第72章

mettoexchangetheirsoftvows。

Happilythedeitywhopresidedoverthehonorofthedukewas

carefullywatchingtheirproceedings。

Thisguardianangelwasno

otherthanmadameDuverger，hisformermistress，who，unableto

bearthedesertionofhernobleadmirer，hadvowed，inthefirst

burstofrageanddisappointment，tohaverevengesoonerorlater

uponhertriumphantrival。

Withthisviewshespiedoutallthe

proceedingsofmademoiselleMesnard，whosestoleninterviews

andinfidelityshewasnotlongindetecting；sheevencontrived

towinovera，bywhoseconnivanceshewas

enabledtoobtainpossessionofseveralletterscontaining

irrefragableproofsofguilt，andthesesheimmediatelyforwarded

totheducdeChaulnes。

Thisproudandhaughtynoblemanmighthavepardonedhismistress

hadshequittedhimforapeeroftherealmandhisequal，butto

besupplantedbyameremanofbusiness，anauthor，too！——the

disgracewastoohorribleforendurance。

Theenragedloverflew

toBeaumarchais，andreproachedhimbitterlywithhistreachery；

thelattersoughttodenythecharge，buttheduke，losingall

self-possession，threwthelettersinhisface，callinghimabase

liar。

Atthisinsult，Beaumarchais，who，whateverhisenemiesmay

sayofhim，wascertainlynotdeficientincourage，demanded

instantsatisfaction。

Theduke，bywayofanswer，seizedtheman

oflettersbythecollar，Beaumarchaiscalledhisservants，who，

intheirturn，summonedtheguard，whichspeedilyarrivedaccompanied

bythecommissary，andwithmuchdifficultytheysucceededin

removingM。deChaulnes。

(whoappearedtohaveentirelylost

hisreason)fromtheroom。

Theconductofthedukeappearedtouscompletelyoutofplace，

andhewouldcertainlyhaveansweredforitwithinthewallsof

theBastille，hadnothisfamilymadegreatintercessionforhim。

Ontheotherhand，Beaumarchais，whoeagerlyavailedhimselfof

everyopportunityofwritingmemorials，composedoneonthe

subjectofhisquarrelwithM。deChaulnes，complainingthata

greatnoblemanhaddaredtoforcehimselfintohishouse，andlay

forciblehandsonhim，asthoughhewereathieforafelon。

The

wholeofthepamphletwhichrelatedtothisaffairwasadmirably

written，and，likethe“BarberofSeville，“markedbyastrongly

sarcasticvein。

However，thethingfailed，andtheducdela

Vrilliere，theswornenemyofmenofwitandtalent，caused

BeaumarchaistobeimmediatelyconfinedwithinFort1’Eveque。

Sothattheoffendedpartywasmadetosufferthepenaltyof

theoffence。

InthesameyearthecomtedeFuentes，ambassadorfromSpainto

thecourtofLouisXV，tookleaveofus。

Hewasreplacedby