He was a wretch, named
Ledoux, who for twelve hundred livres per annum wrote down all
those who displeased the duchesse de Grammont. This lady had no
fear of doing all that was necessary to remove every obstacle to the
publication of such infamies.
After M. de Sartines had given us all the details which we desired,
and after I had promised to reconcile him to his master, he went
away delighted with having seen me. Believe me, my friend, it is
necessary to be as handsome as I am, that is to say, as I was, to
seduce a lieutenant of police.
CHAPTER VIII
The sieur Ledoux--The
--The duc de la Vrilliere--
Madame de Langeac--M. de Maupeou--Louis XV--The comte Jean
On that very evening, the king having come to me, I said to him,
"Sire, I have made acquaintance with M. de Sartines."
"What! has he been to make friends with you?"
"Something like it: but he has appeared to me less culpable than I
thought. He had only yielded to the solicitation of my personal enemy."
"You cannot have one at my court, madame; the lieutenant of police
would have done well not to have named her to you."
"Thanks to him, however, I shall now know whom I ought to mistrust.
I know also who is the author of the two scurrilous paragraphs."
"Some scamp, no doubt; some beggarly scoundrel."
"A monsieur Ledoux."
"Ah, I know the fellow. His bad reputation has reached me.
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