! my dear
Jeanne, to-morrow you sup with the king."

On this information I turned pale, my strength forsook me, and I was
compelled to sit down, or rather to fall into a chair; for, according
to Jean Jacques Rousseau, my legs shook under me (_flageolaient_). This,
however, was the only movement of weakness which I betrayed. When I
recovered a little, the comte Jean told me the conversation he had had
with Lebel. I joked about the title of baron de Gonesse, and I promised
to treat the king as if ignorant of his incognito. One thing only made
me uneasy, and that was supping with the duc de Richelieu, who had
seen me before at madame de Lagarde's; but the idea that he would not
remember me gave me renewed courage.

On so important an occasion, comte Jean did not forget to repeat his
instructions over again. These are nearly his words, for I think I
learnt them by heart.

"Remember that it is on your first interview that your safety depends.
Let him learn, through you, those utter tendernesses which have been
sought for him in vain heretofore. He is like the monarch of old, who
was willing to pay the half of his crown for an unknown pleasure. Lebel
is wearied in seeking every week for new fruit. He is quite disposed
to serve you, and will second you in the best manner. You are about
to become the centre of attraction to all courtiers, and noble
_courtisanes_. You must expect that they will endeavor to cry you down,
because you will have carried off from them a gem to which every family
has its pretensions. You must at first stand firmly before the storm,
but afterward you will find all enlist themselves under your banner, who
have no wife, sister, nor daughter; that is, all who have no mistress to
offer to the king. You must attach these to you by place and favor: they
must be first thought of, and then you must think of yourself and me, my
dear girl."

"All this is well enough," I replied, "but as yet I am nothing."

"_Morbleu_! to-morrow you will be everything," cried comte Jean, with
his determined energy. "But we must think about this morrow. Make haste,
noble comtesse; go to all the milliners, seek what is elegant rather
than what is rich. Be as lovely, pleasing, and gay as possible; this is
the main point, and God will do all the rest."

He pronounced this blasphemy in a laughing tone, and I confess I could
not help joining in the laugh, and then hastened to comply with his
directions.

CHAPTER II