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his eager pursuit after pleasure。 It is related of him; that the duc de Lauragnais; wearied with seeing the prince d'Henin for ever fluttering about his mistress; mademoiselle Arnoult; drew up a consultation; to inquire whether it were possible to die of ennui: this he submitted to several physicians and celebrated lawyers; who having united in replying affirmatively; he caused the consultation with its answer to be forwarded to the prince d'Henin; warning him henceforward to cease his visits to mademoiselle Arnoult; or; in the event of her death; he would certainly be taken up as a party concerned in effecting it。
The opposite party was now more irritated than ever by the many places and employments I caused to be given either to my own friends; or to those for whom they solicited my interest。 The duchesse de Grammont; flattering herself that she might now take the field against me with advantage; arrived in Paris one fine morning from Chanteloup。 Those about me were full of wrath; I know not for why; at her arrival; but I explained to them; that they were mistaken in supposing madame de Grammont an exile; she had voluntarily accompanied her brother into his retreat; and when that was no longer agreeable to her she returned to Paris。 However; her journey did neither good nor harm; she had many invitations to fetes given in honor of herself; was frequently asked to dinners; balls; etc。; but that was all; no person set their wits to work to reinstate her in the good graces of the king。 I soon comprehended the forlorn hopes of my poor enemy; and my former animosity soon gave way to the play with which she inspired me。
About the period of the marriage of the comtesse d'Artois; an individual of some eminence fell into disgrace; this was the comte de Broglie。 This gentleman; as you know; was private minister to Louis XV; intrusted for some time past with his correspondence; and affected the airs of a favorite。 He solicited upon the present occasion the honor of going to meet the princess at the bridge of Beauvoisin; a request which was granted。 This was not sufficient for him; he begged for a month's leave of absence; with permission to proceed to Turin: this depended on the duc d'Aiguillon; who was by no means partial to the comte de Broglie。 He said to me when speaking of him;
〃I feel no inclination to oblige this minister; on the contrary; he may wait long enough for what he desires as far as I am concerned。
〃I fear he will be greatly offended with you;〃 answered I。
〃Oh; never mind that;〃 replied the duke; 〃if he grows sullen about it; why well; if he is loud and vehement; better still; and should his anger lead him to the commission of any act of folly; depend upon it we will take advantage of it。〃
As I foresaw; the comte de Broglie was deeply offended; and wrote to the duc d'Aiguillon a letter full of imprudent expressions。 This was exactly what this latter desired; who eagerly carried and read the paper to the different members of the council; who heard it with every expression of surprise and displeasure; the king viewed it as a piece of open rebellion; and resolved to punish the writer with his heaviest displeasure; the duc d'Aiguillon asked nothing better; and ere an hour had elapsed; the duc de la Vrilliere received orders to draw up a in which the king expressed his discontent of the comte de Broglie; deprived him of the commission he had given him to go and receive the princess of Savoy; and exiled him to Buffee; one of his estates near Angouleme。
This was a matter of great talk at the chateau; no one could imagine what had made the comte de Broglie conduct himself so foolishly。 It was at this period that M。 d Marchault said of him; when he saw him pass his house on his way to Buffee; 〃He has the ministry by the tail。〃
M。 de Broglie having gone; his majesty was compelled to look out for another confidant; and raised to that eminence M。 Lemoine; clerk of his closet。 M。 Lemoine; in an inferior station had shown himself competent to fill the highest offices in the state。 Such abilities are rare。 He was an excellent lawyer; admirable chancellor of exchequer; and had the king said to him; 〃I make thee a general;〃 he would; the next day; have commanded armies and gained victories。 Despite his merit he lived long unknown: the reason was obvioushe knew nothing of intrigue; and his wife; though pretty; was discreet; and these are not the means to advance a man at court。
Louis XV; who knew something of men when he chose to study them。; was not slow in detecting the talent of Lemoine; and in consequence gave him that station in which de Broglie had been installed。 No sooner had Lemoine glanced over the affairs submitted to his control; than he became master of them; as much as though they had occupied the whole of his life; and in a short time he gave to his situation an importance which it had never before reached。 Unwilling; however; to incur hatred; he enveloped himself in profound mystery; so much so that nobody; with the exception of Messrs。 d'Aiguillon and de Sartines; knew anything of his labors。 This pleased the king; who was averse to publicity。
The duc d'Aiguillon could not conceal his joy at being freed from de Broglie; his most troublesome colleague。 It was a grand point gained for him; as he could now make sure of the post of secretary…at…war; the main object of his ambition。 He wished to be placed in the duc de Choiseul's position; and to effect this he redoubled his attentions towards the king; who; though not really regarding him; at length treated him as the dearest of his subjects。 There are inexplicable mysteries in weak characters; obstinacy alarms them; and they yield because they hate resistance。
The king was to death; and became daily more dull and heavy。 I saw his gloom without knowing how to disperse it; but it did not make me particularly uncomfortable。 Occupied with my dear duc de Brissac I almost forgot his majesty for him: the marechale de Mirepoix; who had more experience than I had in the affairs at Versailles; and who knew the king well; was alarmed at my negligence; and spoke to me of it。
〃Do you not see;〃 she said; one day; 〃what a crisis is at hand?〃
〃What crisis?〃 I asked。
〃The king is dying of ennui。〃
〃True。〃
〃Does it not alarm you?〃 said the marechale。
〃Why should it?〃
〃What makes him so? Think well when I tell you that your mortal enemy has seized Louis XV; your most redoubtable enemy; !〃
〃Very well; but what would you have me do?〃
〃You must amuse him。〃
'That is easier said than done。〃
〃You are right; but it is compulsory。 Believe me; kings are not moulded like other men: early disgusted with all things; they only exist in a variety of pleasures; what pleases them this evening will displease them tomorrow; they wish to be happy in a different way。 Louis XV is more kingly in this respect than any other。 You must devise amusements for him。〃
〃Alas;〃 I replied; 〃how? Shall I give him a new tragedy of la Harpe's;he will yawn; an opera of Marmontel;he will go to sleep。 Heavens! how unfortunate I am!〃
〃Really; my dear;〃 replied the marechale; 〃I cannot advise you; b