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g but stammer out a few unintelligible phrases； and his confusion was so great and so visible； that the marquis de Chauvelin； his not over sincere friend； came to his assistance。 The king； equally surprised at what I had just said； hastily turned and spoke to Chon； who told me afterwards； that the astonishment of Louis XV had been equal to that of the prince de Soubise； and that he had evinced it by the absence of mind which he had manifested in his discourse and manners。
M。 de Chauvelin then turning towards me； said； 〃Well； madame； on what evil herb have you walked to…day？ Can it be possible that you would make the prince； who is your friend； responsible for the hatred which ought to be flattering rather than painful to you； since it is a homage exacted towards your brilliant loveliness？〃
〃In the first place；〃 I replied； 〃I have no intention to cast on monsieur le marechal； whom I love with all my heart； the least responsibility relative to the object of which I complain。 I only wished to evince to him the regret I experienced at not seeing all the members of his family like him： this is all。 I should be in despair if I thought I had said anything that would wound him； and if I have done so； I most sincerely ask his pardon。〃
On saying these words I presented my hand to the prince； who instantly kissed it。
〃You are；〃 said he； 〃at the same time cruel and yet most amiable： but if you have the painful advantage of growing old at court； you will learn that my children have not all the deference and respect towards me which they owe to their father； and I often am pained to see them act in a manner entirely opposite to my desires； however openly manifested。 If my daughter does not love you； it is to me； most probably； that you must look for the and ： it is because I love you so much that she is against you。 I have committed an error in praising you before her； and her jealousy was not proof against it。〃
〃That is very amiable in you；〃 said I； 〃and now whatever may be my feelings against the princesse de Guemenee； I will endeavor to dissemble it out of regard for you； and； I assure you； that however little consideration your daughter…in…law may testify towards me； I will show her a fair side： endeavor to make peace between us。 I only ask to be let alone； for I do not seek to become the enemy of any person。〃
Altho' M。 de Soubise said that he had no influence over the princesse de Guemenee； I learned； subsequently； that the day after this scene he testified to the Guemenee some fears as to his future destiny at court。 He begged her not to oppose herself to me； to be silent with respect to me； and to keep herself somewhat in the shade if she would not make some advances towards me。 His daughter… in…law； whose arrogance equalled her dissipation and dissolute manners； replied； that she was too much above a woman of my sort to fear or care for me； that my reign at the chateau would be but brief； whilst hers would only terminate with her life： that she would never consent to an act of weakness that would be derogatory to her character and rank。 In vain did the prince try to soften her； and make her consider that my influence over the king was immense： he preached to the desert； and was compelled to abandon his purpose without getting any thing by his endeavors。
I now return to my conversation with him。 During the time it lasted the king did not cease talking to Chon； all the time listening with attention to what the prince and I were saying； and he did not approach us until the intervention of M。 de Chauvelin had terminated this kind of a quarrel。 He returned to his seat in front of the fire； and when we were alone； said to me；
〃You have been very spiteful to the poor marechal； and I suffered for him。〃
〃You are an excellent friend； and； no doubt； it is the affection you bear to M。 de Soubise which makes you behave so harshly to me。 Can I not； without displeasing you； defend myself when I am attacked？〃
〃I did not say so； but is it necessary that he must be responsible for the follies of his relations？〃
〃In truth； sire； so much the worse for the father who cannot make his children respect him。 If the marechal was respected by the public； believe me he would be so by his family。〃
This retort was perhaps too severe。 I found this by the silence of the king； but as； in fact； it imported little； and； by God's help； I was never under much constraint with him； I saw him blush； and then he said to me；
〃Now； I undertake to bring madame de Guemenee into proper order。 The favor I ask is； that you would not meddle。 I have power enough to satisfy you； but； for heaven's sake； do not enter into more quarrels than you have already。 It seems to me that you ought to avoid them instead of creating such disturbances。〃
He had assumed a grave tone in reading me this lecture： but as we were in a place in which majesty could not be committed； I began to laugh heartily； and to startle him； I said that henceforward I would pilot my bark myself； and defend myself by openly assailing all persons who testified an aversion to me。 How laughable it was to see the comic despair in which this determination threw the king。 It seemed to him that the whole court would be at loggerheads； and he could not restrain himself from exclaiming； that he would a hundred times rather struggle against the king of Prussia and the emperor of Germany united； than against three or four females of the chateau。 In a word； I frightened him so completely； that he decided on the greatest act of courage he had ever essayed in my favor： it was； to desire the intervention of the duc de Choiseul in all these quarrels。
The credit of this minister was immense； and this credit was based on four powerful auxiliaries； namely the parliament； the philosophers； the ； and the women。 The high magistracy found in him a public and private protector。 The parliaments had themselves a great many clients； and their voices； given to the duc de Choiseul； gave him great power in the different provinces。 The philosophers； ranged under the banner of Voltaire； who was their god； and of d'Alembert； their patriarch； knew all his inclinations for them； and knew how far they might rely on his support in all attempts which they made to weaken the power of the clergy； and to diminish the gigantic riches which had been amassed by prelates and monasteries。 The writers were equally devoted to him： they progressed with the age； and as on all sides they essayed to effect important reforms； it was natural that they should rally about him in whose hands was the power of their operations。
The ladies admired his gallantry： in fact； the duc de Choiseul was a man who understood marvellously well how to combine serious labors with pleasure。 I was； perhaps； the only woman of the court whom he would not love； and yet I was not the least agreeable nor the most ugly。 It was very natural for them to exalt his merit and take him under their especial protection。 Thus was he supported in every quarter by them； they boasted of his measures； and by dint of repeating in the ears of every body that M。 de Choiseul was a minister ； and the suppor