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The monarchy had still a step to take towards its downfall。 It had already created the （Louis XV's seraglio）； but had not yet descended to the Parisian house of prostitution。 It made this descent leaning on the arm of Madame du Barry。 Madame du Barry was a moral sister to Manon Lescaut； but instead of taking herself off to Louisiana to repent； she plunged into the golden whirlpool at Versailles as a finish to her career。 Could the coaches of a King mean more than the ordinary carriage of an abandoned girl？
Jeanne Vaubernierknown in the bagnios by the name of Mademoiselle Langewas born at Vaucouleurs； as was Jeanne d'Arc。 Better still； this later Jeanne said openly at Versaillesdared she say otherwise？ that she was descended in a straight line from the illustrious； the venerated； the august； sacred； national maid； Jeanne。* 〃Why did Du Barry come to Paris？'〃 says Leon Gozlan in that account of the Chateau de Lucienne which makes a brilliant and learned chapter in the history of France。 〃Does one ever know precisely why things are done？ She obeyed the magnet which attracts to Paris all who in themselves have a title to glory； to celebrity； or to misfortune。 Du Barry had a pretty； provincial face； bright and charming； a face astonished at everything； hair soft and ash…colored； blue eyes； veiled and half open； and a skin fair with rose tints。 She was a child of destiny。 Who could have said； when she crossed the great town in her basket cart； which rolled lazily along on its massive； creaking wheels； that some day she would have equipages more beautiful than any of those which covered her with mud in passing； and on her arms more laces and diamonds than any of these ladies attended by footmen in liveries？〃
*A claim which blithely ignored the fact that Jeanne d'Arc had no children。Gutenberg editor
When Jeanne left the provinces to come to Paris； she found her native country。 She was granted the freedom of the city； and expanded in her joy like a delicate plant transplanted into a hothouse。 She found herself at home for the first time； and felt that she could rule as a despot over all frequenters of the streets。 She learned fashion and love at one and the same time。 Gourdan had a hat made for her； and； as a reward； initiated her into the customs。 But she was called to other destinies。
One day； when she was walking in the Tuileries； a lunaticand lunatics have second sightasked her favor when she should become queen。 Du Barry said to herself： 〃This man is mad。〃 But then she thought of the Pompadour； blushedit was the only time and turned her eyes towards Versailles。
But Versailles was an unhoped…for shore to such a girl as this； a girl known to all Paris。 Would the King care to be the lover of one who had ruled all his courtesans？ Who could say？ The King often wearied of what he had。 Had not a poet already been found who compared her to Venus：
O Jeanne； thy beauty seduces And charms the whole world； In vain does the duchess redden And the princess growl； They know that Venus rides proudly The foam of the wave。
The poet； while not Voltaire； was no less a man than Bouffiers。
While the King was seeking a mistressa nocturnal reverse of Diogenes； fleeing from the lanterns of the wisehe found Jeanne Vaubernier。 He thought he could love her for one evening。 〃Not enough；〃 said she； 〃you must love me until broad daylight。〃 So he loved her for a whole day。 What should one eat in order to be loved by royalty？ Was it necessary to have a coat of arms？ She had them in number； because she had been loved by all the great names in the book of heraldry。 And so she begged the Viscount Jean du Barry to give her the title of viscountess。 〃Better still；〃 exclaimed Jean； 〃I will give you the title of countess。 My brother will marry you； he is a male scamp； and you are the female。 What a beautiful marriage！〃
So they were united。 The newly made countess was solemnly presented at court by a countess of an ancient date； namely； the Countess de Bearn。 King Voltaire protested； in a satire entitled 〃〃 （topsy…turvy）； afterwards denying it。 The duc de Choiseul protested； France protested； but all Versailles threw itself passionately at the feet of the new countess。 Even the daughters of the King paid her court； and allowed her to call them by their pet names： Loque； Chiffe； and Graille。 The King； jealous of this gracious familiarity； wished her to call him by some pet name； and so the Bacchante； who believed that through the King she held all France in her hand； called him 〃La France；〃 making him a wife to his Gray Musketeers。
Oh； that happy time！ Du Barry and Louis XV hid their lifelike the sagein their little apartments。 She honeyed his chocolate； and he himself made her coffee。 Royalty consecrated a new verb for the dictionary of the Academy； and Madame du Barry said to the King： 〃At home； I can love you to madness。〃 The King gave the castle of Lucienne to his mistress in order to be able to sing the same song。 Truly the Romeo and Juliet 。
Du Barry threw out her fish…wifely epithets with ineffable tenderness。 She only opened her eyes half way； even when she took him by the throat。 The King was enchanted by these humors。 It was a new world。 But someone said to him： 〃Ah； Sire； it is easy to see that your Majesty has never been at the house of Gourdan。〃
Yet Du Barry was adored by poets and artists。 She extended both hands to them。 Jeanne's beauty had a penetrating； singular charm。 At once she was blonde and brunetteblack eyebrows and lashes with blue eyes； rebellious light hair with darker shadows； cheeks of ideal contour； whose pale rose tints were often heightened by two or three touchesa lie 〃formed by the hand of Love；〃 as anthology puts ita nose with expressive nostrils； an air of childlike candour； and a look seductive to intoxication。 A bold yet shrinking Venus； a Hebe yet a Bacchante。 With much grace Voltaire says：
〃Madame：
〃M。 de la Borde tells me that you have ordered him to kiss me on both cheeks for you：
〃What！ Two kisses at life's end What a passport to send me！ Two is one too much； Adorable Nymph； I should die of pleasure at the first。
〃He showed me your portrait； and be not offended； Madame； when I tell you that I have taken the liberty of giving that the two kisses。〃
Perhaps Voltaire would not have written this letter； had he not read the one written by the King to the Duc de Choiseul； who refused to pay court to the left…hand queen：
〃My Cousin；
〃The discontent which your acts cause me forces me to exile you to Chanteloup； where you will take yourself within twenty…four hours。 I would have sent you farther away were it not for the particular esteem in which I hold Madame de Choiseul。 With this； I pray God； my cousin； to take you into His safe and holy protection。 〃Louis。〃
This exile was the only crime of the courtesan。 On none of her enemies did she close the gates of the Bastille。 And more than once did she place a pen in the hands of Louis XV with which to sign a pardon。 Sometimes； indeed； she was ironic in her compassion。
〃Madame；〃 said M。