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xcitement that prevailed。
Various reasons made the marriage of this prince a matter of imperative necessity。 In the first place； the open gallantry of the young count had attracted a crowd of disreputable personages of both sexes to Versailles； and many scandalous adventures occurred within the chateau itself； secondly； a motive still more important in the eyes of Louis XV； originated in the circumstance of neither the marriage of the dauphin nor that of the comte de Provence having been blest with any offspring。 The king began to despair of seeing any descendants in a direct line； unless indeed heaven should smile upon the wedded life of the comte d'Artois。 Louis XV disliked the princes of the blood； and the bare idea that the duc d'Orleans might one day wield his sceptre would have been worse than death。
Many alliances were proposed for the prince。 Marie Josephe； infanta of Spain； was then in her twentieth year； and consequently too old。 The princess Marie… Francoise…Benedictine…Anne…Elizabeth… Josephe…Antonine…Laurence…Ignace… Therese …Gertrude…Marguerite… Rose； etc。； etc。； of Portugal； although younger than the first… mentioned lady； was yet considered as past the age that would have rendered her a suitable match for so young a bridegroom。 The daughter of any of the electoral houses of Germany was not considered an eligible match； and the pride of the house of Bourbon could not stoop to so ignoble an alliance。 There was no alternative left therefore； but to return to the house of Savoy； and take a sister of the comtesse de Provence。 This proposal was well received by the royal family； with the exception of the dauphiness； who dreaded the united power and influence of the two sisters； if circumstances should ever direct it against herself or her wishes； and I heard from good authority； that both the imperial Marie Therese and her daughter made many remonstrances to the king upon the subject。 〃The empress；〃 said Louis XV； one day； 〃believes that things are still managed here as in the days of the marquise de Pompadour and the duc de Choiseul。 Thank heaven； I am no longer under the dominion of my friend and her pensionaries。 I shall follow my own inclinations； and consult； in the marriage of my grandson； the interests of France rather than those of Austria。〃
The little attention paid by Louis XV to the representations of Marie Therese furnished my enemies with a fresh pretext for venting their spleen。 They accused me of having been bribed by the court of Turin； which ardently desired a second alliance with France。 I was most unjustly accused； for I can with truth affirm； that the comte de la Marmora； ambassador from Piedmont to Paris； neither by word nor deed made any attempt to interest me in his success。 The king was the first person who informed me of the contemplated marriage； and my only fault （if it could be called one） was having approved of the match。
More than one intrigue was set on foot within the chateau to separate the princes。 Many were the attempts to sow the seeds of dissension between the dauphin and the comte d'Artois； as well as to embroil the dauphin with 。 The first attempt proved abortive； but the faction against succeeded so far as to excite a lasting jealousy and mistrust in the mind of Marie Antoinette。 This princess was far from contemplating the marriage of the comte d'Artois with any feelings of pleasure； and when her new sister…in…law became a mother； she bewailed her own misfortune in being without children with all the feelings of a young and affectionate heart。 Heaven did not； however； always deny her the boon she so ardently desired。
You will； readily believe that the same anxiety prevailed upon the occasion of this approaching marriage as had existed at the unions of the dauphin and the comte de Provence； to obtain the various posts and places the ambition of different persons led them to desire in the establishment of the newly married pair。 Wishing on my own part to offer the marechale de Mirepoix a proof of my high estimation of her friendship towards me； I inquired of her whether a superior employment about the person of the comtesse d'Artois would be agreeable to her？
〃Alas！ my dear creature；〃 replied the good…natured marechale； 〃I am too old now to bear the toil and confinement of any service。 The post of lady of honor would suit me excellently well as far as regards the income attached to it； but by no means agree with my inclinations as far as discharging its functions goes。 You see I am perfectly candid with you。 Listen to me； if you really wish to oblige me； you can do thisgive the title to another； and bestow the pecuniary part of the engagement on me。 In that manner you will be able to gratify two persons at the same time。〃
〃I will endeavor；〃 said I； 〃to meet your wishes as far as I possibly can； and you may be assured that you shall derive some advantage from this marriage。〃
And I kept my word by shortly after obtaining for the marechale a sum of 50；000 livres； a most needful supply； for the poor marechale had to re…furnish her house； her present fittings…up being no longer endurable by the eye of modish taste： she likewise received an augmentation of 20；000 livres to her pension。 This proceeding was highly acceptable to her； and the king afforded his assistance with the best possible grace。 He could be generous； and do things with a good grace when he pleased。
The refusal of the marechale； which it was agreed we should keep secret； obliged me to cast my eyes upon a worthy substitute； and I at length decided upon selecting the comtesse de Forcalquier； a lady who possessed every charm which can charm and attract； joined to a faultless reputation； and； setting aside her strict intimacy with myself； the court （envious as it is） could find no fault with her。 I was convinced she would not be long in acquiring an ascendency over the mind of the princess and I was equally well assured she would never turn this influence against myself； this was a point of no small importance to me。
Madame de Forcalquier most ardently desired the place of lady of honor； without flattering herself with any hopes of obtaining it； and； not liking to ask me openly for it； she applied to the duc de Cosse。 I felt some regret that she had gone to work in so circuitous a manner； and in consequence wrote her the following note：
〃MADAM； I am aware that you are desirous of obtaining the post of lady of honor。 You should not have forgotten that I am sufficiently your friend to have forwarded your wishes by every possible exertion。 Why did you apply to a third person in preference to seeking my aid？ I really am more than half angry with you for so doing。 Believe me； my friends need not the intervention of any mediator to secure my best services。 You； too； will regret not having made your first application to me； when I tell you that I was reserving for you the very place you were seeking by so circuitous a route。 Yes； before you had asked it； the post of lady of honor was yours。 I might have sought in vain for a person more eminently qualified for the office than yourself； or one in whom I could place more unlimited confidence。 Come； m