"
We all laughed at her frankness, and the gaiety with which she
gave this statement, but we went no further; to her great regret,
no doubt, for I believe that the scene had been prepared between
her and M. de Duras, either to let her profit in time of need, or
else that she wished to pluck a feather from our wing. When I
was alone with the king, he said,
"The poor marechale pains me; I should like to oblige her and
think I will give her five hundred louis."
"What will such a petty sum avail her? You know what she wants;
either send her the whole or none. A king should do nothing by halves."
Louis XV answered me nothing; he only made a face, and began to
walk up and down the room. "Ah," said I, "this excellent woman
loves your majesty so much, that you ought to show your gratitude
to her, were it only to recompense her for her intimacy with me."
"Well, you shall carry her the sum yourself, which Lebel shall
bring you from me. But thirty thousand francs, that makes a
large pile of crown-pieces."
"Then I must take it in gold."
"No, but in good notes. We must not, even by a look, intimate
that she has
her visits to us. There are such creatures in
the world!"
The next morning Lebel brought me a very handsome rose-colored
portfolio, embroidered with silver and auburn hair: it contained
the thirty thousand francs in notes. I hastened to the marechale.
We were then at Marly.
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