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he 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 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 〃;〃 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 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 〃〃 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 〃〃
〃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 Vrilliere had come to ask for a 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 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 ; 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 marechale 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 ; of having no ; 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 etiq