"
"It is my opinion," replied I, "that all propositions coming from
these people should be rejected; they have compelled me to raise
between them and myself an immense wall of hatred, not less
difficult to surmount than the grand wall of China."
"Yet," replied the marechale, smiling, "they are disposed to pay
any price for so doing."
"I have friends," said I, "from whom I can never separate myself."
"They are willing that your friends shall be theirs likewise,"
cried she, "for they see that M. de Maupeou, the duc de la
Vrilliere, and the abbe Terray, are provided for, and that the
duc d'Aiguillon alone remains to be suitably established; M. de
Choiseul would be happy to aid him in obtaining the post of
minister of naval affairs."
"Well, and the duchesse de Grammont," inquired I, "would she
visit me?"
"Oh, as to that, I know nothing about it, and can venture no
opinion; my commission does not extend so far."
"I understand you," said I; "she seeks for peace only as it
would enable her the better to carry on her hostilities against
me. I am sorry, madame la marechale, that I cannot accept
your terms for a reconciliation."
"Remember, I pray of you, that I have been an ambassadress, and
nothing more," said madame de Mirepoix; "recollect I have spoken
to you in the words of others, not my own. I must beg of you to
be secret; if you divulge the particulars of this morning's
conversation, it is I who will suffer by it: your friends will be
displeased with me for my interference; and I have no inclination
to provoke the anger of a party so powerful as yours.
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