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ed the dissolution of his union with mademoiselle Camp。 This attempt on his part to violate； upon such grounds； the sanctity of the nuptial vow； whilst it was calculated to rekindle the spirit of religious persecution； was productive of very unfavourable consequences to the character of M。 de Bombelles； the great cry was against him； he stood alone and unsupported in the contest； for even the greatest bigots themselves would not intermeddle or appear to applaud a matter which attacked both honour and good feeling： the comrades of M。 de Bombelles refused to associate with him； but the finishing stroke came from his old companions at the military school； where he had been brought up。 On the 27th of November； 1771； the council of this establishment wrote him the following letter：
〃The military school have perused with equal indignation and grief the memorials which have appeared respecting you in the public prints。 Had you not been educated in this establishment； we should merely have looked upon your affair with mademoiselle Camp as a scene too distressing for humanity and it would have been buried in our peaceful walls beneath the veil of modesty and silence； but we owe it to the youth sent to us by his majesty； for the inculcation of those principles which become the soldier as the man； not to pass over the present opportunity of inspiring them with a just horror of your misguided conduct； as well as feeling it an imperative duty to ourselves not to appear indifferent to the scandal and disgraceful confusion your proceedings have occasioned in the capital。 We leave to the ministers of our religion； and the magistrates who are appointed to guard our laws。 to decide upon the legality of the bonds between yourself and mademoiselle Camp； but by one tribunal you are distinctly pronounced guilty towards her； and that is the tribunal of honour； before that tribunal which exists in the heart of every good man。 You have been universally cited and condemned。 There are some errors which all the impetuosity of youth is unable to excuse； and yours are unhappily of that sort。 The different persons composing this establishment； therefore； concur not only in praying of us to signify their sentiments； but likewise to apprize you； that you are unanimously forbidden to appear within these walls again。〃
The chancellor brought to the king a copy of this severe letter； to which I listened with much emotion； nor did the king seem more calm than myself。
'This is； indeed；〃 said he at length； 〃a very sad affair； we shall have all the quarrels of Protestantism renewed； as if I had not had already enough of those of the Jansenists and Jesuits。 As far as I can judge； M。 de Bombelles is entitled to the relief he seeks； and every marriage contracted with a Protestant is null and void by the laws of France。〃
〃Oh； sire；〃 cried I； 〃 would I had married a Protestant。〃
The king smiled for a moment at my jest； then resumed：
〃I blame the military school。〃
〃Is it your majesty's pleasure；〃 inquired the chancellor； 〃that I should signify your displeasure to them？〃
〃No； sir；〃 replied Louis； 〃it does not come within your line of duty； and devolves rather upon the minister of war； and very possibly he would object to executing such a commission； for how could I step forward as the protector of one who would shake off the moral obligation of an oath directly it suits his inclinations to doubt its legality？ This affair gives me great uneasiness； and involves the most serious consequences。 You will see that I shall be overwhelmed with petitions and pamphlets； demanding of me the revocation of the edict of Nantes。〃
〃And what； sire；〃 asked the chancellor gravely； 〃could you do； that would better consolidate the glory of your reign？〃
〃Chancellor；〃 exclaimed Louis XV； stepping back with unfeigned astonishment； 〃have you lost your senses？ What would the clergy say or do？ The very thought makes me shudder。 Do you then believe； M。 de Maupeou； that the race of the Clements； the Ravaillacs； the Damiens； are extinct in France？〃
〃Ah； sire； what needless fears。〃
〃Not so needless as you may deem them；〃 answered the king。 〃I have been caught once； I am not going to expose myself to danger a second time。 You know the proverb；no； no； let us leave things as my predecessors left them； besides； I shall not be sorry to leave a little employment for my successor； he may get through it how he can； and spite of all the clamouring of the philosophers； the Protestants shall hold their present privileges so long as I live。 I will have neither civil nor religious war； but live in peace and eat my supper with a good appetite with you； my fair comtesse； for my constant guest； and you； M。 de Maupeou； for this evening's visitor。〃
The conversation here terminated。
CHAPTER XXXI
Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer Louis XV and madame de RumasM。 de Rumas and the comtesse du BarryAn intrigueA present upon the occasionThe duc de Richelieu in disgrace100；000 livres
This Marin； a provencal by birth； in his childhood one of the choristers； and afterwards organist of the village church； was； at the period of which I am speaking； one of the most useful men possible。 Nominated by M。 de St。 Florentin to the post of censor royal； this friend to the philosophers was remarkable for the peculiar talent； with which he would alternately applaud and condemn the writings of these gentlemen。 Affixing his sanction to two lines in a tragedy by Dorat had cost him twenty…four hours' meditation within the walls of the Bastille； and for permitting the representation of some opera （the name of which I forget） he had been deprived of a pension of 2；000 francs； but； wedded to the delights of his snug post； Marin always contrived； after every storm； to find his way back to its safe harbor。 He had registered a vow never to resign the office of censor； but to keep it in despite of danger and difficulty。 I soon discovered that he passed from the patronage of Lebel to that of Chamilly； and I was not slow in conjecturing that he joined to his avocations of censor and gazetteer that of purveyor to his majesty's 。
Spite of my indefatigable endeavors to render Louis XV happy and satisfied with the pleasures of his own home； he would take occasional wandering fits； and go upon the ramble； sometimes in pursuit of a high…born dame； at others eager to obtain a poor and simple ； and so long that the object of his fancy were but new to him； it mattered little what were her claims to youth； beauty； or rank in life。 The marechale de Mirepoix frequently said to me； 〃Do you know； my dear creature； that your royal admirer is but a very fickle swain； who is playing the gay gallant when he ought to be quietly seated at his own fireside。 Have a care； he is growing old； and his intellect becomes more feeble each day； and what he would never have granted some few years back； may be easily wrung from him now。 Chamilly aspires at governing his master； and Marin seconds him in his project。〃
At length； roused to a sense of impending evil； by the constant reminding of the marechale； I summoned Marin to my presence。 〃Now；