ngs, and be less moved and excited. By this the prince de Soubise
lost the esteem which I might have accorded him, and the second place in
my counsels, which I might have given him.

I told the duke, who came to see me the moment afterwards, of the
failure of the prince's attempt. He told me that he had not hoped for
a better result. He went to the king, flattering himself with hopes of
better success, but did not find him.

The daughters of Louis XV had united against me with a fury which
nothing could justify. They were incessantly talking scandal of my past
life, as if there were only saints at court, as if they had no pranks
of their own to reproach themselves with. All the chateau knew of their
lovers, and there was _living_ evidence of the tenderness of madame
Adelaide: as for madame Louise she was an angel upon earth, and was the
only one who did not join in the cry against me. On the other hand, the
king, whilst he had but little love for his dear daughters, preserved
towards them a complaisance and external appearance of kindness which
was a substitute for parental love. When _mesdames royales_ cried out,
he stopped his ears with his two hands, and seemed, whilst looking
proudly at France, to say, "Am not I a good father, and are not my
daughters very happy, for I let them cry out with all their might?"

The next day the duc d'Aiguillon went again to the king, and found him
bewildered with family scenes and the murmurings of the Choiseuls. When
my ambassador had delivered his message, the king asked him if he, as
well as the prince de Soubise, had been set upon his haunches by me.

The duke, nothing intimidated at this, told the king that far from
having wished that he should be my interpreter, I had requested him not
to allude to the matter.

"Why, then," said Louis XV laughing, "do you not follow the advice of
the comtesse?"

"Because I entertain a sincere attachment for her, and that I am vexed
to hear it said that there are persons who lead your majesty."

"Who are the insolents that hold such language?"

"They surround you, sire. There is not a female here but affirms that
you dare not decide on the presentation of the comtesse."

"I alone am master, and will let them know it when the opportunity
arrives; but the present moment is not fitting. The comtesse knows how
well I love her; and if she will prove her friendship towards me, she
will remain quiet for some time."

The duke thought it best t