yellow, bordering upon green. It must be owned, however,
that his face, full of thought and intelligence, fully compensated for
all the rest.

*This gentleman would have been an able coadjutor for Sir
Robert Walpole.--Trans.

You know how, as first president of the parliament of Paris, he
succeeded his father as vice-chancellor. At the resignation of the
titular M. de Lamoignon*, the elder Maupeou received his letters of
nomination, and as soon as they were registered, he resigned in favor of
his son. The Choiseuls had allowed the latter to be nominated, relying
on finding him a creature. I soon saw that the Choiseuls were mistaken.

*In September, 1768. (au.)

It was in the month of October, that Henriette, always my favorite, came
to me with an air of unusual mystery, to say, that a black* and ugly
gentleman wished to see me; that on the usual reply that I was not
visible, he had insisted, and sent, at the same time, a cautiously
sealed note. I took it, opened, and read these words:--

*i.e., black-haired and/or dressed in black (Gutenberg ed.)

"The chancellor of France wishes to have the honor of presenting his
respectful homage to madame la comtesse du Barry."

"Let him come in," I said to Henriette.

"I will lay a wager, madame, that he comes to ask some favor."

"I believe," replied I, "that he is more frequently the solicited than
the solicitor."

Henriette went out, and in a few minutes led in, thro' the private
corridors which communicated with my apartment, his highness monseigneur
Rene Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, chevalier and chancellor of
France. As soon as he entered I conceived a good opinion of him, altho'
I had only seen him walk. His step was firm and assured, like that of a
man confident in the resources of his own talents.

"Madame la comtesse du Barry," he said, "would have a right to complain
of me, if I did not come and lay my person at her feet. I had the more
impatience to express to her my devotion, as I feared she had been
prejudiced against me."

"How, monseigneur?"

"The gate by which I entered the ministry--"

"Is not agreeable to me, as being that of my enemies, but I feel assured
that you will not side with them against me."

"Certainly not, madame; it is my wish to give you pleasure in every
thing, and I flatter myself I may merit your friendship."

After many other compliments, the Chancellor asked me, with much
familiarity, when my pre