按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Yet；〃 replied the marechale； smiling； 〃they are disposed to pay any price for so doing。〃
〃I have friends；〃 said I； 〃from whom I can never separate myself。〃
〃They are willing that your friends shall be theirs likewise；〃 cried she； 〃for they see that M。 de Maupeou； the duc de la Vrilliere； and the abbe Terray； are provided for； and that the duc d'Aiguillon alone remains to be suitably established； M。 de Choiseul would be happy to aid him in obtaining the post of minister of naval affairs。〃
〃Well； and the duchesse de Grammont；〃 inquired I； 〃would she visit me？〃
〃Oh； as to that； I know nothing about it； and can venture no opinion； my commission does not extend so far。〃
〃I understand you；〃 said I； 〃she seeks for peace only as it would enable her the better to carry on her hostilities against me。 I am sorry； madame la marechale； that I cannot accept your terms for a reconciliation。〃
〃Remember； I pray of you； that I have been an ambassadress； and nothing more；〃 said madame de Mirepoix； 〃recollect I have spoken to you in the words of others； not my own。 I must beg of you to be secret； if you divulge the particulars of this morning's conversation； it is I who will suffer by it： your friends will be displeased with me for my interference； and I have no inclination to provoke the anger of a party so powerful as yours。〃
I promised the marechale to observe an inviolable secrecy； and； so well have I kept my promise； that you are the first person to whom I ever breathed one syllable of the affair。 I must own； that it struck me as strange； that the duc de Choiseul should abandon his cousin； and consent to take his seat beside the duc d'Aiguillon； whom he detested： perhaps he only sought to deceive us all by gaining time； till the death of the king。 But what avails speculation upon the words and actions of a courtier； whose heart is an abyss too deep for gleam of light to penetrate？
CHAPTER XXVI
Baron d'Oigny； general post…masterThe king and the countess read the opened lettersThe disgrace of de Choiseul resolved uponAnecdoteSpectre of Philip II； king of SpainThe duc de Choiseul banishedVisits to ChanteloupThe princessesThe dauphin and dauphinessCandidates for the ministry
The interference of madame de Mirepoix； originating； as it did； in the duc de Choiseul； let me at once into the secret of his fears and the extent of my own power。 The knowledge of the weakness of my adversary redoubled my energy； and from this moment； I allowed no day to pass without forwarding the great work； till I succeeded in effecting the duke's ruin and securing my own triumph。 The pamphleteers in the pay of my enemies； and those who merely copied these hirelings； assert that one evening after supper； when Louis was intoxicated with wine and my seductions； I prevailed upon him to sign a against his minister； which he immediately revoked when the break of day had restored to him his senses。 This was a malicious falsehood。 You shall hear the exact manner in which the were signed。
On the evening of the 23d of December； his majesty having engaged to sup with me； I had invited M。 de Maupeou； the duc de la Vrilliere； and the prince de Soubise。 It appears； that the king； previously to coming； had gone to visit the dauphiness； he had not mentioned whither he was going； so that his attendants believed him to be in my apartments； and directed M。 d'Oigny； post…master general； to seek him there。 The baron brought with him a packet of opened letters； when he saw me alone he wished to retire； for the servants； believing him to be one of the expected guests； had ushered him in。 However； I would not permit him to go until the king's arrival； and； half sportively； half seriously； I took from him his letters； protesting I would detain them as hostages for his obedience to my desires。 At this moment Louis XV entered the room； and M。 d'Oigny； having briefly stated his business； bowed and departed。 The baron was a very excellent man； possessing an extensive and intelligent mind； he wrote very pleasing poetry； and had not his attention been occupied by the post he filled； he might have made a conspicuous figure in literature。
When we were left to ourselves； I said to the king；
〃Now； then； for this interesting and amusing budget； for such； I doubt not； it will prove。〃
〃Not so fast； madam； if you please；〃 replied Louis XV； 〃perhaps these papers may contain state secrets unfit for your eye。〃
〃Great secrets they must be；〃 said I； laughing； 〃confided thus to the carelessness of the post。〃 So saying； I broke the seal of the envelope so hastily； that the greater part of the letters and notes were scattered over the carpet。
〃Well done；〃 cried the king。
〃I entreat your majesty's pardon；〃 said I； 〃but I will repair the mischief as far as I can。〃
I stooped to collect the fallen papers； and the king had the gallantry to assist me： we soon piled the various letters upon a tray； and began eagerly to glance over their contents。 My good fortune made me select from the mass those epistles addressed to the members of the country parliaments； they were filled with invectives against me； insulting mention of the king； and praises of the duc de Choiseul。 I took especial care to read them in a loud and distinct voice。
〃This really is not to be endured；〃 cried Louis XV； 〃that the mistaken zeal of these long…robed gentlemen should make them thus compliment my minister at my expense。〃
〃So much the worse for you； sire；〃 replied I； 〃considering that you continue to prefer your minister to every other consideration。〃
As I continued searching through the letters； I found and read the following phrase：〃Spite of the reports in circulation； I do not believe it possible that M。 de Choiseul will be dismissed； he is too necessary to the king； who； without him would be as incapable as a child of managing his affairs： his majesty must preserve our friend in office in spite of himself。〃
When I had finished； the king exclaimed； in an angry tone； 〃We shall see how far the prophecy of these sapient gentlemen is correct； and whether their 'friend' is so important to me that I dare not dismiss him。 Upon my word； my minister has placed himself so advantageously before his master； as to exclude him entirely from the eyes of his subjects。〃
Whilst these words were speaking； M。 de Maupeou and M。 de la Vrilliere were announced； the king； still warm； let fall some words expressive of his displeasure at what had happened。 The gauntlet was thrown； and so well did we work upon the irritated mind of Louis XV； that it was determined M。 de Choiseul should be dismissed the following day； December 24； 1770。 Chanteloup was chosen for the place of his retreat； and M。 de la Vrilliere； by the dictation of the king； wrote the following letter to the duke：
〃Cousin；…； The dissatisfaction caused me by your conduct compels me to request you will confine yourself to your estate at Chanteloup； whither you will remove in four and twenty hours from the date hereof。 I should have chosen a more remote spot for your place of exile； were it not for the great esteem I entertain for the duchesse de Cho