"Well! I will send the duc de Richelieu to you, who will arrange
the whole."
This settled, the subject was turned, but madame de Bearn lost
her tongue entirely. In spite of all her endeavors, her forehead
became contracted every moment, and I am sure she went away
vexed and disappointed.
The following morning, the comte Jean and my sister-in-law went
to her house. They testified their regret for what had occurred
the previous evening; they assured her that we would not take
any advantage of the conditionless engagement which she had made
to present me, and that altho' it was impossible to ask the
required guarantees from the king, still we should most undeviatingly
adhere to the clauses of the treaty: they added, that they came
to enquire when she should choose to receive the hundred thousand
livres. The countess replied, that in spite of the real disadvantage
which she must henceforward labor under in this affair, she felt
great friendship for me, and would not refuse to oblige me, and
she flattered herself that I would espouse her cause with the
king. The comte Jean assured her of this, and settled with her
the period of the payment of the hundred thousand livres, which
were to be paid at sight on her drawing on M. de la Borde, the
court-banker.
Thus then my presentation was an assured matter: nothing now
could prevent it, at least I fancied so to myself. I reckoned
without my host; I did not know yet all the malice of a courtier
lady or gentleman.
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