ge for
himself. Accordingly his majesty wrote to madame de Rumas, who received
the letter from the hands of her friend Chamilly with all pomp and
state, talked first of her own virtue and honor, and afterwards of her
dutiful respect for his majesty. She replied to the royal note in
so prudent yet obliging a manner, that the king was enchanted. This
effective billet was answered by a second letter from the king, which
obtained a reply even more tenderly charming than the one which preceded
it. An interview was next solicited and granted; for a visit was such
a trifle to refuse. The royal guest became pressing and the lady more
reserved, till the time was lost in attempts at convincing each other.
At the next interview madame de Rumas freely confessed her sincere
attachment for his majesty, but added, that such was her desire to
possess his whole and undivided regard, that she could never give
herself up to the hope of keeping him exclusively hers whilst I
interposed between her and the king's heart--in a few words then she
demanded my dismissal. This was going too far; and Louis XV, who thought
it no scandal to have a hundred mistresses, was alarmed at the thoughts
of occasioning the bustle and confusion attendant upon disgracing his
acknowledged favorite and recognised mistress; he therefore assured her,
her request was beyond his power to grant.

Madame de Rumas now sought to compromise the affair, by talking of a
share in his favor. She asked, she said, but the heart of her beloved
monarch, and would freely leave me in possession of all power and
influence. The king whose heart was regularly promised once a day,
did not hesitate to assure her of his fidelity, and his wily enslaver
flattered herself, that with time and clever management, she should
succeed in inducing him to break off those ties which he now refused to
break.

Things were in this state when Marin divulged to us the intrigue
conducted by Chamilly, and directed, though in a covert manner, by the
marechal duc de Richelieu. This spiteful old man possessed no share of
the talent of his family; and, not contented with the favor bestowed on
his nephew, thought only of his personal credit and influence, which he
fancied he should best secure by introducing a new mistress to the
king. This well-concocted scheme threw both Comte Jean and myself into
a perfect fury. We dismissed Marin with a present of fifty louis, and
my brother-in-law besought of me to grant