"You may imagine the terror of madame de Pompadour, her anxiety
and impatience to return to Versailles. However, ere she quitted
the friendly monk she assured him of her lasting gratitude, and
begged of him to point out how she could best prove it. 'For
myself,' replied he, 'I ask nothing; but if you would render me
your debtor, confer the first vacant bishopric on a man whom I
greatly esteem, the abbe de Barral.' You will easily suppose that
the abbe de Barral had not long to wait for his preferment: as
for the Jacobite the marchioness never again saw or heard anything
of him. She mentioned him to the newly appointed bishop, who
could not even understand to what she alluded. She related the
affair, when he called heaven to witness that he knew nothing of
any Jacobite either directly or indirectly."
"And how did the marchioness get rid of her rival?" inquired I
of madame de Mirepoix.
"By a very simple and effective expedient. She sent for the duc
de Saint Florentin, whom she requested immediately to expedite
two
; one for the , who was
shut up in the chateau de Lectoure, and the other for the daughter,
whom the marchioness sent to the isle of St. Marguerite, to
occupy the place she had so obligingly destined for herself."
"And now," asked I, "did these unfortunate people ever get out
of prison?"
"That I know not," answered the marechale; "and, God forgive me,
for aught I ever inquired they may be there now.
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