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！
at he meant； and if I could procure any account of the place。 He then told me of the care which madame de Pompadour bestowed On the place； the advantage she drew from it； and assured me of the necessity for following her example。 I spoke of this to comte Jean； and begged his advice。 My brother…in…law replied：
〃You must do as the marquise de Pompadour did； and as the duc de Richelieu has advised。 They spend a vast deal of money in this house； and I undertake to look over their accounts。 Nominate me your prime minister； and I shall be the happiest of men。 It is impossible but there must be something to be gleaned from his majesty。〃
〃In truth； my dear brother…in…law； you would be in your element； money to handle and young girls to manage。 What more could you covet？ You will establish a gaming table at the ； and never quit it again。〃
Comte Jean began to laugh； and then seriously advised me to follow the plain counsel of the duc de Richelieu。
I decided on doing so。 I sent for Madame。 She came with all the dignity of an abbess of a regally founded convent。 But in spite of her pretensions； I only saw in her the rival of Gourdan and Paris； and treated her as such； that is； with some contempt； for with that feeling her office inspired me。 She told me all I have described to you； and many other things which have since escaped me。 At that time there were only four 《 eleves 》 in the house。 When she had given me all the details I wished； I sent her away； desiring to be informed of all that passed in her establishment。
CHAPTER XXX
Fête given by the comtesse de ValentinoisThe comtesse du Barry feigns an indispositionHer dressThe duc de Cosse…The comte and comtesse de ProvenceDramatic entertainmentFavart and VoisenonA few observationsA pensionThe marechale de Luxembourg Adventure of M。 de BombellesCopy of a letter addressed to him Louis XVM。 de Maupeou and madame du Barry
My present situation was not a little embarrassing； known and recognised as the mistress of the king； it but ill accorded with my feelings to be compelled to add to that title the superintendent of his pleasures； and I had not yet been sufficiently initiated into the intrigues of a court life to accept this strange charge without manifest dislike and hesitation。 Nevertheless； whilst so many were contending for the honour of that which I condemned； I was compelled to stifle my feelings and resign myself to the bad as well as the good afforded by my present situation； at a future period I shall have occasion again to revert to the during the period of my reign； but for the present I wish to change the subject by relating to you what befell me at a fete given me by madame de Valentinois； while she feigned to give it in the honour of madame de Provence。
The comtesse de Valentinois； flattered by the kindness of the dauphiness's manner towards her； and wishing still further to insinuate herself into her favour； imagined she should promote her object by requesting that princess would do her the honour to pass an evening at her house； her request was granted； and that too before the duchesse de la Vauguyon could interfere to prevent it。 Furious at not having been apprized of the invitation till too late to cause its rejection； she vowed to make the triumphant countess pay dearly for her triumph； for my own part I troubled myself very little with the success of madame de Valentinois； which； in fact； I perceived would rather assist than interfere with my projects。 Hitherto I had not made my appearance at any of the houses of the nobility when the princesses were invited thither； this clearly proved to the public； in general； how great was the opposition I experienced from the court party。 I was now delighted to prove to the Parisians that I was not always to lead the life of a recluse； but that I could freely present myself at those parties to which other ladies were invited。 However； as my friends apprehended that the comtesse de Provence might prevail upon her lady of honour not to invite me； by the advice of the chancellor and the minister for foreign affairs； it was arranged that I should for a week previous to the fete feign a severe indisposition。 It would be impossible to describe the joy with which these false tidings were received by my enemies。 We are all apt to picture things as we would have them； and already the eager imaginations of the opposing party had converted the account of my illness into an incurable and mortal disease。
Every hour my friends brought me in fresh anecdotes of the avidity with which the rumour of my dangerous state had been received； whilst I lay upon what the credulous hopes of my enemies had determined to be my death…bed； laughing heartily at their folly； and preparing fresh schemes to confound and disappoint their anticipated triumph。
One very important object of consideration was my dress for the coming occasion。 The king presented me with a new set of jewels； and himself selected the materials for my robe and train； which were to be composed of a rich green satin embroidered with gold； trimmed with wreaths of roses； and looped up with pearls； the lower part of this magnificent dress was trimmed with a profusion of the finest Flemish lace。 I wore on my head a garland of full blown roses； composed of the finest green and gold work； round my forehead was a string of beautiful pearls； from the centre of which depended a diamond star； add to this a pair of splendid ear…rings； valued at 100；000 crowns； with a variety of jewels equally costly； and you may form some idea of my appearance on that eventful evening。 The； king； who presided at my toilette； could not repress his admiration； he even insisted upon clasping my necklace； in order that he might； as he said； flatter himself with having completed such a triumph of nature and art。
At the hour fixed upon I set out； conducted by the ducs d'Aiguillon and de Cosse and now I remember I have introduced this latter to you for the first time； however I will promise that it will not be for the last； he possessed； and still possesses all the virtues of his noble house； he was impetuous from a deeply feeling heart； and proud from a consciousness of being properly appreciated。 Young； handsome； and daring； he was pre…eminently calculated both to inspire love； and to feel it； it was quite impossible for him to fail in winning the affections of any female he exerted himself to please； and even at the present time that he has lost some of his earlier graces； he is still irresistible as ever； his naturally gay disposition was but ill suited to nourishing grave or philosophic reasoning； but then he was the soul of company； and possessed a fine and delicate wit which ever vented itself in the most brilliant sallies。 M。 de Cosse like the knights of old； was wholly devoted to his king and his mistress； and would； I am sure； had the occasion required it； have nobly died in defence of either； I only pray he may never be put to the proof。 I saw much of him at the beginning of our acquaintance； but as his many amiable qualities became better known； I found myself almost continually in his society； indeed as I have something to c