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ur acquaintance。〃
〃The affability with which you have presented yourself to me；〃 I replied； 〃does not permit me to believe that I have only known you from this morning； I am in an illusion which will only allow me to look on our recent alliance as an ancient friendship。〃
After having exchanged some conversation of the same tenor； we talked of my situation as regarded the other females of the court。
〃They hate you for two reasons；〃 said the countess： 〃in the first place； because you have made a conquest which all the world envies you； secondly because you are not one of us。 There is not one family who can lean on you in virtue of the rights of blood； or alliances which stand instead of it。 You have superseded a woman who more than any other could have a claim to your good fortune： she is sister to the prime minister； who has in her train； like Lucifer； more than a third part of heaven； for all the courtiers hang on her brother。
〃On the other hand； we are not accustomed to remain so long in opposition to the will of the king。 Such a resistance is not natural to us； it weighs upon us； it harms us； the favor of our master being our chief good。 We are only something thro' him； and when combatting against him we have neither the courage nor the perseverance。 Thus you may be very certain that the majority of women who oppose you do it against the grain： and if you add to this that they are incessantly exposed to the murmurs and complaints of their husbands； sons； brothers； and lovers； you will easily be convinced that they only aspire to finding a means of reconciling the regard they owe to the Choiseuls and the terror which they inspire； with the desire they have to seek your protection and the friendship of the king。 The cabal only flies on one wing； and I cannot divine its situation at the commencement of the next winter。 Do not disquiet yourself any more with what it can do： keep yourself quiet； continue to please the 'master；' and you will triumph over the multitude as easily as you have conquered the resistance of mesdames。〃
Such was the language of the comtesse de Flaracourt： it agreed； as you will perceive； with that of madame de Mirepoix； and I ought the more to believe it； as it was the fruit of their experience and profound knowledge of court manners。 Their example proved to me； as well as their words； that all those who approached the king could not bear for a long time the position in which he placed those whom he did not look upon with pleasure。 However； Louis XV evinced more plainly from day to day the ascendancy I had over his mind。 He assisted publicly at my toilet*； he walked out with me； left me as little as possible； and sought by every attention to console me for the impertinences with which my enemies bespattered me。 The following anecdote will prove to you how little consideration he had for those persons who dared to insult me openly。
One day at Marly； I entered the drawing…room； there was a vacant seat near the princesse de Guemenee； I went to it； and scarcely was seated when my neighbor got up； saying； 〃What horror！〃 and betook herself to the further end of the room。 I was much confused： the offence was too public for me to restrain my resentment； and even when I wished to do so the thing was scarcely possible。 The comte Jean； who had witnessed it； and my sisters…in…law； who learnt it from him； were enraged。 I was compelled to complain to the king； who instantly sent the princesse de Guemenee an order to quit Marly forthwith； and betake herself to the princesse de Marsan； of the children of the royal family of France； of whose post she had the reversion。
Never did a just chastisement produce a greater effect。 The outcry against me was louder than ever； it seemed as tho' the whole nobility of France was immolated at 〃one fell swoop。〃 To have heard the universal clamor； it would have been thought that the princess had been sent to the most obscure prison in the kingdom。 This proof of the king's regard for me did much mischief； no doubt； as it furnished my enemies with a pretext to accuse me of a vindictive spirit。 Could I do otherwise？ Ought I to have allowed myself to be overwhelmed with impunity； and was it consistent with the dignity of my august protector； that I should be insulted thus openly by his subjects； his courtiers； his guests； even in the private apartments of his palace？
However； this wrath of the nobility did not prevent the Choiseul family from experiencing a feeling of fright。 They had just received a signal favor。 The government of Strasbourg； considered as the key of France and Alsace； had been given in reversion to the comte de Stainville； brother of the duc de Choiseul。 Certainly this choice was a very great proof of the indulgence of the king； and the moment was badly chosen to pay with ingratitude a benefit so important。 This did not hinder the duchesse de Grammont； and all the women of her house； or who were her allies； from continuing to intrigue against me。 It was natural to believe that the king would not permit such doing for a long time； and that should he become enraged at them； that I should attempt to soothe his anger。
Matters were in this state； when one morning； after his accustomed routine； the duc de Choiseul requested a private audience of the king。 〃I grant it this moment；〃 said the prince； 〃what have you to say to me？〃
〃I wish to explain to your majesty how excessively painful is the situation in which I am placed with regard to some of the members of my family。 All the females； and my sister at their head； attack me about a quarrel which is strange to me； and with which I have declared I would not meddle。〃
〃You do well； monsieur le duc；〃 said the king； with cool gravity； 〃I am much vexed at all that is going on； and have resolved not to suffer it any longer。〃
The decision of this discourse made a deep impression M。 de Choiseul： he sought to conceal it whilst he replied：
〃It is difficult； sire； to make women listen to reason。〃
〃All are not unreasonable；〃 rejoined the king： 〃your wife； for instance； is a model of reason and wisdom： she has perfect control of herself。 She is the wise woman of scripture。〃
This flattery and justly merited eulogium； which the king made of the duchess whenever he found an opportunity； was the more painful to M。 de Choiseul； as his conduct was not irreproachable towards a woman whose virtues he alone did not justly appreciate。 It was a direct satire against his sister's conduct； whose ascendancy over him； her brother； the king well knew。 He replied that the good behavior of his wife was the safeguard of his family； and he greatly regretted that the duchesse de Grammont had not a right to the same eulogium。
〃I beg you；〃 said the prince； 〃to engage her to change her language； and to conduct herself with less boldness； if she would not have me force her to repent。〃
〃That； sire； is a mission painful to fulfil； and words very hard to convey to her。〃
〃So much the worse for her；〃 replied the king； elevating his voice； 〃if she bear any friendship for you； let her prove it in
this particular： your interests should keep her mouth shut。〃
The duke had no diffi