第33章

arrangingthe，andconcludingthealliance

withtheimperialhouse，theducdeChoiseulhadevincedadmirable

diplomatictalents，andrenderedFrancereal，andimportant，service。

Hisattachmenttohimwasincumbent，andrestedonsolid

foundations。

If，atasubsequentperiod，hedismissedhim，itwas

becausehewasdeceivedbyashamefulintriguewhichitwillcost

mepaintodeveloptoyou，becauseItookbyfartoomuchaleading

partinit，whichnowcausesmethedeepestregret。

Now，bytheactofmypresentation，theducdeChoiseulwouldbe

compelledtomeetmeoften，whichwouldrenderourmutualsituation

verydisagreeable。

Onthisaccountthekingsoughttoreconcile

us，andwouldhavehadnodifficultyineffectinghiswisheshad

heonlyhadtheresistanceoftheministerandhiswifeto

encounter。

Theladyhadnotmuchinfluenceoverherhusband，and

besidesshehadtoomuchgoodsensetostruggleagainstthewishes

oftheking:buttheduchessedeGrammontwasthere，andthis

haughtyandimperiousdamehadsogreatanascendancywithher

brother，andbehavedwithsolittlecaution，thatthemostodious

reportswereincirculationabouttheirintimacy。

Itcouldscarcelybehopedthatwecouldtamethistoweringspirit，

whichsawinmeanodiousrival。

LouisXVdidnotflatterhimself

thathecouldeffectthisprodigy，buthehopedtohaveagreater

ascendancyoverhisminister。

ItwastotheducdeChoiseul，

therefore，thathefirstaddressedhimself，desirousofsecuring

thehusbandandwifebeforeheattackedtheredoubtablesister。

Thenextmorning，aftermywarmassaultontheprincedeSoubise，

heprofitedbyanaudiencewhichthedukerequestedatanunusual

hourtointroducethisnegotiationofanewkind，andthedetails

Igiveyouofthisscenearethemorefaithful，asthekinggave

themtomestillwarmimmediatelyaftertheconversation

hadterminated。

Thestateaffairshavingbeenconcluded，theking，seekingto

disguisehisvoluntaryembarrassment，saidtotheduke，smiling，

“DucdeChoiseul，Ihaveformedformyprivatehoursamost

delightfulsociety:themostattachedofmysubjectsconsider

themselveshighlyfavoredwhenIinvitethemtotheseevening

partiessonecessaryformyamusement。

Iseewithpainthatyou

haveneveryetaskedmetoadmityouthere。“

“Sire，“repliedtheduke，“themultiplicityofthelaborswith

whichyourmajestyhaschargedme，scarcelyallowsmetime

formypleasures。“

“Oh，youarenotsofullyoccupiedbutthatyouhavestillsome

timetospendwiththeladies，andIthinkthatIusedtomeetyou

frequentlyatthemarquisedePompadour’s。“

“Sire，shewasmyfriend。“

“Well，andwhy，isnotthecomtesseduBarry？

Whohasputitinto

yourheadthatshewasopposedtoyou？

Youdonotknowher:she

isanexcellentwoman:notonlyhasshenodisliketoyou，buteven

desiresnothingmorethantobeongoodtermswithyou。“

“Imustbelievesosinceyourmajestyassuresmeofit；but，sire，

thevastbusinesswithwhichIamoverwhelmed——“

“Isno