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without mentioning it to Comte Jean； I determined upon carrying it into execution。
The marechale de Mirepoix happened at this moment not to be at Paris at her hotel in the rue Bergere； but at her country house； situated au Port a l'Anglaise。 I signified to the king my intention of passing a couple of days with the marechale； and accordingly set out for that purpose。 Upon my arrival at Paris I merely changed horses； and proceeded onwards with all possible despatch to rejoin the marechale； who was quite taken by surprise at my unexpected arrival。 After many mutual embraces and exchange of civilities； I explained to her the whole affair which had brought me from Versailles。 The good…natured marechale could not believe her ears。 She soon； however； comprehended the nature of my alarms； and so far from seeking to dissipate them； urged me to lose no time in crushing an affair； which grew more threatening from each day's delay。 I was fully of her opinion； and only asked her assistance and co…operation in my plan of writing to M。 de Rumas； and inviting him to come on the following day to the house of madame de Mirepoix。
That lady would doubtless have preferred my asking her to assist me in any other way； but still she could not refuse to serve me in the manner described： for I either bestowed on her all she desired； or caused others to gratify her slightest request； and how could she be sure； that were my reign to end； she might derive the same advantages from any new favorite？ Self…interest therefore bound her to my service； and accordingly she wrote to M。 de Rumas a very pressing letter； requesting to see him on the following day upon matters of the highest importance。 This letter sent off； I dined with the marechale； and then returned to sleep at Paris。
On the following day。 at an early hour； I repaired to the Port a l'Anglaise； M。 de Rumas arrived there a few minutes after myself。 He had the air and look of an honest man； but perhaps no species of deceit is more easily detected than that quiet； subdued manner； compressed lips； and uplifted eye。 Now…a…days such a mode of dissembling would be too flimsy to impose even on children； and hypocrites are ever greater proficients in their art than was even M。 de Rumas。
Madame de Mirepoix left us alone together； in order that I might converse more freely with him。 I knew not how to begin； but made many attempts to convey； in an indirect manner； the reasons for his being summoned to that day's conference。 However； hints and insinuations were alike thrown away upon one who had determined neither to use eye's nor ears but as interest pointed out the reasonableness of so doing； and accordingly； unable longer to repress my impatience； I exclaimed abruptly；
〃Pray； sir； do you know who I am？〃
〃Yes； madam；〃 replied he； with a profound bow； and look of the deepest humility； 〃you are the comtesse du Barry。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 added I； 〃and you are equally well aware； no doubt； of the relation in which I stand to the king？〃
〃But； madam〃
〃Nay； sir； answer without hesitation； I wish you to be candid； otherwise my exceeding frankness may displease you。〃
〃I know； madam；〃 replied the hypocrite； 〃that his majesty finds great pleasure in your charming society。〃
〃And yet； sir；〃 answered I； 〃his majesty experiences equal delight in the company of your wife。 How answer you that； M。 de Rumas？〃
〃My wife； madam！〃
〃Yes； sir； in the company of madame de Rumas； he pays her many private visits； secretly corresponds with her〃
〃The confidence of his majesty must ever honor his subjects。〃
〃But；〃 replied I； quickly； 〃may dishonor a husband。〃
〃How； madam！ What is it you would insinuate？〃
〃That your wife would fain supplant me； and that she is now the mistress of the king； although compelled to be such in secret。〃
〃Impossible；〃 exclaimed M。 de Rumas； 〃and some enemy to my wife has thus aspersed her to you。〃
〃And do you treat it as a mere calumny？〃 said I。 〃No； sir； nothing can be more true； and if you would wish further confirmation； behold the letter which madame de Rumas wrote to the king only the day before yesterday； take it and read it。〃
〃Heaven preserve me； madam；〃 exclaimed the time…serving wretch； 〃from。 presuming to cast my eyes over what is meant only for his majesty's gracious perusal； it would be an act of treason I am not capable of committing。〃
〃Then； sir；〃 returned I； 〃I may reasonably conclude that it is with your sanction and concurrence your wife intrigues with the king？〃
〃Ah； madam；〃 answered the wily de Rumas； in a soft and expostulating tone； 〃trouble not； I pray you； the repose of my family。 I know too well the virtue of madame de Rumas； her delicacy； and the severity of her principles； I know too well likewise the sentiments in which her excellent parents educated her； and I defy the blackest malice to injure her in my estimation。〃
〃Wonderfully； sir！〃 cried I； 〃so you determine to believe your wife's virtue incorruptible； all the while you are profiting by her intrigues。 However； I am too certain of what I assert to look on with the culpable indifference you are pleased to assume； whilst your wife is seeking to supplant me at the chateau； you shall hear of me before long。 Adieu； sir。〃
So saying； I quitted the room in search of the marechale； to whom I related what had passed。
〃And now； what think you of so base a hypocrite？〃 asked I； when I had finished my account。
〃He well deserves having the mask torn from his face；〃 replied she； 〃 but give yourself no further concern； return home； and depend upon it； that； one way or other； I will force him into the path of honor。〃
I accordingly ordered my carriage and returned to Versailles； where； on the same evening； I received the following letter from the marechale：
〃MY DEAR COUNTESS； My efforts have been attended with no better success than yours。 Well may the proverb say； 'There is none so deaf as he who will not hear；' and M。 de Rumas perseveres in treating all I advanced respecting his wife as calumnious falsehoods。 According to his version of the tale； madame de Rumas has no other motive in seeing Louis XV so frequently； but to implore his aid in favor of the poor in her neighborhood。 I really lost all patience when I heard him attempting to veil his infamous conduct under the mask of charity； I therefore proceeded at once to menaces； telling him that you bad so many advantages over his wife； that you scorned to consider her your rival： but that； nevertheless； you did not choose that any upstart pretender should dare ask to share his majesty's heart。 To all this he made no reply； and as the sight of him only increased my indignation； I at length desired him to quit me。 I trust you will pardon me for having spoken in as queenlike a manner as you could have done yourself。
〃Adieu； my sweet friend。〃
This letter was far from satisfying me； and I determined upon striking a decisive blow。 I sent for Chamilly； and treating him with all the contempt he deserved； I told him； that if the king did not immediately give up this woman he might prepare for his own immediate dismissal。 At first Chamilly sought to appease my anger by eager pr