memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第16节

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him　courage。　　It　is　his　pliancy　of　disposition　rather　than　his　resistance　that　we　must　contend　with；　and　I　go　to　act　upon　it。　　〃

I　then　instructed　the　duke　with　what　had　passed　between　me　and　the　prince　de　Soubise。　　When　I　had　done；　the　duke　replied　：

〃Expect　nothing　from　the　prince　de　Soubise：　he　will　speak；　no　doubt；　but　how？　　In　a　jesting；　laughing　way。　　If；　however；　you　think　he　can　at　all　serve　you；　give　him　all　your　confidence。〃

〃No；　no；　never；〃　I　replied　with　quickness；　〃it　is　not　a　thing　to　be　done　lightly；　we　do　not　select　a　confidant；　counsellor；　or　friend；　at　random。　　Do　you　not　know　this；　M。　le　duc？　　It　is　requisite　that　the　heart　of　the　one　who　speaks　should　repose　itself　on　the　heart　of　the　friend　who　listens。　　I　repeat　to　you　that　I　have　no　feeling　of　confidence　towards　M。　de　Soubise。　　In　fact；〃　I　added　with　visible　and　troubled　emotion；　〃my　choice　is　made；　and　you　have　too　much　heroism　to　wish　to　combat　it。〃

At　these　flattering　words　the　duke　precipitated　himself　at　my　feet；　and　swore　to　support　my　cause　with　all　his　power　and　interest。　　I　replied　that　I　fully　relied　on　his　devotion　and　prudence。　　Comte　Jean　entered；　and　it　was　agreed　between　us　three　that　I　should　say　no　more　to　the　king　of　my　presentation　before　the　duc　d'Aiguillon　had　spoken　to　him　of　it；　that　I　should　content　myself　with　complaining　without　peevishness；　and　that　we　should　leave　the　opening　measure　to　the　prince　de　Soubise；　and　let　him　break　the　ice　to　his　majesty。

The　prince　de　Soubise　behaved　exactly　as　the　duke　had　told　me：　he　came　to　me　the　next　morning　with　a　mysterious　air；　which　already　informed　me　of　all　he　had　to　say。　　He　said　that　he　had　vainly　tormented　the　king；　that　his　majesty　wished　things　to　remain　just　as　they　were；　and　desired　that　until　a　new　order　of　things　nothing　should　be　altered。

〃I　am　sorry　for　it；　monsieur　le　marechal；〃　I　replied。　　〃Whilst　I　am　in　this　precarious　situation；　whilst　I　remain　in　a　corner　of　the　stage　as　a　confidante　of　tragedy；　I　can　do　nothing　for　my　friends；　particularly　for　you；　monsieur　le　marechal。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　madame；〃　he　replied；　〃the　king　will　be　more　disposed　to　listen　to　you　whilst　he　will　suppose　that　your　influence　is　unknown。〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　I　with　a　feeling　of　anger；　〃you　gentlemen　courtiers　think　of　nothing　but　politics。　　As　for　me；　who　am　a　woman；　I　have　other　matters　for　consideration：　I　must　have　honors；　title；　rank。　My　self…love　suffers　cruelly　when　I　see　myself　immolated　by　the　fear　which　the　ladies　de　Grammont　and　three　or　four　other　intriguers　of　their　party　are　able　to　excite。〃

The　prince　was　somewhat　startled　at　the　freedom　of　language　which　I　used　towards　ladies　in　such　credit　at　court：　he　begged　me　to　moderate　my　feelings；　and　be　less　moved　and　excited。　　By　this　the　prince　de　Soubise　lost　the　esteem　which　I　might　have　accorded　him；　and　the　second　place　in　my　counsels；　which　I　might　have　given　him。

I　told　the　duke；　who　came　to　see　me　the　moment　afterwards；　of　the　failure　of　the　prince's　attempt。　　He　told　me　that　he　had　not　hoped　for　a　better　result。　　He　went　to　the　king；　flattering　himself　with　hopes　of　better　success；　but　did　not　find　him。

The　daughters　of　Louis　XV　had　united　against　me　with　a　fury　which　nothing　could　justify。　　They　were　incessantly　talking　scandal　of　my　past　life；　as　if　there　were　only　saints　at　court；　as　if　they　had　no　pranks　of　their　own　to　reproach　themselves　with。　All　the　chateau　knew　of　their　lovers；　and　there　was　　evidence　of　the　tenderness　of　madame　Adelaide：　as　for　madame　Louise　she　was　an　angel　upon　earth；　and　was　the　only　one　who　did　not　join　in　the　cry　against　me。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　king；　whilst　he　had　but　little　love　for　his　dear　daughters；　preserved　towards　them　a　complaisance　and　external　appearance　of　kindness　which　was　a　substitute　for　parental　love。　　When　　cried　out；　he　stopped　his　ears　with　his　two　hands；　and　seemed；　whilst　looking　proudly　at　France；　to　say；　〃Am　not　I　a　good　father；　and　are　not　my　daughters　very　happy；　for　I　let　them　cry　out　with　all　their　might？〃

The　next　day　the　duc　d'Aiguillon　went　again　to　the　king；　and　found　him　bewildered　with　family　scenes　and　the　murmurings　of　the　Choiseuls。　　When　my　ambassador　had　delivered　his　message；　the　king　asked　him　if　he；　as　well　as　the　prince　de　Soubise；　had　been　set　upon　his　haunches　by　me。

The　duke；　nothing　intimidated　at　this；　told　the　king　that　far　from　having　wished　that　he　should　be　my　interpreter；　I　had　requested　him　not　to　allude　to　the　matter。

〃Why；　then；〃　said　Louis　XV　laughing；　〃do　you　not　follow　the　advice　of　the　comtesse？〃

〃Because　I　entertain　a　sincere　attachment　for　her；　and　that　I　am　vexed　to　hear　it　said　that　there　are　persons　who　lead　your　majesty。〃

〃Who　are　the　insolents　that　hold　such　language？〃

〃They　surround　you；　sire。　　There　is　not　a　female　here　but　affirms　that　you　dare　not　decide　on　the　presentation　of　the　comtesse。〃

〃I　alone　am　master；　and　will　let　them　know　it　when　the　opportunity　arrives；　but　the　present　moment　is　not　fitting。　　The　comtesse　knows　how　well　I　love　her；　and　if　she　will　prove　her　friendship　towards　me；　she　will　remain　quiet　for　some　time。〃

The　duke　thought　it　best　to　be　silent；　and　came　to　me。　　After　relating　the　conversation；　he　added；　〃Do　not　appear　at　all　dejected；　the　king　would　not　then　visit　you　lest　he　should　find　you　out　of　temper。　　Were　I　you　I　should　write　to　him；　a　word　of　peace　would　set　him　at　ease。〃

I　approved　this　advice；　and　instantly　penned　the　following　letter：　

Sire　…They　tell　me　that　your　majesty　has　been　tormented　on　my　account。　　It　is　a　treason　of　which　I　alone　could　believe　myself　capable。　　But　why　should　I　complain？　　You　have　done　so　much　for　me　that　I　ought　to　esteem　myself　happy：　your　august　friendship　consoles　me　thro'　all　my　annoyances。　　Be　assured　that　henceforth　I　shall　pout　no　more；　I　will　be　the　best　sheep　in　the　world；　relying　on　my　shepherd　for　not　having　my　fleece　cut　too　closely；　for　after　all　I　think　I　am　the　petted　ewe；　etc。〃

A　short　time　afterwards　a　page　brought　me　a　splendid　box　of　　with　a　pair　of　ruby　ear…rings　surrounded　with　diamonds；　and　this

short　billet：　

〃Yes；　assuredly　you　are　my　pet　ewe；　and　always　shall　be。　　The　shepherd　has　a　strong　crook　with　which　he　will　drive　away　those　who　would　injure　you。　　Rely　on　your　shepherd　for　the　care　of　your　tranquillity；　and　the　peace　of　your　future　life。〃

In　the　evening　the　king　visited　me。　　He　was　embarrassed；　but　I　set　him　at　ease　by　showing　him　a　laughing　countenance；　talking　only　of　his　present；　which　I　had　in　my　ears；　and　shaking　my　head　about　to　keep　the　drops　in　motion；　which　sparkled　with　great　brilliancy。　He　was　pleased　at　this；　and　did　not　leave　me　all　the　evening。　　In　the　morning　we　were　the　best　friends　in　the　world。

Some　days　elapsed；　when　comte　Jean　came　to　me；　bringing　two　infamous　articles　which　had　appeared　in　the　〃；〃　and　were　directed　against　me。　　They　were　atrocious　and　deeply　chagrined　me：　I　placed　them　on　the　mantel…piece；　where　all　who　came　in　could　see　them。　　The　duc　de　Duras　read　them；　and　said；　〃Conceal　these　atrocities　from　the　king。〃

〃No；〃　was　my　reply；　〃I　wish　him　to　read　them；　that　he　may　know　how　his　affections　are　respected；　and　how　the　police　of　Paris　are　employed　in　doing　their　duty　to　the　throne。〃

These　last　words　annoyed　M。　de　Duras；　between　whom　and　M。　de　Sartines　there　was　a　connection：　the　duke　was　indebted　to　the　lieutenant…general　of　police　for　the　special　surveillance　which　he　kept　over　a　young　girl　of　whom　he；　the　duc　de　Duras；　was　foolishly　enamoured。　　Trembling　for　his　　M。　de　Sartines；　he　wrote　to　him　in　haste；　but　had　not　courage　or　talent　enough　to　undertake　the　defence　of　the　guilty　person。

The　king　came　as　usual；　his　general　station　was　at　the　chimney…piece；　where　he　amused　himself　with　looking　at　the　baubles　that　ornamented　it。　　The　〃〃　fell　in　his　way。　　He　read　them　once；　then　again；　then；　without　uttering　a　word；　threw　them　into　the　fire。　　I　observed　him；　and　saw　that　he　was　full　of　emotion　which　he　sought　to　conceal；　but　the　anger　burst　forth　soon。　　The　prince　de　Soubise；　who　supped　with　us　that　evening；　asked　the　duc　de　Duras　if　he　had　read　the　〃〃

〃No；〃　was　the　reply；　〃I　seldom　read　such　nonsense。〃

〃And　you　are　quite　right；〃　said　the　king。　　〃There　is　at　present　a　most　inconceivable　mania　for　writing。　　What　is　the　use；　I　ask　you；　gentlemen；　of　this　deluge　of　books　and　pamphlets　with　which　France　is　inundated？　　They　only　contain　the　spirit　of　rebellion：　the　freedom　of　writing　ought　not　to　be　given　to　every　body。　There　should　be　in　a　well…regulated　state　seven　or　eight　writers；　not　more；　and　these　under　the　inspection　of　government。　　Authors　are　the　plague　of　France；　you　will　see　whither　they　will　lead　it。〃

The　king　spoke　this　with　an　animated　air；　and　if　at　this　moment　M。　de　la　Vrilliere　had　come　to　ask　for　a　　against　a　writer；　the　king　would　not　have　refused　it。

〃Besides；〃　added　the　king；　in　a　tone　of　less　anger；　but　no　less　emphatically；　〃I　see　with　pain　that　the　police　do　not　do　their　duty　with　regard　to　all　these　indignities。〃

〃Yet；〃　said　the　duc　de　Duras；　〃M。　de　Sartines　does　wonders。〃

〃Th