memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第39节

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〃The　many　proofs　of　tender　attachment　with　which　the　widow　Rossin　honored　young　Moireau　make　me　believe　that　she　will　learn　with　pleasure　of　my　having　the　good　fortune　to　rescue　the　ill…fated　youth　from　the　cruelty　of　the　comtesse　d'Egmont。　　This　interesting　young　man　no　longer　groans　a　wretched　prisoner　in　the　gloomy　abode　that　haughty　lady　had　selected　for　him；　but　is　at　this　minute　safe　in　a　neighboring　kingdom；　under　the　powerful　patronage　of　king　of　France；　who　is　in　possession　of　every　circumstance　relative　to　the　affair。　　I　likewise　know　the　whole　of　the　matter；　and　have　in　my　keeping　the　most　irrefragable　proofs　of　all　that　took　place　and　should　I　henceforward　have　any　reason　to　complain　of　the　comtesse　d'Egmont；　I　shall　publish　these　documents　with　permission　of　those　concerned。

〃The　public　will　then　be　enabled　to　judge　of　the　virtue　and　humanity　of　one　who　affects　to　treat　me　with　a　ridiculous　disdain。　There　exists　no　law　against　a　fair　lady　having　lovers　and　admirers；　but　a　stern　one　forbids　her　to　command　or　procure　their　destruction。　I　KNOW　ALL；　and　madame　d'Egmont's　future　conduct　will　decide　my　silence　and　discretion。　　The　affair　with　Moireau　is　not　the　only　one；　others　of　even　a　graver　sin　preceded　it。　　I　can　publish　the　whole　together；　and；　I　repeat；　my　determination　on　this　head　depends　wholly　and　entirely　upon　the　manner　in　which　madame　d'Egmont　shall　henceforward　conduct　herself　towards　me。　　I　beg　madame　de　Rossin　will　allow　me　to　subscribe　myself；　with　every　feeling　she　so　well；　merits；

〃Her　very　humble　and　most　obedient　servant；

〃THE　COMTESSE　DU　BARRY〃

I　had　communicated　to　no　one　the　secret　of　this　vengeance；　I　wished　to　keep　the　delight　of　thus　exciting　the　rage　of　the　princesse　d'Egmont　all　to　myself。　　I　was　certain；　that　whatever　might　henceforward　be　her　line　of　conduct　towards　me；　that　whenever　she　found　herself　in　my　presence；　she　would　bitterly　feel　the　stings　of　an　accusing　conscience；　and　the　gnawings　of　that　worm　which　dieth　not　in　the　heart　of　hypocritical　and　wicked　persons；　more　especially　when　compelled　to　meet　the　eye　of　those　who　could　unmask　them　in　a　minute。

On　the　following　day　I　received　a　visit　from　the　duc　de　Richelieu。　Spite　of　the　many　endeavors　he　made　to　appear　smiling　and　good　humored；　a　deep　rage　kept　its　station　round　his　mouth；　and　contracted　his　lips　even　in　the　midst　of　the　artificial　smile　with　which　he　sought　to　dissimulate　his　wrath。

〃Madame；　good　morning；〃　said　he　to　me；　〃I　come　to　offer　my　congratulations；　you　really　are　become　quite　one　of　us；　upon　my　word；　the　most　experienced　courtier　has　nothing　more　to　teach　you。〃

〃I　am　as　yet　in　ignorance　of　the　cause　to　which　I　may　ascribe　these　compliments；　M。　le　marechal；　which　I　greatly　fear　surpass　my　poor　merits；　and　which　even　you　will　be　compelled　to　retract　them　when　I　am　better　known　to　you。〃

〃Fear　it　not；　madame；〃　said　he；　〃your　commencement　is　a　master…stroke；　and　the　letter　you　yesterday　addressed　to　the　comtesse　d'Egmont〃

〃Ah；　sir；〃　exclaimed　I；　with　unfeigned　astonishment；　〃in　her　place　I　certainly　should　not　have　selected　you　as　my　confidant　in　the　affair。〃

〃And　who　could　she　better　have　selected　than　her　father？　　But　that　is　not　the　matter　in　hand。　　My　daughter　is　filled　with　anger　against　you；　and　if　I　must　speak　the　truth；　I　do　not　think　your　behavior　towards　her　quite　what　it　should　have　been。〃

〃Really；　monsieur；　I　was　not　prepared　for　a　reproach　of　this　kind；　and　what　can　madame　d'Egmont　allege　against　me？　　'Tis　she　who　has　pursued　me　with　the　most　bitter　sarcasms；　the　most　determined　malice；　and；　I　may　add；　the　most　impertinent　behavior。　　I　entreat　your　pardon　for　using　such　strong　expressions；　but　her　behavior　allows　of　none　milder。　　And　what　have　I　done　in　my　turn？　　snatched　from　a　lingering　death　an　unfortunate　young　man；　whose　only　crime　consisted　in　having　pleased　this　unreasonable　madame　d'Egmont。　　I　procured　the　king's　protection　for　the　miserable　object　of　the　princess's　affection；　I　obtained　his　safe　removal　to　another　country；　and；　having　done　all　this；　I　communicated　my　knowledge　of　the　transaction　to　the　comtesse　d'Egmont。　　Does　this　bear　any　comparison　with　her　line　of　conduct　towards　me？〃

〃But　your　letter；　madame；　your　letter〃

〃Would　bear　alterations　and　amendments；　sir；　I　am　aware：　I　admit　I　did　not　sufficiently　insist　upon　the　atrocity　of　such　an　abuse　of　power。〃

〃You　are　then　resolved；　madame；　to　make　us　your　enemies。〃

〃I　should　be　very　sorry；　monsieur　le　duc；　to　be　compelled　to　such　extremities；　but　if　your　friendship　can　only　be　purchased　at　the　price　of　my　submitting　to　continually　receive　the　insults　of　your　family；　I　should　be　the　first　to　cease　to　aspire　to　it。　　If　Madame　d'Egmont　holds　herself　aggrieved　by　me；　let　her　carry　her　complaint　before　the　parliament；　we　shall　then　see　what　redress　she　will　get。　　She　has　compromised　the　king's　name　by　an　arbitrary　act；　and　since　you　thus　attack　me；　you　must　not　take　it　amiss　if　I　make　the　king　acquainted　with　the　whole　business。〃

The　marechal；　surprised　at　so　severe　a　reply；　could　no　longer　restrain　the　rage　which　filled　him。　　〃I　should　have　thought；　madame；〃　said　he；　〃that　my　daughter；　in　whose　veins　flows　royal　blood；　might　have　merited　some　little　consideration　from　the　comtesse　du　Barry。〃

〃It　is　well；　then；　monsieur　le　duc；〃　replied　I；　〃to　point　out　to　you　your　error。　　I　see　in　my　enemies　their　works　and　actions　alone；　without　any　reference　to　their　birth；　be　it　high　or　low；　and　the　conduct　of　madame　d'Egmont　has　been　so　violent　and　unceasing　towards　me；　that　it　leaves　me　without　the　smallest　regret　for　that　I　have　pursued　towards　her。〃

I　had　imagined　that　this　reply　would　still　further　irritate　the　angry　feelings　of　the　duc　de　Richelieu；　but　it　did　not：　he　easily　guessed　that　nothing　but　the　king's　support　could　have　inspired　me　to　express　myself　with　so　much　energy；　and；　if　paternal　vanity　strove　in　his　heart；　personal　interests　spoke　there　with　even　a　louder　voice。　　He　therefore　sought　to　lay　aside　his　anger；　and；　like　a　skilful　courtier；　changing　his　angry　look　and　tone　for　one　of　cheerfulness：

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃I　yield；　I　see　it　will　not　do　to　enter　the　lists　against　you。　　I　confess　I　came　this　morning　but　to　sound　your　courage；　and　already　you　have　driven　me　off　the　field　vanquished。　　There　is　one　favor　I　would　implore　of　your　generosity；　and　that　is；　to　be　silent　as　to　all　that　has　transpired。〃

〃I　shall　not　speak　of　it；　monsieur　le　duc；〃　replied　I；　much　moved；　〃unless　you　or　madame　d'Egmont　set　me　the　example。〃

〃In　that　case　the　affair　will　for　ever　remain　buried　in　oblivion；　but；　madame；　I　will　not　conceal　from　you；　that　my　daughter　has　become　your　most　bitter　and　irreconcilable　enemy。　　〃

〃The　motives　which　have　actuated　me；　monsieur　le　　marechal；　are　such　as　to　leave　me　very　little　concern　upon　that　subject。　　I

flatter　myself　this　affair　will　not　keep　you　away　from　me；　who　would　fain　reckon　as　firmly　on　your　friendship　as　yon　may　do　on　mine。〃

The　marechal　kissed　my　hand　in　token　of　amity；　and　from　that　moment　the　matter　was　never　mentioned。

A　similar　scene　had　already　occurred　with　the　prince　de　Soubise；　relative　to　the　exile　of　his　daughter。　　Was　it　not　somewhat　strange；　as　well　as　unjust；　that　all　the　noblemen　of　the　day　wished　to　preserve　to　their　relations　the　right　of　offending　me　with　impunity；　without　permitting　me　even　the　right　of　defending　myself。



CHAPTER　XIX


Madame　du　Barry　separates　from　madame　de　BearnLetters　between　these　ladiesPortrait　of　madame　de　l'HopitalThe　ladderThe　bellConversation　with　madame　de　MirepoixFirst　visit　to　Chantilly　Intrigues　to　prevent　the　countess　from　going　thitherThe　king's　Displeasure　towards　the　princessesThe　archbishop　de　Senlis　The　spoiled　child　of　fortune；　I　had　now　attained　the　height　of　my　wishes。　　The　king's　passion　augmented　daily；　and　my　empire　became　such　as　to　defy　the　utmost　endeavors　of　my　enemies　to　undermine　it。　　Another　woman　in　my　place　would　have　employed　her　power　in　striking　terror　amongst　all　who　were　opposed　to　her；　　but　for　my　own　part　I　contented　myself　with　repulsing　their　attempts　to　injure　me；　and　in　proceeding　to　severity　only　when　my　personal　interests　were　too　deeply　concerned　to　admit　of　my　passing　the　matter　over　in　silence。

There　was　no　accusation　too　infamous　to　be　laid　to　my　charge；　amongst　other　enormities　they　scrupled　not　to　allege　that　I　had　been　the　murderess　of　Lebel；　the　king's　；　who　died　by　poison！　　Was　it　likely；　was　it　probable　that　I　should　seek　the　destruction　of　him　to　whom　I　owed　my　elevation；　the　most　devoted　of　friends；　and　for　whom　my　heart　cherished　the　most　lively　sense　of　gratitude？　　What　interest　could　I　possibly　derive　from　the　perpetration　of　such　a　crime？　　The　imputation　was　too　absurd　for　belief；　but　slander　cares　little　for　the　seeming　improbability　of　such　an　event。　　The　simple　fact　remained　that　Lebel　was　dead；　of　course　the　cruel　and　unjust　consequence　became　in　the　hands　of　my　enemies；　that　I　had　been　the　principal　accessory　to　it。

My　most　trifling　actions　were　misrepresented　with　the　same　black　malignity。　　They　even　made　it　a　crime　in　me　to　have　written　to　madame　de　Bearn；　thanking　her　for　her　past　kindnesses；　and　thus　setti