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〃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； 〃。〃
〃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 ladiesbut； in fact； I can neither explain the observation； nor was it intended for youso 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 loveliness 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 。〃
〃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 ； 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 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 Cosse； 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 。 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 marechale de Mirepoix excelled herself in keeping up a continual flow of lively conversation。 Never had messieurs de Cosse 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 marechale 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 Cosse。
〃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 Flar