memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第27节
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age lasted only whilst the king was silent； and who trembled like a leaf before the slightest manifestation of his will。 Still the cabal against me； tho' weakened； was not destroyed； it was too strong for the present shock to dissolve it； and altho' none was sufficiently hardy to declare open war； plots were constantly going on to ensnare me。
Meanwhile madame Victoire； left to herself； could not long support such excessive animosity； and the duc de la Vauguyon profiting by the species of lassitude into which she appeared to have fallen； led her without difficulty to act in conformity to the king's wishes。
There remained now therefore but madame Adelaide to overcome； and the task became more difficult in proportion to the elevated rank she occupied at court。 By priority of birth she held the first place there； and hitherto this superiority had been ceded to her without dispute； more particularly since the hand of death had removed both the queen her mother； and the dauphiness her sister…in…law。 She therefore could only view with uneasiness the prospect of another appearing on the stage whose influence would be greater than hers； and who （until the young dauphiness should attain to years of maturity） might deprive her of all honors but those due to her birth。 Madame Adelaide was gifted with good sense； affability of manners； and a kind and compassionating heart towards all who needed her aid； her disposition was good； but she loved dominion； and the least show of resistance to her wishes was painful and offensive to her。 She was determined to uphold the duc de Choiseul； and my decided manner towards that minister plainly evinced how little I should feel inclined to support her view of things。 There were therefore several reasons for my presence at court being unpleasant to madame Adelaide。
Against her therefore did the duc de la Vauguyon direct his batteries。 She received his attack with the most determined obstinacy； all was in vain； she was unconquerable； and the most skilfully devised plans were insufficient to surmount her resistance； it was therefore necessary to have recourse to the clergy； who were at that time completely led by the Jesuits； each member of the church； up to the archbishop of Paris； was called upon to interfere； or their names were employed in default of their presence。 It was pointed out to madame Adelaide that I possessed good intentions with feelings of religion； which； however stifled by the freedom of the age； only required careful management to produce a rich development。 The success of this last mode of attack astonished the duke himself； and madam； dazzled by the hopes of my conversion； as well as weary of hostilities； yielded her consent to my being presented。 After these private negotiations the four sisters met at the house of the elder one； and there they decided that since the king had so expressly manifested his pleasure relative to my presentation； they should conform to the desire of their father； by receiving me with every possible mark of courtesy。
The duc de la Vauguyon hastened to communicate to me this happy state of things； and my joy was so great； that I embraced him with the sincerest warmth； assuring him that I should always look upon him as my best friend； and seek to testify my regard at every opportunity that fell in my way of forwarding his interests。
Some days afterwards the king brought me a splendid ring； worth thirty…six thousand livres。
〃You must send this jewel to your good friend the duke；〃 said he。
〃I dare not；〃 replied I。 〃I fear lest it should draw forth his displeasure。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried the king； 〃'tis not the fashion at court to construe gifts like this into insults； but I should wish this trifle to be presented in an indirect manner〃 ； and； after having considered a moment； 〃I have it；〃 exclaimed he； 〃I have thought of a clever expedient； let us put this ring upon the finger of that Chinese mandarin before us； and give the figure with the ring； considering it merely an appendage to it。 Assuredly the most disinterested man cannot refuse to accept a china figure。〃
I extolled the king's idea as being a most happy one； and he immediately fitted the ring upon the little finger of the mandarin； which I caused to be carried to the duc de la Vauguyon with the following billet：
〃MONSIEUR LE DUC；You have been my best friend； 'tis to your kind offices that I owe the confirmation of my happiness； but I would secure the continuance of your valuable friendship； and for that purpose I send you a little magical figure； which； placed in your cabinet； will compel your thoughts to occupy themselves with me in spite of yourself。 I am superstitious enough to rely greatly upon the talismanic virtue of the charmed porcelain； and further； I must tell you； that I was not its purchaser in the first instance； neither did I adorn it for your acceptance。 I should not have ventured to offer more than the assurance of my everlasting esteem and regard for your acceptance。 The trifle sent comes from a higher source； and the august hand so dear to both of us； deigned to preside over the arrangement。 Should there be in it anything at all repugnant to your feelings； I beseech you bear me no ill will for it； for truly； I may say； I should never have summoned courage to do that which has just been done by him whom all unite in loving and esteeming。〃
The duke replied；…
〃Your talisman is welcome； yet its magic power； far from augmenting the warmth of my feelings towards you； would have diminished it on account of a certain accessory with which my friendship could have well dispensed： however； what you say on the subject closes my lips。 I gratefully acknowledge the daily favors bestowed upon me from the august hand of whom you speak； and I receive with the deepest respect （mingled with regret） the gracious present he deigns to convey to me by you。 I own that I should have preferred； to the splendid jewel which bedecked the finger of your deity； a Chinese counterpart； which might indeed have enabled all admiring gazers to say； 'these two are truly a pair。' As for yourself； who would fain pass for nobody in the munificent gift； I thank you at least for the flattering place you assign me in your recollection。 Be assured I feel its full value； and you may confidently reckon upon the disposal of my poor credit as well as command the little influence I may be said to possess in the castle。 Adieu； madame； I entreat your acceptance of the expression of my most sincere and respectful devotion。〃
The king； having read M。 de la Vauguyon's letter； sent immediately to the china manufactory to purchase the fellow mandarin so much coveted by the duke； and caused it to be conveyed to him with the following words：
〃MY DEAR GOVERNORYou are a kind…hearted creature I know； and a great promoter of domestic harmony； to fain unite the wife with the husband。 Heaven grant that such a measure may indeed bring about your proposed felicity！ However； by way of furthering your schemes； I send the Chinese lady； whose beauty I trust will not disturb your repose； for in spite of your sanctity； I know you can be as gallant as the rest of us； and possibly this beautiful mandarin may prove to be more lovely in your eyes； than in those of the husband for whom she is destined； but； in sober earnestness； I would wish you to be convinced that my intention is not to attempt payment for the services rendered me； but simply to evince my sense of their value。 There is one beside me at this moment who has given me a kiss to transmit to youYou will easily guess who has had the audacity to enlist me into her service upon such an occasion。〃
This was one of the recompenses offered to the duc de la Vauguyon； as a compensation for the public clamor and dislike which sprung up against him in consequence of his zeal for my service。 At Versailles； the general ferment was at its height； when it became generally known that I had triumphed over all obstacles； and that my presentation was certainly to take place。 In the midst of all this the desperate odium fell upon the duc de la Vauguyon； and a general attack was made upon him： his virtues； reputation； talents； qualities； were made the subject of blame and scandal in a word； he was run down by public opinion。 But the leaders of the cabal were not the less struck by the news of my success； which sounded in their ears like the falling of a thunder…bolt。
The silly princess de Guemenee； who； with her husband； has since become a bankrupt to so enormous and scandalous an amount； flew without delay to convey the tidings of my victory to the duchesse de Grammont； to whom it was a death…blow。 All her courage forsook her； she shed bitter tears； and displayed a weakness so much the more ridiculous； as it seemed to arise from the utmost despair。 She repaired to madame Adelaide； before whom she conducted herself in the most absurd and extravagant manner。 The poor princess； intimidated by the weakness she herself evinced； in drawing back after she had in a manner espoused the opposite party； durst not irritate her； but； on the contrary； strove to justify her own change of conduct towards me； by urging the impossibility of refusing obedience to the express comman
