太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > memoirs of the comtesse du barry >

第56节

memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第56节

小说: memoirs of the comtesse du barry 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



t all he advanced materially aided our wishes。  He afterwards reaped the reward of his friendly services; for when the duc d'Aiguillon had displaced the duc de Choiseul; he bestowed on M。 de la Ville the title of ; an office created for him; and the bishopric  of Tricomie。  The good abbe did not; however; long enjoy his honours; but ended his career in 1774。

This conversation had been repeated to me; and; on my side; I left no means untried of preventing Louis XV from placing further confidence in his minister; but; feeble and timid; he knew not on what to determine; contenting himself with treating the duke coolly; he sought; by continual rebuffs and denials to his slightest request; to compel him to demand that dismissal he had not the courage to give。

Whilst these things were in agitation; madame de Mirepoix; who had been for some days absent from Versailles; came to call upon me。  This lady possessed a considerable share of wit; and; although on the most intimate terms with me; had not altogether broken off with the des Choiseuls; to whom she was further bound on account of the prince de Beauvau; her brother。  It therefore excited in me no surprise; when I heard that the des Choiseuls had called on her to ascertain; whether it would not be possible; through her mediation; to come to some terms with me。

〃And you must not be angry with me;〃 continued she; 〃for undertaking the ; I well foresaw all the difficulties; and entertained no hopes of its success; but upon second thoughts; I considered it better I should accept the mission; for; in case of a negative being returned; it will be safe in my keeping; and I will not add to the chagrin of a failure the shame of a defeat。〃

〃It is my opinion;〃 replied I; 〃that all propositions coming from these people should be rejected; they have compelled me to raise between them and myself an immense wall of hatred; not less difficult to surmount than the grand wall of China。〃



〃Yet;〃 replied the marechale; smiling; 〃they are disposed to pay any price for so doing。〃

〃I have friends;〃 said I; 〃from whom I can never separate myself。〃

〃They are willing that your friends shall be theirs likewise;〃 cried she; 〃for they see that M。 de Maupeou; the duc de la Vrilliere; and the abbe Terray; are provided for; and that the duc d'Aiguillon alone remains to be suitably established; M。 de Choiseul would be happy to aid him in obtaining the post of minister of naval affairs。〃

〃Well; and the duchesse de Grammont;〃 inquired I; 〃would she visit me?〃

〃Oh; as to that; I know nothing about it; and can venture no opinion; my commission does not extend so far。〃

〃I understand you;〃 said I; 〃she seeks for peace only as it would enable her the better to carry on her hostilities against me。  I am sorry; madame la marechale; that I cannot accept your terms for a reconciliation。〃

〃Remember; I pray of you; that I have been an ambassadress; and nothing more;〃 said madame de Mirepoix; 〃recollect I have spoken to you in the words of others; not my own。  I must beg of you to be secret; if you divulge the particulars of this morning's conversation; it is I who will suffer by it: your friends will be displeased with me for my interference; and I have no inclination to provoke the anger of a party so powerful as yours。〃

I promised the marechale to observe an inviolable secrecy; and; so well have I kept my promise; that you are the first person to whom I ever breathed one syllable of the affair。  I must own; that it struck me as strange; that the duc de Choiseul should abandon his cousin; and consent to take his seat beside the duc d'Aiguillon; whom he detested: perhaps he only sought to deceive us all by gaining time; till the death of the king。  But what avails speculation upon the words and actions of a courtier; whose heart is an abyss too deep for gleam of light to penetrate?



CHAPTER XXVI


Baron d'Oigny; general post…masterThe king and the countess read the opened lettersThe disgrace of de Choiseul resolved uponAnecdoteSpectre of Philip II; king of SpainThe duc de Choiseul banishedVisits to ChanteloupThe princessesThe dauphin and dauphinessCandidates for the ministry

The interference of madame de Mirepoix; originating; as it did; in the duc de Choiseul; let me at once into the secret of his fears and the extent of my own power。  The knowledge of the weakness of my adversary redoubled my energy; and from this moment; I allowed no day to pass without forwarding the great work; till I succeeded in effecting the duke's ruin and securing my own triumph。  The pamphleteers in the pay of my enemies; and those who merely copied these hirelings; assert that one evening after supper; when Louis was intoxicated with wine and my seductions; I prevailed upon him to sign a  against his minister; which he immediately revoked when the break of day had restored to him his senses。  This was a malicious falsehood。 You shall hear the exact manner in which the  were signed。

On the evening of the 23d of December; his majesty having engaged to sup with me; I had invited M。 de Maupeou; the duc de la Vrilliere; and the prince de Soubise。  It appears; that the king; previously to coming; had gone to visit the dauphiness; he had not mentioned whither he was going; so that his attendants believed him to be in my apartments; and directed M。 d'Oigny; post…master general; to seek him there。  The baron brought with him a packet of opened letters; when he saw me alone he wished to retire; for the servants; believing him to be one of the expected guests; had ushered him in。 However; I would not permit him to go until the king's arrival; and; half sportively; half seriously; I took from him his letters; protesting I would detain them as hostages for his obedience to my desires。  At this moment Louis XV entered the room; and M。 d'Oigny; having briefly stated his business; bowed and departed。 The baron was a very excellent man; possessing an extensive and intelligent mind; he wrote very pleasing poetry; and had not his attention been occupied by the post he filled; he might have made a conspicuous figure in literature。

When we were left to ourselves; I said to the king;

〃Now; then; for this interesting and amusing budget; for such; I doubt not; it will prove。〃

〃Not so fast; madam; if you please;〃 replied Louis XV; 〃perhaps these papers may contain state secrets unfit for your eye。〃



〃Great secrets they must be;〃 said I; laughing; 〃confided thus to the carelessness of the post。〃  So saying; I broke the seal of the envelope so hastily; that the greater part of the letters and notes were scattered over the carpet。

 〃Well done;〃 cried the king。

〃I entreat your majesty's pardon;〃 said I; 〃but I will repair the mischief as far as I can。〃

I stooped to collect the fallen papers; and the king had the gallantry to assist me: we soon piled the various letters upon a tray; and began eagerly to glance over their contents。  My good fortune made me select from the mass those epistles addressed to the members of the country parliaments; they were filled with invectives against me; insulting mention of the king; and praises of the duc de Choiseul。  I took especial care to read them in a loud and distinct voice。

〃This really is not to be endured;〃 cried Louis XV; 〃that the mistaken zeal of these long…robed gentlemen should make them thus compliment my minister at my expense。〃



〃So much the worse for you; sire;〃 replied I; 〃considering that you continue to prefer your minister to every other consideration。〃

As I continued searching through the letters; I found and read the following phrase:〃Spite of the reports in circulation; I do not believe it possible that M。 de Choiseul will be dismissed; he is too necessary to the  king; who; without him would be as incapable as a child of managing his affairs: his majesty must preserve our friend in office in spite of himself。〃

When I had finished; the king exclaimed; in an angry tone; 〃We shall see how far the prophecy of these sapient gentlemen is correct; and whether their 'friend' is so important to me that I dare not dismiss him。  Upon my word; my minister has placed himself so advantageously before his master; as to exclude him entirely from the eyes of his subjects。〃

Whilst these words were speaking; M。 de Maupeou and M。 de la Vrilliere were announced; the king; still warm; let fall some words expressive of his displeasure at what had happened。  The gauntlet was thrown; and so well did we work upon the irritated mind of Louis XV; that it was determined M。 de Choiseul should be dismissed the following day; December 24; 1770。  Chanteloup was chosen for the place of his retreat; and M。 de la Vrilliere; by the dictation of the king; wrote the following letter to the duke:

〃Cousin;…; The dissatisfaction caused me by your conduct compels me to request you will confine yourself to your estate at Chanteloup; whither you will remove in four and twenty hours from the date hereof。  I should have chosen a more remote spot for your place of exile; were it not for the great esteem I entertain for the duchesse de Choiseul; in whose delicate health 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的