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at by all the ambitious courtiers。 Comte Jean thought these conditions preposterous。 He had a from me； and desired M。 Morand to offer the lady one hundred thousand livres； and to add an assurance that the king should be importuned to place young Bearn advantageously； and to station the mother to her wishes； and thereupon my brother…in…law returned to Versailles。
The comte Jean had scarcely returned an hour； when we received a letter from M。 Morand； stating； that he had gone； in consequence of the instructions of comte Jean； to the comtesse de Bearn； that he had found the lady pliant enough on the first point； and disposed to content herself with the half of the sum originally demanded； that on point the second； I mean the appointments of herself and son； she would come to no compromise； and stuck hard and fast to the written promise of the king； that he； Morand； thought this an obstacle not to be overcome unless we subscribed to her wishes。 This letter put me in an excessively ill…humor。 I saw my presentation deferred till doom's day； or； at least； adjourned 。 I questioned my friends： the unanimous advice was that I ought to mention it to the king at one of his evening visits； and I determined to do so without loss of time。
When his majesty came I received him very graciously； and then said to him；
〃Congratulate me； sire； I have found my godmother。〃
〃Ah； so much the better。〃 （I know that； at the bottom of his heart； he said 〃so much the 。〃）
〃And who；〃 asked the king； with impatience； 〃may the lady be？〃
〃Madame de Bearn； a lady of quality in her own right； and of high nobility on her husband's side。〃
〃Yes； he was a ； and the son has just left the pages。 Ah！ she will present you then。 That's well； I shall feel favored by her。〃
〃Would it not be best； sire； to tell her so yourself？〃
〃Yes； yes； certainly； but after the ceremony。〃
〃And why not previously？〃
〃Why？ because I do not wish to appear to have forced your presentation。〃
〃Well； then；〃 I replied； striking the floor with my foot； 〃you will not do for me what you would do for a woman who is a complete stranger to you。 Many thanks for your excessive kindness。〃
〃Well； well； do not scold。 Anger does not become you。〃
〃No more than this indifference suits you； it is cruel。 If you recede from saying a word； what will you do when I tell you of the conditions of madame de Bearn？〃
〃What does the good comtesse ask for？〃
〃Things past conception。〃
〃What？〃
〃She has stipulations unlimited。〃
〃But what are they then？〃
〃A hundred thousand livres for herself。〃
〃What； only that？ We will grant so much。〃
〃Then a regiment for her son。〃
〃Oh； he is the wood they make colonels of； and if he behave well〃
〃But then！ She wishes to be annexed in some station or other to the household of the future 。〃
〃Oh； that is impossible： all the selections have been made： but we will make an equivalent by placing one of her family about the person of one of the princes； my grandson。 Is this all？〃
〃Yes； sire； that is all； with one small formality excepted。 This lady； who is one of much punctilio； only considers engagements as binding。 She wishes for one word in your majesty's hand…writing〃
〃A most impertinent woman！〃 cried the king； walking with rapid strides up and down my room。 〃She has dared not to believe me on my word！ Writing！signature！ She mistrusts me as she would the lowest scribbler of France。 A writing！ My signature！ My grandfather； Louis XIV； repented having given his to Charost。 I will not commit a similar error。〃
〃But； sire； when a prince has a real desire to keep his word； it is of little import whether he gives it in writing。〃
At these words； Louis XV frowned sternly； but as he had the best sense in the world； he saw that he was wrong； and having no reply to make； he determined to flee away。 I ran after him； and taking him by the arm； he said； with assumed anger； which did not deceive me：
〃Leave me； madame； you have offended my honor。〃
〃Well； then； monsieur la France；〃 replied I； assuming also a scolding tone； 〃I will give you satisfaction。 Choose your time； weapons； and place； I will meet you； and we shall see whether you have courage to kill a woman who lives for you only； and whom you render the most miserable creature in existence。〃
Louis XV gave me a kiss； and laughingly said； 〃I ought to make you sleep in the Bastille to…night。〃
〃I am then more merciful than you； for I think I shall make you sleep in the couch you love best。〃
This reply amused the king excessively； and he himself proposed to send for madame de Bearn。 I should speak of my presentation before him； and then without making any positive concession； he would see what could be done to satisfy her。
For want of any other； I accepted this 。
CHAPTER XII
The comtesse de BearnThe supperLouis XVIntrigues against my presentationM。 de RoquelaureThe scalded footThe comtesse d'AloignyThe duc d'Aiguillon and madame de BearnAnger of the king's daughtersMadame Adelaide and the comtesse du Barry Dissatisfaction of the king
M。 Morand was again put in requisition； and went from me to ask madame de Bearn to come and sup at my apartments。 We were in committeemy sisters…in…law； myself； and comte Jean。 The comtesse made some difficulties at first； under pretence that she was afraid to refuse me a second time。 Our messenger assured her by saying； that a supper would not bind her to any thing； and that she should still be at liberty to give any reply she pleased。 Madame de Bearn allowed herself to be persuaded； and sent me word that she would accept my invitation。 She would have reflected twice before she so far committed herself； had she at all suspected the turn we meant to serve her。 But I saw by the wording of her note； that she still hoped that the king would be induced to grant me the written promise which I asked for her。
She came。 I received her with all possible courtesy； and yet not with much heartiness。 I could not help remembering the vexatious terms she set upon her complaisance。 However； the supper was gay enough； comte Jean and my sisters…in…law； who knew very well how to dissemble； did the honors in a most agreeable way。 On leaving table we went into the drawing…room； and then began to discuss the serious question which had brought us together。 At the first words which comte Jean uttered； madame de Bearn； taking my hands with a respectful familiarity； said to me： 〃I hope； madame； that you will not have a bad opinion of me； if I put such conditions to my desire of obliging you。 The situation of my family requires it； but it is only a trifle for the king to grant。〃
〃Much more than you imagine； madame；〃 I replied。 〃The king does not care to involve himself in such engagements。 He does not like； moreover； that his sacred word should be doubted。〃
〃Ah？〃 replied the cunning creature； 〃heaven forbid that I should not blindly trust to the king's word； but his memory may fail； or he； like other men； may forget。〃
〃Madame；〃 replied comte Jean； with the utmost gravity； 〃madame is a lady as full of prudence a