ll
than large, rather fat than lean, rather old than young, with a good
foot, a good eye, as robust as a trooper, with a decided "call" for
intrigue, drinking nothing but wine, telling nothing but lies, swearing
by, or denying God, as suited her purpose. Fancy such an one, and you
will have before you _la Mere Bompart, Pourvoyeuse en chef des celludes
du Parc-aux-Cerfs_.

She was in correspondence with all sorts of persons, with the most
celebrated _appareilleuses_, and of course with the most noted pimps.
She treated Lebel as her equal, went familiarly to M. de Sartines and
occasionally condescended to visit M. de Saint-Florentin. Everybody at
court received her graciously; everybody but the king and myself, who
held her in equal horror.

The _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ cost enormous sums. The lowest expense was
calculated at 150,000 livres, to pay only the functionaries and the
domestics, the education and the board of the _eleves_, etc. This does
not include the cost of the _recruiting service_, the indemnities paid
to families, the dowry given with them in marriage, the presents made to
them, and the expenses of the illegitimate children: this was enormous
in cost, at least 2,000,000 livres a year, and yet I make the lowest
estimation. The _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ was kept up for thirty-four years:
it cost annually 4 or 5,000,000 livres, and that will amount to nearly
150,000,000 (L 6,250,000). If you think I mistake, go through the
calculation.

A short time after my sojourn at Versailles, when I was the acknowledged
mistress of the king, the duc de Richelieu asked me if I had heard of
the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_? I asked him, in my turn, what he meant, and if
I could procure any account of the place. He then told me of the care
which madame de Pompadour bestowed On the place, the advantage she drew
from it, and assured me of the necessity for following her example. I
spoke of this to comte Jean, and begged his advice. My brother-in-law
replied:--

"You must do as the marquise de Pompadour did, and as the duc de
Richelieu has advised. They spend a vast deal of money in this house,
and I undertake to look over their accounts. Nominate me your prime
minister, and I shall be the happiest of men. It is impossible but there
must be something to be gleaned from his majesty."

"In truth, my dear brother-in-law, you would be in your element; money
to handle and young girls to manage. What more could you covet? You
will establish a gaming tab