The comtesse
made some difficulties at first, under pretence that she was afraid
to refuse me a second time. Our messenger assured her by saying,
that a supper would not bind her to any thing, and that she should
still be at liberty to give any reply she pleased. Madame de Bearn
allowed herself to be persuaded, and sent me word that she would
accept my invitation. She would have reflected twice before she
so far committed herself, had she at all suspected the turn we
meant to serve her. But I saw by the wording of her note, that
she still hoped that the king would be induced to grant me the
written promise which I asked for her.
She came. I received her with all possible courtesy, and yet not
with much heartiness. I could not help remembering the vexatious
terms she set upon her complaisance. However, the supper was
gay enough, comte Jean and my sisters-in-law, who knew very well
how to dissemble, did the honors in a most agreeable way. On
leaving table we went into the drawing-room, and then began to
discuss the serious question which had brought us together. At
the first words which comte Jean uttered, madame de Bearn, taking
my hands with a respectful familiarity, said to me:--
"I hope, madame, that you will not have a bad opinion of me, if I
put such conditions to my desire of obliging you. The situation
of my family requires it, but it is only a trifle for the king to grant.
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