memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第41节
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centiousness of a man unworthy of his name and the rank he occupies。 The chevalier de Cressy； forgetful of his being your guest； and of respecting the honor of all beneath your roof； has dared to carry on a base intrigue with my woman； in whose apartment you will find him at this very minute。 A conduct so profligate and insulting fills me with an indignation which I think that you； sir； after what you have heard； cannot but partake。〃
The marquis de l'Hopital； who did not see the thing in the same serious light； sought to appease the virtuous indignation of his lady； and went himself to release the chevalier from his place of concealment； leading him thro' his own apartment to join the crowd of armed servants； who； as may be supposed； were unable to detect the supposed invaders of their repose。
On the following morning the chevalier as agreed upon； wrote a penitential letter to madame； entreating her pardon for his improper attentions to her servant； whom she affected to dismiss with every mark of gravest displeasure。 The weeping Abigail threw herself at the feet of her mistress： and the compassionate marquis （before whom the scene was enacted）； touched with pity； implored his lady to receive the afflicted and penitent Javotte once more into her service。 This was at length granted to his solicitations； and Javotte received a hundred louis as the price of her silence； and found it sufficient compensation for the bad opinion the marquis entertained of her virtue。
The second trick the marchioness played her husband was not less amusing。
The chevalier de Cressy and herself could not meet so frequently as both desired； and whilst suffering under the void occasioned by his absence； chance threw in her way a young relative of her husband's； a youth of about eighteen； as beautiful as Love； and as daring as that god。 They were then in the country during the fine days of summer； and both time and place were favorable to the prosecution of their growing passion。 One day madame de l'Hopital and her cousin were sauntering about the park heedless of the approaching dinner…hour； and equally deaf to the sound of the dinner…bell； which rung its accustomed peal in vain for them whose ears were occupied in listening to sweeter sounds。 At length the master of the house； alarmed at the protracted absence of his wife and friend； went himself； attended by many guests assembled at his house； in search of the stray ones； the servants likewise received orders to disperse themselves over the grounds in different directions； and madame de l'Hopital and her companion were only aroused to a recollection of the flight of time by hearing their names loudly shouted by a dozen different voices。 Fortunately they were just in time to separate in opposite paths； and thus to enter the castle without any suspicion being excited of their having been so recently in each other's company。 The marquis angrily remonstrated with his lady for having obliged him to send in search of her； and she excused herself by protesting that she had not heard the dinner…bell。 The marquis replied； that the thing was impossible； and after some angry discussion the matter rested there。
A few days after this the marchioness； with her husband and cousin； were rambling over the grounds； when they found themselves at the entrance of a hermitage； where madame de l'Hopital had told the marquis she had sat down to rest herself on the day of her failing to attend the dinner…hour。 M。 de l'Hopital resumed the dispute； by protesting that from this situation the dinner…bell might easily be heard： the lady continued firm in protesting it could not； till； at last； feigning extreme anger； she exclaimed。 〃Well then； sir； since you refuse to believe assertion； go yourself and ring the bell as loudly as you please； your cousin will remain here with me； and determine if it be possible to distinguish the sound from here。〃
The fool of a marquis set off in the height of his zeal to convince his wife； and； arriving at the turret where the bell was placed； began ringing it with all his might and main； leaving the lovers the undisturbed opportunity they were not slow in taking advantage of。 When the marquis had ceased his chimes； the loving pair went to meet him。
〃Well； my good cousin；〃 inquired he； as they approached； 〃which of us was right？ Could you hear it or not？〃
〃Yourself； most assuredly；〃 replied the young man； not without a slight blush。 〃I can assure you that both madame and myself heard the bell the whole time you were ringing it。〃
〃There； I told you so； I told you so〃； cried the delighted husband； triumphantly rubbing his hands。
I thought when this lively and piquant adventure was related to me； that it was well worthy of being immortalized by the pen of a La Fontaine。 The marchioness gave these anecdotes with a grace and talent peculiarly her own； and I sometimes imagined that some of the many she favored us with had perhaps taken place in a more recent period than that she assigned to them； and that； in order to divert our suspicions as to who were the real actors； she frequently substituted the for what should have been with more correctness the time。 With manners so calculated to win； she could not fail being a delightful companion； altho' in my heart I could not help giving the preference to the society of the marechale de Mirepoix。
Besides； the preference evinced by this lady in so generously separating herself from all her family； in order to attach herself to me； was not without its full value in my eyes。 I knew myself to be generally disliked by her brother and sister…in…law； the prince and princesse de Beauvau； the latter of whom was secretly the mistress of the duc de Choiseul； over whom she exercised an equal empire with the duchesse de Grammont； and I was every day the object of some fresh attack on their part。 I used sometimes to complain of this to the marechale。 〃My dear friend；〃 she would reply； 〃I am sorry； but cannot help it； in the midst of times such as we live in； and in such a court too； the prince de Beauvau aspires to be a noble Roman； and would fain be the Cato of his country at least。 When I recommend to him a greater degree of prudence； he talks to me of virtue； as tho' at Versailles duty did not consist in implicit obedience to the wishes of our royal master； either obedience or absence from court is the golden rule laid down； from which none dare deviate。 As to my sister…in…law she aims at the heroic likewise； altho her models are formed from another school； in fact； she has pored over the romances of Cyrus。 Cassander； and Clelia； till she is half bewildered； and holds forth upon the virtues of these famous heroines； till I am frequently upon the point of exclaiming； 〃Ah； my dear； it is all very fine； but Clelia and Mandane would not have shared their bed with the duc de Choiseul。〃
By these lively sallies the marechale succeeded in diverting my anger from her relations； and I generally forgot my resentment in a hearty fit of laughter； brought on by her sprightly conversation。 I found myself becoming daily more attached to her； and her presence helped to console me for the many vexations I continually encountered。
The greatest disagreeableness I encountered was occasioned by the capricious behavior of the princesses； who sometimes received me with pleasure and at others evinced a disposition to annoy me in every possible way； according as it suited the whims and wishes of those about them。 The following may serve as an instance of their versatility。
The prince de Conde having announced his intention of giving a grand fete at Chantilly； the princesses declared they would not be present if I were there。 The prince de Conde； spite of his claims to the character of a great man； was nevertheless one of the most subtle courtiers； and as soon as he was informed of the princesses' intention； he came； without ceremony； to explain the matter to me。 This was the first visit he had honored me with。 〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃I had flattered myself you would have embellished Chantilly with your presence； but the beauties of the court； too justly alarmed at the idea of being eclipsed by your dazzling charms； have so successfully manoeuvred； that they have wrought upon the royal daughters of our august monarch to declare； that the beauty of their attending nymphs shall not be effaced by yours。 You have too much good sense to see the affair in any but its true light； and the disappointment your absence will inflict on me would be too cruelly felt for endurance； did I not seek to pacify my anxious wishes on the subject； by obtaining your promise to pay me a visit when the king next honors Chantilly with his presence。〃
I felt deeply flattered by the invitation。 The prince continued to pay me several elegant and gallant compliments； and I was； upon the whole； charmed with our interview。 However； the king was highly displeased with his daughters' proceedings。 〃I have a great inclination；〃 said he； 〃to forbid their going to Chantilly at all。 Upon my word； if I were to listen to them； they would fain make of me the same puppet they allow themselves to become in the hands of the greatest simpleton who will take the tro
