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prove it in
this particular： your interests should keep her mouth shut。〃
The duke had no difficulty to comprehend the indirect menace implied： he instantly renewed his regrets for the disturbances that had occurred。
〃Add ；〃 said Louis XV。 〃I am content with you and your services； duke。 I have just proved this to you； by giving your brother more than he could expect from me； but have not I the right to have my intimacies respected？ It appears to me that if you spoke more decidedly in your family you would command more attention。〃
〃This makes me fear； sire； that your majesty does not believe me sincere in my expression of the regret which I just took the liberty to utter to your majesty。〃
〃； monsieur le duc； you certainly do not like madame du Barry。〃
〃I neither like nor hate her； sire； but I see with trouble that she receives at her house all my enemies。〃
〃Whose fault is that if it be so？ Your own； you； who would never visit her； she would have received you with pleasure； and I have not concealed from you the satisfaction I should have experienced。〃
These last words made the duke start； his eyes became animated。 After a moment's reflection he said to the king；
〃Sire； is it indispensably necessary for the service of the state that I endeavor to attain the good…will of madame la comtesse du Barry？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well； then； sire； allow matters to remain as they are。 It would cost me much to quarrel with my whole family； the more so as this sacrifice is not useful to you； and would in no wise alter my position with your majesty。〃
However painful to the king such a determination might be； he did not allow the duke to perceive it； he dissembled the resentment he felt； and contented himself with saying；
〃Duc de Choiseul； I do not pretend to impose chains on you； I have spoken to you as a friend rather than as a sovereign。 Now I return to what was said at first； and accept with confidence the promise you make me not to torment a lady whom I love most sincerely。〃
Thus ended a conversation from which the duke； with a less haughty disposition； might have extracted greater advantages and played a surer game。 It was the last plank of safety offered in the shipwreck which menaced him。 He disdained it： the opportunity of seizing it did not present itself again。 I doubt not but that if he would have united himself freely and sincerely with me I should not have played him false。 Louis XV； satisfied with his condescension in my behalf； would have kept him at the head of his ministry： but his pride ruined him； he could not throw off the yoke which the duchesse de Grammont had imposed on him： he recoiled from the idea of telling her that he had made a treaty of peace with me； and that was not one of the least causes of his disgrace。
The journey to Marly gave birth to a multitude of intrigues of persons who thought to wrap themselves up in profound mystery； and all whose actions we knew。 The police were very active about the royal abodes； especially since the fatal deed of the regicide Damiens。 To keep them perpetually on the watch； they were ordered to watch attentively the amours of the lords and ladies of the court。
The daughter of the duc de Richelieu； the comtesse d'Egmont； whose age was no pretext for her follies； dearly liked low love adventures。 She used to seek them out in Paris； when she could find none at Versailles。 She was not； however； the more indulgent towards me。 This lady was not always content with noble lovers； but sought them in all classes； and more than once； simple mortals； men of low order； obtained preference over demi…gods。 Her conduct in this respect was the result of long experience。 She used to go out alone； and traverse the streets of Paris。 She entered the shops； and when her eye rested on a good figure； having wide shoulders； sinewy limbs； and a good looking face； she then called up all the resources of her mind to form and carry on an intrigue； of which the consequences； at first agreeable to him who was the object of it； terminated most frequently fatally。 The following adventure will give you an idea of the talent of madame d'Egmont in this way； and how she got rid of her adorers when she had exhausted with them the cup of pleasure。
CHAPTER XVIII
Intrigue of the comtesse d'Egmont with a shopmanHis unhappy fateThe comtesse du Barry protects himConduct of Louis XV upon the occasionThe young man quits FranceMadame du Barry's letter to the comtesse d'EgmontQuarrel with the marechal de Richelieu
The comtesse d'Egmont was one day observed to quit her house attired with the most parsimonious simplicity； her head being covered by an enormously deep bonnet； which wholly concealed her countenance； and the rest of her person enveloped in a pelisse； whose many rents betrayed its long service。 In this strange dress she traversed the streets of Paris in search of adventures。 She was going； she said； wittily enough； 〃to return to the cits what her father and brother had so frequently robbed them of。〃 Chance having led her steps to the rue St。 Martin； she was stopped there by a confusion of carriages； which compelled her first to shelter herself against the wall； and afterwards to take refuge in an opposite shop； which was one occupied by a linen…draper。
She looked around her with the eye of a connoisseur； and perceived beneath the modest garb of a shopman one of those broad…shouldered youths； whose open smiling countenance and gently tinged complexion bespoke a person whose simplicity of character differed greatly from the vast energy of his physical powers： he resembled the Farnese Hercules upon a reduced scale。 The princess approached him； and requested to see some muslins； from which she selected two gowns； and after having paid for them； requested the master of the shop to send his shopman with them； in the course of half an hour； to an address she gave as her usual abode。
The comtesse d'Egmont had engaged an apartment on the third floor of a house in the rue Tiquetonne； which was in the heart of Paris。 The porteress of the dwelling knew her only as madame Rossin： her household consisted of a housekeeper and an old man； both devoted to a mistress whose character they well understood； and to whom they had every motive to be faithful。
Here it was； then； that the lady hastened to await the arrival of the new object of her plebeian inclinations。 Young Moireau （for such was the shopman's name） was not long ere he arrived with his parcel。 Madame d'Egmont was ready to receive him： she had had sufficient time to exchange her shabby walking dress for one which bespoke both coquetry and voluptuousness； the softness of her smile； and the turn of her features announced one whose warmth of passions would hold out the most flattering hopes of success to him who should seek her love。
Madame Rossin and the young shopman were soon engaged in conversation； further animated by the bright glances sent direct from the eyes of madame to the unguarded heart of her admiring visitor。 Emboldened by the graciousness of her manner； he presumed to touch her fair hand： the lady； in affected anger； rose； and commanded him to quit t