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to the Bastille。 The court openly expressed its dissatisfaction at this audacity； and for my own part I could not avoid evincing the lively chagrin it caused me。 Yet； would you believe it； Louis XV declared； in a tone from which there was no appeal； that this abbe had merely done his duty； and that those who had been less scrupulous in the performance of theirs； would do well to be silent on the subject。 This was not all； the cardinal de la Roche Aymon； his grand almoner； refused to sanction the nomination of M。 de Beauvais to the bishopric； under the pretext of his not being nobly descended。
M。 de Beyons； bishop of Carcassone； a prelate of irreproachable character； was deeply distressed to find that the want of birth would exclude M。 de Beauvais from the dignities of his holy profession。 He went to discuss the matter with the grand almoner； who again advanced his favorite plea for excluding M。 de Beauvais。 〃My lord；〃 replied M。 de Beyons； 〃if I believed that nobility of descent were the chief requisite for our advancement in our blessed calling； I would trample my crosier under foot； and renounce for ever all church dignities。〃
M。 de Beyons sought the king； and loudly complained to him of the infatuation and obstinacy of M。 de la Roche Aymon。 Louis XV however commanded that M。 de Beauvais should be appointed to the first vacant see； and when the grand almoner repeated his objections to the preferment； the king answered； 〃Monsieur le cardinal； in the days of our blessed Saviour the apostles had no need to present their genealogical tree； duly witnessed and attested。 It is my pleasure to make M。 de Beauvais a bishop； let that end the discussion of the matter。〃
The command was too peremptory to admit of any course but instant and entire submission。
CHAPTER XXXIII
M。 Dn and madame de BlessacAnecdoteThe rendezvous and the BallThe wife of GaubertThey wish to give her to the king IntriguesTheir resultsLetter from the duc de la Vrilliere to the countessReplyReconciliation
Amongst the pages of the chapel was one whom the king distinguished so greatly； that he raised him to the rank of a gentleman of the bedchamber； and confided to his charge the cabinet of medals； for which he had imbibed a taste since his liaison with madame de Pompadour。 This esteemed page was named M。 D…n； who united to the most amiable wit a varied and deep knowledge of men and things。 He had had adventures at an age when they are usually just understood； and talked of them with the utmost indiscretion。 But this so far from doing him any injury in the eyes of the world only served to make him the more admired； for women in general have an inclination for those who do not respect their reputation。
At the period I allude to a madame de Blessac； a very well…looking woman； took upon herself to be very kindly disposed towards the gentleman…in…waiting。 She told him so； and thereupon M。 de Dn ranged himself under her banner； and swore eternal constancy。 However； the lady； by some accident； became greatly smitten with the prince de la Trimouille； and without quitting the little keeper of medals； gave him a lord for a substitute。 M。 Dn soon learnt this fact； that he was not the sole possessor of a heart which formed all his joy and glory。 He found he was deceived； and he swore to be revenged。
Now the prince de la Trimouille had for his mistress mademoiselle Lubert； an opera…dancer； very pretty and extraordinarily silly。 M。 Dn went to her； 〃Mademoiselle；〃 said he； 〃I come to offer my services to you in the same way that M。 de la Trimouille has offered his to madame de Blessac； with whom I was on exceedingly intimate terms。〃
The services of young Dn were accepted； and he was happy。 He then wrote to his former mistress； saying； that anxious to give her a proof of his sincere attachment he had visited mademoiselle Lubert； that he might leave her at leisure to receive the visits of the prince de la Trimouille。
Madame de Blessac； stung to the quick； quarrelled with the prince； who was excessively enraged with his rival； and there certainly would have been an affair between these two gentlemen； had not the king preserved the peace by sending his gentleman to St。 Petersburg as to the embassy。 M。 Dn went to Russia； therefore； and on his return came to see me； and is now one of the most welcome and agreeable of the men of my private circle。
As to madame de Blessac； she continued to carry on the war in grand style。 Her husband dying she married again a foolish count； three parts ruined； and who speedily dissipated the other quarter of his own fortune and the whole of his wife's。 Madame Ramosky then attacked the rich men of the day one after another。 One alone stood out against her； it was M。 de la Garde； who had been one of my admirers。 Madame Ramoski wrote to him； he did not answer。 At length she determined on visiting him； and wrote him a note； to say that she should call upon him about six o'clock in the evening。 What did M。 de la Garde？ Why he gave a ball on that very evening； and； when madame Ramoski reached his hotel； she found it illuminated。 As she had come quite unprepared she was compelled to return as she came； very discontentedly。
But to leave madame de Blessac and M。 Dn； and to talk of my own matters。 We had at this period a very great alarm at the chateau； caused by the crime of a man； who preferred rather to assassinate his wife than to allow her to dishonor him。 It is worthy of narration。
A pretty shopkeeper of Paris； named Gaubert； who lived in the rue de la Montagne Sainte… Genevieve； had recently married a woman much younger than himself。 From the Petit Pont to the rue Mouffetard； madame Gaubert was talked of for her lovely face and beautiful figure； she was the Venus of the quarter。 Everybody paid court to her； but she listened to none of her own rank； for her vanity suggested that she deserved suitors of a loftier rank。
Her husband was very jealous。 Unfortunately M。 Gaubert had for cousin one of the valets of the king： this an； who knew the taste of his master； thought how he could best turn his pretty cousin to account。 He spoke to her of the generosity of Louis XV； of the grandeur of Versailles； and of the part which her beauty entitled her to play there。 In fact； he so managed to turn the head of this young woman； that she begged him to obtain for her a place in the king's favor。 Consequently Girard （that was his name） went to madame de Laugeac； and told her the affair as it was。 She pleased with an opportunity of injuring me； went to Paris； and betook herself to the shop of madame Gaubert。 She found her charming； and spoke of her to the duc de la Vrilliere； and both agreed to show her portrait to his majesty。 But how to procure this portrait？ Her husband was her very shadow； and never left her。 ； who was never at a loss； issued a against him； and the unfortunate man was shut up in Fort l'Eveque。 It was not until the portrait was finished that he was set at liberty。
He returned to his home without guessing at the motives of his detention； but he learned that his wife had had her portrait painted during his absence； and his j