按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sometimes said the most abominable things to her at table； upon which the
Princess would burst out crying； and then； being enraged； would sulk。
The Duchesse de Bourgogne used then to pretend to sulk； too； but the
other did not hold out long； and came crawling back to her； crying；
begging pardon for having sulked； and praying that she might not cease to
be a source of amusement！ After some time the Duchess would allow
herself to be melted； and the Princess was more villainously treated than
ever； for the Duchesse de Bourgogne had her own way in everything。
Neither the King nor Madame de Maintenon found fault with what she did；
so that the Princesse d'Harcourt had no resource； she did not even dare
to complain of those who aided in tormenting her； yet it would not have
been prudent in any one to make her an enemy。
The Princesse d'Harcourt paid her servants so badly that they concocted a
plan； and one fine day drew up on the Pont Neuf。 The coachman and
footmen got down； and came and spoke to her at the door； in language she
was not used to hear。 Her ladies and chambermaid got down； and went
away； leaving her to shift as she might。 Upon this she set herself to
harangue the blackguards who collected； and was only too happy to find a
man； who mounted upon the seat and drove her home。 Another time； Madame
de Saint…Simon； returning from Versailles； overtook her； walking in full
dress in the street； and with her train under her arms。 Madame de Saint…
Simon stopped； offered her assistance； and found that she had been left
by her servants； as on the Pont Neuf。 It was volume the second of that
story； and even when she came back she found her house deserted； every
one having gone away at once by agreement。 She was very violent with her
servants； beat them； and changed diem every day。
Upon one occasion； she took into her service a strong and robust
chambermaid； to whom； from the first day of her arrival； she gave many
slaps and boxes on the ear。 The chambermaid said nothing； but after
submitting to this treatment for five or six days； conferred with the
other servants； and one morning； while in her mistress's room； locked the
door without being perceived； said something to bring down punishment
upon her； and at the first box on the ear she received； flew upon the
Princesse d'Harcourt； gave her no end of thumps and slaps； knocked her
down； kicked her； mauled her from her head to her feet； and when she was
tired of this exercise； left her on the ground； all torn and dishevelled；
howling like a devil。 The chambermaid then quitted the room； double…
locked the door on the outside； gained the staircase； and fled the house。
Every day the Princess was fighting； or mixed up in some adventures。
Her neighbours at Marly said they could not sleep for the riot she made
at night； and I remember that； after one of these scenes； everybody went
to see the room of the Duchesse de Villeroy and that of Madame d'Espinoy；
who had put their bed in the middle of their room； and who related their
night vigils to every one。
Such was this favourite of Madame de Maintenon； so insolent and so
insupportable to every one； but who had favours and preferences for those
who brought her over； and who had raised so many young men； amassed their
wealth； and made herself feared even by the Prince and minister。
CHAPTER XXVII
In a previous page I have alluded to the Princesse des Ursins； when she
was appointed 'Camerera Mayor' to the Queen of Spain on her marriage。
As I have now to occupy myself more particularly with her； it may be as
well to give a description of this extraordinary woman； which I omitted
when I first spoke of her。
Anne Marie de la Tremoille； was daughter of M。 de Noirmoutiers； who
figured sufficiently in the troubles of the minority to be made a 'Duc a
brevet'。 She first married M。 Talleyrand； who called himself Prince de
Chalais； and who was obliged to quit the kingdom for engaging in the
famous duel against Messieurs de la Frette。 She followed her husband to
Spain； where he died。 Having gone to Rome； she got into favour with the
Cardinals de Bouillon and d'Estrees； first on account of her name and
nation； and afterwards for more tender reasons。 In order to detain her
at Rome； these dignitaries thought of obtaining her an establishment。
She had no children； and almost no fortune； they wrote to Court that so
important a man as the Duc de Bracciano； Prince des Ursins； was worth
gaining； and that the way to arrive at this result was to have him
married to Madame de Chalais。 The Duke was persuaded by the two
Cardinals that he was in love with Madame de Chalais： and so the affair
was arranged。 Madame des Ursins displayed all her wit and charms at
Rome； and soon her palace became a sort of court； where all the best
company assembled。 It grew to be the fashion to go there。
The husband amidst all this counts for not much。 There was sometimes a
little disagreement between the two； without open rupture； yet they were
now and then glad to separate。 This is why the Duchesse de Bracciano
made two journeys to France： the second time she spent four or five years
there。 It was then I knew her； or rather formed a particular friendship
with her。 My mother had made her acquaintance during her previous visit。
She lodged near us。 Her wit； her grace； her manners enchanted me： she
received me with tenderness and I was always at her house。 It was she
who proposed to me a marriage with Mlle。 de Royan； which I rejected for
the reason already given。
When Madame des Ursins was appointed 'Camerera Mayor'； she was a widow；
without children。 No one could have been better suited for the post。
A lady of our court would not have done： a Spanish lady was not to be
depended on； and might have easily disgusted the Queen。 The Princesse
des Ursins appeared to be a middle term。 She was French； had been in
Spain； and she passed a great part of her life at Rome； and in Italy。
She was of the house of La Tremoille： her husband was chief of the house
of Ursins； a grandee of Spain； and Prince of the Soglio。 She was also on
very good terms with the Duchess of Savoy； and with the Queen of
Portugal。 The Cardinal d'Estrees； also； was known to have remained her
friend； after having been something more in their youth； and he gave
information that the Cardinal Portocarrero had been much in love with her
at Rome； and that they were then on very good terms。 As it was through
the latter Cardinal that it was necessary to govern everything； this
circumstance was considered very important。
Age and health were also appropriate； and likewise her appearance。 She
was rather tall than otherwise； a brunette； with blue eyes of the most
varied expression； in figure perfect； with a most exquisite bosom； her
face； without being beautiful； was charming； she was extremely noble in
air； very majestic in demeanour； full of graces so natural and so
continual in everything； that I have never seen any one approach her；
either in form or mind。 Her wit was copious and of all kinds： she was
flattering； caressing； insinuating； moderate； wishing to please for
pleasing's sake； with cha