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Heavens！ my dear friend； how sad are the days when I am deprived of the happiness of passing the time with you； and with what joy do I watch for the moment which will bring you to me。 I shall not go to Paris to…day； because the person I was going to see is coming Thursday。 As you will be going away； I shall visit the barracks instead； for I believe you approve of the object。 Adieu。 I await you with impatience； with a heart wholly yours； which； in spite of your injustice； could never belong to any other； even if I had the wish。 I think of you and that word of yours which you will surely regret； and still another regret is that I am deprived of you。 That is the watchword of each instant。
THE COUNTESS Du Barry
At Louvecienne； Noon。
Madame de Valentinois came to me with tears in her eyes to repeat the cruel remark of the princess； the marechale de Mirepoix； who heard her； sought to console her by assurances； that it would in no degree affect her interest at court。 〃Never mind； my good friend；〃 said she； 〃the pretty bird merely warbles the notes it learns from its keeper la Vauguyon； and will as quickly forget as learn them。 Nevertheless； the king owes you recompense for the vexation it has occasioned you。〃
Immediately that I found myself alone with the marechale； I inquired of her what was the nature of the reparation she considered madame de Valentinois entitled to expect from the hands of his majesty。 She replied； 〃'Tis on your account alone that the poor countess has received her late mortification； the king is therefore bound to atone for it in the form of a pension。 Money； my dear； money is a sovereign cure at court； calms every grief and heals every wound。〃
I fully agreed with the good…natured marechale； and； when I bade the sorrowful madame de Valentinois good night； I assured her I would implore his majesty to repair the mischief my presence had caused。 Accordingly on the following day； when the king questioned me as to how far I had been amused with the fete given by madame de Valentinois； I availed myself of the opening to state my entire satisfaction； as well as to relate the disgrace into which she had fallen； and to pray his majesty to bestow upon her a pension of 15；000 livres。
〃Upon my word；〃 exclaimed Louis XV； hastily traversing the chamber； 〃this fete seems likely to prove a costly one to me。〃
〃Nay； sire；〃 said I； 〃it was a most delightful evening； and you will not； I hope； refuse me such a trifle for those who lavished so much for my amusement。〃
〃Well；〃 cried he； 〃be it so； the countess shall have the sum she requires； but upon condition that she does not apply to me again。〃
〃Really your majesty talks；〃 replied I； 〃as though this trifling pension were to be drawn from your own purse。〃
The king began to smile at my remark； like a man who knows himself found out。 I knew him well enough to be certain that； had he intended the pension awarded madame de Valentinois to come from his own privy purse； he would scarcely have consented to bestowing on her more than a shabby pittance of a thousand livres per annum。 It is scarcely possible to conceive an idea of the excessive economy of this prince。 I remember； that upon some great occasion； when it was requisite to support the public treasury； which was failing； by a timely contribution； the duc de Choiseul offered the loan of 250；000 livres； whilst the king； to the astonishment of all who heard him； confined his aid to 2；000 louis！ The marechale de Mirepoix used to assert that Louis XV was the only prince of his line who ever knew the value of a crown。 She had； nevertheless； managed to receive plenty from him； although； I must own； that she had had no small difficulty in obtaining them； nor did the king part with his beloved gold without many a sigh of regret。
At the house of madame de Valentinois I met the marechale de Luxembourg； who had recently returned from Chanteloup。 There really was something of infatuation in the general mania which seemed to prevail of treating the king's sentiments with indifference； and considering his displeasure as an affair of no consequence。 Before the disgrace of the Choiseuls they were equally the objects of madame de Luxembourg's most bitter hatred； nor was madame de Grammont backward in returning her animosity； yet； strange as it may seem； no sooner was the Choiseul party exiled； than the marechale never rested till she saw her name engraved on the famous pillar erected to perpetuate the remembrance of all those who had visited the exiles。 She employed their mutual friends to effect a reconciliation； which was at length effected by letter； and a friendly embrace exchanged by proxy。 These preliminaries over； the marechale came to the king to make the request to which he had now become accustomed； but which did not the less amuse him。 Of course Louis XV made no hesitation in granting her the request she solicited。 Speaking to me of the subject； he said； 〃The meeting of madame de Grammont and the marechal de Luxembourg must indeed be an overpowering sight； I only trust these two ladies may not drop the mask too soon； and bite each other's ear while they are embracing。〃
Madame de Luxembourg； daughter of the duc de Villeroi； had been first married to the duc de Boufflers； whose brows she helped to adorn with other ornaments than the ducal coronet； nor whilst her youth and beauty lasted was she less generous to her second husband： she was generally considered a most fascinating woman； from the loveliness of her person and the vivacity of her manners； but behind an ever ready wit； lurked the most implacable malice and hatred against all who crossed her path or purpose。 As she advanced in life she became more guarded and circumspect； until at last she set herself up as the arbitress of high life； and the youthful part of the nobility crowded around her； to hear the lessons of her past experience。 By the number and by the power of her pupils； she could command both the court and city； her censures were dreaded； because pronounced in language so strong and severe； as to fill those who incurred them with no hope of ever shining in public opinion whilst so formidable a was uttered against them； and her decrees； from which there was no appeal； either stamped a man with dishonour； or introduced him as a first…rate candidate for universal admiration and esteem； and her hatred was as much dreaded as ever her smiles had been courted： for my own part； I always felt afraid of her； and never willingly found myself in her presence。
After I had obtained for madame de Valentinois the boon I solicited； I was conversing with the king respecting madame de Luxembourg； when the chancellor entered the room； he came to relate to his majesty an affair which had occasioned various reports； and much scandal。 The viscount de Bombelles； an officer in an hussar regiment； had married a mademoiselle Camp； Reasons； unnecessary for me to seek to discover； induced him； all at once； to annul his marriage； and profiting by a regulation which forbade all good Catholics from intermarrying with those of the reformed religion； He demanded the dissolution of his union with mademoiselle Camp。 This a