第24章

First，themarechaledeLuxembourg，one；then——“

“ThenthecomtessedeChoiseul，mysister-in-law，“addedthe

duke；“weknowitaswellasyou，sir。

Butthisisnotthematter

inquestion。

Youarenotignorantthatourenemiessurroundthis

madameduBarry；anditisofyouralliancewiththemthat

Icomplain。“

“Youseeeverythingwithajaundicedeye，monsieurleduc。

But

ifyoufeartheinfluenceofthisladywiththeking，whydoyou

notpresentyourselfatherapartments？

Shewouldbedelighted

toreceiveyou。“

“No，no！“

criedtheduchess，“mybrotherwillneverpresent

himselftosuchacreature。

Ifhewoulddegradehimselfsolow，

IwouldneverforgivehimaslongasIlive。

Sinceyoushow

yourgratitudeforwhathasbeendoneforyoubyleaguingyourself

withthiswoman，tellherfrommethatIdetesther，andthatIwill

neverrestuntilIhavesentherbackagaintoherdunghill。“

“Madame，“repliedthechancellor，“Iwillevincemygratitudeto

thedukebynotdeliveringsuchamessage“；andthechancellor

wentout。

M。

deMaupeoucametotellmethewholeofthisconversation，

whichwrotedownunderhisdictation，thatImightshow

ittotheking。

Youwillseeinmynextletterwhatresultedfrom

allthis，andhowtheill-timedenmityoftheChoiseulsservedmy

interestsmostmaterially。

CHAPTERXI

AwordconcerningtheduchessedeChoiseul——Theapartmentofthe

ComtedeNoailles——TheNoailles——Intriguesforpresentation——The

comtedeBearn——M。Morandoncemore——VisitofthecomtesseBearn

tothecomtesseduBarry——Conversation——Interestedcomplaisance

ThekingandthecomtesseduBarry——Disputeandreconciliation

Ishowedthekingthisconversation，inwhichIhadsoshamefully

vilifiedbytheduchessedeGrammont。

LouisXVwasverymuch

inclinedtotestifyhisdisapprobationtothislady，butwaswithheld

bytheconsiderationhefeltforthedukeand(particularly)the

duchessedeChoiseul。

Thislatterladywasnotbelovedbyher

husband，buthernoblequalities，hergoodheart，madeheran

objectofadorationtothewholecourt。

Youcouldnotspeakto

anypersonofmadamedeChoiseul

withouthearinganeulogiumin

reply。

Thekinghimselfwasfullofrespecttowardsher；somuch

so，that，onthedisgraceoftheduke，heinsomesortaskedher

pardonforthechagrinwhichhehadcausedher。

Goodconductis

noclaimtoadvancementatcourt，butitprocurestheesteemof

thecourtiers。

Remember，myfriend，thismoralmaxim:thereis

notoneofgreatertruthinmywholejournal。

Theking，unabletointerposehisauthorityinawoman’squarrel，

wasyetdeterminedongivingastrikingproofoftheattachment

heboretome。

IhaduptothisperiodoccupiedLebel’sapartments

inthechateau:itwasnotbefittingmystation，a