I was still engaged in its perusal when the king was
announced; I wished to hurry it back into the hands of M. de
Maupeou; but he, more crafty than I, requested I would keep it.
"It is fitting," said he, "that it should be seen by the right person."
Louis XV, astonished at the strange scene, inquired what it meant.
"A most shameful piece of scandal, sire," replied I.
"An infamous epistle," added the chancellor, "which one of my
friends managed to abstract from the post-office, and forwarded
to me: I brought it to madame la comtesse, that she might admire
the determined malice of our enemies."
"You excite my curiosity," cried Louis XV. "Madame, have the
kindness to allow me to see this paper."
"Indeed, sire," exclaimed I, "I know not whether I ought to obey
your majesty, so entirely has the writer of the letter forgotten
the respect duc to your sacred person."
"Oh," said the king, "I do not fear that; I am but too well used
to the offence to feel astonishment at its occurrence."
I placed the paper in the hand of Louis XV, whose eye easily
recognised the handwriting of madame de Grammont. "Ah, ah!"
cried he, "is it so? let us see what this restless lady has to
say of us all." I watched the countenance of the king as he read,
and saw the frown that covered it grow darker and darker;
nevertheless he continued to read on without comment till he
had reached the end; then sitting down and looking full at the
chancellor, he exclaimed,
"Well, M.
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