But this is not the matter
in question. You are not ignorant that our enemies surround this
madame du Barry; and it is of your alliance with them that
I complain."
"You see everything with a jaundiced eye, monsieur le duc. But
if you fear the influence of this lady with the king, why do you
not present yourself at her apartments? She would be delighted
to receive you."
"No, no!" cried the duchess, "my brother will never present
himself to such a creature. If he would degrade himself so low,
I would never forgive him as long as I live. Since you show
your gratitude for what has been done for you by leaguing yourself
with this woman, tell her from me that I detest her, and that I will
never rest until I have sent her back again to her dunghill."
"Madame," replied the chancellor, "I will evince my gratitude to
the duke by not delivering such a message"; and the chancellor
went out.
M. de Maupeou came to tell me the whole of this conversation,
which
wrote down under his dictation, that I might show
it to the king. You will see in my next letter what resulted from
all this, and how the ill-timed enmity of the Choiseuls served my
interests most materially.
CHAPTER XI
A word concerning the duchesse de Choiseul--The apartment of the
Comte de Noailles--The Noailles--Intrigues for presentation--The
comte de Bearn--M. Morand once more--Visit of the comtesse Bearn
to the comtesse du Barry--Conversation--Interested complaisance
The king and the comtesse du Barry--Dispute and reconciliation
I showed the king this conversation, in which I had so shamefully
vilified by the duchesse de Grammont.
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