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〃I have heard this horrible charge before；〃 added the king； 〃the Jesuits informed me of it； but I could not give credit to such a monstrosity。〃
〃So much the worse；〃 replied I； 〃in the world in which we live we should always be on our guard。〃
〃Sire；〃 added the chancellor； with the most diabolical address； 〃I am persuaded that M。 de Choiseul is the most honourable man in the world； and that he would shudder at the bare idea of any attempt upon the life of your majesty； but his relations； friends； and creatures believe； that； supported by the dauphiness； he would continue in office under your successor。 Who can answer for their honour？ Who can assure you； that some one among them may not do that for the duke which he would never venture to attempt himself？
〃This is the personal danger your majesty runs so long as M。 de Choiseul continues in office； were he dismissed； the world would soon abandon the disgraced minister； and the dauphiness be amongst the first to forget him。〃
The king was pale with agitation； and for some minutes continued traversing the apartment with hasty strides； then he suddenly stopped。
〃You are then convinced； M。 de Maupeou；〃 cried he； 〃that the duke is leagued with the parliaments to weaken my authority？〃
〃There are palpable proofs to that effect；〃 replied the chancellor； 〃your majesty may recollect the skilful manner in which； on the 3d of last September； he avoided attending you to parliament； most assuredly； had he not been the friend of rebels； he would not have shrunk from evincing by his presence how fully he shared your just indignation。〃
〃That is but too true；〃 cried Louis XV； 〃and I felt much annoyed at the time； that he preferred going to amuse himself at the house of M。 de Laborde； when his duty summoned him to my side。〃
〃Your majesty cannot fail to perceive how everything condemns him； his personal conduct； equally with that of his sister； proves how little he regards his royal master's interest； and should your clemency resolve upon sparing him now； you may find your mercy produce fatal effects to yourself。〃
〃His dismissal；〃 resumed the king； 〃would disorganize all my political measures。 Who could I put in his place？ I know no one capable of filling it。〃
〃Your majesty's wisdom must decide the point；〃 replied the chancellor。 〃My duty is to lay before you the true state of things； this I have done； and I know myself well enough not to intrude my counsel further。 Nevertheless； I cannot help remarking； that in your majesty's court there are many as capable as M。 de Choiseul of directing affairsM。 d'Aiguillon； for example。〃
〃Ah！〃 answered Louis XV； 〃this is not the moment； when M。 d'Aiguillon is smarting from his severe contest with the long robes； to elevate him over the head of my hitherto…esteemed minister。〃
M。 de Maupeou and myself perceived that we should best serve my friend's cause by refraining from pressing the matter further； and we therefore changed the conversation。 Nevertheless； as what had already passed had taken its full effect upon the king's mind； he suggested an idea which I should never have dreamed of recommending； and that was to consult the abbe de la Ville on the subject。
The abbe de la Ville； head clerk of foreign affairs； was a man who； at the advanced period of fourscore； preserved all the fire and vivacity of youth； he was acquainted with ministerial affairs even better than M。 de Choiseul himself。 Having formerly belonged to the Jesuits； to whom he was entirely devoted； he had appeared to accelerate the period of their destruction； never had he been able to pardon his patron the frightful part he had compelled him to enact in the business。 Years had not weakened his ancient rancour； and it might be said； that he had clung to life with more than natural pertinacity； as unwilling to lay it down till he had avenged himself on de Choiseul。 Louis XV wrote to him； desiring he would avail himself of the first pretext that occurred to request an audience。 This note was forwarded by a footman； the good abbe easily divined that this mystery concealed some great design； he therefore hastened to solicit an audience as desired。 When introduced into the cabinet of the king； his majesty inquired at once；
〃Monsieur l' abbe； can I depend upon your discretion？〃
〃Sire；〃 replied the abbe； with a blunt frankness； 〃I am sorry your majesty can doubt it。〃
〃Be satisfied； sir；〃 replied the king； 〃I had no intention to offend you； but I wish to consult you upon a point； the importance of which you will fully appreciate； answer me without disguise。 Do you believe that the services of the duc de Choiseul are useful to my kingdom； and that my interests would suffer were I to dismiss him？〃
〃Sire；〃 replied M。 de la Ville； without hesitation； 〃I protest to you； as a man of honour； that the presence of the duc de Choiseul is by no means essential to the ministry； and that your majesty's interests would sustain not the slightest injury by his absence。〃
After this the abbe de la Ville entered into particulars unnecessary to repeat here； it is sufficient to say； that all he advanced materially aided our wishes。 He afterwards reaped the reward of his friendly services； for when the duc d'Aiguillon had displaced the duc de Choiseul； he bestowed on M。 de la Ville the title of ； an office created for him； and the bishopric of Tricomie。 The good abbe did not； however； long enjoy his honours； but ended his career in 1774。
This conversation had been repeated to me； and； on my side； I left no means untried of preventing Louis XV from placing further confidence in his minister； but； feeble and timid； he knew not on what to determine； contenting himself with treating the duke coolly； he sought； by continual rebuffs and denials to his slightest request； to compel him to demand that dismissal he had not the courage to give。
Whilst these things were in agitation； madame de Mirepoix； who had been for some days absent from Versailles； came to call upon me。 This lady possessed a considerable share of wit； and； although on the most intimate terms with me； had not altogether broken off with the des Choiseuls； to whom she was further bound on account of the prince de Beauvau； her brother。 It therefore excited in me no surprise； when I heard that the des Choiseuls had called on her to ascertain； whether it would not be possible； through her mediation； to come to some terms with me。
〃And you must not be angry with me；〃 continued she； 〃for undertaking the ； I well foresaw all the difficulties； and entertained no hopes of its success； but upon second thoughts； I considered it better I should accept the mission； for； in case of a negative being returned； it will be safe in my keeping； and I will not add to the chagrin of a failure the shame of a defeat。〃
〃It is my opinion；〃 replied I； 〃that all propositions coming from these people should be rejected； they have compelled me to raise between them and myself an immense wall of hatred； not less difficult to surmount than the grand wall of China。〃
〃Yet；〃 replied the marechale； smiling； 〃they are disposed to pay any price for so doing。〃
〃I