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At this moment M。 de la Vauguyon entered。 He saluted the king with humility； and asked him； in a mild tone of voice； what his pleasure was with him。
〃A real mark of your zeal；〃 was the king's reply。
〃And of your gallantry；〃 added the marechal； who saw the hesitation of the king。 Louis XV was enchanted that another should speak for him。 M。 de Richelieu continued：
〃His majesty； monsieur le duc； wishes that you should prepare mesdames to receive our dear countess here； when she shall appear before them to pay the homage of her respect and devotion。〃
The king； emboldened by these words； said； 〃Yes； my dear duke； I can only find you in the chateau who have any influence over the princesses； my daughters。 They have much respect； and no less friendship； for you。 You will easily bring them to reason。〃
As M。 de la Vauguyon seemed in no hurry to undertake the charge； the marechal added；
〃Yes； sir； to manage this business properly； you and M。 de Senlis are the only men in the kingdom。〃
The marechal had his reasons for saying this； for a secret jealousy existed between the governor and the grand almoner。 M。 de la Vauguyon made haste to say； that he could not resist his majesty's orders； and his desire to be agreeable to me。
〃Ah！ you will then do something for me？〃 I replied。 〃I am delighted and proud。〃
〃Madame；〃 replied the duke with much gravity； 〃friends are proved on occasion。〃
〃The present one proves your attachment to me；〃 said I in my turn； 〃and his majesty will not think it wrong of me； if； as a recompense； I embrace you in his presence〃： and； on saying this； I went up to the duc de la Vauguyon； and gave him two kisses； which the poor man took as quietly as possible。
〃That's well；〃 said the king。 〃You are； la Vauguyon； a man of a thousand。 Listen attentively to me。 I wish much that the comtesse du Barry should be presented； I wish it； and that； too； in defiance of all that can be said and done。 My indignation is excited beforehand against all those who shall raise any obstacle to it。 Do not fail to let my daughters know； that if they do not comply with my wishes； I will let my anger fall heavily on all persons by whose counsels they may be persuaded； for I only am master； and I will prove it to the last。 These are your credentials； my dear duke； add to them what you may think fitting； I will bear you out in any thing〃
〃Mercy！〃 said the duc de Richelieu to me in an undertone； 〃the king has poured forth all his energy in words； he will have none left to act upon if he meets with any resistance。〃 The marechal knew the king well。
〃I doubt not； sire；〃 replied the duc de la Vauguyon； 〃that the respectful duty of mesdames will be ready to comply with your desires。〃
〃I trust and believe it will prove so；〃 replied the king hastily。 〃I am a good father； and would not that my daughters should give me cause to be angry with them。 Let madame Adelaide understand； that she has lately had a mistaken opinion of me； and that she has an opportunity of repairing her error in the present instance。 The princesses are not ignorant that I have often shut my eyes upon certain affairs。 Enough； they must now testify their attachment for me。 Why should they oppose the presentation of the comtesse？ they were not so squeamish in the days of madame de Pompadour。〃
At these latter words I could not forbear laughing。 La Vauguyon and de Richelieu left us and here the conversation terminated。
The next morning they brought me a note from the duc de la Vauguyon。 Thus it ran：
MADAME；Ready to serve you； I wish to have a few minutes' conversation with you。 Be persuaded that I will not tell you anything but what will be agreeable and useful to you。〃
I instantly answered：
〃You are too good a friend for me to refuse to see you willingly under any circumstances； and particularly the present。 Your conduct yesterday assures you my eternal regard。 Come instantly； my grateful heart expects you with impatience。〃
My sister…in…law； to whom I showed this correspondence； said to me； 〃This gentleman does not come to see you for your bright eyes； and yet his visit is not disinterested。〃
〃What interest can he have to serve？〃
〃None of his own； perhaps； but those villainous Jesuits。〃
〃Don't you like them； sister of mine？〃
〃I hate nobody。〃
M。 de la Vauguyon arrived； and as soon as we were alone； he said to me；
〃Well； madame； I am now on the point of going to fight your battles。 I have to deal with a redoubtable foe。〃
〃Do you fear？〃
〃Why； I am not over confident； my position is a delicate one。 Mesdames will perforce obey the orders of the king； but they will not find much pleasure in seeing me the ambassador sent to
them： all the Choiseul party will vociferate loudly。 Nevertheless； to prove my devotion to you； I brave it all。〃
〃You may rely on it that I will never forget the service you are about to render me。〃
〃I have only one favor to ask of you。 Authorize me to say to mesdames； that if the pleasures of life distract your attention from religious duties； your soul is in truth fully devoted to our holy religion； and that far from supporting the philosophers； you will aid； by your influence with the king； every measure advantageous to the society of Jesuits。〃
The hypocritical tone in which this was uttered； almost compelled me to burst out into a fit of laughter； but the serious posture of my affairs induced me to preserve my gravity； and I answered in a serious tone；
〃Not only； monsieur le duc； do I authorize you to say so much； but I beg you to declare to mesdames that I am already filled with love and respect for the Jesuits； and that it will not be my fault if they do not return amongst us。〃
〃Ah； you are a treasure of wisdom；〃 replied the duke； kissing my hand with fervor； 〃and I am disgusted at the way you are calumniated。〃
〃I know no reason for it； for I have never done harm to any person。 Assure mesdames that I am sincerely grieved that I am not agreeable to them； and would give half my life to obtain； not their friendship； of which I do not feel myself worthy； but their indifference。 Deign also to tell them； that at all times I am at their disposal； and beseech them to consider me as their humble servant。〃
〃It is impossible to behave more correctly than you do； and I am confident that mesdames will soon discard their unjust prejudices。 Thus； it is well understood that our friends will be yours。〃
〃Yes； yes； provided they are really mine。〃
〃Certainly。 I answer for them as I answer for you。〃
And thus； my friend； did I find myself allied to the Jesuitical party。
The duke commenced the attack with madame Louise； the most reasonable of the king's daughters。 This angelic princess； already occupied with the pious resolution which she afterwards put into execution in the following year； contented herself with saying some words on the commotion occasioned by my presence at Versailles； and then； as if her delicacy had feared to touch on such a subject； she asked the duc de la Vauguyon； if the king ordered her to receive the comtesse du Barry。
〃Yes； madame；〃 replied the duke； 〃it is the express will of his majesty。