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nkly 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 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 '' 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 kingM。 de Maupeou and M。 de la Vauguyon Conversation on the same subject with the king and the duc de RichelieuM。 de la VrilliereM。 Bertin…Louis XV and the comtesseThe king's promiseThe fire…works； an anecdoteThe marquise de CastellaneM。 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 marechal 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 believ