Not satisfied with this, he wrote the father
such an exaggerated account of his son's loss and general bad
habits, that the enraged and irritated parent procured an order
to confine his son at Saint Lazare! Did you ever hear of a more
infamous and accomplished rogue than my honourable
?
However, I shall give him up to his fate, be it good or bad, and
proceed with the relation of my affair with duc de Choiseul.
I had named to madame de l'Hopital the hour at which I could
receive the duke. She had requested, in pursuance of her directions,
no doubt, that the conversation between us should take place
either amidst the groves of Versailles or in the labyrinth of
Marly;--the self-love of M. de Choiseul inducing him to desire
that this interview should be so contrived, as to wear the air of
a mere chance rencontre. To this I would not consent; saying,
that it did not suit my pleasure to quit the house; and that when
a gentleman solicited the favour of speaking to a lady, it became
his business to wait upon her, without expecting she should come
in search of him; and, spite of all the arguments of madame de
l'Hopital, I persisted in my determination: she had no alternative
but to submit, and I awaited the coming of M. de Choiseul on the
following day.
The duc de Choiseul possessed a greater reputation than his
talents were entitled to; and his advancement was more attributable
to his good fortune than his merit.
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