"
Sophie threw herself weeping at my feet. I raised and encouraged
her by the kindest words to pursue the right path, but I remained
steady in my determination of sending her from me.
I was not mistaken. The duc de Villeroi became the possessor of
poor Sophie, and publicly boasted of having her under his protection.
He did not, however, proceed to these extreme measures until he
had essayed every possible means of effecting a reconciliation
with me, and he employed more than a hundred persons in the vain
attempt of inducing me to pardon him. With this view the marechale
de Mirepoix, whose succour he had implored, observed to me that
it was sometimes necessary to feign to overlook an insult; I
replied, that dissimulation was an art I knew nothing of, nor did
I wish ever to acquire it.
"Really, my dear countess," cried she, "you should not live at
court, you are absolutely unfit for it."
"It may be so," replied I; "but I would rather quit Versailles
altogether than be surrounded by false and perfidious friends."
All the remonstrances of the good-natured marechale were fruitless,
I could not bring myself to pardon a man who had so openly
outraged my friendship.
Directly I saw the king, I related the whole affair to him.
"It must be confessed," said he, "that the duke has behaved very
ill towards you, but he has certainly shown his taste as far as
regards Sophie. She is a sweet creature.
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