nd believed were passed and gone never to return. I well knew his
sentiments on the subject, and yet, trusting to my great influence over
his mind, I did not despair of success; besides Chon, my sister-in-law,
was constantly reminding me that people of a certain rank should support
one another, and that now was the time or never. I therefore resolved
upon befriending the daughters of comte de Louerne to the utmost of
my power, and for that purpose I placed them both in a corner of the
drawing-room so as to catch the king's eye as he entered; he observed
them, and inquired who those two ladies were. "Sire," replied I, "they
are the heart-broken daughters of the comte and comtesse de Louerne,
who implore clemency of your majesty to save the lives of the authors of
their being."

"Ah!" returned he, "madame, you know I can do nothing against the law
which they have offended."

At these cruel words the two young ladies threw themselves at his
feet, exclaiming, "Pardon, pardon, sire; in the name of heaven and your
illustrious ancestors."

"Rise, ladies," said the king; "I would willingly serve you, but I have
not the power."

"No, sire," cried I, "you must not, you cannot refuse our united
prayers; and I here vow to remain kneeling at your feet till your lips
shall pronounce the word which shall restore life and happiness to so
many afflicted hearts."

"Madame," said the king, altho' in a tone less firm, "you force me to do
what my principles condemn; but since it must be so, I yield; and only
rejoice that the first personal favor you request of me is to perform an
act of beneficence. Ladies," added he, turning towards the comtesse de
Moyau and her sister-in-law, "you owe the lives of your parents to the
generous mediation of the comtesse du Barry."

The joy of the Louernes was only equalled by the base calumny of my
enemies, who accused me of having prepared this scene, which was got up
by the king and myself to produce effect and excite popularity. Could
such disgusting falsehoods have entered the minds of any but the most
depraved? Yet those who continually watched and misrepresented my least
action appeared anxious to deprive me of even the taste for, as well
as the power of, doing good. This took place at Choisy, which we
very shortly after quitted for Compiegne, where I passed my time very
agreeably. The king would not suffer either the duchesse de Grammont
or the comtesses d'Egmont and de Brienne to accompany us