fully kept from me all that could give me pain, and took a thousand
precautions that no unpleasant reports should reach me. If we passed a
short time without meeting he wrote to me, and I confess I was delighted
with a correspondence which formed my own style. Mademoiselle Chon, my
sister-in-law, and I also wrote to each other, and that from one room to
another. I remember that one day, having broken a glass of rock crystal
which she had given me, I announced my misfortune in such solemn style,
and with so well feigned a tone of chagrin, that the letter amused the
whole family. The king saw it, and was so much pleased that he kept it,
and next day sent me a golden goblet enriched with stones, which I gave
to Chon, to whom it rightfully belonged.

CHAPTER VI

Journey to Choisy--The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV--The
king of Denmark--The czar Peter--Frederick II--The abbe de
la Chapelle--An experiment--New intrigues--Secret agents-The
comtesse and Louis XV--Of the presentation--Letter of the
comtesse to the duc d'Aiguillon--Reply--Prince de Soubise

Up to this period I had resided constantly at Versailles or Paris,
according to the pleasure of the king, but had never followed his
majesty in any of his journeys. He wished to pass some days at his
delightful chateau at Choisy, situated on the banks of the Seine. It was
decided that I should be of the party, taking the name of the baroness
de Pamklek, a German lady, as that would save me from the embarrassment
in which I should be placed with the king in consequence of my
non-presentation. The prince de Soubise, the ducs de la Trimoulle,
d'Ayen, d'Aiguillon, and the marquis de Chauvelin, were also to attend
the king. The king remained nearly the whole time with me, and the
_entree_ to my apartment became a favor not accorded to every body.
A small committee met there, and talked of every thing except what is
rational; and I can assure you that with such conversation time passes
very quickly.

One day the king entered my apartment holding in his hand a letter.

"I am about to receive," said he, "a visit that will not give me much
pleasure. My brother of Denmark is traversing Europe, and is about
to come to France. _Mon Dieu_! what inconvenient persons are your
travelling kings! Why do they leave their kingdoms? I think they are
very well at home."

"Yes, sire, but there is an excuse for them: they are weary of admiring
your majesty at a