Matters were in this state, when one morning, after his accustomed
routine, the duc de Choiseul requested a private audience of the
king. "I grant it this moment," said the prince, "what have you
to say to me?"
"I wish to explain to your majesty how excessively painful is the
situation in which I am placed with regard to some of the members
of my family. All the females, and my sister at their head, attack
me about a quarrel which is strange to me, and with which I have
declared I would not meddle."
"You do well, monsieur le duc," said the king, with cool gravity,
"I am much vexed at all that is going on, and have resolved not
to suffer it any longer."
The decision of this discourse made a deep impression M. de
Choiseul: he sought to conceal it whilst he replied:
"It is difficult, sire, to make women listen to reason."
"All are not unreasonable," rejoined the king: "your wife, for
instance, is a model of reason and wisdom: she has perfect control
of herself. She is the wise woman of scripture."
This flattery and justly merited eulogium, which the king made of
the duchess whenever he found an opportunity, was the more painful
to M. de Choiseul, as his conduct was not irreproachable towards
a woman whose virtues he alone did not justly appreciate. It was
a direct satire against his sister's conduct, whose ascendancy over
him, her brother, the king well knew. He replied that the good
behavior of his wife was the safeguard of his family, and he
greatly regretted that the duchesse de Grammont had not a right to
the same eulogium.
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