de Sartines, who
begs to pay his respects to you. Will you receive him?"
"M. de Sartines! Yes, let him come in; I will treat him as
he deserves."
Comte Jean then came in, preceded by the lieutenant of police: he
wore a large peruke with white powder, and curled with the utmost
care. Wigs were his mania, and he had a room filled from floor
to ceiling with these ornaments. The duc d'Ayen said, that he
never should be in trouble about the council of state, for in case
of need, it might be found and replenished from the house of the
lieutenant of police. Let us leave wigs and revert to M. de Sartines.
He appeared before me with the air of Tartuffe, and, forgive the
phrase,
.
"Madame," said he to me, "I have been informed that I am in
disgrace with you, and have come to inquire how I may extricate
myself from this misfortune."
"You ought to know, sir. Twice in one month have I been shamefully
insulted; and yet the first intimation of such a thing ought to have
put you on your guard."
M. de Sartines, whom my tone had much surprised, endeavored to
justify himself, when comte Jean said to him,
"My dear lieutenant of police, all you have said goes for nothing.
One thing is certain, and that is, that there is a deficiency of
respect towards my sister-in-law. You say that it is not your
fault: what proof do you give us of this? What inquiries have
you made? What measures have you taken? Any? Why do you come
to us if you aid our enemies?"
M.
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