficulty to go as far as the Baths of Apollo to seek +it. It is by no means impossible but that, as this paper tells +you, some great peril is hanging over you. The marquise de +Pompadour," continued madame de Mirepoix, "received more than +once invitations similar to this, which she never failed to attend; +and I recollect one circumstance, in which she had no cause to +regret having done so: without the kind offices of one of these +anonymous writers it is very possible that she might have expired +heart broken, and perhaps forsaken in some state prison, instead +of ending her days in the château of Versailles, honored even to +the tomb by the friendship and regard of the king of France." + +I asked my friend to explain her last observation, and she replied +as follows:-- + +"One day an anonymous billet, similar to this, was left for +madame de Pompadour: it requested her to repair, at a specified +hour, to the church of the Jacobins, rue Saint Honoré, in Paris, +where she was promised some highly important communications. +The marchioness was punctual to the rendezvous; and, as she +entered the church, a Jacobite, so entirely wrapped in his capuchin +as to conceal his features, approached her, took her by the hand, +and conducted her to an obscure chapel; where, requesting her to +sit down, he took a seat himself, and began as follows:-- + +"'Madam, you are about to lose the favor of the king; a party is +at work to give a new mistress to the king; the lady is young, +beautiful, witty, and possessed of an insatiable ambition; for the +last six months she has been in the daily habit of seeing the king, +unknown to you and all the court, and this has been accomplished +in the following manner: her father is <valet de chambre> to his +majesty, and she has an only brother, two years younger than +herself, whose astonishing resemblance to her has created continual +mistakes; this brother is promised the inheritance of his father's +office; and, under pretext of acquiring the due initiation for +future post, has been permitted every morning to attend the +king's rising. + +"'However, this embryo page is the sister, who comes each morning +disguised in her brother's clothes. The king has had many private +conversations with the designing beauty; and, seduced by her +many charms of mind and person, as well as dazzled by the hidden +and concealed nature of their intrigue, finds his passion for her +increases from day to day. Many are the designing persons ready +to profit by the transfer of the king's affections from you to this +fresh favorite; and they flatter themselves the desired event is +close at hand. You are to be confined by a <lettre de cachet> +to the isle of St. Margaret, for the place of your exile is already +chosen. The principal conspirators are two powerful noblemen, +one of whom is reputed your most intimate friend. I learned all +these particulars,' continued the Jacobite, 'from a young penitent, +but not under the seal of confession. This penitent is the +particular friend of the female in question, who confided the +secret to her, from whom I received it, accompanied by the most +flattering promises of future protection and advancement. These +splendid prospects excited her jealous envy, and she came here +to confess the whole to me, requesting I would seek you out and +inform you of the whole affair. Here is a letter she obtained +unknown to her aspiring friend, which she wishes you to see, as +a pledge of the veracity of her statement.' The marchioness cast +her eyes over the paper held out to her by the Jacobite. It was +a letter addressed by the king to his new mistress. + +"You may imagine the terror of madame de Pompadour, her anxiety +and impatience to return to Versailles. However, ere she quitted +the friendly monk she assured him of her lasting gratitude, and +begged of him to point out how she could best prove it. 'For +myself,' replied he, 'I ask nothing; but if you would render me +your debtor, confer the first vacant bishopric on a man whom I +greatly esteem, the abbé de Barral.' You will easily suppose that +the abbé de Barral had not long to wait for his preferment: as +for the Jacobite the marchioness never again saw or heard anything +of him. She mentioned him to the newly appointed bishop, who +could not even understand to what she alluded. She related the +affair, when he called heaven to witness that he knew nothing of +any Jacobite either directly or indirectly." + +"And how did the marchioness get rid of her rival?" inquired I +of madame de Mirepoix. + +"By a very simple and effective expedient. She sent for the duc +de Saint Florentin, whom she requested immediately to expedite +two <lettres de cachet>; one for the <valet de chambre>, who was +shut up in the château de Lectoure, and the other for the daughter, +whom the marchioness sent to the isle of St. Marguerite, to +occupy the place she had so obligingly destined for herself." + +"And now," asked I, "did these unfortunate people ever get out +of prison?" + +"That I know not," answered the maréchale; "and, God forgive me, +for aught I ever inquired they may be there now." + +"If so," cried I, "the conduct of both the king and the duc de la +Vrillière is abominable and unpardonable." + +"Why, bless your heart, my dear," exclaimed the maréchale, "do +you expect that his majesty should recollect all the pretty +women he has intrigued with, any more than the poor duke can be +expected to keep a list in his memory of the different persons +he has sent to a prison? He would require a prodigious recollection +for such a purpose." This unfeeling reply filled me with indignation, +and redoubled the pity I already felt for the poor prisoners. I +immediately despatched a note to the duc de Saint Florentin, +requesting he would come to me without delay: he hastened to obey +my summons. When he had heard my recital he remained silent +some minutes, as though collecting his recollections upon the +subject, and then replied, + +"I do indeed remember that some obscure female was confined in +the château of the isle Sainte Marguerite at the request of madame +de Pompadour, but I cannot now say, whether at the death of the +marchioness any person thought of interceding for her release." + +"That is precisely what I wish to ascertain," cried I; "return to +your offices, monsieur le duc, and use your best endeavors to +discover whether this unfortunate girl and her parent are still +in confinement; nor venture again in my presence until you have +despatched the order for their deliverance: you will procure a +conveyance for them from their prison to Paris at the expense of +government. You understand, my lord?" + +The following morning the duke brought me the desired information. +He told me, that the father had been dead seven years, but the +daughter still remained a prisoner: the order for restoring her +to liberty had been forwarded the night preceding. I will now +briefly relate the end of this mournful story. + +Three weeks after this I received an early visit from the duc de +la Vrillière, who came to apprize me, that my protégée from the +isle of St. Marguerite was in my antechamber awaiting permission +to offer me her grateful thanks. I desired she might instantly be +admitted; her appearance shocked me; not a single trace of that +beauty which had proved so fatal to its possessor now remained. +She was pale, emaciated, and her countenance, on which care and +confinement had imprinted the wrinkles of premature old age, was +sad and dejected even to idiocy. I could have wished that madame +de Pompadour, by way of punishment for her cruelty, could but +have seen the object of her relentless persecution. I think she +would have blushed for herself. When the poor girl entered my +apartment she looked wildly around her, and casting herself at +my feet, inquired with many tears to what motive she was indebted +for my generous interference in her behalf. The duc de la +Vrillière contemplated with the utmost <sang froid> the spectacle +of a misery he had so largely contributed to. I requested of him +to leave us to ourselves. I then raised my weeping <protégée>, +consoled her to the best of my ability, and then requested her +to give me the history of her captivity. Her story was soon +told: she had been an inhabitant of the same prison for seventeen +years and five months, without either seeing a human being, or +hearing the sound of a human voice. Her recital made me shudder, +and I promised her that henceforward her life should be rendered +as happy as it had hitherto been miserable. + +The king supped with me that evening. By some singular chance he +was on this occasion in the happiest temper possible: he laughed, +sung, joked with such unusual spirits, that I hesitated ere I +disturbed a gaiety to which Louis XV was so little prone. +However, I took him aside, saying, "Sire, I have to ask atonement +and reparation for a most horrible piece of injustice." After which, +I proceeded to acquaint him with the distressing history of his +unfortunate mistress. He appeared perfectly well to recollect +the female to whom I alluded; and when I ceased speaking, he +said, with a half-suppressed sigh, + +"Poor creature! she has indeed been unfortunate; seventeen years +and five months in prison! The duc de la Vrillière is greatly to +blame in the affair; but when once he has placed persons between +four walls, he thinks he has fulfilled the whole of his duty. He +should recollect, that a good memory is a necessary qualification +for situation he holds; it is indeed an imperative duty in him to +think of the poor wretches he deprives of their liberty." + +"And in you too, sire," interrupted I; "and it appears to me that +you have lost sight of it, in the present affair, as culpably as +your minister." + +"I confess it, indeed," answered Louis XV; "but the unfortunate +sufferer herself was not without a due share of blame in the +matter. Her presumption had greatly irritated madame de Pompadour, +who punished her as she thought fit: of course I could not, +consistently with the regard I professed for the marchioness, +interfere in the execution of her vengeance." + +"I do not agree with you," said I. + +"Why, what else could I do?" asked Louis XV, with the most +imperturbable calmness; "she had superior claims, was acknowledged +as chief favorite, and I could not refuse her the sacrifice of a +mere temporary caprice." + +"Very well said," answered I, "and founded upon excellent +principles; but surely it was not necessary to shut up the object +of your caprice in a state prison, and, above all, to leave her +there for such a length of time. However, the mischief is done; +and all we have to think of is to repair it. You have now, sire, +a fine opportunity of displaying your royal munificence." + +"You think, then," returned Louis XV, "that I am bound to make +this unhappy girl some present? Well, I will; to-morrow I will +send her 10,000 louis." + +"A thousand louis!" exclaimed I, clasping my hands; "what, as a +recompense for seventeen years' imprisonment? No, no, sire, you +shall not get off so easily; you must must settle on her a pension +of 12,000 livres, and present her with an order for 100,000 more +as an immediate supply." + +"Bless me!" ejaculated the king, "why all, the girls in my +kingdom would go to prison for such a dowry: however, she shall +have the pension; but, in truth, my treasury is exhausted." + +"Then, sire," returned I, "borrow of your friends." + +"Come, come, let us finish this business; I will give your +<protégée> 4000 louis." + +"No, I cannot agree," answered I, "to less than 5000." + +The king promised me I should have them; and, on the following +day, his valet Turpigny brought me the order for the pension, and +a bag, in which I found only 4000 louis. This piece of meanness +did not surprise me, but it made me shrug up my shoulders, and +sent me to my cabinet to take the sum deficient from my own funds. +With this dowry my poor <protégée> soon found a suitable husband +in the person of one of her cousins, for whom I procured a +lucrative post under government. These worthy people have since +well repaid me by their grateful and devoted attachment for the +service I was enabled to render them. One individual of their +family was, however, far from resembling them either in goodness +of heart or generosity of sentiment--I allude to the brother of the +lady; that same brother who formerly supplied his sister with his +clothes, that she might visit the king unsuspected. Upon the +incarceration of the father the son succeeded him in his office +of <valet de chambre>, and acquired considerable credit at court; +yet, although in the daily habit of seeing the king, he neither +by word nor deed sought to obtain the deliverance of either his +parent or sister. On the contrary, he suffered the former to +perish in a dungeon, and allowed the latter to languish in one +during more than seventeen years, and in all probability she +would have ended her days without receiving the slightest mark +of his recollection of his unfortunate relative. I know no trait +of base selfishness more truly revolting than the one I have +just related. + +But this story has led me far from the subject I was previously +commencing: this narrative, which I never call to mind without a +feeling of pleasure, has led me away in spite of myself. Still I +trust that my narrative has been sufficiently interesting to induce +you to pardon the digression it has occasioned, and now I will +resume the thread of my discourse. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + + A conspiracy--A scheme for poisoning madame du Barry--The four +bottles--Letter to the duc d'Aiguillon--Advice of the ministers-- +Opinion of the physicians--The chancellor and lieutenant of +police--Resolution of the council + +Have you any curiosity to learn the dénouement of the story I +was telling you of my anonymous correspondent? Read what follows, +then, and your wishes shall be gratified: that is, if you have +patience to hear a rather long story; for I cannot promise you +that mine will very speedily be completed. Let me see: where +did I leave off? Oh, I recollect. + +I was telling you that madame de Mirepoix urged me to repair, as +I was requested, to the Baths of Apollo. I had a key which opened +all the park gates; we entered the park, took the path which turns +off to the left, and after having walked for about five minutes, +found ourselves opposite the person we were in search of. It +was a female of from thirty to forty years of age, of diminutive +stature, dressed after the fashion of the <bourgeoises> of the +day, but still an air of good taste was evident through the +simplicity of her attire. Her countenance must once have been +handsome, if one might judge by the beauty of her eyes and mouth, +but she was pale, withered and already impressed with the traces +of a premature old age. But her beauties, although faded, were +still animated by a quick and ever-varying expression of a keen +and lively wit. + +Whilst I made these hasty remarks the stranger saluted me, and +afterwards the maréchale de Mirepoix, with a ease of manner +which perfectly surprised me. Nor did she in any other instance +betray the embarrassment of a person who finds herself for the +first time in the presence of persons of a rank superior to her own. + +"Madam," she said, addressing herself to me, "I trust you will +pardon me for having given you the trouble of coming hither; I +might have spared it you, had your people permitted me to see +you when I called at your house yesterday." + +"Your invitation," replied I, "was so pressingly enforced, that I +confess my curiosity has been most keenly awakened." + +"I will immediately satisfy it," answered she, " but what I have +to say must be told to yourself alone." + +"Well, then," said the maréchale, "I will leave you for the +present: I am going to admire that fine group of Girardon"; and +so saying, she quitted the walk in which I was standing. + +Directly she was gone the stranger said to me, "Madam, I will +explain myself without reserve or unnecessary prolixity; I beseech +of you to listen attentively whilst I tell you, in the first place, +that both your life and that of the king is in imminent danger." + +"Heavens!" cried I, " what do I hear?" + +"That which I well know to be true," answered the female, with +a firm voice; "I repeat that your life and that of the king is +in danger." + +These words, pronounced in a low, solemn voice, froze me with +terror; my limbs tottered under me, and I almost sank to the +ground. The stranger assisted me to a bench, offered me her arm, +and when she saw me a little recovered, she continued, + +"Yes, madam, a conspiracy is afoot against yourself and Louis XV. +You are to be made away with out of revenge, and Louis XV is to +suffer, in the hopes of his death effecting a change in the +present face of affairs." + +"And who," inquired I, "are the conspirators?" + +'The Jesuits and parliamentarians; these ancient rivals, equally +persecuted by the royal government, have determined to make +common cause against their mutual foe. The Jesuits flatter +themselves that the dauphin inherits the kind feelings entertained +by his father for their order, and the parliamentarians justly +reckon upon the friendly disposition of the young prince towards +the old magistracy. Both parties equally flatter themselves that +a fresh reign would bring about their re-establishment, and they +are impatient to accelerate so desirable an event: the conspiracy +is directed by four Jesuits and the same number of the ex-members +of the parliament of Paris. The remainder of the two corporations +are not initiated in the secret of the enterprise. I am not able +at present to give you the names of the eight conspirators, the +person from whom I derive my information not having as yet +confided them even to myself, but I trust ere long to obtain such + a mark of confidence." + +The female ceased speaking, and I remained in a state of doubt, +fear, and alarm, impossible to describe. Still one thing appeared +clear to me, that information so mysteriously conveyed was not +deserving of belief, unless supported by more corroborating +testimony. My unknown friend evidently divined all that was +passing in my mind, for she observed, + +"I perceive that my recital appears to you improbable; one +particular which I will state may perhaps overcome your i +ncredulity. Are you not in the habit, madam, of taking every +evening <eau sucrée> mixed with a large proportion of orange- +flower water?" + +"I am," replied I. + +"This day," continued my informant, "you will receive four bottles +of orange-flower water contained in a box bearing the usual +appearances of having come from the perfumers', but it is sent +by other hands, and the liquor contained in the flasks is mingled +with a deadly poison." + +These last words made me tremble. "You must complete your kind +offices," cried I to my visitor, "by bringing me acquainted with +the person from whom you have derived your intelligence: that +individual must be acquainted with the whole of the plot; and, +believe me, I will not be unmindful of either of you." + +"Stay one instant," replied the lady, without evincing the slightest +emotion; "the man who was my informant is assuredly aware of the +names of those concerned in the conspiracy, but he has charged +me not to state who he is but upon certain conditions; a +recommendation I shall most certainly attend to." + +"Be assured," interrupted I, "that your demands shall be acceded +to; you shall yourself fix the price of your entire disclosure of +every fact connected with the business." + +"It will not be an exorbitant one," replied the lady; "merely +600,000 francs, to be equally divided between the friend you +desire to know and myself; for this sum, which is not a very +large one, you may command the services of both of us. One word +more, madam, and I am gone. Observe a strict silence upon all I +have told you; or, if you must have a counsellor in such perilous +circumstances, confide merely in some tried friend; say the duc +d'Aiguillon or the chancellor, or both should you deem it necessary; +but have a care how you admit a third to a participation of the +affair; you could scarcely select another person without choosing +one already corrupted by your enemies. It is said that they are +in correspondence with even those persons immediately about the +person of the king. Adieu, madam; I will see you at your own +apartments the day after to-morrow, when I trust you will have +ready 100,000 francs, on account of the 600,000 I have stipulated for." + +So saying, she curtsied and left me, overcome with surprise. A +thousand fearful ideas pressed upon my brain, and my heart sickened +at the long train of gloomy images which presented themselves. I +had had sufficient proofs since my elevation of the deadly hatred +borne me by those whom my good fortune had rendered my enemies: +yet, hitherto, my strongest apprehensions had never been directed +to anything more errible than being supplanted in the favor of the +king, or being confined in my château du Lucienne. The horrible +ideas of murder, poison, or assassination by any means, had never +presented themselves to me. All at once I recollected the young +man in the garden of the Tuileries; his predictions of my future +greatness had been accomplished. He had also announced to me +fearful vicissitudes, and had threatened to appear to me when +these catastrophes were about to occur. Doubtless he would keep +his word; now was the time for so doing, and I timidly glanced +around as I caught the sound of a slight rustle among the branches, +fully expecting to see my young prophet; but the figure which met +my eye was that of madame de Mirepoix, who, tired of waiting, +had come to rejoin me. + +'What! "said she, "are you alone? I did not observe your visitor +leave you. Did she vanish into air?" + +"Very possibly," answered I. + +"So then," replied the maréchale, "she proved a fairy, or some +beneficent <génie>, after all?" + +"If she were a spirit," said I, "it certainly was not to the better +sort she belonged." + +"Have a care," cried the maréchale; "I have already formed a +thousand conjectures as to what this woman has been telling." + +"And all your suppositions," replied I, "would fall short of the +reality. Listen, my dear maréchale," added I, rising, and taking +her arm to proceed homewards, "I have been strictly prohibited +from admitting any counsellor but the duc d'Aiguillon and the +chancellor; still I can have no reserves with you, who I know, f +rom the regard you bear both to the king and myself, will advise +me to the best of your power." + +As we walked towards the château, I explained to my companion +the joint conspiracy of the Jesuits and ancient members of the +parliament against the king's life and my own. When I had ceased +speaking, she replied, + +"All this is very possible; despair may conduct the Jesuits and +parliamentarians to the greatest extremities; but still this +mysterious female may be nothing more than an impostor. At any +rate, I am anxious to learn whether the box she described has been +left at your house; if so, it will be a strong corroboration, if +not, a convincing proof of the falsehood of what she asserts." + +We had by this time reached the bottom of the staircase which +conducted to my apartments; we ascended the stairs rapidly, and +the first person I met in the anteroom was Henriette. + +"Henriette," said I, "has any thing been brought for me during +my absence?" + +"Nothing except a box of orange-flower water from Michel the +perfumer's, which I presume you ordered, madam." + +A glance of mutual surprise and consternation passed between the +maréchale and myself. We entered my chamber, where madame de +Mirepoix opened the fatal box; it contained the four bottles +exactly as had been described. We regarded each other in profound +silence, not daring to communicate our reflections. However, it +was requisite to take some steps, and, catching up a pen, I hastily +wrote the following billet to the duc d'Aiguillon, + +"MONSIEUR LE DUC,-- Whatever may be the affairs +with which you are at present occupied, I pray of +you to throw them aside, and hasten to me instantly +upon receipt of this. Nothing can equal in importance +the subject upon which I wish to see you; I cannot +now explain myself fully, but prepare for news of +the most horrible description, and it refers to the +safety and preservation of the most valuable life +in the kingdom. I cannot delay time by writing +more; I can only beseech of you not to lose one +moment in obeying this summons. Adieu; fail not +to come and bring me back this note." + +The duke hastened to me full of terror and alarm. + +"Your letter has really frightened me," said he; "what can be the +matter? Surely the life of his majesty is not in danger?" + +"Too truly is it," answered I; "but sit down, and you shall know +all the affair. The maréchale is already aware of the matter +and need not withdraw." + +The duke listened with extreme attention to the recital of my +interview in the grove surrounding the Baths of Apollo, as well +as to the account of the discourse I had held there with the +strange female. I endeavoured to relate the conversation as +minutely and accurately as possible, but still the duke sought +further particulars. He inquired the style of countenance, dress, +manner, and tone of voice possessed by the <incognita>. One +might have supposed, by the closeness of his questions, that he +already fancied he had identified this mysterious personage: he +then examined the box, which stood on the table, and remarked, +"This is a very serious affair, nor can I undertake the management +of it alone; it involves a too great responsibility. Spite of the +lady's assertions, I am confident the fullest confidence might +be placed in all the ministers. However, I will first have a +conference with M. de Saint-Florentin and the chancellor, in +whose presence I will send for the lieutenant of police; and the +contents of these bottles shall be immediately analyzed." + +The duke, without quitting me, wrote immediately to his two +colleagues as well as to M. de Sartines, requesting this latter +to repair to my apartment without delay. One of the ministers +summoned by M. d'Aiguillon was not at that moment at Versailles, +having left at an early hour in the morning for Paris. Neither +he nor M. de Sartines could possibly be with us before eight +o'clock in the evening; it was therefore agreed to adjourn our +conference till their arrival. Meanwhile M. d'Aiguillon, the +maréchale, and myself, remained in a state of the most cruel +anxiety. The duke first blamed me for not having caused the +woman to be arrested, and afterwards he confessed to the maréchale, +that perhaps it was better the conspiracy should be allowed time +to ripen into maturity. Daring this time the liquid contained +in the four bottles was being decomposed: M. Quesnay, first +physician, Messrs. Thiebault and Varennes, visiting physicians, +M. de la Martinière, counsellor of state, surgeon to his majesty, +as well as Messrs. Ducor and Prost, apothecaries to his majesty, +had been collected together for this purpose by the duc d'Aiguillon. + +These gentlemen came to report the termination of their experiments +at the very moment when the chancellor and lieutenant of police +entered the room; the duc de la Vrillière had preceded them by +about five minutes; the duc d'Aiguillon requested these gentlemen +to be seated. The doctors Quesnay and la Martinière were +introduced, and desired to make known the result of their operations. +My newly-arrived guests, who as yet understood nothing of what +was going on, were struck with astonishment at hearing it said, +that the four bottles of orange-flower water contained a +considerable proportion of a most active poison, of which a few +drops would be sufficient to cause instantaneous death. Having +thus executed their commission, the medical gentlemen bowed +and retired. + +M. d'Aiguillon then explained to my wondering friends the horrible +affair which had occasioned their being sent for so hastily. I +cannot tell you what effect this disclosure produced on M. de la +Vrillière or M. de Maupeou, my whole attention being fixed upon +M. de Sartines. You may suppose that a lieutenant of police, +particularly one who piqued himself upon knowing every thing, +could not feel very much at his ease, when each word that was +uttered convicted him either of incapacity or negligence. His +brow became contracted, he hemmed, choked, fidgeted about, and +appeared as though he would have given every thing in the world f +or liberty to justify himself, but etiquette forbade it, and he +was only permitted to speak after the secretaries of state then +present, or if called upon by either of them. + +When M. d'Aiguillon had ceased speaking, the chancellor in his +turn took up the conversation. M. de Maupeou was by nature cold +and sarcastic, delighting in annoying any person; but, on the +present occasion, the ill-nature inherent in him was still excited +by the decided hatred he bore to the unfortunate M. de Sartines. +He began by saying, that the conspiracy was evident, and was +easily explained by the state of exasperation in which the Jesuits +and parliamentarians now were; both orders looking for no other +prospect of amendment in their condition than such as might arise +from some sudden convulsion of the kingdom. He expressed his +opinion of the necessity of instituting a rigorous inquiry into the +conduct of these two bodies; and then, turning to M. de Sartines, +whose cheek grew pale at the movement, he charged him to lay +before the council all those particulars which he must necessarily +possess as head of the police, either respecting the present plot, +or relating to any of the ancient members of parliament or the +order of Jesuits. + +This was a dagger to the heart of M. de Sartines, who in vain +sought to frame a suitable reply: but what could he say? He did +not in reality possess any of the information for which he had +received credit, and after many awkward endeavours at explaining +himself, he was compelled frankly to confess, that he knew not a +word more of the conspiracy than he had just then heard. + +It was now the turn of M. de la Vrillière to speak. He also +would fain have attacked the unfortunate lieutenant of police; +but, whether M. de Maupeou thought that his own correction had +been sufficiently strong, or whether he begrudged any other +person interfering with his vengeance upon his personal foe, he +abruptly interrupted the tirade of M. de la Vrillière, by observing, +that a conspiracy conducted by only eight persons might very +possibly escape the eye of the police; but, furnished as it now +was with so many circumstances and particulars, it was impossible +that the plot should any longer defy their vigilant researches. + +M. d'Aiguillon fully concurred in this observation, and M. de +Sartines, recovered in some measure from his first alarm, promised +every thing they could desire; and it was finally arranged that +the police should this night use every precautionary measure in +Paris, and that the officers of the guard should receive orders +to redouble their zeal and activity in watching the château; and +that when the unknown female called again on me, she should be +conducted by madame de Mirepoix to the duc d'Aiguillon, who +would interrogate her closely. + +These measures decided on, the council broke up, and I went to +receive the king, who was this evening to do me the favour of +taking his supper in my apartments. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Conclusion of this affair -A letter from the incognita--Her +examination--Arrest of Cabert the Swiss--He dies in the Bastille of +poison--Madame Lorimer is arrested and poisoned--The innocence +of the Jesuits acknowledged--Madame de Mirepoix and the +100,000 francs--Forgetfulness on the part of the lieutenant of +police--A visit from comte Jean--Madame de Mirepoix + +M. de Sartines did not sleep on his post, but his researches were +fruitless; and, on the following day, three successive messengers +came to announce to us that they had as yet made no discovery. +The day passed without bringing any fresh intelligence, and our +anxiety increased daily. At length arrived the period fixed for +the visit of the <incognita>. I awaited the coming of this female +with an impatience impossible to describe. About mid-day a note +was brought me; I instantly recognized the writing as that of my +mysterious friend, and hastily breaking the seal, read as follows: + +"MADAM,--I must entreat your pardon for breaking +the appointment for to-day, imperative duties still +detain me in Paris. + +"Since our last interview I have been unceasingly +occupied in endeavouring to discover the names of +the eight persons of whom I spoke to you, and, I +am sorry to say, I have but partially succeeded. +The person who has hitherto furnished me with my +information obstinately refuses to state who are +the parliamentarians concerned in the conspiracy. +I am, however, enabled to forward you the names +of the four Jesuits, with some few particulars relating +to these worthy fathers. + +"The Jesuits in question are Messrs. Corbin, +Berthier, Cerulti, and Dumas; the first of whom +was employed in the education of the dauphin, +the second and the third are sufficiently known; +as for the fourth, he is a bold and enterprising +Parisian, capable of conceiving and executing the +most daring schemes. Whilst the order remained +in possession of power he had no opportunity of +displaying his extraordinary talents, and consequently +he obtained but a trifling reputation; but since its +banishment he has become its firmest support and +principal hope. All the treasures of the brotherhood +are at his disposal, and I learn, that the day +before yesterday he received a considerable sum +from Lyons. + +"This intrepid and daring spirit is the very soul +of the conspiracy; he it is who conceived the +plan and set the whole machine in action. It would +be effectually extinguished could we but once +secure him, but this is by no means an easy task; +he has no fixed abode; never sleeps two nights +following in the same home; one day he may be +found in one part of Paris and the next at the very +opposite corner; he changes his manner of dress +as frequently as he does his abode. + +"I shall have the honour of seeing you to-morrow +or the day after at furthest. Meanwhile lay aside +all uneasiness for his majesty's safety: I pledge +you my word he is for the present in perfect +security. The execution of the plot is still +deferred for the want of a Damiens sufficiently +sanguinary to undertake the task. + +"Deign, madam, to accept the assurance of my +sincere devotion, and believe that I will neglect +no opportunity of affording you proofs of it. +"Yours, madam, etc., etc." + +I immediately communicated this letter to the duc d'Aiguillon, who +convoked a fresh meeting of the persons who had been present on +the preceding day. It was at first deliberated whether or not to +arrest the whole body of Jesuits then in Paris, but this, although +the advice of M. d'Aiguillon, was by no means approved of by the +chancellor. M. de Sartines and M. de la Vrillière were for +carrying the idea into execution, but the objections of M. de +Maupeou were too powerful to be overruled, and the scheme was for +the present abandoned. The chancellor maintained that the other +conspirators, warned of their own, danger by the seizure of their +friends, would either escape the vengeance of the laws by flight +or by close confinement in their houses; he greatly dreaded as +it was, that his foes, the parliamentarians, would avoid the +punishment he longed to inflict on them. Indeed, in his estimation, +it seemed as though every measure would be anticipated so long as +the female, who seemed so intimately acquainted with their design, +was at liberty; and this last opinion was unanimously concurred in. + +All the delays greatly irritated me, and rendered my impatience +to witness the termination of the affair greater than it had ever +been. The stranger had promised to make her appearance on the +following day; it passed away, however, without my hearing anything +of her. On the day following she came; I immediately sent to +apprize M. d'Aiguillon, who, with M. de la Vrillière and the +chancellor, entered my apartments ere the lady had had time to +commence the subject upon which she was there to speak. This +unexpected appearance did not seem to disconcert her in the least, +nor did her <sang-froid> and ordinary assurance in any degree +fail her. She reproached me for having intrusted the secret to so +many persons, but her reproof was uttered without bitterness, and +merely as if she feared lest my indiscretion might compromise our +safety. She was overwhelmed with questions, and the chancellor +interrogated her with the keenest curiosity; but to all the inquiries +put to her she replied with a readiness and candour which surprised +the whole party. She was desired to give the names of those +engaged in the conspiracy, as well as of him who first informed +her of it. She answered that her own name was Lorimer, that she +was a widow living upon her own property. As for the man, her +informant, he was a Swiss, named Cabert, of about thirty years of +age, and had long been her intimate friend: however, the embarrassed +tone with which she pronounced these last words left room for the +suspicion, that he had been something dearer to her than a friend. +She was then urged to give up the names of the four parliamentarians, +but she protested that she had not yet been able to prevail on +Cabert to confide them to her, that she was compelled to use the +utmost circumspection in her attempts at discovering the facts +already disclosed, but flattered herself she should yet succeed +in gaining a full and unreserved disclosure. M. de Maupeou +encouraged her, by every possible argument, to neglect no means +of arriving at so important a discovery. + +The examination over, and the 100,000 francs she had demanded +given to her, she retired, but followed at a distance by a number +of spies, who were commissioned to watch her slightest movement. + +Cabert, the Swiss, was arrested in a furnished lodging he occupied +in rue Saint Roch, and sent without delay to Versailles, where, as +before, M. d'Aiguillon with his two colleagues waited in my study +to receive and question the prisoner. Cabert was a young and +handsome man, whose countenance bore evident marks of a dissolute +and profligate life. He confessed, without any difficulty, that +his only means of gaining a livelihood were derived from the +generosity of a female friend, but when he was pressed upon the +subject of the conspiracy, he no longer replied with the same +candour, but merely answered in short and impatient negatives +the many questions put to him, accompanied with fervent +protestations of innocence; adding, that implacable enemies had +fabricated the whole story, only that they might have an opportunity +of wreaking their vengeance, by implicating him in it. + +"Accuse not your enemies," cried I, for the first time mingling +in the conversation, "but rather blame your benefactress; it is +madame Lorimer who has denounced you, and far from intending to +harm you by so doing, she purposes dividing with you the 100,000 +livres which are to reward her disclosures." + +I easily found, by the frowning looks directed towards me by the +three gentlemen present, that I had been guilty of great imprudence +in saying so much; but Cabert, wringing his hands, uttered, with +the most despairing accent, + +"I am lost! and most horribly has the unfortunate woman +avenged herself." + +"What would you insinuate?" + +"That I am the victim of an enraged woman," replied he. + +He afterwards explained, that he had been the lover of madame +Lorimer, but had become wearied of her, and left her in consequence; +that she had violently resented this conduct; and, after having +in vain sought to move him by prayers and supplications, had +tried the most horrible threats and menaces. "I ought not indeed," +continued he, "to have despised these threats, for well I knew +the fiendlike malice of the wretched creature, and dearly do I +pay for my imprudence, by falling into the pit she has dug for me." + +In vain we endeavoured to induce him to hold a different language. +He persisted with determined obstinacy in his first statement; +continually protesting his own innocence, and loading the author +of his woes with bitter imprecations. It was deemed impossible +to allow this man to go at large; accordingly M. de la Vrillière +issued a <lettre de cachet>, which sent him that night to seek a +lodging in the Bastille. It was afterwards deemed advisable to +put him to the torture, but the agonies of the rack wrung from him +no deviation from, or contradiction of, what he had previously alleged. + +The affair had now become mysterious and inexplicable. However, +a speedy termination was most imperatively called for; if it +were permitted to become generally known, it could not fail of +reaching the ears of the king, whose health was daily declining; +and M. de Quesnay had assured us, that in his present languid +state, the shock produced by news so alarming, might cause his +instantaneous death. + +Whilst we remained in uncertainty as to our mode of proceeding +in the business, Cabert, the Swiss, three days after his admission +into the Bastille, expired in the most violent convulsions. His +body was opened, but no trace of poison could be discovered: our +suspicions were however awakened, and what followed confirmed them. + +Madame Lorimer was arrested. She protested that she had been +actuated by no feelings of enmity against her unfortunate lover, +whom she had certainly reproached for having expended the money +she furnished him with in the society of other females, and to the +anger which arose between herself and Cabert on the occasion +could she alone ascribe his infamous calumnies respecting her; +that, for her own part, she had never ceased to love him, and, as +far as she knew, that feeling was reciprocal; and, in betraying +the conspiracy, her principal desire, next to the anxious hope of +preserving the king, was to make the fortune of Cabert. She +was confined in the Bastille, but she did not long remain within +its walls; for at the end of a fortnight she died of an inflammatory +disease. Her death was marked by no convulsions, but the traces +of poison were evident. + +These two violent deaths occurring so immediately one after +another (as not the slightest doubt existed that Cabert had +likewise died of poison) threw the ministers into a sad state of +perplexity. But to whom could they impute the double crime +unless to some accomplice, who dreaded what the unhappy prisoners +might be tempted to reveal. Yet the conduct of the Jesuitical +priests stated by madame Lorimer to be the principal ring-leaders +in the plot, although exposed to the most rigorous scrutiny, +offered not the slightest grounds for suspicion. Neither did +their letters (which were all intercepted at the various post-houses) +give any indication of a treasonable correspondence. + +M. de Sartines caused the private papers of the suspected parties +to be opened during their owners' absence, without discovering +anything which could compromise their character. I am speaking, +however, of the fathers Corbin, Berthier, and Cerulti, for all our +efforts could not trace father Dumas throughout all Paris. Nor +was the innocence of the parliamentarians less evident; they vented +their hatred against the ministry, and particularly against M. de +Maupeou, in pamphlets, couplets, and epigrams, both in French and +Latin, but they had no idea of conspiracies or plots. + +And thus terminated an affair, which had caused so much alarm, +and which continued for a considerable period to engage the +attention of ministers. How was the mystery to be cleared up? +The poisoned orange- flower water, and the sudden deaths of the +two prisoners, were facts difficult to reconcile with the no less +undeniable innocence of the three accused Jesuits. The whole +business was to me an incomprehensible mass of confusion, in +which incidents the most horrible were mingled. At last we +agreed that the best and only thing to be done was to consign +the affair to oblivion; but there were circumstances which did +not so easily depart from the recollection of my excellent friend, +the maréchale de Mirepoix. "My dear soul," said she to me one +day, "have you ever inquired what became of the 100,000 livres +given to madame Lorimer? she had no time to employ them in any +way before her imprisonment in the Bastille. You ought to inquire +into what hands they have fallen." + +I fully comprehended the drift of this question, which I put to +M. de Sartines the first time I saw him. + +"Bless me," exclaimed he, "you remind me that these 100,000 +livres have been lying in a drawer in my office. But I have such +a terrible memory." + +"Happily," replied I, "I have a friend whose memory is as good +as yours seems defective upon such occasions. It will not be +wise to permit such a sum to remain uselessly in your office: at +the same time I need not point out that you, by your conduct in +the late affair, have by no means earned a right to them." + +He attempted to justify himself; but, interrupting him, I exclaimed, +"My good friend, you have set up a reputation of your own creating +and inventing; and well it is you took the office upon yourself +for no one else would have done it for you; but you perceive how +frail have been its foundations; for the moment you are compelled +to stand upon your own resources you faint, and are easily overcome." + +He endeavoured to make a joke of the affair, but indeed it seemed +to accord as ill with his natural inclination as did the restitution +of the 100,000 livres. However, he brought them to me the +following day, and as I was expecting the arrival of madame de +Mirepoix, I placed them in a porcelain vase which stood upon my +chimney-piece. Unfortunately for the maréchale, comte Jean +presented himself before she did. He came to inform me, that my +husband (of whose quitting Toulouse I had forgotten to tell you) +had again arrived in Paris. I did not disguise the vexation which +this piece of intelligence excited in me. + +"And wherefore has comte Guillaume returned to Paris?" +inquired I, angrily. + +"Because he is afraid." + +"Afraid of what?" replied I. + +"Of being murdered," answered comte Jean: "it is a most horrible +and authentic story. Imagine to yourself the dangers of his +situation: some brigands, who have a design on his life, have +written him an anonymous billet, in which they protest they will +certainly murder him, unless he deposits 50,000 livres in a certain +place. You may suppose his terror; money he had none, neither +was his credit sufficiently good to enable him to borrow any. +As a last and only chance, he threw himself into a carriage, and +hastened, tremblingly, to implore your assistance." + +"And I am quite certain you will not withhold yours from him," +answered I + +"You are perfectly right," cried he, "but unfortunately just now +I have not a single crown I can call my own; so that it rests +with you alone, my dearest sister, to save the life of this +hapless comte du Barry." + +"I am extremely distressed, my dear brother-in-law," replied I, +"that I am just as poor, and as unable to afford the necessary +aid as yourself; my purse is quite empty." + +"Faith, my dear sister-in-law, I am not surprised at that if you +convert a china vase into a receptacle for your bank notes." + +Saying this, he drew a bundle of notes from the hiding-place in +which I had deposited them. "Do you know," continued comte +Jean, "I really think we shall find money enough here." He began +to count them: and when he had finished he said, "My dear sister, +neither your husband nor myself wish to importune you, or put +you to any inconvenience, therefore you shall merely oblige him +with the loan of these 50,000 livres to extricate him from his +present peril; they shall be faithfully and quickly restored to +you, and a note of hand given you for that purpose if you desire +it." So saying, he divided the money into two parts, replaced +one in the vase, and pocketed the other. + +I was very indignant at the cool impudence with which this was +done, and my patience had well nigh forsaken me: however, I +restrained myself; and I was happy enough that I could so far +conquer myself. My reproaches would not have induced comte Jean +to give me back my money, and would only have roused his violence; +which, when once excited, found vent in language so vehement and +energetic, that I did not desire to hear any more of it than I +could help. At these moments he selected not the politest expressions, +but those which were the strongest: and besides, such was the +ungovernable nature of comte Jean's temper, that once roused, he +would have treated the king himself with as little consideration +as he did me. Still, he never deliberately insulted me, nor did +he compose those insulting verses respecting me, which were printed +as his, in "<Les Anecdotes sur Madame du Barry>." This would +have been an indignity I would quickly have caused him to repent +having offered. + +"Well," inquired I, "are you very glad to see your brother in Paris?" + +'No, 'pon my soul!" returned he; "but since he is here, we must +do the best we can with him; he was very anxious to see his +sister-in-law and niece. He says the former is ugly as sin, and +the latter almost as handsome as you." + +"Very gallant," replied I; "but tell me, comte Jean, does this +elegant compliment proceed from my husband or yourself?" + +We were just then interrupted by the arrival of the maréchale, +and comte Jean retired. + +"Well, my dear," she began, "have you seen M. de Sartines, and +did you speak to him respecting those 100,000 livres?" + + "Oh, yes," replied I, "he gave them back to me; but I have +already had half of them stolen from me." + +"By comte Jean, I'll engage," cried she. "Upon my word, that +man is a perfect spendthrift, a prodigal; who, if you do not take +great care, will certainly ruin you. And what will you do with +the remaining 50,000 livres, my dear friend; where will you +place them?" + +"In your hands, my dear maréchale; 'tis his majesty's command." + +"To that command," answered she, "I must perforce submit"; and, +taking the bundle of notes, she continued, "Assure his majesty +that it will ever be my greatest pride and pleasure to obey his +slightest wish. My respect for his orders can only be equalled +by my tender friendship for her who is the bearer of the royal +mandate." Then, deliberately putting the money in her pocket, +she exclaimed, "You must own that comte Jean is a great rogue." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + + My alarms--An <éléve> of the <Pare-aux-Cerfs>--Comte Jean +endeavours to direct the king's ideas--A supper at Trianon--Table +talk--The king is seized with illness--His conversation with me--The +joiner's daughter and the small-pox--My despair--Conduct of La +Martinière the surgeon + +I had occasionally some unaccountable whims and caprices. Among +other follies I took it into my head to become jealous of the +duchesse de Cossé, under the idea that the duke would return to +her, and that I should no longer possess his affections. Now the +cause of this extravagant conduct was the firmness with which +madame de Cossé refused all overtures to visit me, and I had +really become so spoiled and petted, that I could not be brought +to understand the reasonableness of the duchesse de Cossé refusing +to sanction her rival by her presence. + +Yon may perceive that I had not carried my heroic projects with +regard to madame de Cossé into execution. Upon these occasions, +the person most to be pitied was the duke, whom I made answerable +for the dignified and virtuous conduct of his wife. My injustice +drove him nearly to despair, and he used every kind and sensible +argument to convince me of my error, as though it had been possible +for one so headstrong and misguided as myself to listen to or +comprehend the language of reason. I replied to his tender and +beseeching epistles by every cutting and mortifying remark; in a +word, all common sense appeared to have forsaken me. Our quarrel +was strongly suspected by part of the court; but the extreme +prudence and forbearance of M. de Cossé prevented their suppositions +from ever obtaining any confirmation. But this was not the only +subject I had for annoyance. On the one hand, my emissaries +informed me that the king still continued to visit the baroness de +New---k, although with every appearance of caution and mystery, +by the assistance and connivance of the duc de Duras, who had +given me his solemn promise never again to meddle with the +affair. The <gouvernante> of the <Parc-aux-Cerfs> furnished me +likewise with a long account of the many visits paid by his +majesty to her establishment. The fact was, the king could not +be satisfied without a continual variety, and his passion, which +ultimately destroyed him, appeared to have come on only as he +advanced in years. + +All these things created in my mind an extreme agitation and an +alarm, and, improbable as the thing appeared even to myself, there +were moments when I trembled lest I should be supplanted either +by the baroness or some -fresh object of the king's caprice; and +again a cold dread stole over me as I anticipated the probability +of the health of Louis XV falling a sacrifice to the irregularity +of his life. It was well known throughout the château, that La +Martinière, the king's surgeon, had strongly recommended a very +temperate course of life, as essentially necessary to recruit his +constitution, wasted by so many excesses, and had even gone so +far as to recommend his no longer having a mistress; this the +courtiers construed into a prohibition against his possessing a +friend of any other sex than his own; for my own part, I +experienced very slight apprehensions of being dismissed, for I +well knew that Louis XV reckoned too much on my society to +permit my leaving the court, and if one, the more tender, part +of our union were dissolved, etiquette could no longer object to +my presence. Still the advice of La Martinière was far from +giving me a reason for congratulation, but these minor grievances +were soon to be swallowed up in one fatal catastrophe, by which +the honours, and pleasures of Versailles were for ever torn from me. + +The <madame> of the <Parc-aux-Cerfs>, fearing that some of the +subordinate members of that establishment might bring me intimation +of what was going on there without her cognizance, came one day +to apprize me that his majesty had fallen desperately in love +with a young orphan of high birth, whom chance had conducted +within the walls of her harem; that to an extraordinary share of +beauty, Julie (for that was the name of my rival) united the most +insatiate ambition; her aims were directed to reducing the king +into a state of the most absolute bondage," and he," said madame, +"bids fair to become all that the designing girl would have him." + +Julie feigned the most violent love for her royal admirer, nay +she did not hesitate to carry her language and caresses far +beyond the strict rules of decency; her manners were those of one +accustomed to the most polished society, whilst her expressions +were peculiarly adapted to please one who, like the king, had a +peculiar relish for every thing that was indecent or incorrect. +His majesty either visited her daily or sent for her to the +château. I heard likewise from M. d'Aiguillon, that the king +had recently given orders that the three uncles and two brothers +of Julie should be raised by rapid promotion to the highest +military rank; at the same time the grand almoner informed me +he had received his majesty's express command to appoint a cousin +of the young lady to the first vacant bishopric. + +These various reports threw me into a train of painful and uneasy +reflections. Louis XV. had never before bestowed such marks of +favour upon any <élève> of the <Parc- aux-Cerfs, and the intrigue +had attained this height with the most inconceivable rapidity. +Chamilly interrupted my meditations, by presenting himself with +an account of his having been commissioned by his majesty to +cause a most splendid suit of diamonds to be prepared for +mademoiselle Julie, the king not considering any jewels of Paris +worthy her acceptance. By way of a finish to all this, I learned +that two ladies, one of whom was a duchess, had openly boasted +at Versailles of their relationship to Julie. This was a more +decided corroborative than all the rest. Courtiers of either +sex are skilful judges of the shiftings of the wind of court +favour, and I deemed it high time to summon my brother-in-law +to my assistance, as well as to urge him to exert his utmost +energies to support my tottering power. + +My communication tormented comte Jean as much as it did me; he +proposed several means of combating this rising inclination on the +part of Louis XV. I assented to whatever he suggested, and we set +to work with an eagerness, increased on my part by a species of +gloomy presentiment, which subsequent events but too fatally +confirmed. The maréchale de Mirepoix, who, from being on good +terms with every person, was sure to be aware of all that was going +on, spoke to me also of this rival who was springing up in +obscurity and retirement; and it was from the same source I +learned what I have told you of the two ladies of the court. She +advised me not to abandon myself to a blind confidence, and this +opinion was strengthened when I related all I had gathered upon +the subject. + +"You may justly apprehend," said she, "that Julie will instil some +of her bold and fearless nature into the king, and should she +presume to put herself in competition with you, victory would in +all probability incline to the side of the last comer"; and I felt +but too truly that the maréchale spoke with truth. + +A few days after this, the king being alone with me, comte Jean +entered. After the usual salutations, he exclaimed, "I have just +seen a most lovely creature." + +"Who is she?" inquired his majesty, hastily. + +"No high-born dame," answered comte Jean, "but the daughter of a +cabinet-maker at Versailles; I think I never beheld such +matchless beauty." + +"Always excepting present company," replied the king. + +"Assuredly," rejoined my brother-in-law, "but, sire, the beauteous +object of whom I speak is a nymph in grace, a sylph in airy +lightness, and an angel in feature." + +"Comte Jean seems deeply smitten indeed, madam," exclaimed +Louis XV, turning towards me. + +"Not I indeed," replied my brother-in-law, "my lovemaking days +are over." + +"Oh! oh!" cried the king, smiling, "<fructus belli>." + +"What does your majesty say?" inquired I. + +"Nay, let the comte explain," cried Louis XV. + +"The king observed, my dear sister," answered comte Jean, "that +ladies--but, in fact, I can neither explain the observation, nor +was it intended for you--so let it rest." + +He continued for some time to jest with comte Jean upon his +supposed passion for the fair daughter of the cabinet-maker; and +the king, whilst affecting the utmost indifference, took every +pains to obtain the fullest particulars as to where this peerless +beauty might be found. + +When my brother-in-law and myself were alone, he said to me, +"I played my part famously, did I not? How eagerly the bait +was swallowed!" + +"Explain yourself," said I. + +"My good sister, what I have said respecting this perfection of l +oveliness is no fiction, neither have I at all exaggerated either +her perfections or her beauty, and I trust by her aid we shall +obliterate from the king's mind every recollection of the syren +of the <Parc-aux- Cerfs>." + +"Heaven grant it," exclaimed I. + +"My dear sister," replied comte Jean, "heaven has nothing to do +with such things." + +Alas! he was mistaken, and Providence only employed the present +occasion as a means of causing us to be precipitated into the very +abyss of ruin we had dug for others. On the following morning, +Chamilly came to me to inquire whether it was my pleasure that +the present scheme should be carried into execution. + +"Yes, yes,' answered I eagerly, "by all means, the more we direct +the inclinations of the king for the present, the better for him +and for us likewise." + +Armed with my consent, Chamilly dispatched to the unhappy girl +that <madame>, whose skill in such delicate commissions had never +been known to fail. Not that in the present instance any great +bribes were requisite, but it was necessary to employ some agent +whose specious reasoning and oily tongue should have power to +vanquish the virtuous reluctance of the victim herself, as well +as to obtain a promise of strict silence from her family. They +were soon induced to listen to their artful temptress; and the +daughter, dazzled by the glittering prospect held out to her, was +induced to accompany <madame> back to Trianon, where the king +was to sup, in company with the ducs d'Aiguillon and de Richelieu, +the prince de Soubise, the ducs de Cossé, de Duras, and de +Noailles, mesdames de Mirepoix, de Forcalquier, de Flaracourt, and +myself; my brother-in-law and Chon were also of the party, although +not among the number of those who sat down to supper. Their +presence was merely to keep up my spirits, and with a view to +divert me from dwelling on the presumed infidelity of the king. + +We had promised ourselves a most delightful evening, and had all +come with the expectation of finding considerable amusement in +watching the countenances and conduct of those who were not aware +of the real state of the game, whilst such as were admitted into +my entire confidence, were sanguine in their hopes and expectations +of employing the simple beauty of the maiden of Versailles to +crush the aspiring views of my haughty rival of the <Parc-aux- +Cerfs>. This was, indeed, the point at which I aimed, and my +further intention was to request the king to portion off +mademoiselle Julie, so that she might be ever removed from again +crossing my path. + +Meanwhile, by way of passing the tedious hours, I went to satisfy +my curiosity respecting those charms of which comte Jean had +spoken so highly. I found the object of so many conjectures +possessed of an uncommon share of beauty, set off, on the present +occasion, by every aid that a splendid and elaborate toilette +could impart; her features were perfect, her form tall and +symmetrical, her hair was in the richest style of luxuriance; but +by way of drawback to so many advantages, both her hands and +feet were large and coarse. I had expected to have found her +timid, yet exulting, but she seemed languid and dejected even to +indisposition. I attributed the lassitude and heaviness which +hung over her to some natural regrets for sacrificing some +youthful passion at the shrine of ambition; but I was far from +guessing the truth . Had I but suspected the real cause! but I + contented myself with a silent scrutiny, and did not (as I +should have done) question her on the subject, but passed on to +the saloon, where the guests were already assembled. The evening +passed away most delightfully; the maréchale de Mirepoix excelled +herself in keeping up a continual flow of lively conversation. +Never had messieurs de Cossé and de Richelieu appeared to equal +advantage. The king laughed heartily at the many humorous tales +told, and his gaiety was the more excited, from his believing +that I was in utter ignorance of his infidelity. The champagne +was passed freely round the table, till all was one burst of +hilarious mirth. A thousand different topics were started, and +dismissed only to give way to fresh subjects more piquant than +the preceding. + +The king, in a fit of good humour, began to relate his adventures +with madame de Grammont; but here you must pardon me, my friend, +for so entirely did his majesty give the reins to his inclination +for a plain style of language, that, although excess of prudery +formed no part of the character of any of the ladies assembled, +we were compelled to sit with our eyes fixed upon our plate or +glass, not daring to meet the glance of those near us. I have +little doubt but that Louis XV indulged himself to this extent +by a kind of mental vow to settle the affair with his confessor +at the earliest opportunity. + +We were still at table when the clock struck two hours past midnight. + +"Bless me! so late?" inquired the king. + +"Indeed, sire," replied the maréchale de Mirepoix, "your agreeable +society drives all recollection of time away." + +"Then 'tis but fit I should furnish you all with memory enough +to recollect what is necessary for your own health. Come, my +friends, morning will soon call us to our different cares, so +away to your pillows." + +So saying, the king bade us a friendly farewell, and retired +with the ducs de Duras and de Noailles. We remained after his +majesty, and retiring into the great saloon, threw ourselves +without any ceremony upon the different couches and ottomans. + +"For my own part," said the prince de Soubise, "I shall not think +of separating from so agreeable a party till daylight warns +me hence." + +"The first beams of morn will soon shine through these windows," + replied M. d'Aiguillon. + +"We can already perceive the brightest rays of Aurora reflected +in the sparkling eyes around us," exclaimed M. de Cossé. + +"A truce with your gallantry, gentlemen," replied madame de +Mirepoix, "at my age I can only believe myself capable of reflecting +the last rays of the setting sun." + +"Hush!" interrupted madame de Forcalquier, "you forget we are +at Versailles, where age is never thought of, but where, like our +gracious sovereign, all are young." + +"Come, ladies," said madame de Flaracourt, "let us retire; I for +one, plead guilty of being in need of repose." + +"No, no!" replied the duc de Richelieu, "let us employ the +remaining hours in pleasing and social converse," and with a +tremulous voice he began that charming trio in "Selina and Azor," +"<Veillons mes soeurs>." We joined chorus with him, and the +echoes of the palace of Louis XV resounded with the mirthful +strain. This burst of noisy mirth did not last long, and we +relapsed into increased taciturnity, spite of our endeavours to +keep up a general conversation. We were all fatigued, though +none but madame de Flaracourt would confess the fact. Tired +nature called loudly for repose, and we were each compelled to +seek it in the different apartments assigned us. The duc d'Aiguillon +alone was compelled, by the duties of his office, to return +to Versailles. + +Upon entering my chamber I found my brother-in-law there, in +the most violent fit of ill humour, that the king (who was in fact +ignorant of his being at Trianon) had not invited him to supper. +As I have before told you, comte Jean was no favourite with his +majesty, and as I had displayed no wish for his company, Louis +XV had gladly profited by my indifference to omit him upon the +present occasion. I endeavoured to justify the king, without +succeeding, however, in appeasing comte Jean, who very unceremoniously +consigned us all to the care and company of a certain old +gentleman, whose territory is supposed to lie beneath "the +round globe which we inhabit." + + "I have to thank you," replied I, "for a very flattering mode of +saying 'good night.'" + +"Perhaps," answered comte Jean roughly, "you would prefer--" + +"Nothing from your lips if you please, my polite brother," cried +I, interrupting him, "nothing you will say in your present humour +can be at all to my taste." + +Chon interfered between us, and effected a reconciliation, which +I was the more willing to listen to, that I might enjoy that sleep +my weary eye-lids craved for. Scarcely was my head on my pillow, +than I fell into a profound sleep: could I but have anticipated +to what I should awake! It was eleven o'clock on the following +morning when an immense noise of some person entering my chamber, +aroused me from the sweet slumbers I was still buried in. Vexed +at the disturbance, I inquired, in a peevish tone, "Who is there?" + +"Tis I, my sister," replied Chon, "M. de Chamilly is here, +anxious to speak with you upon a matter of great importance." + +Chamilly, who was close behind mademoiselle du Barry, begged +to be admitted. + +"What is the matter, Chamilly? "cried I, "and what do you want? +Is mademoiselle Julie to set off into the country immediately?" + +"Alas! madam," replied Chamilly, "his majesty is extremely ill." + +These words completely roused me, and raising myself on my arm, +I eagerly repeated, "Ill! of what does he complain?" + +"Of general and universal pain and suffering," replied Chamilly. + +"And the female who was here last night, how is she?" + +"Nearly as bad, madam; she arose this morning complaining of +illness and languor, which increased so rapidly, that she was +compelled to be carried to one of the nearest beds, where she +now is." + +All this tormented me to the greatest degree, and I dismissed +Chamilly for the purpose of rising, although I had no distinct +idea of what it would be most desirable to say or do. My +sister-in-law, with more self-possession, suggested the propriety +of summoning Bordeu, my physician; a proposal which I at once +concurred in, more especially when she informed me, that La +Martinière was already sent for, and hourly expected. + +"1 trust," said I, "that Bouvart knows nothing of this, for I +neither approve of him as a man or a doctor." + +The fact was, I should have trembled for my own power, had both +Bouvart and La Martinière got the king into their hands. With La +Martinière I knew very well I was no favourite; yet it was impossible +to prevent his attendance; the king would never have fancied a +prescription in which he did not concur. + +Meanwhile I proceeded with my toilette as rapidly as possible, +that I might, by visiting the king, satisfy myself of the nature of +his malady. Ere I had finished dressing, my brother-in-law, +who had likewise been aroused by the mention of his majesty's +illness, entered my chamber with a gloomy look; he already saw +the greatness of the danger which threatened us, he had entirely +forgotten our quarrel of the preceding evening, but his temper +was by no means improved by the present state of things. We +had no need of explaining ourselves by words, and he continued +walking up and down the room with, his arms folded and his eyes +fixed on the floor, till we were joined by the maréchale de +Mirepoix and the comtesse de Forcalquier. Madame de Flaracourt +had taken her departure at an early hour, either ignorant of +what had occurred or with the intention of being prepared for +whatever might happen. + +As yet, it was but little in the power of any person to predict +the coming blow. "The king is ill," said each of us as we met. +"The king is ill," was the morning salutation of the ducs de +Richelieu, de Noailles, de Duras, and de Cossé. The prince de +Soubise had followed the example of madame de Flaracourt, and +had quitted Trianon; it seemed as though the hour for defection +were already arrived. A summons now arrived from his majesty +who wished to see me. I lost not a moment in repairing to his +apartment, where I found him in bed, apparently in much pain and +uneasiness. He received me tenderly, took my hands in his, and +kissed them; then exclaimed, + + "I feel more indisposed than I can describe, a weight seems +pressing on my chest, and universal languor appears to chain my +faculties both of body and mind. I should like to see +La Martinière." + +"And would you not likewise wish to have the advice of Bordeu?" + +"'Yes," said he, "let both come, they are both clever men, and +I have full confidence in their skill. But do you imagine that +my present illness will be of a serious nature?" + +"By no means, sire," returned I, "merely temporary, I trust +and believe." + +"Perhaps I took more wine than agreed with me last evening; but +where is the maréchale?" + +"In my chamber with madame de Forcalquier." + +"And the prince de Soubise?" + +"He has taken flight," replied I, laughing. + +"I suppose so," returned Louis XV, "he could not bear a long +absence from Paris; company he must have." + +"In that respect he resembles you, sire, for you generally consider +company as a necessary good." + +He smiled, and then closing his eyes remained for some minutes +silent and motionless, after a while he said, + +"My head is very heavy, so farewell, my sweet friend, I will +endeavour to get some sleep." + +"Sleep, sire!" said I, "and may it prove as healthful and +refreshing as I pray it may." + +So saying, I glided out of the room and returned to my friends, +I found madame de Mirepoix and the duc de Cossé waiting for me +in the anteroom. + +"How is the king?" inquired they both in a breath. + +"Better than I expected," I replied, "but he is desirous +of sleeping." + +"So much the worse," observed the duc de Cossé; "I should have +thought better of his case had he been more wakeful." + +"Are you aware of the most imperative step for you to take?" +inquired the maréchale de Mirepoix. + +"No," said I, "what is it?" + +"To keep his majesty at Trianon," replied she; "it will be far +better for you that the present illness should take its course +at Trianon rather than at Versailles." + +"I second that advice," cried the duc de Richelieu, who just +then entered the room; "yes, yes, as madame de Mirepoix wisely +observes, this is the place for the king to be ill in." + +"But," exclaimed I, "must we not be guided by the +physicians' advice?" + +"Do you make sure of Bordeu," said the duke, "and I will speak +to La Martinière." + +M. de Cossé took me aside, and assured me that I might rely upon +him in life or death. When we had conversed together for some +minutes, I besought of him to leave the place as early as possible; +"Take madame de Forcalquier with you," said I, "your presence +just now at Trianon would be too much commented upon." + +He made some difficulties in obeying me, but I insisted and he +went. After his departure, the duc de Richelieu, the maréchale +and myself walked together in the garden. Our walk was so directed +that we could see through the colonnade every person who arrived +up the avenue. We spoke but little, and an indescribable feeling +of solemnity was mingled with the few words which passed, when, +all at once, our attention was attracted by the sight of comte +Jean, who rushed towards me in a state of frenzy. + +"Accursed day," cried he, stopping when he saw us, "that wretched +girl from Versailles has brought the small-pox with her." + +At this fatal news I heaved a deep sigh and fainted. I was +carried under the portico, while the poor maréchale, scarcely +more in her senses than myself, stood over me weeping like a +child, while every endeavour was being made to restore me to +life. Bordeu, who chanced to be at Versailles, arrived, and +supposing it was on my account he had been summoned, hastened +to my assistance. The duc de Richelieu and comte Jean informed +him of all that had passed, upon which he requested to see the +unfortunate female immediately; while he was conducted thither, +I remained alone with the maréchale and Henriette, who had come +to Trianon with my suite. My first impulse upon regaining the +use of my senses, was to throw myself in the arms of the maréchale. + +"What will become of me?" exclaimed I, weeping, "if the king +should take this fatal malady, he will never survive it." + +"Let us hope for the best," answered madame de Mirepoix; "it +would be encouraging grief to believe a misfortune, which we have +at present no reason to suspect." + +Comte Jean now rejoined us, accompanied by Bordeu and the duc de +Richelieu; their countenances were gloomy and dejected. The +miserable victim of ambition had the symptoms of the most malignant +sort of small-pox; this was a finishing stroke to my previous +alarms. However, comte Jean whispered in my ear, "Bordeu will +arrange that the king shall remain here." + +This assurance restored me to something like composure; but +these hopes were speedily dissipated by the arrival of La Martinière. + +"What is the matter?" inquired he, "is the king very ill?" + +"That remains for you to decide"; replied the duc de Richelieu; +"but however it may be, madame du Barry entreats of you not to +think of removing the king to Versailles." + +"And why so?" asked La Martinière, with his accustomed abruptness. +"His majesty would be much better there than here." + +"He can nowhere be better than at Trianon, monsieur," said I. + +"That, madam," answered La Martinière, "is the only point upon +which you must excuse my consulting you, unless, indeed, you +are armed with a physician's diploma." + +"Monsieur la Martinière," cried the duc de Richelieu, "you might +employ more gentle language when speaking to a lady." + +"Was I sent for hither," inquired the angry physician, "to go +through a course of politeness?" + +For my own part I felt the utmost dread, I scarcely knew of what. +Bordeu, seeing my consternation, hastened to interfere, by saying, + +"At any rate, monsieur la Martinière, you will not alarm the +king needlessly." + + "Nor lull him into a false security," answered the determined +La Martinière. "But what is his malady have you seen him, +doctor Bordeu?" + +"Not yet." + +"Then why do we linger here? Your servant, ladies and gentlemen." + +The medical men then departed, accompanied the duc de Richelieu. + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles--The +young prophet appears again to madame du Barry--Prediction +respecting cardinal de Richelieu--The joiner's daughter requests +to see madame du Barry--Madame de Mirepoix and the 50,000 +francs--A < soirée > in the salon of madame du Barry + +We continued for some minutes silently gazing on the retreating +figures of La Martinière and his companions. + +"Come," said the maréchale, "let us return to the house"; saying +which, she supported herself by the arm of comte Jean, whilst I +mechanically followed her example, and sadly and sorrowfully we +bent our steps beneath the splendid colonnade which formed the +entrance to the mansion. + +When I reached my chamber, I found mademoiselle du Barry there, +still ignorant of the alarming news I had just learned. She +earnestly pressed me to return to bed, but this I refused; for +my burning anxiety to learn every particular relative to the +king would have prevented my sleeping. How different was the +style of our present conversation to that of the preceding evening; +no sound of gaiety was heard; hushed alike were the witty +repartee, and the approving laugh which followed it. Now, we +spoke but by fits and starts, with eye and ear on the watch to +catch the slightest sound, whilst the most trifling noise, or the +opening of a door, made us start with trepidation and alarm. +The time appeared to drag on to an interminable length. + +At last the duc de Richelieu made his appearance. + +"Well, my friends," said he, "the king is to be removed to +Versailles, spite of your wishes, madam, spite of his own royal +inclination, and against mine, likewise. La Martinière has +thundered forth his edict, and poor Bordeu opposed him in vain. +His majesty, who expresses a wish to remain here, stated his +pleasure to La Martinière. + +'"Sire,' answered the obstinate physician, 'it cannot be. You +are too ill to be permitted to take your choice in the matter, +and to the château at Versailles you must be removed.' + +"'Your words imply my being dangerously indisposed,' said the +king, inquiringly. + +"'Your majesty is sufficiently ill to justify every precaution, +and to require our best cares. You must return to the château; +Trianon is not healthy; you will be much better at Versailles.' + +"'Upon my word, doctor,' replied the king, 'your words are far +from consoling; there must be danger, then, in my present sickness?' + +"'There would be considerable danger were you to remain here, +whilst it is very probable you may avoid any chance of it by +following my directions with regard to an immediate removal +to Versailles.' + +"'I feel but little disposed for the journey,' said his majesty. + +"'Still, your majesty must be removed, there is an absolute +necessity for it, and I take all the responsibility upon myself.' + +"'What do you think of this determination, Bordeu?' + +"'I think, sire, that you may be permitted to please yourself.' + +"'You hear that, La Martinière?' + +"'Yes, sire, and your majesty heard my opinion likewise.' Then +turning towards Bordeu, 'Sir,' exclaimed he, 'I call upon you in +my capacity of head physician to the king, to state your opinion +in writing, and to abide by the consequences of it; you who are +not one of his majesty's physicians.' + +"At this direct appeal, your doctor, driven to extremities, +adopted either the wise or cowardly resolution of maintaining a +strict silence. The king, who was awaiting his reply with much +impatience, perceiving his reluctance to speak, turned towards +the duc de Duras, who was in attendance upon him, and said, 'Let +them take me when and where my head physician advises.'" + +At this recital I shed fresh tears. The duke afterwards told us +that when La Martinière had quitted his majesty, he went to +ascertain the condition of the wretched girl who had introduced +all this uneasiness among us, and after having attentively +examined her, he exclaimed, "She is past all hope, God only +knows what the consequences may be." This gloomy prognostic +added still more to my distress, and whilst those around me strove +to communicate fresh hopes and confidence to my tortured mind, +I remained in a state too depressed and dejected to admit one, +even one ray of consolation. + +The king was removed from Trianon, followed by all the persons +belonging to his suite. The maréchale insisted upon deferring +her departure till I quitted the place. We set out a few minutes +after his majesty, and my coachman had orders to observe the +same slow pace at which the royal carriage travelled. Scarcely +had we reached Versailles, when mechanically directing my eyes +towards the iron gate leading to the garden, a sudden paleness +overspread my countenance, and a cry of terror escaped me, for, +leaning against the gate in question, I perceived that singular +being, who, after having foretold my elevation, had engaged to +present himself before me, when a sudden reverse was about to +overtake me. This unexpected fulfilment of his promise threw me +into the most cruel agitation, and I could not refrain from +explaining the cause of my alarm to those who were with me. No +sooner had I made myself understood than Comte Jean stopped the +carriage, and jumped out with the intention of questioning this +mysterious visitor. We waited with extreme impatience the return +of my brother- in-law, but he came back alone, nor had he been +able to discover the least trace of the object of his search. In +vain had he employed the two footmen from behind the carriage +to examine the different avenues by which he might have retired. +Nothing could be heard of him, and I remained, more than ever, +convinced that the entire fulfilment of the prophecy was at hand, +and that the fatal hour would shortly strike, which would witness +my fall from all my pomp and greatness. We continued our route +slowly and silently; the maréchale accompanied me to the door of +my apartment, where I bade her adieu, spite of her wish to remain +with me; but even her society was now fatiguing to me, and I +longed to be alone with merely my own family. + +My two sisters-in-law, the wife of comte d'Hargicourt and that +of my nephew, were speedily assembled to talk over with me the +events of the last twelve hours. I threw myself upon my bed in +a state of mental and bodily fatigue, impossible to describe. I +strove in vain to collect my ideas, and arm myself for what I +well saw was approaching, and the exact appearance of the singular +predicter of my destiny prepared me for the rapid accomplishing +of all that had been promised. + +Louis XV, during this fatal illness, was placed under the care +of Bordeu and Lemonnier. No particularly alarming symptoms +appeared during that day, and we remained in a state of suspense +more difficult to bear than even the most dreadful certainty. As +oon as the king felt himself sufficiently recovered from the +fatigues of his removal he requested to see me. After bestowing +on me the most gratifying marks of the sincerest attachment, +he said, + +"I am well punished, my dear countess, for my inconstancy towards +you, but forgive me. I pray and believe that, however my fancy +may wander, my heart is all your own." + +"Is that quite true?" said I, smiling. "Have you not some +reservations? Does not a noble female in the <Parc- aux-Cerfs> +come in for a share as well as the baroness de New----k?" + + The king pressed my hand, and replied, + +"You must not believe all those idle tales; I met the baroness +by chance, and, for a time, I thought her pretty. As for the +other, if she renders you in any way uneasy, let her be married +at once, and sent where we need never see her again." + +'This is, indeed, the language of sincerity," cried I, and from +this moment I shall have the fullest confidence in you." + +The conversation was carried on for a long while in this strain. +The physicians had made so light of the complaint, that the king +believed his illness to be merely of a temporary nature, and his +gaiety and good spirits returned almost to their natural height. +He inquired after madame de Mirepoix, and whether my sisters- +in-law were uneasy respecting his state of health. You may +imagine that my reply was worded with all the caution necessary +to keep him in profound ignorance as to his real condition. When +I returned to my apartment I found Bordeu there, who appeared +quite at a loss what to say respecting the king's malady, the +symptoms still remained too uncertain to warrant any person in +calling it the small-pox. + +"And should it prove that horrible complaint?" inquired I. + +"There would, in that case, be considerable danger," replied +Bordeu, not without extreme embarrassment.. + + "Perhaps even to the extinction of all hope?" asked I. + + "God alone can tell," returned Bordeu. + +"I understand," interrupted I, quickly, "and, spite of the mystery +with which you would fain conceal the extent of his majesty's +danger, I know, and venture to assert, that you consider him +already as dead." + +"Have a care, madam," exclaimed Bordeu, "how you admit such an +idea, and still more of proclaiming it. I pledge you my word that +I do not consider the king is in danger; I have seen many cures +equally extraordinary with his." + +I shook my head in token of disbelief. I had uttered what I firmly +supposed the truth, and the sight of my evil genius in the person +of the prophet who had awaited my return to Versailles, turned +the encouraging words of Bordeu into a cold, heavy chill, which +struck to my heart. Bordeu quitted me to resume his attendance +upon the king. After him came the duc d'Aiguillon, whose features +bore the visible marks of care and disquiet. He met me with the +utmost tenderness and concern, asked of me the very smallest +details of the disastrous events of the morning. I concealed +nothing from him, and he listened to my recital with the most +lively interest; and the account of the apparition of the wonderful +being who seemed destined to follow me throughout my career was +not the least interesting part of our conversation. + +"There are," said the duke, "many very extraordinary things in +this life, reason questions them, philosophy laughs at them, and +yet it is impossible to deny that there are various hidden causes, +or sudden inspirations, which have the greatest effect upon our +destiny. As a proof, I will relate to you the following circumstance. +You are aware," continued the duke, "that the cardinal de +Richelieu, the author of our good fortune, spite of the superiority +of his mind, believed in judicial astrology. When his own +immediate line became extinct by the unexpected death of his +family and relatives, he wished to ascertain what would be the +fate of those children belonging to his sister, whom he had +adopted as the successors of his name, arms, and fortune. The +planets were consulted, and the answer received was, that two +centuries from the day on which Providence had so highly elevated +himself, the family, upon whom rested all his hopes of perpetuating +his name, should fail entirely in its male descent. You see that +the duc de Fronsac has only one child, an infant not many days +old. I also have but one, and these two feeble branches seem +but little calculated to falsify the prediction. Judge, my dear +countess, how great must be my paternal anxiety!" + +This relation on the part of the duc d'Aiguillon was but ill +calculated to restore my drooping spirits, and although I had +no reason for concluding that the astrologer had spoken +prophetically to the grand cardinal, I was not the less inclined +to believe, with increased confidence, the predictions uttered +respecting myself by my inexplicable visitor of the morning. My +ever kind friend, the duchesse d'Aiguillon, was not long ere she +too made her appearance, with the view, and in the hope of +consoling me. I could not resist her earnest endeavours to rouse +me from my grief, and a grateful sense of her goodness obliged +me to deck my features with at least the semblance of cheerfulness. +Every hour fresh accounts of the king's health were brought me, +of a most encouraging nature; by these bulletins one might naturally +suppose him rapidly recovering, and we all began to smile at our +folly in having been so soon alarmed; in fact, my spirits rose in + proportion as those about me appeared full of fresh confidence, +and the mysterious visit of my evil genius gradually faded from +my recollection. + +In this manner the day passed away. I visited the king from +time to time, and he, although evidently much oppressed and +indisposed, conversed with me without any painful effort. His +affection for me seemed to gain fresh strength as his bodily +vigour declined, and the fervent attachment he expressed for +me, at a time when self might reasonably have been expected to +hold possession of his mind, filled me with regret at not being able + more fully to return so much tenderness. In the evening I +wished to be alone, the maréchale de Mirepoix had sent to request +a private interview, and I awaited her arrival in my chamber, +whilst an immense concourse of visitors filled my salons. The +king's danger was not yet sufficiently decided for the courtiers + to abandon me, and the chances continued too strongly in my +favour to warrant any one of them in withdrawing from me their +usual attentions. Comte Jean, however, presented himself before +me, spite of the orders I had given to exclude every person but +the maréchale. + +"My dear sister," cried he, as he entered, "Chamilly has just told +me that he has received the royal command to have Julie married +off without delay; now this is a piece of delicacy towards yourself +on the part of the king for which you owe him many thanks. But +I have another communication to make you, of a less pleasing nature. +The unfortunate girl who has been left at Trianon, has called +incessantly for you the whole of this day; she asserts that she +has matters of importance to communicate to you." + +Whatever surprise I experienced at this intelligence, it was +impossible it could be otherwise than true, for was it likely +that, at a time like the present, comte Jean would attempt to +impose such a tale upon me. + +"What would you have me do?" asked I of my brother-in-law. + +"Hark ye, sister," replied he, "we are both of us in a very +critical situation just now, and should spare no endeavour to +extricate ourselves from it. Very possibly thisgirl may be in +possession of facts more important than you at present conceive +possible; the earnestness with which she perseveres in her desire +of seeing you, and her repeated prayers to those around her to +beg your attendance, proves that it is something more than the +mere whim of a sick person, and in your place, I should not +hesitate to comply with her wishes." + +"And how could we do so? "said I. + +"To-night," returned he, "when all your guests have retired, and +Versailles is in a manner deserted, I will fetch you; we have keys +which open the various gates in the park, and walking through +which, and the gardens, we can reach Trianon unobserved. No +person will be aware of our excursion, and we shall return with +the same caution with which we went. We will, after our visit, +cause our clothes to be burnt, take a bath, and use every possible +precaution to purify ourselves from all chance of infection. When +that is done you may venture into the apartment of his majesty, +even if that malady which at present hangs over him should turn +out to be the small-pox." + +I thought but little of the consequences of our scheme, or of the +personal danger I incurred, and I promised my brother-in-law +that I would hold myself in readiness to accompany him. We then +conversed together upon the state of the king, and, what you will +have some difficulty in crediting, not one word escaped either of +us relative to our future plans or prospects; still it was the +point to which the thoughts of comte Jean must naturally +have turned. + +We were interrupted in our < tête-à-tête > by the arrival of the +maréchale, whose exactitude I could not but admire. Comte Jean, +having hastily paid his compliments, left us together. + +"Well, my dear countess," said she, taking my hand with a friendly +pressure, "and how goes on the dear invalid?" + +"Better, I hope," replied I, "and indeed, this illness, at first +so alarming to me, seems rather calculated to allay my former +fears and anxieties by affording the king calm and impartial +reflection; the result of it is that my dreaded rival of the + <Parc-aux-Cerfs> is dismissed." + +"I am delighted to hear this," replied madame de Mirepoix, "but, +my dear soul, let me caution you against too implicitly trusting +these deceitful appearances, to-morrow may destroy these flattering +hopes, and the next day--" + +"Indeed!" cried I, interrupting her, "the physicians answer +for his recovery." + +"And suppose they should chance to be mistaken," returned my +cautious friend, "what then? But, my dear countess, my regard +or you compels me to speak out, and to warn you of reposing in +tranquillity when you ought to be acting. Do not deceive yourself, +leave nothing to chance; and if you have any favour to ask of +the king, lose no time in so doing while yet you have the opportunity." + +"And what favour would you advise me to ask?" said I + +"You do not understand me, then?" exclaimed the maréchale, "I +say that it is imperatively necessary for you to accept whatever +the king may feel disposed to offer you as a future provision, +and as affording you the means of passing the remainder of your +days in ease and tranquillity. What would become of you in case +of the worst? Your numerous creditors would besiege you with a +rapacity, still further excited by the support they would receive +from court. You look at me with surprise because I speak the +language of truth; be a reasonable creature I implore of you +once in your life, and do not thus sacrifice the interests of +your life to a romantic disregard of self." + +I could not feel offended with the maréchale for addressing me +thus, but I could not help fancying the moment was ill chosen, +and unable to frame an answer to my mind, I remained silent. +Mistaken as to the cause of my taciturnity, she continued, + +"Come, I am well pleased to see you thus reflecting upon what +I have said; but lose no time, strike the iron while it is hot. +Do as I have recommended either to-night or early to-morrow; +possibly, after that time it may be too late. May I venture also +to remind you of your friends, my dear countess. I am in great +trouble just now, and I trust you will not refuse to obtain for +me, from his majesty, a favour of which I stand in the utmost +need--50,000 francs would come very seasonably; I have lost that +sum at cards, and must pay it, but how I know not." + +"Let not that distress you," said I, "for I can relieve you of +that difficulty until the king's convalescence enables him to +undertake the pleasing office of assisting your wishes. M. de +Laborde has orders to honour all my drafts upon him, I will +therefore draw for the sum you require." So saying, I hastily +scrawled upon a little tumbled piece of paper those magic words, +which had power to unlock the strong coffers of a court banker. +The maréchale embraced me several times with the utmost vivacity. + +"You are my guardian angel," cried she, "you save me from despair. +But, tell me, my generous friend, do you think M. de Laborde will +make any difficulty?" + +"Why," said I, "should you suppose it possible he will do so?" + +"Oh, merely on account of present circumstances." + +"What circumstances?" + +"The illness--no, I mean the indisposition of his majesty." + +"He is an excellent man," said I, "and I doubt not but he will +act nobly and honourably." + +"If we could but procure his majesty's signature--" + +"But that is quite impossible to-night." + +"I know it is, and, therefore, I will tell you what I think of +doing. Perhaps, if I were to set out for Paris immediately, I +might be able to present this cheque before Laborde is acquainted +with our misfortune. It is not late, so farewell, my dearest +countess. I shall return to-morrow before you are up, but do +not forget what I have said to you; and remember, that under +any circumstances, the king should secure you a safe and ample +independence. If his death finds you well provided for, you will +still have a court, friends, relatives, partisans, in a word, the +means of gratifying every inclination. Be guided by me, and +follow my advice." + +And after this lesson of practical morality, the maréchale quitted +me to hurry to Paris; and I, wearied and heartsick, flew to my +crowded salons as a remedy against the gloomy ideas her +conversation had given rise to. + +On this evening my guests were more numerous and brilliant than +usual, for no person entertaining the least suspicion of the king's +danger, all vied with each other in evincing, by their presence, +the desire they felt of expressing their regard for me. My +friends, acquaintances, people whom I scarcely knew at all, were +collected together in my drawing-rooms; this large assemblage of +joyous and cheerful faces, drove away for a moment all the gloom +which had bung over me. I even forgot the morning's visitor, and +if the health of the king were at all alluded to, it was only +<en passant>. It seemed a generally understood thing not to +believe him seriously ill; in fact, to deny all possibility of +such a thing being the case. Thus all went on as usual, scandal, +slander, epigrams, <jeux d'esprits>, all the lively nonsense +usually circulated upon such occasions, went round, and were +laughed at and admired according to the tastes of those to whom +they were addressed. + +Could a stranger have seen us, so careless, thoughtless, and gay, +he would have been far from suspecting that we were upon the eve +of a catastrophe which must change the whole face of affairs in +France. For my own part, my spirits rose to a height with the +giddy crowd around me, and in levity and folly, I really believe +I exceeded them. + +At a late hour my rooms were at length forsaken, and I retired +to my chamber where, having dismissed my other attendants, I +remained alone (as was frequently my custom) with my faithful +Henriette, whom I caused to exchange my evening dress for a dark +robe, which I covered with a large Spanish mantle I had never +before worn, and thus equipped, I waited the arrival of comte +Jean. Henriette, surprised at these preparations, pressed me +with so many questions, that at last I explained my whole purpose +to her. The attached creature exerted all her eloquence to point +out the dangers of the enterprise, which she implored of me to +abandon, but I refused to listen to her remonstrances, and she +ceased urging me further, only protesting she should await my +return with the most lively impatience. + +At length, comte Jean appeared, armed with a small sword-stick +and pistols in his pocket, with every other precaution necessary +for undertaking so perilous an adventure. We descended into +the garden with many smiles at the singular figures we made, but +no sooner were we in the open air, than the sight of the clear + heavens sparkling with stars, the cool still night, the vast walks +lined with statues, which resembled a troop of white phantoms, +the gentle waving of the branches, as the evening breeze stirred +their leaves, with that feeling of awe and solemnity generally +attendant upon the midnight hour, awoke in our minds ideas more +suitable to our situation. We ceased speaking and walked slowly +down the walk past the basin of the dragon, in order, by crossing +the park, to reach the château de Trianon. + +Fortune favoured us, for we met only one guard in the park, this +man having recognised us as we drew near, saluted us, and was +about to retire, when my brother-in-law called him back an desired +him to take our key, and open with it the nearest gates to the +place which we wished to go to. He also commanded him to await +our return. The soldier was accustomed to these nocturnal e +xcursions even on the part of the most scrupulous and correct +gentlemen and ladies of the court. He, therefore, assured us of +his punctuality, and opened for us a great iron gate, which it +would have cost my brother-in-law much trouble to have turned +upon its hinges. + +The nearer we approached the end of our journey, the more fully +did our minds become impressed with new and painful disquietudes. +At length, we reached the place of our destination. + +My brother-in-law desired he might be announced but said nothing +of who I was. We were expected, for a Swiss belonging to the +palace conducted us to a chamber at one end of the château, +where, stretched on a bed of loathsome disease, was the creature +who, but a few hours before, had been deemed worthy the embraces +of a powerful monarch. Beside her were an elderly female, her +mother, and an aged priest, who had been likewise summoned by the +unfortunate girl, and her brother, a young man of about twenty-four +years of age, with an eye of fire, and a frame of Herculean power. +He was sitting with his back turned towards the door; the mother, +half reclining on the bed, held in her hand a handkerchief steeped +in her tears, while the ecclesiastic read prayers to them from a +book which he held. A nurse, whom we had not before perceived, +answered the call of the Swiss, and inquired of him what he wanted. + +"I want nothing, myself," answered he, "but here is comte Jean +du Barry with a lady from Versailles; they say they come at the +request of mademoiselle Anne." + +We were now on the threshold of the door, and the nurse, crossing +the chamber, spoke to the mother, who hastily rose, while the +priest discontinued his prayers. The mother looked at us, then +whispered some words to her daughter. The patient stirred in her +bed, and the nurse returning to us, said to comte Jean that he +might approach the bed of the invalid. + +He advanced and I followed him, although the noisome effluvia +with which the air was loaded produced a sickness I scarcely could +surmount. The gloom of the place was still further increased by +the dim light of two wax candles placed in a nook of the room. + +The priest, having recognised my brother-in-law, and suspecting +doubtless who I was, was preparing to withdraw, but the sick girl +made signs for him to remain. He obeyed, but removing to a +distance, he took his place beside the young man, who, understanding +only that strangers had arrived, rose from his seat and displayed +his tall gigantic height to the fullest advantage. + + + +CHAPTER XLI + + +Interview with the joiner's daughter--Consultation of the physicians +respecting the king--The small-pox declares itself--the comte de +Muy--The princesses--Extreme sensibility of madame de Mirepoix--The +king is kept in ignorance of his real condition--The archbishop of +Paris visits Versailles + +The gloomy and mysterious air scattered over the group which +presented itself to our eyes filled us with desponding thoughts. +There appeared throughout the party a kind of concentrated grief +and silent despair which struck us with terror. We remained +motionless in the same spot without any persons quitting their f +ixed attitude to offer us a seat. After some minutes of a deep +silence, which I durst not interrupt any more than comte Jean, +whose accustomed hardihood seemed effectually checked, the +suffering girl raised herself in her bed, and in a hollow +voice exclaimed, + +"Comtesse du Barry, what brings you here?" + +The sound of her hoarse and grating voice made me start, spite of myself. + +"My poor child," answered I, tenderly, "I come to see you at +your request." + +"Yes, yes," replied she, bursting into a frightful fit of laughter, +"I wished to see you to thank you for my dishonour, and for the +perdition into which you have involved me." + +"My daughter," said the priest, approaching her, "is this what +you promised me?" + +"And what did I promise to God when I vowed to hold myself chaste +and spotless? Perjured wretch that I am, I have sold my honour +for paltry gold; wheedled by the deceitful flattery of that man +who stands before me, I joined his infamous companion in the +path of guilt and shame. But the just vengeance of heaven has +overtaken me, and I am rightly punished." + +Whether this language was the result of a previously studied +lesson I know not, but it was ill-calculated to raise my +failing spirits. + +"My child, my beloved child!" exclaimed the weeping mother, +"fear not, God is merciful and will accept your sincere abhorrence +of your fault. I have this day offered in your name a fine wax +taper to your patroness, St. Anne, who will, no doubt, intercede +for you." + +"No, no!" replied the unhappy girl, "there is no longer any hope +for me; and the torments I now suffer are but the preludes to +those which I am doomed to endure everlastingly." + +This singular scene almost convulsed me with agitation. I seized +the arm of my brother-in-law with the intention of escaping from +so miserable a spot; the invalid perceived my design and +vehemently exclaimed, + +"Stay, comtesse du Barry; I have not yet finished with you, I +have not yet announced the full revenge I shall take for your +share in my present hopeless condition; your infamous exaltation +draws to a close, the same poison which is destroying me, +circulates in the veins of him you have too long governed; but +your reign is at an end. He will soon quit his earthly crown, +and my hand strikes the blow which sends him hence. But still, +dying a victim to a cruel and loathsome complaint, I go to my +grave triumphing over my haughty rival, for I shall die the last +possessor of the king's affections. Heavens! what agonies are +these?" cried she; then, after a short silence, she continued, +extending to me her arms hideous with the leprous blotches of +her disgusting malady, "yes, you have been my destruction; your +accursed example led me to sell myself for the wages of infamy, +and to the villainous artifices of the man who brought you here +I owe all my sufferings. I am dying more young, more beautiful, +more beloved than you; I am hurried to an untimely end. God of +heaven! die I did I say die? I cannot, will not--Mother, save +your child!--Brother, help me, save me!" + +"My daughter, my darling child!" cried the despairing mother, +wringing her hands and weeping bitterly. + +"My dearest sister Anne, what can I do for you?" inquired the +young man, whose stern features were melted into mere +womanish tenderness. + +"Daughter," interrupted the priest, " God is good; he can and +will forgive you if you heartily turn to him, with a sincere desire +to atone for your fault." + +All this took place in less time than it has taken in the +recital. My brother-in-law seemed completely deprived of his +usual self-possession by this burst of frightful raving; his +feet appeared rooted to the floor of the chamber; his colour +changed from white to red, and a cold perspiration covered his +brows. For my own part, I was moved beyond description; but +my faculties seemed spell-bound, and when I strove to speak, my +tongue cleaved to my mouth. + +The delirium of poor Anne continued for some time to find utterance, +either by convulsive gesticulation, half-uttered expressions, and, +occasionally, loud and vehement imprecations. At length, quite +exhausted with her violence, which required all the efforts of +her brother to subdue by positive force, she sunk into a state +of insensibility. The priest, on his knees, implored in a loud +voice the mercy of Providence for the king and all his subjects. +Had any person conceived the design of working on my fears so +far as to induce me to abandon a life at court, they could not +have succeeded more entirely than by exhibiting to me the scene +I have been describing. Had not many contending ideas enabled +me to bear up under all I saw and heard, my senses must have +forsaken me; under common circumstances, the aspect of the brother +alone would have terrified me exceedingly; and even now, I cannot +recollect without a shudder, the looks of dark and sinister +meaning he alternately directed at me and at comte Jean. At this +moment, the doctor who had the charge of the unhappy girl arrived. +The warmth and eagerness of manner with which he addressed me +directly he perceived my presence, might have proved to all around +that I was not the hateful creature I had been described. This +well-timed interruption restored me to the use of my faculties, +and repulsing the well-meant attentions of my medical friend, I +exclaimed, "Do not heed me, I conjure you, I am only temporarily +indisposed. But hasten to that poor girl whose dangererous state + requires all your care." + +My brother-in-law, recovering himself by a strong effort, profited +by the present opportunity to remove me into another apartment, +the pure air of which contributed to cool my fevered brain; but + my trembling limbs refused to support me, and it was necessary +to apply strong restoratives ere I was sufficiently recovered to +quit the fatal spot. At Trianon, as well as at Versailles, I was +considered absolute mistress; those of the royal household, who +were aware of my being at the former, earnestly solicited me to +retire to the chamber I had occupied on the preceding night, but +to this arrangement the comte and myself were equally opposed. +A sedan chair was therefore procured, in which I was rapidly +transported back to Versailles. + +You may easily conceive in what a state I arrived there. My good +Henriette was greatly alarmed, and immediately summoned Bordeu, + who, not venturing to bleed me, contented himself with administering +some cordials which revived me in some degree. But the events of +the last few hours seemed indelibly fixed in my mind; and I heard, +almost with indifference, the bulletin issued respecting the +state of the king's health during the fatal night which had just +passed. One object alone engrossed my thoughts; -eyes seemed +still to behold the miserable girl stretched on her dying bed, +whose ravings of despair and threatening words yet rung in my +ears, and produced a fresh chill of horror, as with painful +tenacity my mind dwelt upon them to the utter exclusion of every +other consideration. The unfortunate creature expired on the +third day, a victim to the rapid progress of the most virulent +species of small-pox. She died more calmly and resigned than I +had seen her. For my own part, I freely pardoned her injustice +towards myself, and sincerely forgive the priest if he (as I have +been told) excited her bitterness against me. + +The severe shock I had experienced might have terminated fatally +for me, had not my thoughts been compelled to rouse themselves +for the contemplation of the alarming prospect before me. It was +more than four o'clock in the morning when I returned to the +château, and at nine I rose again without having obtained the least + repose. The king had inquired for me several times. I instantly +went to him, and my languid frame, pale countenance and heavy +eyes, all which he took as the consequences of my concern for his +indisposition, appeared greatly to affect him; and he sought to +comfort me by the assurance of his being considerably better. +This was far from being true, but he was far from suspecting +the nature of the malady to which his frame was about to become +a prey. The physicians had now pronounced with certainty on the +subject, nor was it possible to make any mystery of it with me, +who had seen Anne on her sick-bed. + +In common with all who knew the real nature of the complaint, I +sought to conceal it from the king, and in this deception the +physicians themselves concurred. In the course of the morning a +consultation took place; when called upon for their opinion, each +of them endeavoured to evade a direct answer, disguising the name +of his majesty's disease under the appellation of a cutaneous +eruption, chicken-pox, etc., etc., none daring to give it its true +denomination. Bordeu and Lemonnier pursued this cautious plan, +but La Martinière, who had first of all pronounced his decision +on the subject, impatient of so much circumlocution on the part +of those around him, could no longer repress his indignation. + +"How is this, gentlemen!" exclaimed he, "is science at a +standstill with you? Surely, you cannot be in any doubt on the +subject of the king's illness. His majesty has the small-pox, +with a complication of other diseases equally dangerous, and I +look upon him as a dead man." + +"Monsieur de la Martinière," cried the duc de Duras, who, in +quality of his office of first gentleman of the bed-chamber, was +present at this conference, "allow me to remind you that you are +expressing yourself very imprudently." + +"Duc de Duras," replied the abrupt La Martinier, "my business is +not to flatter the king, but to tell him the truth with regard to +his health. None of the medical gentlemen present can deny the +truth of what I have asserted; they are all of my opinion, although +I alone have the courage to act with that candour which my sense +of honour dictates." + +The unbroken silence preserved by those who heard this address, +clearly proved the truth of all La Martinière advanced. The duc +de Duras was but too fully convinced of the justice of his opinion. + +"The king is then past all hope," repeated he, "and what remains +to be done?" + +"To watch over him, and administer every aid and relief which art +suggests," was the brief reply of La Martinière. + +The different physicians, when separately questioned, hesitated +no longer to express their concurrence in the opinion that his +majesty's case was entirely hopeless, unless, indeed, some crisis, +which human foresight could not anticipate, should arise in his favour. + +This opinion changed the moral face of the château. The duc de +Duras, who had not previously suspected even the existence of +danger, began to feel how weighty a burthen reposed on his +shoulders; he recommended to the medical attendants the utmost +caution and silence, pointing out, at the same time, all the ill +consequences which might arise, were any imprudent or sudden +explanation of his real malady made to the august sufferer. Unable +to attend to everything himself, and not inclined to depend upon +his son, whose natural propensity he was fully aware of, he +recalled to his recollection that the comte de Muy, the sincere +and attached friend of the dauphin, son to Louis XV, was then in +Versailles. He immediately sought him out in the apartments he +occupied in the château, and communicated to him the result of +the consultation respecting the king's illness. + +The comte de Muy was one of those rare characters reserved by +Providence for the happiness of a state, when kings are wise +enough to employ them. He thought not of personal interest or +advantage, but dictated to the duke the precise line of conduct he +himself would have pursued under similar circumstances. + +"The first thing to be done," said he, "is to remember that the +king is a Christian, and to conform in every respect to the +customs of his predecessors. You are aware, my lord duke, that +directly any member of the royal family is attacked by the small-pox, +he ought immediately to receive extreme unction; you will, +therefore, make the necessary arrangements, and apprize those +whose duty it becomes to administer it." + +"This is, indeed, an unpleasant commission," replied the duke; "to +administer extreme unction to his majesty, is to announce to him +cruelly and abruptly that his last hour has arrived, and to bid +him prepare for death." + +"The duty is nevertheless imperative," answered the comte de Muy, +"and you incur no slight responsibility by neglecting it." + +The consequence of this conversation was, that the duke sent off +two couriers immediately, one to madame Louise, and the other +to the archbishop of Paris. He also apprized the ministers of the +result of the consultation which had taken place, whilst the comte +de Muy took upon himself the painful office of acquainting the +dauphin with the dangerous state of his grandfather. This young +prince, whose first impulses were always amiable, immediately +burst into tears; the dauphiness endeavoured to console him. +But from that moment her royal highness appeared to show by her +lofty and dignified bearing, her consciousness of the fresh +importance she had necessarily acquired in the eyes of the nation. +Meanwhile, the dauphin hastened to the sick room of his beloved +relative, anxious to bestow upon him the cares and attentions of +a son; but in the anteroom his progress was stopped by the duc +de la Vrillière, who informed him, that the interests of the +throne would not permit his royal highness to endanger his life +by inhaling the contagious atmosphere of a room loaded with the +venom of the small-pox. He adjured him, in the name of the king +and his country, not to risk such fearful chances. The lords in +attendance, who did not partake the heroism the young prince, +added their entreaties to those of <le petit saint>, and succeeded, +at length, in prevailing upon him to return to his apartments, to +the great joy of Marie Antoinette, who could not endure the +prospect of being separated from her husband at so important +a juncture. + +No sooner had the princesses learned the danger of their august +parent, than without an instant's hesitation they hurried to him. +I was in his chamber when they arrived; they saluted me with +great gentleness and affability. When the king saw them, he +inquired what had brought them thither at so unusual an hour. + +"We are come to see you, my dearest father," replied madame +Adélaïde; "we have heard of your indisposition, and trifling as +it is said to be, we could not rest without satisfying our anxious +wish to know how you found yourself." + +The other sisters expressed themselves in similar terms. + +"It is all very well, my children," said Louis XV, with a pleasing +smile, "and you are all three very excellent girls, but I would +rather you should keep away from this close room; it can do you +no good, and I promise to let you know if I find myself getting +any worse." + +After a slight resistance the princesses feigned an obedience to +his will; but, in reality, they merely retired into an adjoining +chamber, concealed from the sight of their parent, where they +remained, until the moment when they undertook the charge of the +patient. Their heroic devotion was the admiration of all France +and Europe. + +Much as their presence constrained me, I still kept my place beside + the sick-bed of his majesty, who would not suffer me to leave him +for a minute. + +At an early hour the maréchale de Mirepoix returned, according +to her promise. I met her in the corridor as I was passing along +on my way to the king's apartment; her face was full of +cheerful smiles. + +"How greatly am I obliged to you for your prompt succour," said +she, without even inquiring after my health or that of the king. +"Do you know, I was but just in time; ten minutes later, and I +should have been refused payment for your cheque. M. de Laborde, +who was so devotedly your friend only yesterday, counted out to +me the glittering coin I was so anxious to obtain. He even +accompanied me to my carriage, when behold, just at the moment, +when, with his hat in his hand, he was most gallantly bowing, and +wishing me a pleasant journey, a courier arrived from Versailles +bringing him the news of the king's illness. He looked so +overwhelmed with consternation and alarm, that I could not prevent +myself from bursting into a hearty fit of laughter, nor has my +gaiety forsaken me up to the present moment." + +"You are very fortunate," said I, "to be enabled thus to preserve +your good spirits." + +"My dear creature, I would fain cheat time of some of his claims +upon me. But now I think of it, what is the matter since I was +here? Is the king worse, and what is this I hear whispered abroad +of the small-pox?" + +"Alas, madam," answered I, much hurt at the insensibility she +displayed, "we run but too great danger of losing our friend and +benefactor for ever." + +"Dear me, how very shocking! But what has he settled on you? +What have you asked him for?" + +"Nothing!" replied I, coolly. + +"Nothing! very admirable, indeed; but, my good soul, these fine +sentiments sometimes leave people to eat the bread of charity. +So, then, you have not followed my advice. Once more, I repeat, +lose not the present opportunity, and, in your place, I would set +about securing my own interest without one instant's delay." + +"That I could not do, madam," said I; "it is wholly foreign to +my nature to take advantage of the weakness of a dying man." + +"Dying man!" repeated the maréchale incredulously, "come, come, +he is not dead yet; and whilst there is life there is hope; and I +suppose you have carried your ideas of disinterestedness so far +as to omit mentioning your friends, likewise. You will never +have any worldly sense, I believe. My dear soul," said she, +stooping down and whispering in my ear, "you are surrounded by a +set of selfish wretches, who care nothing for you unless you can f +orward their interests." + +"I see it, I know it," exclaimed I impatiently; "but though I +beg my bread, I will not importune the king." + +"As you please," cried madame de Mirepoix, "pray do not let me +disturb your intentions. Silly woman that you are, leave others +to act the sublime and grand, your part should be that of a +reasonable creature. Look at myself, suppose I had not seized +the ball at the bound." + +"You were born at Versailles," answered I, smiling in spite +of myself. + +"True, and I confess that with me the greatest of all sense is +common sense, which produces that instinctive feeling of +self-preservation implanted even in animals. But is the king +indeed so very ill?" + +"He is, indeed, dangerously ill." + +"I am very sorry," answered she, "his majesty and myself were +such old friends and companions; but things will now be very +different, and we shall soon see the court filled with new faces, +whilst you and I, my poor countess, may hide our diminished +heads. A set of hungry wretches will drive us away from the +princely banquet at which we have so long regaled, and scarcely +will their eagerness leave us a few scattered crumbs--how dreadful! +Yes, I repeat that for many reasons, we shall have just cause for +regretting the late king." + +"The <late> king!" exclaimed I. "His majesty is not yet dead, +madame la maréchale." + +"I know that, but he will die; and by speaking of the event as +if it had already taken place, we prepare our minds to meet the +blow with greater resignation when it does fall. I am much +concerned, I can assure you; but let us quit the close confined +air of this corridor, and go where we may breathe a purer atmosphere." + +She took me by the arm with a greater familiarity than she had +ever before assumed, and led the way to my chamber, where I +found the duc de la Vrillière awaiting me, to request I would +return to the king, who had asked for me more than once. This +consummate hypocrite seized the present opportunity of renewing +his assurances of an unalterable attachment to me, vowing an +eternal friendship. I was weak enough to believe him, and when +I gave him my hand in token of reconciliation, I espied the maréchale +standing behind him, making signals to me to distrust his professions. + +I know not the reason of this conduct on the part of the duc de l +a Vrillière, but I can only suppose it originated in his considering +the king in less danger than he was said to be; however, I suffered +him to lead me to the chamber of the invalid. When Louis XV +saw me return, he inquired why I had quitted him? I replied, +because I was fearful of wearying him; upon which he assured +me, that he only felt easy and comfortable so long as I was with him. + +"But, perhaps, there is some contagion in my present complaint?" + exclaimed he, as though labouring under some painful idea. + +"Certainly not," replied I; "it is but a temporary eruption of +the skin, which will, no doubt, carry off the fever you have +suffered with." + +"I feared it was of a more dangerous nature," answered the king. + +"You torment yourself needlessly, sire," said I; "why should +you thus create phantoms for your own annoyance and alarm? +Tranquillize yourself, and leave the task of curing you to us." + +I easily penetrated the real import of his words; he evidently +suspected the truth, and was filled with the most cruel dread +of having his suspicions confirmed. During the whole of this +day he continued in the same state of uncertainty; the strictest +watch was set around him that no imprudent confession should +reveal to him the real nature of his situation. I continued +sitting beside him in a state of great constraint, from the +knowledge of my being closely observed by the princesses, of + whose vicinity we durst not inform him, in the fear of exciting +his fears still more. + +The courier, who had been despatched to madame Louise, returned, +bringing a letter from that princess to her sisters, under cover to +madame Adélaïde, in which she implored of them not to suffer any +consideration to prevent their immediately acquainting their father +with the dangerous condition he was in. The duty, she added, was +imperative, and the greatest calamity that could befall them, would +be to see this dearly loved parent expire in a state of sinful +indifference as to his spiritual welfare. + +The august recluse, detached from all sublunary considerations, +saw nothing but the glorious hereafter, where she would fain +join company with all her beloved friends and connexions of +this world. + +The archbishop of Paris, M. de Beaumont, a prelate highly esteemed +for his many excellent private qualities, but who had frequently +embarrassed the king by his pertinacity, did not forget him on +this occasion; for no sooner did the account of his majesty's i +llness reach him, than, although suffering with a most painful +complaint, he hastened to Versailles, where his presence embarrassed +every one, particularly the grand almoner, who, a better courtier +than priest, was excessively careful never to give offence to any +person, even though the king's salvation depended upon it; he, +therefore, kept his apartment, giving it out that he was +indisposed, and even took to his bed, the better to avoid any +disagreeable or inconvenient request. The sight of the archbishop +of Paris was far from being agreeable to him. This prelate went +first in search of the princesses who were not to be seen on +account of their being with their father. A message was despatched +to them, and mesdames Adélaïde and Sophie, after having a long +conference with him, by his advice, summoned the bishops of +Meaux, Goss, and de Senlis, and held a species of council, in +which it was unanimously agreed that nothing ought to prevent +their entering upon an explanation with the king, and offering +him spiritual succour. + +Who was to undertake the delicate commission, became the next +point to consider. M. de Roquelaire declined, not wishing, as he +said, to infringe upon the rights of the grand almoner, who was +now at Versailles. M. de la Roche Aymon was therefore sent for, +requesting his immediate attendance. Never did invitation arrive +more <mal à propos>, or more cruelly disturb any manoeuvring +soul. However, to refuse was impossible, and the cardinal arrived, +execrating the zeal of his reverend brother of Paris; who, after +having explained the state of affairs to him, informed him that +he was sent for the purpose of discharging his office by preparing +the king for confession. + +The grand almoner replied, that the sacred duty by no means +belonged to him; that his place at court was of a very different +nature, and had nothing at all to do with directing the king's +conscience. His majesty, he said, had a confessor, who ought +to be sent for, and the very sight of him in the royal chamber +would be sufficient to apprize the illustrious invalid of the +motives which brought him thither. In a word, the grand almoner +got rid of the affair, by saying, "that, as it was one of the utmost +importance, it would be necessary to confer with his royal +highness, the dauphin, respecting it." + + + +CHAPTER XLII + + + First proceedings of the council--The dauphin receives the prelates +with great coolness--Situation of the archbishop of Paris-- +Richelieu evades the project for confessing the king--The friends +of madame du Barry come forward--The English physician--The +abbé Terray--Interview with the prince de Soubise--The prince +and the courtiers--La Martinière informs the king of France the +true nature of his complaint--Consequences of this disclosure + +The different members of this <concile impromptu> declared +themselves in favour of this advice, much to the grief and chagrin +of the princess Adélaïde. She easily perceived by this proposition +that the court would very shortly change masters, and could she +hope to preserve the same influence during the reign of her nephew +she had managed to obtain whilst her father held the sceptre? +However, she made no opposition to the resolution of the prelates, +who forthwith proceeded to the dauphin, who received them with +considerable coolness. As yet, but ill-assured in the new part +he had to play, the prince showed himself fearful and embarrassed. +The dauphiness would willingly have advised him, but that prudence +would not permit her to do, so that the dauphin, left wholly to +himself, knew not on what to determine. + +This was precisely what the grand almoner had hoped and expected, +and he laughed in his sleeve at the useless trouble taken by the +archbishop; and whilst he openly affected to promote his desires +as much as was in his power, he secretly took measures to prevent +their success. M. de Beaumont, who was of a most open and upright +nature, was far from suspecting these intrigues; indeed, his simple +and pious character but ill-qualified him for the corrupt and deceitful +atmosphere of a court, especially such a one as Versailles. His +situation now became one of difficulty; abandoned by the bishops +and the grand almoner, disappointed in his hopes of finding a +supporter in the dauphin, what could he do alone with the +princesses, who, in their dread of causing an emotion, which +might be fatal to their parent, knew not what to resolve upon. As +a last resource, they summoned the abbé Mandaux, the king's +confessor. The prelate excited his zeal in all its fervour, and +this simple and obscure priest determined to undertake that +which many more eminent personages had shrunk from attempting. + +He therefore sought admittance into the chamber of the king, where + he found the ducs de Duras and de Richelieu, to whom he +communicated the mission upon which he was come. + +At this declaration, the consequences of which he plainly foresaw, +the duc de Duras hesitated to reply, scarcely knowing how to ward +off a blow the responsibility of which must fall upon him alone. +The duc de Richelieu, with greater self-command, extricated him +from his difficulty. + +"Sir," said he to the abbé, "your zeal is highly praise-worthy, +both the duke and myself are aware of all that should be done +upon such an occasion as the present; and although I freely +admit that the sacred act you speak of is of an imperative nature, +yet I would observe, that the king being still in ignorance of his +fatal malady, neither your duties nor ours can begin, until the +moment when the physicians shall have thought proper to reveal +the whole truth to his majesty. This is a matter of form and +etiquette to which all must submit who have any functions to +fulfil in the château." + +The duc de Duras could have hugged his colleague for this well- +timed reply. The abbé Mandaux felt all the justness of the +observation, yet with all the tenacity of his profession, he replied, + +"That since it rested with the physicians to apprize the king of +his being ill with the small-pox, they ought to be summoned and +consulted as to the part to take." + +At these words the duc de Duras slipped away from the group, +and went himself in search of Doctor Bordeu, whom he brought +into an angle of the chamber out of sight of the king's bed. The +duc de Duras having explained to him what the abbé had just been +saying to them, as well as the desire he had manifested of +preparing the king to receive the last sacraments, the doctor + regarded the abbé fixedly for some instance, and then inquired i +n a severe tone, "Whether he had promised any person to murder +the king?" + +This abrupt and alarming question made the priest change colour, +whilst he asked for an explanation of such a singular charge. + +"I say, sir," replied Bordeu, "that whoever speaks at present to +his majesty of small-pox, confession, or extreme unction, will +have to answer for his life." + +"Do you, indeed, believe," asked the duc de Richelieu, "that the +mention of these things would produce so fatal a result?" + +"Most assuredly I do; and out of one hundred sick persons it +would have the same effect upon sixty, perhaps eighty; indeed, +I have known the shock produce instantaneous death. This I am +willing to sign with my own blood if it be necessary, and my +professional brother there will not dispute its truth." + +At these words he made a sign for Lemonnier to advance, and +after having explained to him the subject of conversation, begged +of him to speak his opinion openly and candidly. Lemonnier was +somewhat of a courtier, and one glance at the two noblemen before +whom he stood, was sufficient to apprize him what opinion was +expected from him. He, therefore, fully and unhesitatingly +confirmed all that Bordeu had previously advanced. + +Strong in these decisions, the duc de Duras expressed his regret +to the confessor at being unable to accord his request. "But," +added he, "You perceive the thing is impossible, unless to him +who would become a regicide." + +This terrible expression renewed the former terror of the abbé, +who, satisfied with having shown his zeal, was, perhaps, not +very sorry for having met with such insurmountable obstacles. He +immediately returned to the apartment of madame Sophie, where +the council was still assembled, and related the particulars of +his visit; whilst the poor archbishop of Paris, thus foiled in +every attempt, was compelled to leave Versailles +wholly unsuccessful. + +I heard all these things from the duc de Richelieu; he told me +that nothing could have been more gratifying than the conduct of +Bordeu and Lemonnier, and that I had every reason for feeling s +atisfied with the conduct of all around me. "It is in the moment +of peril," said he, "that we are best able to know our true friends." + +"I see it," replied I; "and since our danger is a mutual one ought +we not to forget our old subjects of dispute?" + +"For my own part, madam," returned he, "I do not remember that +any ever existed; besides, is not my cause yours likewise? A new +reign will place me completely in the background. The present +king looks upon me as almost youthful; while, on the contrary, +his grandson will consider me as a specimen of the days of +Methuselah. The change of masters can be but to my disadvantage; +let us, therefore, stand firmly together, that we may be the better +enabled to resist the attacks of our enemies." + +"Do you consider," inquired I, "that we may rely upon the firmness +of the duc de Duras?" + +"As safely as you may on mine," answered he, "so long as he is +not attacked face to face; but if they once assail him with the +arms of etiquette, he is a lost man, he will capitulate. It is +unfortunate for him that I am not likely to be near him upon +such an occasion." + +Comte Jean, who never left me, then took up the conversation, + and advised M. de Richelieu to leave him to himself as little as + possible; it was, therefore, agreed that we should cause the duc +de Duras to be constantly surrounded by persons of our party, +who should keep those of our adversaries at a distance. + +We had not yet lost all hope of seeing his majesty restored to +health; nature, so languid and powerless in the case of poor +Anne, seemed inclined to make a salutary effort on the part of +the king. + +Every instant of this day and the next, that I did not spend by +the sick-bed of Louis XV, were engrossed by most intimate friends, +the ducs d'Aiguillon, de Cossé, etc., mesdames de Mirepoix, de +Forcalquier, de Valentinois, de l'Hôpital, de Montmorency, de +Flaracourt, and others. As yet, none of my party had abandoned +me; the situation of affairs was not, up to the present, sufficiently + clear to warrant an entire defection. The good Geneviève +Mathon, whom chance had conducted to Versailles during the last +week, came to share with Henriette, my sisters-in-law, and my +niece, the torments and uncertainties which distracted my mind. +We were continually in a state of mortal alarm, dreading every +instant to hear that the king was aware of his malady, and the +danger which threatened, and our fears but too well proclaimed +our persuasion that such a moment would be the death-blow to our +hopes. It happened that in this exigency, as it most commonly +occurs in affairs of great importance, all our apprehensions had +been directed towards the ecclesiastics, while we entirely +overlooked the probability that the abrupt la Martinière might, +in one instant, become the cause of our ruin. All this so entirely +escaped us, that we took not the slightest precaution to prevent it. + +No sooner was the news of the king being attacked with small-pox +publicly known, than a doctor Sulton, an English physician, the +pretended professor of an infallible cure for this disease, presented +himself at Versailles, and tendered his services. The poor man +was simple enough to make his first application to those medical +attendants already intrusted with the management of his majesty, +but neither of them would give any attention to his professions of +skill to overcome so fatal a malady. On the contrary, they treated +him as a mere quack, declared that they would never consent to +confide the charge of their august patient to the hands of a +stranger whatever he might be. Sulton returned to Paris, and +obtaining an audience of the duc d'Orleans, related to him what +had passed between himself and the king's physicians. The prince +made it his business the following day to call upon the princesses, +to whom he related the conversation he had held with doctor Sulton +the preceding evening. + +In their eagerness to avail themselves of every chance for promoting +the recovery of their beloved parent, the princesses blamed the +duke for having bestowed so little attention upon the Englishman, +and conjured him to return to Paris, see Sulton, and bring him to +Versailles on the following day. The duc d'Orleans acted in strict +conformity with their wishes; and although but little satisfied +with the replies made by Sulton to many of his questions relative +to the measures he should pursue in his treatment of the king, he +caused him to accompany him to Versailles, in order that the +princesses might judge for themselves. The task of receiving +him was undertaken by madame Adélaïde. Sulton underwent a +rigorous examination, and was offered an immense sum for the +discovery of his secret, provided he would allow his remedy to +be subjected to the scrutiny of some of the most celebrated +chemists of the time. Sulton declared that the thing was +impossible; in the first place, it was too late, the disease was +too far advanced for the application of the remedy to possess +that positive success it would have obtained in the earlier stage +of the malady; in the next place, he could not of himself dispose +of a secret which was the joint property of several members of +his family. + +Prayers, promises, entreaties were alike uselessly employed to + change the resolution of Sulton; the fact was evidently this, he +knew himself to be a mere pretender to his art, for had he been +certain of what he advanced, had he even conceived the most +slender hopes of saving the life of the king, he would not have +hesitated for a single instant to have done all that was asked. + +This chance of safety was, therefore, at an end, and spite of +the opinion I entertained of Sulton, I could not but feel sorry +Bordeu had not given him a better reception when he first made +known his professed ability to surmount this fatal disorder. +However, I was careful not to express my dissatisfaction, for it +was but too important for me to avoid any dispute at a time when +the support of my friends had become so essentially necessary to me. + +In proportion as the king became worse, my credit also declined. +Two orders, addressed to the comptroller-general and M. de la +Borde, for money, met with no attention. The latter replied, with +extreme politeness, that the 100,000 francs received by comte + Jean a few days before the king was taken ill, and the 50,000 +paid to madame de Mirepoix recently, must be a convincing proof, +in my eyes, of his friendly intentions towards me, but that he had +no money at present in his possession, the first he received should + be at my disposal. + +The abbé Terray acted with less ceremony, for he came himself to +say, that, so long as the king remained ill, he would pay no money +without his majesty's signature, for which my brother-in-law might + either ask or wait till there no longer existed any occasion for + such a precaution; and that, for his own part, he could not +conceive how he could have consumed the enormous sums he had +already drawn from the treasury. + +This manner of speaking stung me to the quick. + +"I find you," said I to him, "precisely the mean, contemptible +wretch you were described to me; but you are premature. I am +not yet an exile from court, and yet you seem already to have +forgotten all you owe to me." + +"I have a very good memory, madam," replied he, "and if you wish +it, I can count upon my fingers the money you and your family have +received of me. You will see--" + +"What shall I see?" interrupted I, "unless, indeed, it be an +amount of your regrets that such a sum was not left in your +hands to be pillaged by your mistresses and their spurious +offspring. Really, to hear you talk, any one would suppose you +a Sully for integrity, and a Colbert in financial talent." + +This vigorous reply staggered the selfish and coarse-minded abbé, +who easily perceived that he had carried matters too far, and had +reckoned erroneously upon the feebleness and timidity of my +natural disposition; he attempted to pacify me, but his cowardly +insolence had exasperated me too highly to admit of any apology +or peace-making. + +"Have a care what you do," said I, "or rather employ yourself in +packing up whatever may belong to you, for you shall quit your +post whatever may befall. In the event of the king's death you +will certainly be turned out by his successor, and if he regain +his health, he must then choose between you and me, there can +be no medium. Henceforward, you may consider me only in the +light of your mortal enemy." + +He wished to insist upon my hearing him, but I exclaimed, "Quit +the room, I wish neither to see nor hear more of you." + +The abbé saw that it was necessary to obey, he therefore bowed +and retired. Two hours afterwards he sent me the sum which I +had asked of him for my brother-in-law, accompanied by a most +humble and contrite letter. Certainly, had I only listened to the +inspiration of my heart, I should have sent back the money +without touching it, and the epistle without reading it; but my +heroism did not suit comte Jean, who chanced to be present. 'Take + it, take it," cried he; "the only way of punishing such a +miscreant, is to break his purse-strings. He would, indeed, have +the laugh on his side were your fit of anger to change into a fit +of generosity; besides, this may be the last we shall ever see." + +My brother-in-law and the comptroller-general were an excellent +pair. I treated the latter with silent contempt, not even replying +to his letter; this was, however, my first and only stroke of +vengeance, the disastrous events which followed did not permit +me to pursue my plans for revenging this treacherous and +contemptible conduct. + +This quarrel, and the defection of the <worthy> abbé, had the +effect of rendering me much indisposed. My illness was attributed +to an excess of sorrow for the dangerous condition of his majesty, +nor did I contradict the report; for, in truth, I did most +sincerely lament the malady with which the king was suffering, +and my regrets arose far more from a feeling of gratitude and +esteem, than any self-interested calculations. It was, therefore, +in no very excellent humour that I saw the prince de Soubise +enter my apartment. You may remember that this nobleman had +quitted Trianon without saying one word to me, and since that +period I had never seen him, although he had punctually made his +inquiries after the king. When I perceived him, I could not help +inquiring, with something of a sarcastic expression, whether his +majesty had been pronounced convalescent? The prince +comprehended the bitterness of the question. + +"You are severe, madam," replied he, "yet I can solemnly affirm +that circumstances, and not inclination, have kept me from your +presence until now." + +"May I believe you?" said I. "Are you quite sure you have not +been imitating the policy of the abbé Terray?" Upon which I +related the behaviour of the comptroller-general. + + "Priest-like," answered the prince. + +"And is it not <courtier>-like also?" inquired I. + +"Perhaps it may," rejoined M. de Soubise; "for the two species +of priest and courtier so nearly resemble each other in many +particulars, as to have become well nigh amalgamated into one; +but I claim your indulgence to make me an exception to the general +rule, and to class me as a soldier and a man of honour; besides +which, you are too lovely ever to be forgotten, and your past +goodness to me will ensure you my services let what may occur." + +"Well, then," said I, extending my hand, "as a reward for your +candour, which I receive as genuine, I will request your +forgiveness for any annoyance I may have caused you on your +family's account, I ought never to have resented any thing they +have done. My presence here could not fail of being highly +disagreeable to them; however, they will soon be relieved from +that source of uneasiness, my stay draws rapidly to a close." + +The prince de Soubise, with a ready grace and obliging manner, +for which I shall ever remember him with a grateful recollection, +endeavoured to dispel my apprehensions as to the state of the +king; but whilst I acknowledged the kindness of his intention, +my heart refused all comfort in a case, which I too well knew +was utterly hopeless. + +The state of affairs was now so manifest, that already an obsequious +crowd beseiged the doors of the dauphin, anxious to be first in the +demonstration of their adoration of the rising sun; but the young +prince, aided by the clear-minded advice of his august spouse, +refused, with admirable prudence, to receive such premature +homage; and since he was interdicted by the physicians from +visiting the royal invalid, he confined himself within his +apartments, admitting no person but a select few who possessed +his confidence. + +The disappointed satellites, frustrated in their endeavours to in +gratiate themselves with the dauphin, turned their thoughts +towards the comte de Provence, imagining that this prince, spite +of his extreme youth, might have considerable influence over +the mind of his brother, the dauphin. But this idea, however +plausible, was by no means correct; it was too much the interest +of ambitious and mercenary men to create a want of harmony +between the royal pair, and up to the moment in which I am writing, +no attempts have been made to produce a kinder and more fraternal +feeling between two such near relatives. + +I quitted the king as little as possible, watching with deep +concern the progress of a malady, the nature of which was a secret +to himself alone; for, in the dread of incurring my displeasure, +no person had ventured to acquaint him with the awful fact. By +the aid of the grand almoner, I had triumphed over the wishes of +the archbishop of Paris, and those of the confessor. The princes +and princesses awaited the event; all was calm composure; when, +all at once, the barriers I had been so carefully erecting were +crushed beneath my feet, at one sudden and unexpected blow. + +The king was by no means easy in his own mind with regard to his +illness. The many messages that were continually whispered around +him, the remedies administered, and, above all, the absence of his +grandsons, all convinced him that something of a very unusual and +alarming nature was progressing. His own feelings might, +likewise, well assure him that he was attacked by an illness of no +ordinary nature. Tortured beyond further bearing by the suggestions +of his fancy, Louis XV at length resolved to ascertain the truth, +and, with this intent, closely questioned Bordeu and Lemonnier, +who did their best to deceive him. Still, dissatisfied with their +evasive replies, he watched an opportunity, when they were both +absent, to desire La Martinière would at once explain the true +malady with which he was then suffering. La Martinière puzzled +and confused, could only exclaim, + +"I entreat of you, sire, not to fatigue yourself with conversation; +remember how strongly you have been forbidden all exertion." + +"I am no child, La Martinière," cried Louis XV, his cheeks glowing +with increased fire; "and I insist upon being made acquainted with +the precise nature of my present illness. You have always served +me loyally and faithfully, and from you I expect to receive that +candid statement every one about me seems bent upon concealing." + +"Endeavour to get some sleep, sire," rejoined La Martinière, "and +do not exhaust yourself by speaking at present." + +"La Martinière, you irritate me beyond all endurance. If you +love me, speak out, I conjure you, and tell me, frankly, the name +of my complaint." + + "Do you insist upon it, sire?" + +"I do, my friend, I do." + +"Then, sire, you have the small-pox; but be not alarmed, it is a +disease as frequently cured as many others." + +"The small-pox!" exclaimed the king, in a voice of horror; "have + I indeed that fatal disease? and do you talk of curing it?" + +"Doubtless, sire; many die of it as well as other disorders, but +we are sanguine in our hopes and expectations of saving +your majesty." + +The king made no reply, but, turned heavily in his bed and threw +the coverlet over his face. A silence ensued, which lasted until +the return of the physicians, when, finding they made no allusion +to his condition, the king addressed them in a cool and +offended tone. + +"Why," said he, "have you concealed from me the fact of my having +the small-pox?" This abrupt inquiry petrified them with +astonishment, and unable to frame a proper reply, they stood +speechless with alarm and apprehension. "Yes," resumed the king, +"but for La Martinière, I should have died in ignorance of my +danger. I know now the state in which I am, and before long I +shall be gathered to my forefathers." + +All around him strove to combat this idea, and exerted their utmost +endeavours to persuade the royal patient that his disorder had +assumed the most favourable shape, and that not a shadow of +danger was perceptible, but in vain; for the blow had fallen, and +the hapless king, struck with a fatal presentiment of coming ill, +turned a deaf ear to all they could advance. + +Bordeu, deeply concerned for what had transpired, hastened to +announce to the duc de Richelieu the turn which had taken place +in the face of affairs. Nothing could exceed the rage with which +the news was received. The duke hurried to the king's bedside. + +"Is it, indeed, true, sire," inquired he, "that your majesty doubts +of your perfect restoration to health? May I presume to inquire +whether any circumstance has occurred to diminish your confidence +in your medical attendants?" + +"Duc de Richelieu," replied the king, looking as though he would +search into his very soul, "I have the small-pox. " + +"Well," returned the duke, "and, as I understand, of a most +favourable sort; perhaps, it might have been better that La +Martinière had said nothing about it. However, it is a malady +as readily subdued by art as any other; you must not allow yourself +to feel any uneasiness respecting it, science has now so much +improved in the treatment of this malady." + +"I doubt not its ability to cure others, but me! Indeed, duc de +Richelieu, I would much rather face my old parliament than this +inveterate disease." + +"Your majesty's being able to jest is a good sign." + +At this moment, ignorant of all that had taken place, I entered +the room; for, in the general confusion, no person had informed +me of it. The moment Louis XV perceived me, he exclaimed in a +hollow tone, + +"Dearest countess, I have the small-pox." + +At these words a cry of terror escaped me. + +"Surely, sire," exclaimed I, "this is some wandering of your +imagination, and your medical attendants are very wrong to permit +you to indulge it for a minute." + +"Peace!" returned Louis XV ; "you know not what you say. I +have the small-pox, I repeat; and, thanks to La Martinière, I +now know my real state." + +I now perceived whose hand had dealt the blow, and seeing at +once all the consequences of the disclosure, exclaimed in my +anger, turning towards La Martinière, + +"You have achieved a noble work, indeed, sir; you could not +restrain yourself within the bounds of prudence, and you see the +state to which you have reduced his majesty." + +La Martinière knew not what to reply; the king undertook his defence. + +"Blame him not," said he; "but for him I should have quitted this +world like a heathen, without making my peace with an offended God." + +At these words I fainted in the arms of doctor Bordeu, who, with +the aid of my attendants, carried me to my chamber, and, at length, +succeeded in restoring me. My family crowded around me, and +sought to afford me that consolation they were in equal need +of themselves. + +Spite of the orders I had given to admit no person, the duc +d'Aiguillon would insist upon seeing me. He exerted his best +endeavours to persuade me to arm myself with courage, and, like +a true and attached friend, appeared to lose sight of his own +approaching fall from power in his ardent desire to serve me. + +In this mournful occupation an hour passed away, and left my +dejected companions sighing over the present, and, anticipating +even worse prospects than those now before them. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + + +Terror of the king--A complication--Filial piety of the princesses-- +Last interview between madame du Barry and Louis XV--Conversation +with the maréchale de Mirepoix--The chancellor Maupeou--The fragment-- +Comte Jean + +Perhaps no person ever entertained so great a dread of death as +Louis XV, consequently no one required to be more carefully +prepared for the alarming intelligence so abruptly communicated +by La Martinière, and which, in a manner, appeared to sign the +king's death-warrant. + +To every person who approached him the despairing monarch could +utter only the fatal phrase, "I have the small-pox," which, in +his lips, was tantamount to his declaring himself a dead man. +Alas! had his malady been confined to the small-pox, he might +still have been spared to our prayers; but, unhappily, a +complication of evils, which had long been lurking in his veins, +burst forth with a violence which, united to his cruel complaint, +bade defiance to surgical or medical skill. + +Yet, spite of the terror with which the august sufferer +contemplated his approaching end, he did not lose sight of the +interests of the nation as vested in the person of the dauphin, +whom he positively prohibited, as well as his other grandsons, +from entering his chamber or even visiting the part of the château +he occupied. After this he seemed to divest himself of all +further care for sublunary things; no papers were brought for his +inspection, nor did he ever more sign any official document. + +The next request made by Louis XV was for his daughters, who +presented themselves bathed in tears, and vainly striving to +repress that grief which burst forth in spite of all their +endeavours. The king replied to their sobs, by saying, "My +children, I have the small-pox; but weep not. These gentlemen + [pointing towards the physicians] assure me they can cure me." +But, while uttering this cheerful sentence, his eye caught the +stern and iron countenance of La Martinière, whose look of cool +disbelief seemed to deny the possibility of such an event. + +With a view to divert her father from the gloom which all at +once came over his features, the princess Adélaïde informed him +that she had a letter addressed to him byher sister, madame Louise. + +"Let me hear it," cried the king; "it is, no doubt, some heavenly +mission with which she is charged. But who knows?" He stopped, +but it was easy to perceive that to the fear of death was added a +dread of his well-being in another world. Madame Adélaïde then +read the letter with a low voice, while the attendants retired +to a respectful distance. All eyes were directed to the +countenance of the king, in order to read there the nature of its +contents; but already had the ravages of his fatal disease robbed +his features of every expression, save that of pain and suffering. + +The princesses now took their stations beside their parent, and +established themselves as nurses, an office which, I can with +truth affirm, they continued to fill unto the last with all the +devotion of the purest filial piety. + + On this same day Louis XV caused me to be sent for. I ran to +his bedside trembling with alarm. The various persons engaged in +his apartment retired when they saw me, and we were left alone. + +"My beloved friend," said the king, 'I have the small-pox; I am +still very ill." + +"Nay, sire," interrupted I, "you must not fancy things worse than +they are; you will do well, depend upon it, and we shall yet pass +many happy days together." + +"Do you indeed think so?" returned Louis XV. "May heaven grant +your prophecy be a correct one. But see the state in which I now +am; give me your hand." + +He took my hand and made me feel the pustules with which his +burning cheeks were covered. I know not what effect this touch +of my hand might have produced, but the king in his turn patted +my face, pushed back the curls which hung negligently over my +brow; then, inclining me towards him, drew my head upon his +pillow. I submitted to this whim with all the courage I could +assume; I even went so far as to be upon the point of bestowing +a gentle kiss upon his forehead. But, stopping me, with a +mournful air, he said, "No, my lovely countess; I am no longer +myself, but here is a miniature which has not undergone the same +change as its unfortunate master." + +I took the miniature, which I placed with respectful tenderness +in my bosom, nor have I ever parted with it since. + +This scene lasted for some minutes, after which I was retiring, +but the king called me back, seized my hand, which he tenderly +kissed, and then whispered an affectionate "Adieu." These were +the last words I ever heard from his lips. + +Upon re-entering my apartments I found madame de Mirepoix awaiting +me, to whom I related all that had taken place, expressing, at the +same time, my earnest hope of being again summoned, ere long, to +the presence of my friend and benefactor. + +"Do not deceive yourself, my dear," said she; "depend upon it +you have had your last interview; you should have employed it +more profitably. His portrait! why, if I mistake not, you have +<five> already. Why did you not carry about with you some deed +of settlement ready for signature? he would have denied you +nothing at such a moment, when you may rest assured he knew +himself to be taking his last farewell." + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed I. "And can you really suppose the +king believed he spoke to me for the last time?" + +"I have not the slightest doubt of it; I have known him for many +a day. He remembers the scene of Metz, and looks upon you as +forming the second edition of the poor duchesse de Chateauroux, +who, by the by, was not equal to you in any respect." + +I burst into a fit of tears, but not of regret for having allowed +my late interview with the king to pass in so unprofitable a +manner. However, the maréchale, misconceiving the cause of this +burst of grief, exclaimed, "Come, come; it is too late now, and +all your sorrow cannot recall the last half-hour. But, +mademoiselle du Barry," continued she, "I advise you to commence + your packing up at once, that when the grand move comes you may +not in your hurry, leave anything behind you." + +These remarks increased my affliction, but the maréchale had no +intention of wounding my feelings, and worldly-minded as she was, +considered all that could be saved out of the wreck as the only +subject worthy attention. Meanwhile, comte Jean, with a gloomy +and desponding air, continued silently with folded arms to pace +the room, till all at once, as if suddenly struck by the arguments +of madame de Mirepoix, he exclaimed, + +"The maréchale is right"; and abruptly quitted the apartment, as +if to commence his own preparations. + +Ere madame de Mirepoix had left me and she remained till a late +hour, the ducs d'Aiguillon and de Cossé arrived, who, although +less experienced in their knowledge of the king's character, were +yet fully of her opinion respecting my last visit to him. + +Scarcely had these visitors withdrawn, than I was apprized that +the chancellor of France desired to see me. He was admitted, +and the first glance of the countenance of M. de Maupeou convinced +me that our day of power was rapidly closing. + +"Your servant, cousin," said he, seating himself without the +smallest ceremony; "at what page of our history have we arrived?" + +"By the unusual freedom and effrontery of your manner," answered +I, "I should surmise that we have reached the word <finis>." + +"Oh," replied the chancellor, "I crave your pardon for having +omitted my best bow; but, my good cousin, my present visit is a +friendly one, to advise you to burn your papers with as little +delay as possible." + +"Thank you for your considerate counsel," said I, coolly, " but I +have no papers to destroy. I have neither mixed with any state +intrigue, nor received a pension from the English government. +Nothing will be found in my drawers but some unanswered +billets-doux." + +"Then as I can do nothing for you, my good cousin, oblige me by +giving this paper to the duc d'Aiguillon." + +"What is it?" inquired I, with much curiosity. + +"Have you forgotten our mutual engagement to support each other, +and not to quit the ministry until the other retired also? I have +lately been compelled (from perceiving how deeply the duke was +manoeuvering against me) to send him a copy of this agreement. +Under other circumstances I might have availed myself of this +writing, but now it matters not; the blow which dismisses me +proceeds from other hands than his, and I am willing to leave +him the consolation of remaining in power a few days after myself. +Give him, then, this useless document; and now, farewell, my +pretty cousin, let us take a last embrace." + +Upon which the chancellor, presuming until the last upon our +imaginary relationship, kissed my cheek, and having put into my +hands the paper in question, retired with a profound bow. + +This ironical leave taking left me stupefied with astonishment, +and well I presaged my coming disgrace from the absurd mummery +the chancellor had thought fit to play off. + +Comte Jean, who had seen M. de Maupeou quit the house, entered +my apartment to inquire the reason of his visit. Silent and +dejected, I allowed my brother-in-law to take up the paper, +which he read without any ceremony. "What is the meaning of this +scrawl?" cried comte Jean, with one of his usual oaths; "upon my +word our cousin is a fine fellow," continued he, crushing the +paper between his fingers. "I'll engage that he still hopes to +keep his place; however, one thing consoles me, and that is, that +both he and his parliament will soon be sent to the right about." + +Our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Chamilly, who +came to acquaint me that the king was sleeping, and did not wish +to be again disturbed that night. Remembering my usual +omnipotence in the château, I was about, like a true idiot, to +prove to Chamilly that the king's interdict did not extend to me, +when I was stopped in my purpose by the appearance of the duc +d'Aiguillon; and as it was now nearly eleven o'clock at night, I +could scarcely doubt his being the bearer of some +extraordinary message. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + + + The duc d'Aiguillon brings an order for the immediate departure +of madame du Barry--The king's remarks recapitulated--The countess +holds a privy council--Letter to madame de Mirepoix and the ducs +de Cossé and d'Aiguillon--Night of departure--Ruel--Visit from +madame de Forcalquier + +I said I did not expect the duc d'Aiguillon; and the grief which +was spread over his features, and the large tears which stood in +his eyes, persuaded me but too plainly that all hope was at an end. + +"Is the king dead?" cried I, in a stifled voice. + +"No, madam," replied he, "Louis XV still lives, nor is it by any +means certain that the misfortune you apprehend is in store for us." + +"He sends me from him, then," exclaimed I, with a convulsive cry, +"and my enemies have triumphed." + +"His majesty is but of human nature, madam," replied the duke; +"he feels himself dangerously ill, dreads the future, and believes +that he owes his people a sort of reparation for past errors." + +"How, my lord duke," interrupted I, "this grave language in your +lips--but no matter. Inform me only at whose desire you state +these melancholy facts; speak, I am prepared for your mission, +be it what it may." + +"You shall hear everything, madam," replied the duke, leading me +to an arm-chair. I seated myself; my sisters- in-law, my niece, +and comte Jean stood around me, eagerly waiting the duke's +communication. "A few hours after you had been removed from his +chamber, the king inquired of the princess Adélaïde whether it +were generally known at Paris that he had the small-pox. The +princess replied in the affirmative, adding: + +"'The archbishop of Paris was here twice during yesterday to +inquire after you.' + +"'Yet I belong more properly to the diocese of Chartres,' returned +the king, 'and surely M. de Fleury would not interest himself less +about me than M. de Beaumont.' + +"'They are both truly anxious about you, my dearest father, and +if you would only see them--' + +"'No, no,' answered Louis XV; 'they must not be taken from the +duties of their respective dioceses; besides, in case of need, I +have my grand almoner.' + +"Madame Adélaïde did not venture to urge the matter further just +then, and, after a short interval of silence, a message was +brought from you, inquiring whether you could see the king, to + which he himself replied, that he felt inclined to sleep, and +would rather not see any person that night. I was in the chamber, +and he very shortly called me to him, and said: + +"'Duc d'Aiguillon, I have the small-pox; and you are aware that +there is a sort of etiquette in my family which enjoins my +immediately discharging my duties as a Christian.' + +"'Yes, sire, if the malady wore a serious aspect; but in your case--' + +"'May God grant,' replied he, 'that my disorder be not dangerous; +however, it may become so, if it is as yet harmless, and I would +fain die as a believer rather than an infidel. I have been a great +sinner, doubtless; but I have ever observed Lent with a most +scrupulous exactitude. I have caused more than a hundred thousand +masses to be said for the repose of unhappy souls; I have +respected the clergy, and punished the authors of all impious +works, so that I flatter myself I have not been a very bad Christian.' + +"I listened to his discourse with a heavy heart, yet I still +strove to reassure the king respecting his health, of which, I +assured him, there was not the slightest doubt. + +"'There is one sacrifice,' said the king, in a low and hurried +tone, 'that my daughter Louise, her sisters, and the clergy, will +not be long in exacting from me in the name of etiquette. I +recollect the scene of Metz, and it would be highly disagreeable +to me to have it repeated at Versailles; let us, therefore, take +our precautions in time to prevent it. Tell the duchesse +d'Aiguillon that she will oblige me by taking the comtesse du +Barry to pass two or three days with her at Ruel.' + +"'How, sire!' exclaimed I, 'send your dearest friend from you at +a time when you most require her cares?' + +"'I do not send her away,' answered the king, with mournful +tenderness, 'I but yield to present necessity; let her submit as +she values my happiness, and say to her, that I hope and believe +her absence will be very short.'" + +The duke here ceased his recital, which fully confirmed all my +previous anticipations. My female relatives sobbed aloud, while +comte Jean, compressing his lips, endeavoured to assume that +firmness he did not really possess. By a violent effort I forced +myself to assume a sort of resignation. + +"Am I required to depart immediately?" inquired I. + +"No," said the duke; "to leave the château in the middle of the +night would be to assume the air of a flight, we had better +await the coming day; it will, besides, afford time to apprize +the duchess. " + +While the duc d'Aiguillon was thus gone to arrange for my departure, +I requested to be left alone. My heart was oppressed, and I felt +the need of venting my grief upon some friendly bosom. After a +few moments, spent in collecting my thoughts, I addressed two +letters, one to the maréchale de Mirepoix, and the other to the +duc de Cossé; to the former I wrote on account of my retirement +to Ruel, bewailed the sad turn my prospects had assumed, expressed +my deep concern for the severe illness of my excellent friend and +benefactor, begging of her to defend my character from all unjust +attacks, and to allow me to be blamed for no faults but such as +I had really been guilty of. I concluded with these words, "I +set out at seven o'clock to-morrow morning; the duchesse +d'Aiguillon will conduct me to Ruel, where I shall remain until +I am ordered elsewhere." + +To the duke I merely sent a short account of my present prospects, +hour of departure, etc. And, my feelings somewhat relieved by the +penning of these epistles, I threw myself upon a couch to await +the morning. Upon awaking, I received the following note from +the duchesse d'Aiguillon:-- + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--I owe his majesty many +thanks for the pleasing, yet mournful, task he has +allotted me. Your kindness to my family, +independently of my private regard for you, gives +you the surest claim of my best services during +this afflicting period. Let me beseech of you not +to despair, but cheerfully anticipate brighter days. + +"I will call for you at seven o'clock, and if you +approve of it, we will use my carriage. Ruel is +entirely at your disposal and that of your family." + +This note was truly characteristic of its amiable writer, who at +court passed for a cold-hearted, frigid being, whilst, in reality, +the warm feelings of her excellent heart were reserved for her +chosen friends. + +I have never admired those general lovers who profess to love +every one, nor do I feel quite sure it is a very strong +recommendation to say a person is beloved by all who know her. +Read, now, a striking contrast to the short but sympathizing +billet of madame d'Aiguillon, in the following heartless letter f +rom the maréchale de Mirepoix, which was put into my hands as I +was ascending the carriage. + +"MY LOVELY COUNTESS,--I am all astonishment! Can +it be possible that you are to quit Versailles? +You are right in saying you have been the friend +of every one, and those who could speak ill of you +are to be pitied for not having had better +opportunities of understanding your real character. +But fear not, the dauphiness is virtue personified, +and the dauphin equally perfect. Every thing +promises a peaceful and indulgent reign, should +we have the misfortune to lose his present majesty. +Still there will always be a great void left at +Versailles; as far as I am concerned, I have passed +so much of my time with you, that I cannot imagine +what I shall do with my evenings; it will cost me +much of my age to alter habits and customs now so +long fixed and settled, but such is life; nothing +certain, nothing stable. We should imitate cats +in our attachments, and rather identify ourselves +with the house than the possessor of it. I trust +you have secured an ample provision for the future; +neglect not the present, to-morrow may come in +vain for you. + +"Be sure you let me know the spot to which you +permanently retire, and I will endeavour to see you +as frequently as my engagements will admit of. + +Adieu, <ma belle petite>." + +Spite of the bitterness of my feelings, this letter drew a smile +to my lips; the allusion to cats which had escaped the maréchale +exactly applied to her own character, of which I had been warned +before I became acquainted with her; but her protestations of +warm and unutterable attachment had gained my confidence, and I +allowed myself to be guided implicitly by her. + +The duchesse d'Aiguillon was waiting for me while I perused the +above letter; at length, with a sigh, I prepared to quit that +palace of delights where I had reigned absolute mistress. I cast +a mournful look around me, on those splendid walks, fountains +and statues, worthy the gardens of Armida, but where there reigned, +at this early hour, a sort of gloomy silence; whilst, in that +chamber where love had well nigh deified me and recognised me as +queen of France, lay extended the monarch so lately my protector +and friend. + +It was the Wednesday of the fifth of May that I took my seat in +the carriage of the duchesse d'Aiguillon accompanied by my +sister-in-law and the vicomtesse Adolphe, who would not forsake +me. Bischi remained with madame d'Hargicourt, whose duties +detained her with the comtesse d'Artois. Her husband also +remained at Versailles, while comte Jean and his son proceeded +to Paris. I will not attempt to describe the emotions with which +I quitted my magnificent suite of apartments, and traversed the +halls and staircases already crowded by persons anxiously awaiting +the first intimation of the king's decease. I was wrapped in my +pelisse, and effectually eluded observation. It has been said that +I left Versailles at four o'clock in the morning, but that was a +mere invention on the part of my servants to baffle the curiosity +of those who might have annoyed me by their presence. + +We pursued our way in mournful reflection, whilst madame d'Aiguillon, +with her wonted goodness, sought by every means to distract me +from the dejection in which I was buried. Her husband, who +remained with the king, engaged to write me a true account of +all that transpired during my absence, and I shall very shortly +present you with a specimen of the fidelity with which he +performed his promise. The duchess did the honours of Ruel. + +"Here," said she, "the great cardinal Richelieu loved to repose +himself from the bustle and turmoil of a court." + +"I think," answered I, "it would have been less a favourite with +his eminence had it been selected for his abode on the eve of +his disgrace." + +Immediately upon my arrival I retired to bed, for fatigue had so +completely overpowered me that I fell into a heavy slumber, from +which I did not awake till the following day; when I found the +duchesse d'Aiguillon, my sister-in-law, Geneviève Mathon, and +Henriette, seated by my bed: the sight of them was cheering and +gratifying proof of my not being as yet abandoned by all the world. + +I arose, and we were just about to take our places at table, when +madame de Forcalquier arrived. I must confess that her presence +was an agreeable surprise to me; I was far from reckoning on her +constancy in friendship, and her present conduct proved her worthy +of her excellent friend, madame Boncault, whose steady attachment +I had so frequently heard extolled. The sight of her imparted +fresh courage to me, and I even resumed my usual high spirits, and +in the sudden turn my ideas had taken, was childish enough to +express my regrets for the loss of my downy and luxurious bed at +Versailles, complaining of the woful difference between it and +the one I had slept on at Ruel. + +The duchesse d'Aiguillon, who must have pitied the puerility of +such a remark, gently endeavoured to reconcile me to it by reminding +me that both the marquise de Pompadour and the cardinal de +Richelieu had reposed upon that very couch. + +I endeavoured to return some sportive reply, but my thoughts had +flown back to Versailles, and my momentary exhilaration was at +an end. Tears rose to my eyes and choked my attempts at conversation; +I therefore begged the duchess would excuse me, and retired to my +apartment until I could compose myself; but the kind and attentive +friend to whose hospitality I was then confided needed no further +mention of my hard couch, but caused the best bed Ruel contained +to be prepared for me by the time I again pressed my pillow. + +This same evening brought M. de Cossé, who could no longer repress +his impatience to assure me of his entire devotion. He appeared +on this occasion, if possible, more tender and more respectful +in his manner of evincing it than ever. + +We supped together without form or ceremony, the party consisting +of mesdames d'Aiguillon, de Forcalquier, and myself, mademoiselle +du Barry, and the vicomtesse Adolphe, the prince de Soubise and +the duc de Cossé. But the meal passed off in sorrowful silence; +each of us seemed to abstain from conversation as though the +slightest remark might come fraught with some painful allusion. +On the following day I received the letter from the duc d'Aiguillon +which you will find in the following chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XLV + + +The duc d'Aiguillon's first letter--The maréchale de Mirepoix +--A second letter from the duc d'Aiguillon--Numerous visitors + +"My much esteemed friend,--I promised you upon +your departure to inform you of all that transpired, +and although the task is a mournful one, I will do +my best to acquit myself with zeal and sincerity, +and each evening I will write you an exact detail +of all that has occurred during the day. The king +remains much as you left him, and you must know +that already his medical attendants differ in their +opinion respecting him--Lemonnier utterly +despairing of his recovery, while Bordeu is most +sanguine that he shall be enabled to restore him +to health. La Martinière persists in his assertion +that the attention of the king should be +immediately directed to his spiritual concerns. +The archbishop of Paris remains until called for +in the ante-chamber, and the princesses never +leave the bedside of their august parent. + +"The king spoke with me concerning you for some +time this morning, and I can assure you, you are +the first object in his thoughts; he has begged of +me never to forsake you, and has deigned to repose +in me the enviable post of your future protector. +'I bequeath my beloved friend to your fidelity,' +added the suffering prince. I took advantage of +this opportunity to remark that I looked upon your +quitting Versailles as too precipitate and premature +a step. 'No, no,' replied the king, "I have acted +for the best; I have once been deceived as to my +condition, and I would willingly prevent being +again taken by surprise. Tell my beloved and +excellent countess how truly I love her'; and +hearing the prince de Soubise mention his design +of supping at Ruel, he charged him to embrace +you for him. + +"The dauphin still remains secluded in his apartment, +but I know that he keeps up a regular correspondence +with madame Victoire, whose letters, after being +immersed in vinegar, are carried to the comte de +Muy, who fumigates them previously to allowing +them to reach the hands of the dauphin. + + "I am, etc., etc. + +"VERSAILLES, May 5, 1774, nine o'clock, evening." + +Upon awaking the following morning I again received news of the +king, who was stated to have passed a good night, and even La +Martinière seemed inclined to hope. As yet, then, there were no +safe grounds for abandoning me, and about two o'clock in the +afternoon I was favoured with a visit from madame de Mirepoix, +who, running up to me, exclaimed with her usual vivacity, + +"Oh, my dear creature, how I longed to see you!" and then +leading me into another chamber, she added, + +"Do you know I quite missed you? As I wrote you, my time hung +heavily on my hands. What in the world will become of me if I am +compelled to resign the delightful hours granted to the envied few +who are permitted the < entrée > to the <petits appartements>? +For you see, my dear, the dauphiness will be far from bestowing +that honour upon me. I am too old to form one of her coterie, +and I shall be laid aside like the rest of the antiquities of the +château. By the way," continued the voluble maréchale, "there +is already a great cabal in the château respecting the formation +of a new ministry, in which, besides desiring lucrative posts for +themselves, all are anxious to introduce their private friends; +in the midst of so many absorbing interests you appear to be +already forgotten, which, by the way, is no bad thing for you. +Your best plan is to remain perfectly tranquil." Then rapidly +passing to her most prevailing idea, this excellent friend proceeded +to inquire what the king had bestowed on me as a parting present, +"for," said she, "he would not certainly permit you to leave +Versailles empty-handed." + +"It is a point," replied I, "that neither his majesty nor myself +once thought of." + +"Then such an omission proves him a vile egotist, and you a +prodigious simpleton," answered she; "and were I in your place, +I would commission the duc d'Aiguillon to make a direct demand +of a future provision for you; you really should see about this, +and secure to yourself a noble establishment for yourself and +your friends, who ought not to suffer for your overstrained +delicacy. Look at the duc de Choiseul, who has kept a regular +court at Chanteloup, and never wanted for a train of courtiers +at it." + +After this lesson of worldly wisdom, the excellent maréchale gave +me a friendly kiss, returned to her carriage, and I saw her no +more during my stay at Ruel. + +The evening brought with it a second letter from the duc +d'Aiguillon, it was as follows:-- + +"MADAM,--I hasten to acquaint you with the +pleasing information of his majesty being considerably + better; his strength appears to have returned, +and he himself, in the consciousness of improving +health, expressed aloud his regret for having been +so hasty in advising your removal from him. He has +continually repeated, 'How weak and selfish of me +thus to afflict my dearest countess! would you +not advise me, my friend, to request her immediate +return?' Of course, my reply was in the affirmative. +His majesty then put the same question to the duc +de Richelieu, who answered, that in his opinion it +was the best plan he could decide upon. The bulletin +signed by the different physicians accompanies this: +it leaves me nothing to add but to recommend your +bearing with patience this temporary absence from +court, to which you will ere long return, more +idolized, more sought after, than ever. The duc +de la Vrillière and the abbé Terray present the +assurance of their unbounded respect and devotion, + etc., etc." + +The duchess, my sister-in-law, and niece shared in joy at such +gratifying intelligence, and the ensuing day brought a concourse +of visitors to Ruel; indeed, any one might have supposed that +fresh swarms of flatterers and courtiers had been created only +to swell my numbers of humble and obsequious adorers. I bestowed +on each unmeaning guest a smiling welcome, for indeed, my heart +was too light and I felt too happy to be enabled to frown even +upon those who, when the storm appeared near, had basely +deserted me. + +It was amusing enough to see with what zeal any person, whom I +had previously recommended was assisted by the various ministers +in the pursuit of their object; the <petit saint> found himself +all at once at leisure to pay his respects to me. He confirmed +all the kind messages sent me by the king through the duc d'Aiguillon. +Madame de Mirepoix, who had visited me the preceding evening, +reserved her next call for the following day, but a few hours +effected a cruel change in my fortune. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + + +A third letter from the duke--The king receives extreme unction-- +Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphin--M. de Machault-- +A promenade with the duc de Cossé--Kind attention from the +prince des Deux Ponts--A fourth letter from the duc d'Aiguillon +--Comte Jean bids me farewell--M. d'Aiguillon's fifth letter, +containing an account of the death of Louis XV--The duc de la + Vrillière--The <lettre de cachet>--Letter to the queen--Departure +for the abbey of <Pont aux Dames> + +The account received in the evening from the duc d'Aiguillon I +shall not transcribe, as it was merely a repetition of the good +tidings of the morning. The day following still brought a +continuation of favorable accounts, but the next letter was in +these words:-- + +"MADAM, AND MOST HONORED FRIEND,--Arm yourself +with courage; the king is extremely ill, and I ought +not to conceal from you that serious apprehensions +are entertained for his life; he has passed a wretched +night, His daughters, who never quitted his bedside, +whispered to him that the archbishop of Paris and +his grand almoner were in the anteroom if he desired +to see them. The king did not seem to hear their +words, but about three o'clock in the morning he +called the duc de Duras, whom he bade inquire +whether M. Mandoux were in the château; and, if +so, to apprize him he wished to speak with him. + +"At these words the princesses and all who heard +them burst into a fit of weeping, which was only +interrupted by the arrival of the confessor, who, +approaching the bedside of the penitent, held a +conference with him of nearly a quarter of an hour: +this being concluded, the king, in a low and firm +voice, inquired for his almoner. The latter soon +presented himself, anxious to discharge the duties +of his sacred office. His majesty kept continually +repeating to his afflicted children, 'My daughters, +why should what I am now about to do agitate or +alarm you? You are well aware, that having the +small-pox, the etiquette established in my family +compels me to receive the last solemn rites of the + church, and I but acquit myself of an obligation +in submitting to it.' + +"The tone in which the king spoke convinced his +attendants that he rather strove to re-assure + himself than his children, by the persuasion that +the receiving extreme unction was not so much +the consequence of his own dangerous state as a +mere act of obedience to an established custom. +It was then decided that the sacred ceremony should +take place at seven o'clock in the morning; and +here arose some little embarrassment; the +ecclesiastics insisting upon the necessity of the +king's making some striking and open atonement +for what they were pleased to term the scandal of +his private life. + +"The king's chamber now presented a picture at +once solemn and gloomy. Grouped together on one +side the bed might be seen the different noblemen +in attendance upon his majesty; a little removed +stood the clergy, concealed from the invalid by +the closely-drawn curtains; in the midst of these +contending parties were the princesses going from +one to the other, vainly seeking by mild and gentle +mediation to produce a satisfactory arrangement. +It was at length understood, that, on account of +the extreme weakness of the invalid, the grand +almoner should pronounce in his name a kind of +honorable apology for past offences. + +"You can scarcely imagine, madam, the universal +consternation spread throughout the château by +the information that the king was about to receive +the last rites of his church. The terror and alarm +became overpowering for a while, but subsiding +into a more religious feeling crowds of persons +followed with solemn reverence the holy procession +as it passed along, bearing the holy sacrament to +the expiring monarch. At the moment when it was +administered the grand almoner, turning towards +all present, pronounced the following words in +the king's name:-- + +"'Gentlemen, the weakness of his majesty preventing +him from expressing himself, he has commanded me +to inform you, that although he is responsible to +God alone for his conduct, he yet regrets having +caused any scandal to his people by the irregularities +of his life, that he sincerely repents of his sins, + and, should Providence restore him to health, he +purposes living henceforward in all the virtue and +morality of his youth, in the defence and +maintenance of religion, in preserving a true +faith, and in watching over the best interests +of his people.' + +"Yours, madam, etc., etc." + +I learned also, through another channel, that (according to +custom) forty hours' prayer had been enjoined in every church in +France to implore the mercy of heaven for the king. I heard too +that the shrine of Saint Geneviève had been displayed for the +veneration of true believers. + +I passed a miserable night, dreaming of graves, winding-sheets, +and funeral-torches, from which I only awoke to receive the +morning's despatches. Alas! the news but confirmed the distressing +state of the king. The very solitude in which I was left at Ruel +might alone have served to convince me of my misfortune; for, +with the exception of the duc de Cossé, no person came near us. +M. de Cossé invited me to walk with him in the garden; I accepted +the arm of this noble friend, and we directed our steps towards +the wood. When we were there secure from interruption, the duke +inquired what were my plans for the future? + +"How can I tell you," answered I; "what is henceforward to be +my fate is better known to our future queen than to myself." + +"That is precisely what I dread," replied M. de Cossé. "Unfortunately +you have deeply offended the queen elect, who has irritated her +husband's mind against you; and then the Choiseul faction will, +in all probability, come into power." + +"I see all this," returned I, "and am prepared for whatever +may happen." + +"I admire your calmness in a moment like the present," cried the +duke; "but have a care. Perhaps the best thing would be to remove +you beyond the reach of the first shock of court displeasure. In +your place I would request passports from the duc d'Aiguillon and +travel into England." + +"Oh, speak not of such a thing, I conjure you," interrupted I; +"I have a horror of such journeys, and would much rather trust +to the generosity of the dauphiness. She is about to become a +great queen, while I shall be a creature so humiliated and +abased, that the very difference between our situations will be a +sufficient vengeance in her eyes." + +We returned to the house, and had scarcely entered, when M. de +Palchelbel, plenipotentiary to the prince des Deux Ponts, +was announced. + +"M. de Palchelbel," cried I, extending my hand, "what good wind +brings you here?" + +"I have been honoured by the commands of the prince, my master, +madam," replied he, "to bring you the assurances of his unalterable +friendship; and to say further, that whenever you feel dissatisfied +with your residence in France, you will find at Deux Ponts an +asylum, which the most earnest endeavors of the prince, my +gracious patron, will strive to render agreeable to you." + +I was much affected by this mark of generous regard on the part +of prince Charles Auguste; and, turning quickly towards the duke, +I exclaimed, + +"What think you of all this? Will you henceforward believe those +self-dubbed philosophers, who assert that friendship is unknown +to royalty? You have here a proof of the contrary. For my own +part, M. de Palchelbel," continued I, turning towards the minister, +"I am much gratified by your message, and entreat of you to thank +his royal highness most sincerely for me. I will write to him +myself on the subject, but beg of you to repeat that, kind as are +his offers, I cannot accept of them; but shall certainly remain in +France until the new sovereign commands or permits me to quit it." + +I afterwards repeated to the minister of Deux Ponts what I had +previously stated in the garden to M. de Cossé, and had the +satisfaction of hearing madam d'Aiguillon approve of my sentiments. + +When I retired to my apartment I was followed by my niece. + +"How happy are you, dear aunt," said she, 'to preserve such +friends in your present troubles." + +"I owe them," replied I, "to my simplicity and candor." + +"Will you not retire to Germany?" + +"Certainly not," answered I. + +"Yet it would be better to allow the first burst of displeasure +on the part of the dauphiness to pass over." + +"Who gave you this counsel, my dear niece? I am quite sure it +does not originate in yourself." + +"I had promised not to tell," answered she; "but if you insist +upon it, I must confess, that I was persuaded by the prince de +Condé and M. de Soubise to urge you to follow it." + +"Do they then wish for my absence?" inquired I, angrily. + +"Only for your own sake, dearest aunt." + +"I thank them; but my resolution is formed to commit myself +entirely to Providence in this melancholy affair." + +The day passed on; and with feverish impatience I waited the +arrival of the next courier: he came, at length, and confirmed +my worst fears; the king was entirely given over by his physicians, +and his dissolution was hourly expected. The letter containing +this mournful tidings concluded thus:-- + +"I have just seen comte Jean, he is here incognito. +We had entirely forgotten that passports would be +necessary; however, I have now furnished him with +four for England, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. +The count is far from partaking of your sense of +security, and is wisely anxious (as I think) of +shielding himself from the first burst of royal +vengeance. The duchess has informed me of your +refusal of an asylum at Deux Ponts; and, while I +admire your courage, permit me to add, that you +should rather have listened to the dictates of +prudence than magnanimity under present circumstances." + +The following morning, at an early hour, comte Jean entered my +chamber, saying, + +"I understand the king is dead; have you heard anything of it?" + +"Were the report correct," answered I, "I should have known it +ere the intelligence reached Paris." + +"Well, living or dead, I am advised to keep out of the way; and +this night will see me on my journey from Paris. Will you +accompany me?" + +"No, I replied I; "I have refused travelling with a much more +creditable companion than yourself." + +"There you are wrong then; for, depend upon it, a cloister will +be your fate; at any rate my business here is at an end. The new +monarch is young, and attached to his wife, and my daughter-in-law +is too great a simpleton to be turned to any account at court." + +My brother-in-law then requested I would furnish him with money. +I gave him what I had, and placed in his hands diamonds to the +value of 30,000 francs. He was very anxious to obtain all my +jewels, under pretence of conveying them safely out of the kingdom, +but this I was too wise to agree to; he would have staked them at t +he first gaming-table he met with. We separated without much +emotion on either side. He next took leave of Chon and his +daughter-in-law. the former wept bitterly, for she was a most +excellent and amiable girl--but the latter, who knew but too much +of the villainy of her father-in-law, could scarcely repress +her joy at his departure. Comte Jean perceived it; and, according +to his brutal custom, indulged in a coarse jest at her expense; +for one of his maxims was to hold all women in sovereign contempt +but such as could be useful to him. For my own part, his absence +gave me something like pleasure; his presence was wearisome to me; +it was like the dregs of the cup which had intoxicated my senses. + +During the day several false reports arrived of the death of the +king; but at length, about half past four o'clock in the afternoon, +I received the following letter:-- + +"MADAM,-You have lost your best friend and I an +excellent master: at three clock this day his majesty +breathed his last. I can scarcely describe to you +the horrors of his death-bed. The princesses +Adélaïde and Sophie braved the frightful contagion +to the last and never quitted him till the last +spark had flown. Alas! with the exception of +themselves, every attendant openly expressed +their weariness and disgust. + +"For several days the physicians have forbidden +the windows to be opened; and those condemned to +inhale the pestilential vapor of the room vainly +sought to counteract them by every powerful +fumigation. Alas, madam, what is a king when he +can no longer grasp the sceptre? How great a +leveller is death! The prelates abandoned the sick +chamber, and left a simple curé of the chapel to +take their place; the lords in waiting and other +officers shrunk from the duties of their office, +and with their eyes fixed on a time-piece eagerly +awaited the hour which should free them from it. + The princesses, who perceived this impatience, +durst make no complaint, while the king, occasionally +recovering his senses, uttered broken sentences, +expressive of the religious terror which had seized +his mind. At length, at a few minutes past three +o'clock, Lemonnier, in his capacity of first +physician, said, after laying his hand upon the +heart of the patient, and placing a glass before +his lips, 'The king is dead.' At these words all +present strove with indecent haste to quit the +chamber; not a single sigh, not one regret was +heard. The princesses were carried insensible +to their apartments. + +"The extinction of a <bougie> which had been +placed in a certain window, announced the accession +of the dauphin ere the duc d'Aumont had informed +him of the decease of his august grandsire." + +This letter wrung from me some bitter tears, as well for the king, +who had so lavishly bestowed his affections upon me, as for +myself. What would now be my fate? Alas! I knew not; all my +brilliant prospects were buried in the coffin of my late protector. + +The duc d'Aiguillon arrived at Ruel about midnight; he, as well +as the other ministers who had been about the late monarch during +his last illness, being prohibited by etiquette from following the +present monarch to Choisy, whither the whole of the royal family +had retired for a few days. He told us that the duc d'Aumont, +having commanded La Martinière to proceed with the embalming of +the royal corpse, that physician replied, "Certainly, my lord, +it shall be done if you command it, but, in that case, the duties +of your office compel you to receive his majesty's bowels in a +golden dish; and I protest, that such is the state of the body, +that of all who may assist at the operation, not one will survive +eight days. It is for your grace to determine what shall be done." + +M. d'Aumont thought no more of embalming his late master, but +gave orders for the body being immediately placed in a leaden +coffin, from which here still issued frightful effluvia. + +Up to the moment of my quitting Ruel madame de Mirepoix gave me +no token of recollection: I heard that herself and the prince de +Beauvau were reconciled, and for her sake I rejoiced at it. No +person came near us the whole of the day with the exception of +M. de Cossé, and I sat in hourly expectation of some order from +court. At length we descried a travelling carriage with six +horses, proceeding at a rapid pace up the avenue. "I know that +livery," exclaimed I; " 'tis that of my humble adorer, my +obsequious slave, my friend at court, the duc de la Vrillière, +commonly called <le petit saint>. You see that the good soul +could not delegate to another the pleasing task of arresting me; +but permit me to retire to my apartment; it is fitting he should +seek me there if he has any communication to make to me." The +duchess, approved my resolution; and the duc de la Vrillière +having been introduced into the salon, after the first compliments, +requested to see me, that he might acquaint me with the +king's pleasure. + +Mademoiselle du Barry undertook to inform me of the duke's arrival. + +"You were not mistaken, dear sister," said she; "the duc de la +Vrillière is the bearer of the king's orders respecting you: but +compose yourself, I beseech you." + +"Fear not," said I; "I am as calm as you would have me. Tell +the vile dissembler, I mean the duke, I await him" + +M. Tartuffe was but a faint copy of <le petit saint> as he presented +himself before me. His manners still retained part of their former +servility, but there was a lurking smile about him, which proved +how well he was pleased with the part he had to perform. + +He approached me with lingering steps and an air of mysterious +importance, while a sort of sardonic grin contradicted the sorrow +he endeavored to force into his countenance. For my own part, +I caused the folding-doors to be thrown open, and advancing +ceremoniously, stood to receive the orders of the king. I bowed +stiffly and silently; and, with something like a malicious +satisfaction, I witnessed the embarrassment into which my cool +and collected manner threw him. + +"Madam," said he at last, "I have a painful duty to perform: in a +word, I am the bearer of a <lettre de cachet>." + + "Well, sir! "said I, tranquilly. + +"Madam, I must request you to believe how greatly I regret the +task imposed upon me; but my duty and obedience to the king--" + +"Would enable you to strangle your nearest relative. All that is + well known; but, in the name of all that is base, cowardly, and +unmanly, could no one but <you> be found to remind a distressed +and afflicted woman that she has lost her only friend and support?" + +"Madam, I repeat, obedience--necessity--" + +"Enough, sir; I pity you." + + "Madam, you outrage the king in my person." + +"No, sir; I respect the king too highly to believe that there could +ever be any relation between him and one who is too contemptible +to remind me that he was but a few days back the most cringing +of my servile slaves." + +<Le petit saint>, boiling with rage, with an unsteady hand, +unfolded and read, in a trembling voice, the following words: + +"MADAME LA COMTESSE Du Barry,--For reasons, +which have for their object the preservation of +the tranquillity of my kingdom, and the prevention +of any state secrets confided to you being +promulgated, I send this order for your immediate +removal to <Pont aux Dames>, accompanied by one +female attendant only, and under the escort of the +exempt who has the necessary orders. This measure +is by no means intended to be either disagreeable +or of long duration. I therefore pray God to have +you in his holy keeping, + +"(Signed) Louis." + +"That, madam," continued the duke, " is his majesty's pleasure, +and you have nothing to do but to submit." + +"Your advice was not asked, my lord," returned I; "I honor and +obey the king's slightest wish, but your presence is no longer +requisite; you will therefore be pleased to rid me of it." + +The duke, resuming his air of mock humility, bowed low, and +departed. + +When I was alone, I must confess a few tears escaped me, but I +soon wiped them away; my resolution was taken. + +The duchesse d'Aiguillon and my female friends hastened to question +me relative to the duke's visit. I showed them the <lettre +de cachet>, which confirmed the misfortune they had suspected +from seeing Hamond, who was to be my escort, waiting in the +anteroom to conduct me to the abbey of <Pont aux Dames>, near +Meaux, the place of my exile. They all evinced the utmost sorrow, +and both Chon and my niece protested that with the king's permission, +they would willingly attend me in my seclusion. I felt grateful +for this mark of attachment; then sending for the exempt, I +inquired whether I might be allowed sufficient time to write a +letter, and cause a few necessary preparations to be made? +"Madam, I replied he, "my only orders are to accompany you +to <Pont aux Dames>, the hour of departure is left to yourself." + +I then penned a few hasty lines to the king, indicative of my +wishes for the happiness and prosperity of his reign, of my ready +obedience to his commands, and of my earnest wishes that my +sister-in-law and niece might be permitted to visit me. This +letter I was promised should be punctually delivered. I had now +the painful duty to perform of choosing between Henriette and +Geneviève, as only one attendant was allowed me at <Pont aux +Dames>. Henriette pleaded her claim as my servant, while the +excellent Geneviève timidly urged her early friendship. + +"Let chance decide it," cried I. They drew lots, and Geneviève +was selected. + +We reached Pont aux Dames in the middle of the night; it was a +miserable looking place, which took its date from the time of +Saint Louis or Charlemagne for ought I know. What a contrast +met my eyes between this ruinous old building, its bare walls, +wooden seats, and gloomy casements, and the splendor of Versailles +or Choisy; all my firmness forsook me, I threw myself weeping +into the arms of Geneviève. + +A courier-had announced my intended arrival, and I found all the +good sisters impatient to see me. What eager curiosity did the +pious nuns evince to behold one of whom they had heard so much +even in their quiet retreat, and how many questions had I to reply +to from those who had the courage to address me. Alas! I, of +all the throng assembled, was the most anxious for quiet and solitude. + +I was lodged in the best apartments, which, however magnificent +the good people of <Pont aux Dames> might consider them, were +not on a par with the granaries of Lucienne. But complaint was +useless, and I could only resign myself to what was offered me. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry + |