ou upon your liberality, however I may
for your candour."

"Madam, I have never since my entry into the ministry sought to live at
the expense of my country, and let me resign office when I may, I shall
retire loaded only with debts, whilst you and your friends draw large
revenues from the nation."

The conversation became warm and angry, the duke and myself, with
crimson cheeks and inflamed countenances, surveyed each other with
haughty defiance. At length he added,

"I had hoped that I should have quitted you more kindly disposed towards
me."

"And I, my lord, fancied that you were coming with an ardent desire for
peace; but no, the spirit of your sister leads you astray, and you would
fain punish me for her absence from court."

"Madam, I beseech you to leave my sister in peace; she has gone, that
ought to satisfy you. We will not, if you please, speak of her."

"I only wish that she would likewise do me the honour to be silent
respecting me. I am not ignorant that she continues to aim her slanders
at me from afar as she did when near me. One might suppose that the sole
object of her journeyings was but to excite all France against me."

"Madam, you are mistaken. My sister--"

"Continues to play the same part in the country she did in Paris. She
detests me because I happen to have youth and beauty on my side. May her
hatred last forever."

"Ah, madam, say not so; for with your charms you are indeed too
formidable an antagonist; and the more so, as I clearly perceive you are
not inclined for peace."

"At least," said I, "the war on my side shall be fair and open, and
those belonging to you have not always waged it with me upon those
terms."

The duke merely warded off this last assertion by some unmeaning
compliment, and we separated greater enemies than ever.

The first person to whom I could communicate what had passed was the duc
d'Aiguillon. He listened to my recital without any decided expression of
his opinion; but no sooner had I concluded, than he took me by the hand,
and pressing it with a friendly grasp,

"How I congratulate you," said he, "upon the good fortune which has
extricated you from this affair. Do you know that a reconciliation with
the duc de Choiseul would have involved your inevitable disgrace? What
evil genius counselled you to act in such a manner?"

"I fancied I was doing right," said I, "in thus proving to the king that
I was not an unreasonable woman."

"The Choiseuls,"