memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第21节

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CHAPTER　X


When　is　the　presentation　to　take　place？Conversation　on　this　subject　with　the　kingM。　de　Maupeou　and　M。　de　la　Vauguyon　Conversation　on　the　same　subject　with　the　king　and　the　duc　de　RichelieuM。　de　la　VrilliereM。　Bertin…Louis　XV　and　the　comtesseThe　king's　promiseThe　fire…works；　an　anecdoteThe　marquise　de　CastellaneM。　de　Maupeou　at　the　duc　de　Choiseul's　The　duchesse　de　Grammont

In　spite　of　the　love　of　the　duchesse　de　Grammont；　the　king　of　Denmark　departed　at　last。　　Louis　XV　having　resumed　his　former　habits；　I　began　to　meditate　seriously　on　my　presentation；　and　my　friends　employed　themselves　to　the　utmost　in　furthering　my　desires　and　insuring　my　triumph。

The　chancellor；　who　each　day　became　more　attached　to　my　interests；　opened　the　campaign。　　One　day；　when　the　king　was　in　a　rage　with　the　parliaments；　the　chancellor　seized　the　opportunity　to　tell　him　that　the　cabal；　who　were　opposed　to　my　presentation；　testified　so　much　resistance；　under　the　idea；　and　in　the　hope；　that　they　would　be　supported　by　the　parliaments　of　Paris。

〃If　your　majesty；〃　added　the　chancellor；　〃had　less　condescension　towards　these　malcontents；　they　would　fear　your　authority　more。〃

〃You　will　see；〃　replied　the　king；　〃that　it　will　be　their　audacity　which　will　urge　me　on　to　a　step；　which　otherwise　I　should　wish　to　avoid。〃

Whilst　the　hatred　which　M。　de　Maupeou　bore　towards　the　parliaments　served　me　in　this　way；　the　love　of　M。　de　la　Vauguyon　for　the　Jesuits　turned　to　even　more　advantage。　　The　good　duke　incessantly　talked　to　me　of　his　dear　Jesuits；　and　I　as　constantly　replied；　that　my　influence　would　not　be　salutary　until　after　my　presentation；　M。　de　la　Vauguyon　had　sense　enough　to　perceive　the　embarrassment　of　my　situation；　and　saw　that　before　I　could　think　of　others　I　must　think　of　myself。　　Having　taken　〃sweet　counsel〃　with　the　powerful　heads　of　his　company；　he　freely　gave　me　all　his　influence　with　the　king。

Fortune　sent　me　an　auxiliary　not　less　influential　than　these　two　gentlemen；　I　mean　the　marechal　duc　de　Richelieu。　　In　the　month　of　January；　1769；　he　returned　from　his　government　of　Guienne　to　enter　on　service。　　He　had　much　credit　with　the　king；　and　this　（would　you　believe　it？）　resulted　from　his　reputation　as　a　man　of　intrigue。　　He　told　the　king　every　thing　that　came　into　his　head：　he　told　him　one　day；　that　the　Choiseuls　boasted　that　he；　the　king　of　France；　never　dared　introduce　his　mistress　into　the　state　apartments　at　Versailles。

〃Yes；〃　added　the　duke；　〃they　boast　so　loudly；　that　nothing　else　is　talked　of　in　the　province；　and　at　Bordeaux；　for　instance；　there　is　one　merchant　who；　on　the　strength　of　the　enemies　of　the　comtesse；　has　made　a　bet　that　she　will　never　be　presented。〃

〃And　why　do　you　not　imprison　these　persons？〃　　inquired　the　king；　angrily。

〃Because；　sire；　it　appears　to　me　injustice　to　punish　the　echo　of　the　fooleries　of　Paris。〃

〃I　will　conduct　myself　as　regards　the　presentation　of　madame　du　Barry　in　the　manner　which　I　think　best。　　But　is　it　not　an　inconceivable　contrariety；　that　one　party　should　wish　it　with　the　utmost　desire；　and　another　place　every　obstacle　in　the　way？　　In　truth；　I　am　very　unfortunate；　and　a　cruel　tyranny　is　exercised　over　me。〃

The　duc　de　Richelieu；　not　wishing　to　appear　as　one　of　the　tyrants　of　the　king；　gave　a　different　turn　to　the　conversation。

My　presentation　was；　however；　a　matter　of　first…rate　importance　to　me　and　to　my　partizans；　and　the　duc　de　la　Vrilliere　was　gained　over　to　my　side；　by　making　him　believe　that　the　king　would　yield　to　my　desires；　and　that　then　I　should　remember　all　those　who　opposed　my　elevation。　　The　duc　d'Aiguillon　also　drew　over　to　my　party　M。　Bertin；　who　bore　no　love　to　the　Choiseuls；　and　who　saw　that　the　preponderance　of　interest　was　on　my　side　of　the　scale。　When　I　was　assured　of　a　considerable　number　of　defenders；　I　thought　I　might　venture　on　the　master　stroke；　and　thus　I　went　to　work。

One　evening　the　king　was　with　me；　and　the　MM。　de　Maupeou　and　de　Richelieu　were　there　also。　　We　were　discoursing　of　different　things；　and　the　king　was　perfectly　tranquillized；　little　anticipating　the　scene　that　was　in　store　for　him。　　I　rose　suddenly　from　my　arm…chair；　and　going　up　to　his　majesty；　after　a　profound　courtesy　cast　myself　at　his　feet。　　Louis　XV　would　have　raised　me；　but　I　said；

〃No；　I　will　remain　where　I　am　until　you　have　accorded　me　the　favor　I　ask。〃

〃If　you　remain　in　this　posture　I　shall　place　myself　in　a　similar　one。〃

〃Well；　then；　since　you　will　not　have　me　at　your　knees　I　will　place　myself　on　them〃；　and　I　seated　myself　in　his　lap　without　ceremony。

〃Listen　to　me；　sire；〃　I　said；　〃and　repeat　what　I　say　to　the　king　of　France　word　for　word。　　He　must　authorize　my　presentation；　for　else；　some　fine　day；　in　the　presence　of　the　whole　court；　I　will　go　to　the　state　apartments；　and　try　whether　I　shall　be　repulsed　at　the　door。〃

〃Will　she　have　the　boldness？〃　　inquired　the　king　to　the　chancellor。

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；　sire。　　A　female；　young；　beautiful；　honored　with　your　kindness；　may　venture　to　do　anything。〃

〃Is　it　not　distressing　to　me；〃　I　added；　〃that；　graced　with　your　majesty's　favors；　I　remain　thus　concealed；　whilst　women　whom　you　detest　annoy　you　with　their　presence。〃

〃Madame　is　right；〃　replied　the　duc　de　Richelieu；　〃and　I　see　that　you　look　for　her　every　evening　where　she　is　not；　and　where　she　ought　to　be。〃

〃What！　　you　too；　duc　de　Richelieu；　do　you　join　the　cry　of　the　chancellor？〃

〃I　would　tear　out　the　eyes　of　these　gentlemen；〃　I　added；　〃if　they　thought　differently　from　me。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃this　punishment　would　not　be　one　for　M。　Maupeou：　justice　ought　to　be　blind：　and　as　for　you；　M。　de　Richelieu；　you　have　your　　left。〃

〃Which　he　has　nobly　gained；〃　I　replied；　〃by　fighting　against　your　majesty's　enemies；　and　of　which　he　still　continues　worthy；　by　now　defending　me　from　my　foes。〃

〃This　rebellion；〃　said　the　king；　〃cannot　last；　and　I　see　myself　compelled　to　hold　a　　（a　judicial　sitting　or　bed）。〃

〃And　I　swear　to　you；　that　I　will　receive　nobody　into　mine　until　I　have　been　presented。〃

This　sally　amused　the　king；　who　said；　〃Well；　since　it　must　be　so；　you　shall　be　presented。〃

At　this　I　leaped　on　the　king's　neck；　giving　a　cry　which　might　have　been　heard　by　my　rivals。　　After　that；　I　advanced　to　the　two　gentlemen　who　had　advocated　my　cause　so　well；　extending　a　hand　to　each；　which　they　took　and　kissed　with　great　gallantry。

Louis　XV　became　thoughtful；　and　continued　to　mutter　between　his　teeth；　〃I　wash　my　hands　of　itthey　will　cry　out；　they　will　clamor；　but　it　must　be　so。〃　　I　saw　the　feelings　of　the　king；　and　took　care　not　to　allow　him　to　go　away　in　this　state。　　Whilst　I　sought　to　compose　him　by　my　caresses；　the　duc　de　Richelieu　told　us　one　of　his　thousand　and　one　adventures；　which　he　told　so　well。　　I　know　not　if　it　will　please　you；　but　such　as　it　is　I　shall　give　you　an　abridgment　of　it。

〃I　was；　you　know；〃　he　began；　〃a　very　good…looking；　a　very　wild　fellow：　women　have　no　objection　to　this。　　I　was　travelling；　and　in　my　way　thro'　D；　M。；　the　intendant　of　the　city；　insisted　on　my　taking　up　my　abode　at　his　house。　　His　lady　added　her　entreaties；　and　I　consented。　　I　must　tell　you　that　the　lady　was　handsome。　　I　had　passed　the　night　with　her；　but　when；　on　the　next　morning；　as　I　sought　to　go　out　of　her　apartment；　I　found　the　outer　door　double　locked　and　bolted。　　I　looked　round　me　on　all　sides；　but　found　no　egress。　　Whilst　I　was　lamenting　this　with　the　lady's　；　who　was　nearly　as　much　distressed　as　her　mistress；　I　saw　in　a　detached　closet　a　great　many　machines　covered　with　paper；　and　all　of　different　shapes。　　On　inquiry；　I　was　informed　that　the　following　Monday　was　the　lady's　birthday；　which　they　were　to　celebrate　with　fireworks。　　I　looked　at　the　beautiful　fusees　and　brilliant　suns　with　much　admiration。　　Suddenly；　thinking　of　the　lady's　honor　which　might　be　compromised；　I　took　a　light　and　set　fire　to　a　Roman　candle；　in　a　moment　the　whole　was　in　flames；　and　everybody　took　alarm。　　Great　was　the　consternation　in　the　house；　which　was　turned　out　of　windows；　and　in　the　uproar；　the　house…door　being　broken　open；　a　crowd　of　persons　rushed　in；　I　ran　this　way　and　that　way；　everybody　admired　and　praised　my　exertions。　　I　was　compelled　to　quit　the　house　at　last；　and　ordered　my　carriage；　whilst　M。　the　intendant　was　thanking　me　for　the　vast　service　I　had　rendered　him。　　I　assure　you；　sire；　that　I　never　laughed　more　heartily。〃*

*The　duc　de　Richelieu　preserved　his　coolness　and　talent　at　repartee　in　the　most　trivial　circumstances。　The　story　is　well　known　of　the　man　who　came　to　ask　for　his　aid；　saying　they　were　related。　　〃How？〃　asked　the　duke。　　〃Sir；　by　Adam。〃　　〃Give　this　man　a　penny；〃　said　the　duke；　turning　to　a　gentleman　of　his　train；　〃and　if　all　of　his　relations　give　him　as　much　he　will　soon　be　a　richer　man　than　I　am。〃

If　our　readers　will　turn　to　〃Joe　Miller；〃　Page　45；　they　will　find　this　jest　attributed　to　the　witty　duke　of　Buckingham。　　It　is　a　very　good　joke　for　a　duke；　but　savors　more　of　a　desire　to　be　witty　than　to　be　charitable。


（translator）

This　tale　amused　the　king；　and　M。　de　Richelieu　assured　him　that　he　had　never　told　it　before。　　A　thousand　considerations　had　induced　him　to　keep　it　to　himself