appointed vanity and
ambition, that I am nearly ready to die with laughter.

"Apropos of dying; I inquired the number of deaths which took place at
Chantilly last week; only four, they say! Now I think that number quite
sufficient for the size of the place. I walked as far as the village
cemetery, which is large and judiciously placed. I must tell you, that
one of my footmen has gone to that last journey from which none return:
he was a tall, presuming sort of fellow, remarkable for nothing but
his impertinence, and the continual scrapes he was forever getting into
amongst the soubrettes. However, he met with his death in some sudden
brawl. My people sought to conceal this piece of intelligence from me;
but having once heard of it, I despatched Flamarens to ascertain in what
corner of the cemetery he has been interred.

"The duc de Tresmes talks much of you, and boasts greatly to the honor
of your friendship; he has dubbed himself your '_sapajou_'; this is not
amiss for a peer of France, and what is still more gratifying, he has
assumed a title which, I believe, no one in the kingdom will attempt
to dispute his incontestable claim to call his own. Villeroi is
all impatience to return to Versailles. The dukes of Richelieu and
d'Aiguillon, both uncle and nephew, recommend themselves to your
kind recollection. Thus you see you may reckon upon a few devoted and
attached friends, even without him, whose hand is busily tracing these
lines, and he, I can promise you, is inferior to none in the truest love
and affection for you.

"The ladies of whom I would have you be most on your guard are mesdames
de C., de B., de P., de G. They really throw themselves in my way till I
can call them nothing but fools for their pains; but I must do them the
justice to say that they are less ambitious than you, and so that they
could rob you of your place would care very little whether I could offer
them my heart with the other honors to which they aspire; in fact, 'tis
time we were together again, for the people here seem determined to
profit by my stay amongst them. My cousin entertains us magnificently,
and pleasure succeeds pleasure in a continual round of enchantment: he
tells me he has others still more charming in store against the time
when you will honor him with your presence. Am I right in promising this
will be ere very long? Adieu, what a long letter have I written you. I
will now conclude by bestowing an imaginary kiss on that