memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第48节

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She　would　gladly　have　evaded　this　request；　but　her　son；　the　master　of　requests；　who　sufficiently　misjudged　me　to　fear　my　resentment；　and　who　possessed　great　influence　over　her；　induced　her　to　present　herself　at　my　house。　　She　accordingly　came　to　call　upon　me；　with　a　mind　bursting　with　spite　and　jealousy；　yet　she　choked　down　her　angry　passions；　and　so　far　humbled　herself；　as　to　entreat　my　pardon　for　her　own　sake　and　that　of　her　family；　for　all　her　unkindness　towards　me。　　I　would　not　allow　her　to　finish；　〃Madame；〃　said　I；　〃I　only　allow　agreeable　recollections　to　find　a　place　in　my　memory；　had　I　entertained　the　slightest　resentment　against　either　you　or　yours；　you　may　be　quite　certain　I　should　not　have　again　entered　your　dwelling；　and　I　again　repeat　the　offer　I　made　the　other　day；　of　gladly　seizing　the　first　opportunity　of　being　useful　to　you。〃

Each　of　these　words　expressive　of　the　kindest　feelings　towards　her　was　like　the　stab　of　a　poniard。　　She；　however；　extolled　them　with　the　most　exaggerated　praise；　imploring　me　to　believe　how　deeply　she　regretted　her　behavior；　and　talked　so　long　and　so　much　about　it；　that　when　she　quitted　me；　it　was　with　the　most　certain　impression　on　my　mind；　that　in　her　I　possessed　a　most　violent　and　implacable　enemy；　and　in　this　conclusion　I　was　quite　correct。　　M。　Dudelay；　her　son；　had　the　effrontery　to　request　to　be　presented　to　me；　and　charged　the　excellent　M。　de　Laborde　to　make　known　his　wishes　to　me。　　I　begged　he　would　inform　M。　Dudelay；　that　I　admitted　into　the　circle　of　my　acquaintance　only　such　as　were　known　to　the　king；　and　that　if　he　thought　proper　to　apply　to　his　majesty；　I　should　obey　his　royal　will　on　the　subject；　whatever　it　might　be。　He　justly　considered　this　repulse　as　a　biting　raillery；　for　which　he　never　forgave　me。　　I　entertained　no　ill　will　against　him　for　his　past　perfidy；　but　I　considered　it　strange　that　he　should　presume　to　approach　me　with　familiarity。　　I　should　not　have　adopted　the　same　line　of　conduct　towards　the　farmer…general；　his　brother；　who；　less　assuming；　contented　himself　with　assuring　me　of　his　devotion；　and　the　sincere　regret　with　which　he　contemplated　the　past；　without　ever　seeking　to　introduce　himself　into　my　presence。



CHAPTER　XXII


The　chevalier　de　la　MorlierePortrait　of　the　duc　de　Choiseul　The　duc　de　Choiseul　and　the　comtesse　du　BarryNo　reconciliation　effectedMadame　du　Barry　and　the　duc　d'AiguillonMadame　du　Barry　and　Louis　XV

About　this　period　I　received　a　piece　of　attention；　any　thing　but　gratifying　if　considered　in　a　strictly　honourable　sense。　　The　contemptible　chevalier　de　la　Morliere；　who　detested　me；　and　subsequently　pursued　me　with　rage；　presumed　to　dedicate　to　me　some　wretched　collection　of　his　compositions；　and　I　had　the　weakness　to　accept　the　dedication；　I　had　even　the　still　greater　folly　to　receive　its　author　at　my　house；　this　piece　of　condescension　injured　me　greatly。　　Until　that　period　I　had　not；　like　madame　de　Pompadour；　shown　myself　the　protectress　and　patroness　of　men　of　letters；　and　even　my　warmest　friends　could　not　deny；　that　in　stepping　forwards　as　the　encourager　of　literature；　I　had　made　a　very　unfortunate　choice　in　selecting　the　chevalier　de　la　Morliere　as　the　first　object　of　my　patronage。　　But　how　could　I　have　done　otherwise？　　The　prince　de　Soubise；　who　found　this　man　serviceable　upon　many　occasions；　would　have　sacrificed　any　thing　to　promote　his　advancement；　and　I　have　been　assured；　that　had　the　marechal　taken　half　the　pains　on　the　day　previous　to　the　battle　of　Rasbach；　we　should　not　have　left　it　so　disgracefully。

The　king　well　knew　the　unfortunate　chevalier　for　a　man　as　destitute　of　modesty　as　merit；　when　therefore　he　saw　his　book　upon　the　mantel…piece　of　my　drawing…room；　he　said；

'So！　　you　are　the　inspiring　muse　of　the　chevalier　de　la　Morliere；　I　only　warn　you；　when　the　day　comes　for　him　to　be　hanged；　not　to　ask　me　to　pardon　him。〃

〃Be　assured；〃　replied　I；　〃that　I　will　never　deprive　the　Place　de　Greve　of　one　so　formed　to　do　honour　to　it。〃

In　fact；　the　chevalier　was　within　an　ace　of　reaching　it　before　his　friends　anticipated；　for；　very　shortly　after　this　conversation；　he　was　guilty　of　the　most　detestable　piece　of　knavery　I　ever　heard　of。　　He　learned　that　an　unfortunate　young　man　from　the　country；　into　whose　confidence　he　had　wormed　himself；　was　to　receive　15；000　livres　on　his　father's　account；　he　invited　him　to　supper；　and；　by　the　aid　of　two　villains　like　himself；　stripped　him　of　his　last　sous。　　Not　satisfied　with　this；　he　wrote　the　father　such　an　exaggerated　account　of　his　son's　loss　and　general　bad　habits；　that　the　enraged　and　irritated　parent　procured　an　order　to　confine　his　son　at　Saint　Lazare！　　Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　more　infamous　and　accomplished　rogue　than　my　honourable　？　However；　I　shall　give　him　up　to　his　fate；　be　it　good　or　bad；　and　proceed　with　the　relation　of　my　affair　with　duc　de　Choiseul。

I　had　named　to　madame　de　l'Hopital　the　hour　at　which　I　could　receive　the　duke。　　She　had　requested；　in　pursuance　of　her　directions；　no　doubt；　that　the　conversation　between　us　should　take　place　either　amidst　the　groves　of　Versailles　or　in　the　labyrinth　of　Marly；the　self…love　of　M。　de　Choiseul　inducing　him　to　desire　that　this　interview　should　be　so　contrived；　as　to　wear　the　air　of　a　mere　chance　rencontre。　　To　this　I　would　not　consent；　saying；　that　it　did　not　suit　my　pleasure　to　quit　the　house；　and　that　when　a　gentleman　solicited　the　favour　of　speaking　to　a　lady；　it　became　his　business　to　wait　upon　her；　without　expecting　she　should　come　in　search　of　him；　and；　spite　of　all　the　arguments　of　madame　de　l'Hopital；　I　persisted　in　my　determination：　she　had　no　alternative　but　to　submit；　and　I　awaited　the　coming　of　M。　de　Choiseul　on　the　following　day。

The　duc　de　Choiseul　possessed　a　greater　reputation　than　his　talents　were　entitled　to；　and　his　advancement　was　more　attributable　　to　his　good　fortune　than　his　merit。　　He　had　found　warm　and　powerful　assistants　in　both　philosophers　and　women；　he　was　a　confirmed　egotist；　yet　passed　for　a　man　who　cared　little　for　self。　He　was　quick　at　matters　of　business；　and　he　obtained　the　character　of　a　deep　and　profound　politician。　　It　must；　however；　be　admitted；　that　he　was　witty；　gallant；　and　gifted　with　manners　so　elegant　and　fascinating；　that　they　never　failed　to　remove　the　first　unfavourable　impression　caused　by　his　excessive　plainness。　　The　tide　of　public　favour　was　with　him；　and；　in　order　to　contest　it；　it　required　all　the　influence　of　a　woman；　and　that　woman　to　be　no　less　than　the　beloved　mistress　of　the　king　of　France。

He　presented　himself　before　me　tastefully　and　magnificently　dressed；　both　look　and　voice　wearing　the　stamp　of　high…born　pride　and　haughtiness。　　Nevertheless；　amidst　all　this　pomp；　it　was　evident　that　he　did　not　entirely　feel　the　ease　he　assumed；　and　that　a　species　of　remorse　rankled　at　his　heart；　spite　of　the　courtier…like　gallantry　with　which　he　had　invested　himself。

〃Madam；〃　said　he；　bowing　twice　most　profoundly；　〃the　moment　has　arrived　which　I　have　long　most　ardently　desired。〃

〃The　fault　has　not　been　mine；　my　lord；〃　said　I；　〃that　it　has　been　delayed　until　now。　　My　door　has　never　been　shut　against　any　visit　you　might　have　honoured　me　with。〃

〃Ah；　madam！　　why　have　I　not　known　this　sooner？　　Some　evil　planet　ruled　my　thoughts　when　it　occurred　to　me　that　I　might　not　be　so　happy　as　to　meet　with　a　favourable　reception。〃

〃There；　my　lord；　you　were　indeed　in　error；　for　though　I　might　not　feel　a　very　tender　friendship　towards　you　whilst　supposing　I　had　many　causes　for　complaint；　I　could　not　refuse　you　those　marks　of　respect　your　rank　and　station　entitle　you　to　receive。〃

〃Then；　madam；　I　may　flatter　myself　that　I　should　have　been　kindly　received？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　you　would　ever　have　been　welcome；　but　not　those　belonging　to　you；　for　I　will　be　perfectly　candid；　always　excepting　the　duchesse　de　Choiseul；　for　whom　I　entertain　the　greatest　veneration　and　respect。〃

〃She　is　indeed　well　worthy　the　exalted　opinion　you　express　of　her；　and　had　I　followed　her　advice；　I　should　not　have　been　found　amongst　the　ranks　of　your　enemies。〃

〃You　confess　the　fact　then；　monsieur　le　duc？〃　　said　I。

〃I　trust；　madam；　you　will　not　take　advantage　of　an　inadvertent　expression　to　turn　it　against　myself。　　What　I　fear　is；　that　without　ever　having　been　your　enemy；　I　may　have　passed　for　such　in　your　estimation；　and　such　indeed　is　the　cruel　position　in　which　I　am　placed。〃

〃Stay；　my　lord　duke；〃　cried　I；　〃be　candid；　and　acknowledge　that　you　are　my　enemy　as　you　have　ever　been；　and　that　it　is　only　because　there　has　been　war　between　us　that　you　are　now　come　to　conclude　a　treaty　of　peace〃

〃Peace　or　war；　madam；〃　replied　he；　〃as　you　please　to　will　it；　all　I　will　admit　is；　that　things　have　turned　out　most　unfavourably　for　my　wishes。　　Your　arrival　at　Versailles；　your　grace；　beauty；　and　wit；　excited　universal　jealousy；　and；　amidst　the　general　panic　caused　by　your　all…excelling　merit；　was　it　not　necessary　I　too　should　keep　myself　on　my　guard？　　For　the　first　time　in　my　life　a　beautiful　woman　became　an　object　of　alarm　to　me；　you　may　further　believe　me；　when　I　protest　that；　at　the　outset；　I　warmly　defended　you；　but　how　could　I　wage　war　against　so　manyhow　oppose　the　general　torrent？　　It　bore　me　down。〃

〃A