had done a most
courageous deed.

But I have omitted a day which was of great importance to me in
its consequences. I mean the day which followed that on which I had
complained to the duc de Duras of M. the lieutenant of police. In the
morning early my sister-in-law came into my room.

"Sister," said she, "comte Jean is here with M. de Sartines, who begs to
pay his respects to you. Will you receive him?"

"M. de Sartines! Yes, let him come in; I will treat him as he deserves."

Comte Jean then came in, preceded by the lieutenant of police: he wore
a large peruke with white powder, and curled with the utmost care. Wigs
were his mania, and he had a room filled from floor to ceiling with
these ornaments. The duc d'Ayen said, that he never should be in trouble
about the council of state, for in case of need, it might be found and
replenished from the house of the lieutenant of police. Let us leave
wigs and revert to M. de Sartines.

He appeared before me with the air of Tartuffe, and, forgive the phrase,
_en vrai capon_.

"Madame," said he to me, "I have been informed that I am in disgrace
with you, and have come to inquire how I may extricate myself from this
misfortune."

"You ought to know, sir. Twice in one month have I been shamefully
insulted; and yet the first intimation of such a thing ought to have put
you on your guard."

M. de Sartines, whom my tone had much surprised, endeavored to justify
himself, when comte Jean said to him,

"My dear lieutenant of police, all you have said goes for nothing. One
thing is certain, and that is, that there is a deficiency of respect
towards my sister-in-law. You say that it is not your fault: what proof
do you give us of this? What inquiries have you made? What measures have
you taken? Any? Why do you come to us if you aid our enemies?"

M. de Sartines would fain have ensconced himself in his own dignity.

"M. du Barry," was his reply, "I shall render an account of my conduct
to the king."

"Very well, sir," I replied, "but do not suppose that either you or the
Choiseuls can give me any cause of fear."

M. de Sartines was thunderstruck; my boldness astonished him. At length
he said,

"Madame, you are angry with me causelessly; I am more negligent than
culpable. It is useless to say this to the king."

"I will not conceal from you, sir, that he knows it all, and is greatly
discontented with you."

"I am lost then," said M. de Sartines.

"Lost! not precisely