第26章

presentedhertotheking，saying，

“Sire，Inowdoforthislady，inmyowndrawing-room，whatshe

willhavethekindnesstodoformeatthestate-chamber。“

“Ah，“repliedtheking，“isitmadamedeBearnthatyoupresent

tome？

Iamindeeddelighted。

Herhusbandwasoneofmyfaithful

servants:Iwasmuchpleasedwithhersonwhenhewasoneof

pages，andIperceivethatsheherselfisdesirousoftestifying

tomeherattachmenttomyperson。

Ithankyou，madame；you

cannotconferagreaterfavoronme，andIshallembraceevery

opportunityofprovingtoyouhowmuchsatisfactionyourconduct

affordsme。“

Eachwordthatthekingutteredwenttotheheartofthecountess。

However，makingavirtueofnecessity，shereplied，thatshewas

proudandhappyatwhatthekinghadsaidtoher，andthatit

wouldbeherconstantaimtopleasehismajesty，flattering

herselfthatthekingwouldremembertheservicesoftheBearn

family，andwouldthinkofherinthedispensationofhisbounties。

“Youmayrelyonit，madame，“repliedLouisXV，“especiallyif

thecomtesseduBarryappliestomeinyourbehalf。“

Then，turningtowardsme，“When，then，isthisredoubtable

presentationtotakeplace？“

“Ontheday，sire，whenyourmajestyshallthinkproper，“Ireplied。

“Well！

IwillsendtheducdeRichelieutoyou，whowillarrange

thewhole。“

Thissettled，thesubjectwasturned，butmadamedeBearnlost

hertongueentirely。

Inspiteofallherendeavors，herforehead

becamecontractedeverymoment，andIamsureshewentaway

vexedanddisappointed。

Thefollowingmorning，thecomteJeanandmysister-in-lawwent

toherhouse。

Theytestifiedtheirregretforwhathadoccurred

thepreviousevening；theyassuredherthatwewouldnottake

anyadvantageoftheconditionlessengagementwhichshehadmade

topresentme，andthataltho’itwasimpossibletoaskthe

requiredguaranteesfromtheking，stillweshouldmostundeviatingly

adheretotheclausesofthetreaty:theyadded，thattheycame

toenquirewhensheshouldchoosetoreceivethehundredthousand

livres。

Thecountessreplied，thatinspiteoftherealdisadvantage

whichshemusthenceforwardlaborunderinthisaffair，shefelt

greatfriendshipforme，andwouldnotrefusetoobligeme，and

sheflatteredherselfthatIwouldespousehercausewiththe

king。

ThecomteJeanassuredherofthis，andsettledwithher

theperiodofthepaymentofthehundredthousandlivres，which

weretobepaidatsightonherdrawingonM。delaBorde，the

court-banker。

Thusthenmypresentationwasanassuredmatter:nothingnow

couldpreventit，atleastIfanciedsotomyself。

Ireckoned

withoutmyhost；Ididnotknowyetallthemaliceofacourtier

ladyorgentleman。

Asitwas，however，M。deChoiseulandhis

vilesisterhadgainedoveroneofmyservants，fortheyknewall

thathadpassed。

TheysoonlearnedthatmadamedeBearnhadcome

tosupperwithme，andthataftersupperavisitoft