I soon saw that the
Choiseuls were mistaken.
*In September, 1768. (au.)
It was in the month of October, that Henriette, always my favorite,
came to me with an air of unusual mystery, to say, that a black*
and ugly gentleman wished to see me; that on the usual reply
that I was not visible, he had insisted, and sent, at the same
time, a cautiously sealed note. I took it, opened, and read
these words: --
*i.e., black-haired and/or dressed in black (Gutenberg ed.)
"The chancellor of France wishes to have the honor
of presenting his respectful homage to madame la
comtesse du Barry."
"Let him come in," I said to Henriette.
"I will lay a wager, madame, that he comes to ask some favor."
"I believe," replied I, "that he is more frequently the solicited
than the solicitor."
Henriette went out, and in a few minutes led in, thro' the private
corridors which communicated with my apartment, his highness
monseigneur Rene Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, chevalier
and chancellor of France. As soon as he entered I conceived a
good opinion of him, altho' I had only seen him walk. His step
was firm and assured, like that of a man confident in the resources
of his own talents.
"Madame la comtesse du Barry," he said, "would have a right to
complain of me, if I did not come and lay my person at her feet.
I had the more impatience to express to her my devotion, as I
feared she had been prejudiced against me.
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