's private society to account, by preferring
some request or soliciting some particular favor. Instead of giving
herself up to the joy and hilarity that reigned around, she seemed
always on the watch to seize every possible advantage to herself.
Immediately that the king was apprized of my intention of dismissing her
from any further cares for me, "You are quite right," said he, "to get
rid of this troublesome woman, who never visits us without calculating
the degree of interest she can derive from it, and seems to me, whenever
she approaches me, as tho' she were devising some fresh petition to
obtain from me. And now, too, that the first ladies of the court fill
your drawing-rooms, why should you endure her importunate presence?"

Strengthened by these sentiments on the king's part, I lost no time in
writing to madame de Bearn a letter, of which many false copies were
circulated; however, I subjoin the following as the veritable epistle
addressed by me to the countess:--

"MADAME,--It would be the height of selfishness on my part to tax
further the kindness and attention you have been pleased to show me. I
am well aware how many public and private duties claim your care, and I
therefore (with much regret) beg to restore to you that liberty you have
so generously sacrificed to my interests. Conscious of the ennui which
oppresses you in this part of the country, I write to entreat that you
will allow no consideration connected with me to detain you longer in a
place so irksome, but, since our visit to Marly is concluded, fly upon
the wings of impatience to the gay scenes of Paris and Luxembourg. Be
assured that it will at all times afford me much pleasure to evince the
gratitude with which I shall ever remain,

"Madame, yours sincerely,

"THE COMTESSE Du Barry."

"P. S. I am commissioned to entreat your acceptance of the accompanying
casket; it is the gift of one whose favors are never refused; you
will easily guess, to whom I allude, and I doubt not bring yourself to
conform to the usual custom."

The jewels sent were a pair of ear-rings and an _agrafe_ of emeralds
encircled with diamonds. The king was desirous of bestowing upon madame
de Bearn this particular mark of his recollection of her services
towards me, but it did not allay the indignation with which she
expressed her sense of my bitter ingratitude, as she termed it, as
tho' her interested cooperation had not been sufficiently repaid.
Nevertheless, she f