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〃The king himself。〃
〃Well； who next？〃
〃The duc de Richelieu。〃
〃Who else？〃
〃The marquis de Chauvelin。〃
〃Well？〃
〃The duc de la Vauguyon。〃
〃What； the devotee？〃
〃The hypocrite。 But never mind： the main point is； that you must not appear to recognize the king。 Instruct your sister…in…law to this effect。〃
〃Certainly； if she must sin； she had better do so with some reason。〃
While these gentlemen were thus disposing of me； what was I doing？ Alone； in my room； I waited the result of their conference with mortal impatience。 The character I had to play was a superb one； and at the moment was about to enter on the stage； I felt all the difficulties of my part。 I feared I should not succeed； but fail amid the insulting hisses of the Versailles party。
My fears at once disappeared； and then I pictured myself sitting on a throne； magnificently attired； my imagination wandered in all the enchantments of greatness； then； as if from remorse； I recalled my past life。 The former lover of Nicholas blushed before the future mistress of Louis XV。 A thousand different reflections crowded upon me； and mingled in my brain。 If to live is to think； I lived a whole age in one quarter of an hour。 At length I heard some doors open； a carriage rolled away； and comte Jean entered my chamber。
〃Victory！〃 cried he； embracing me with transport。 〃Victory！ my dear Jeanne； to…morrow you sup with the king。〃
On this information I turned pale； my strength forsook me； and I was compelled to sit down； or rather to fall into a chair； for； according to Jean Jacques Rousseau； my legs shook under me （）。 This； however； was the only movement of weakness which I betrayed。 When I recovered a little； the comte Jean told me the conversation he had had with Lebel。 I joked about the title of baron de Gonesse； and I promised to treat the king as if ignorant of his incognito。 One thing only made me uneasy； and that was supping with the duc de Richelieu； who had seen me before at madame de Lagarde's； but the idea that he would not remember me gave me renewed courage。
On so important an occasion； comte Jean did not forget to repeat his instructions over again。 These are nearly his words； for I think I learnt them by heart。
〃Remember that it is on your first interview that your safety depends。 Let him learn； through you； those utter tendernesses which have been sought for him in vain heretofore。 He is like the monarch of old； who was willing to pay the half of his crown for an unknown pleasure。 Lebel is wearied in seeking every week for new fruit。 He is quite disposed to serve you； and will second you in the best manner。 You are about to become the centre of attraction to all courtiers； and noble 。 You must expect that they will endeavor to cry you down； because you will have carried off from them a gem to which every family has its pretensions。 You must at first stand firmly before the storm； but afterward you will find all enlist themselves under your banner； who have no wife； sister； nor daughter； that is； all who have no mistress to offer to the king。 You must attach these to you by place and favor： they must be first thought of； and then you must think of yourself and me； my dear girl。〃
〃All this is well enough；〃 I replied； 〃but as yet I am nothing。〃
〃！ to…morrow you will be everything；〃 cried comte Jean； with his determined energy。 〃But we must think about this morrow。 Make haste； noble comtesse； go to all the milliners； seek what is elegant rather than what is rich。 Be as lovely； pleasing； and gay as possible； this is the main point； and God will do all the rest。〃
He pronounced this blasphemy in a laughing tone； and I confess I could not help joining in the laugh； and then hastened to comply with his directions。
CHAPTER II
A slight prefaceArrival at VersaillesPortrait of the kingThe duc de RichelieuThe marquis de ChauvelinThe duc de la Vauguyon…Supper with the kingThe first nightThe following dayThe curiosity of comte JeanPresents from the kingHow disposed of
The chances against our succeeding in our enterprise were at least a thousand to one。 The sea upon which； trusting to the favorable influence of my leading star； we were about to venture； was filled with rocks and shoals which threatened the poor mariner who should direct his bark near them。 In the first place； I had to dread my obscure birth； as well as the manner in which my life had been passed； and still more had I to fear the indifferent reputation of comte Jean。 There was more than sufficient in all this to disturb a head far stronger than I could boast。 However； thanks to my thoughtfulness； no troublesome thoughts interfered to break my rest on the night preceding a day so important to me； and I slept as tranquilly as though upon waking I had no other occupation for my time than a walk on the boulevards； or a drive to the Bois de Boulogne。
Comte Jean； however； had passed a very different night； for once； the whisperings of ambition had overcome even his natural indifference and carelessness； and tired of tossing upon a sleepless pillow； he arose at the first break of day； reproached me for slumbering so long； and allowed me neither peace nor rest till I joined him dressed for our journey。 At length； we set out according to our agreement with Lebel； I was closely muffled up in my large the carriage rolled along till we reached Versailles； where we had for the last month engaged a lodging； which might be useful to us in all events； we alighted； and after vainly seeking a few moments' repose； proceeded on foot to Lebel； in whose apartments we were to attire ourselves in a suitable manner。
〃You are welcome；〃 said the comte； 〃pray consider yourself as at home。〃
〃I accept your augury；〃 replied I； 〃it would be amusing enough to find that my young prophet had predicted rightly。〃
〃Well then；〃 said my conductor； laughing； 〃I recommend you to manage a slip on the staircase； it would be taking possession after the manner of the ancients。〃
〃No； no； I thank you；〃 answered I； 〃no falls if you please； they are not propitious in France。〃
Whilst we were thus speaking； we were crossing a long suite of chambers； and reached the one at which we were expected。 We knocked cautiously at a door； which was opened to us with equal caution。 Scarcely had we entered； than Lebel came eagerly forward to receive us。
〃Ah； madame！〃 cried he； 〃I began to fear you might not come； you have been looked for with an impatience〃
〃Which can hardly equal mine；〃 interrupted I； 〃for you were prepared for your visitor； whilst I have yet to learn who is the friend that so kindly desires to see me。〃
〃It is better it should be so；〃 added Lebel ； 〃do not seek either to guess or discover more； than that you will here meet with some cheerful society； friends of mine； who will sup at my house； but with whom circumstances prevent my sitting down at table。〃
〃How！〃 said I； with affected surprise； 〃not sup with us？〃
〃Even so；〃 replied Lebel； and then added with a laugh； 〃 and I sit down to supper together！ What an idea！ No！ you will find that just as the guests are about to sit