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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 marechale 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； 。
〃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 LedouxThe The duc de la Vrilliere Madame de LangeacM。 de MaupeouLouis XVThe 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 Vrilliere； 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 Vrilliere 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 Vrilliere was a brazen…faced rogue； a complete thief； without dignity； character； or heart。 His cupidity was boundless： the 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 Vrilliere。 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 mi