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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 ； the other's name was Fanchon； and her name had been abbreviated to 〃。〃 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 （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； 〃；〃 he was always saying； 〃do this； go there； come here。〃 Louis XV did the same with his own daughters： he had amongst them a ； a ； a ； and they were the ladies Victoire； Adelaide； 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； ； 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 ChoisyThe comtesse du Barry and Louis XVThe king of DenmarkThe czar PeterFrederick IIThe abbe de la Chapelle An experimentNew intriguesSecret agents…The comtesse and Louis XVOf the presentationLetter of the comtesse to the duc d'AiguillonReplyPrince 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 chateau 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 《 entree 》 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。 ！ 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 suppos