Nominate me
your prime minister, and I shall be the happiest of men. It is
impossible but there must be something to be gleaned from
his majesty."
"In truth, my dear brother-in-law, you would be in your element;
money to handle and young girls to manage. What more could you
covet? You will establish a gaming table at the
,
and never quit it again."
Comte Jean began to laugh, and then seriously advised me to
follow the plain counsel of the duc de Richelieu.
I decided on doing so. I sent for Madame. She came with all the
dignity of an abbess of a regally founded convent. But in spite
of her pretensions, I only saw in her the rival of Gourdan and
Paris, and treated her as such; that is, with some contempt, for
with that feeling her office inspired me. She told me all I have
described to you, and many other things which have since escaped
me. At that time there were only four < eleves > in the house.
When she had given me all the details I wished, I sent her away,
desiring to be informed of all that passed in her establishment.
CHAPTER XXX
F?te given by the comtesse de Valentinois--The comtesse du Barry
feigns an indisposition--Her dress--The duc de Cosse-The comte
and comtesse de Provence--Dramatic entertainment--Favart and
Voisenon--A few observations--A pension--The marechale de Luxembourg
--Adventure of M. de Bombelles--Copy of a letter addressed to him--
Louis XV--M.
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