"

The marechal had his reasons for saying this, for a secret jealousy
existed between the governor and the grand almoner. M. de la Vauguyon
made haste to say, that he could not resist his majesty's orders, and
his desire to be agreeable to me.

"Ah! you will then do something for me?" I replied. "I am delighted and
proud."

"Madame," replied the duke with much gravity, "friends are proved on
occasion."

"The present one proves your attachment to me," said I in my turn;
"and his majesty will not think it wrong of me, if, as a recompense, I
embrace you in his presence": and, on saying this, I went up to the
duc de la Vauguyon, and gave him two kisses, which the poor man took as
quietly as possible.

"That's well," said the king. "You are, la Vauguyon, a man of a
thousand. Listen attentively to me. I wish much that the comtesse du
Barry should be presented; I wish it, and that, too, in defiance of all
that can be said and done. My indignation is excited beforehand against
all those who shall raise any obstacle to it. Do not fail to let my
daughters know, that if they do not comply with my wishes, I will let
my anger fall heavily on all persons by whose counsels they may be
persuaded; for I only am master, and I will prove it to the last. These
are your credentials, my dear duke, add to them what you may think
fitting; I will bear you out in any thing--"

"Mercy!" said the duc de Richelieu to me in an undertone, "the king has
poured forth all his energy in words; he will have none left to act upon
if he meets with any resistance." The marechal knew the king well.

"I doubt not, sire," replied the duc de la Vauguyon, "that the
respectful duty of mesdames will be ready to comply with your desires."

"I trust and believe it will prove so," replied the king hastily. "I am
a good father, and would not that my daughters should give me cause to
be angry with them. Let madame Adelaide understand, that she has
lately had a mistaken opinion of me, and that she has an opportunity
of repairing her error in the present instance. The princesses are not
ignorant that I have often shut my eyes upon certain affairs--. Enough;
they must now testify their attachment for me. Why should they oppose."

At these latter words I could not forbear laughing. La Vauguyon and de
Richelieu left us and here the conversation terminated.

The next morning they brought me a note from the duc de la Vauguyon.
Thus it ran:--

"MADAME,--Ready to