never satisfied unless she knew all that was going
on, and was permitted to take an active part in every transaction; she
would frequently scold me for not telling her things of which I was
myself ignorant. She was at the bottom of the most secret intrigues, and
watched every turn of my countenance, as though she sought to read in
my eyes the inmost thoughts of my mind. Never," continued the king, "did
woman more earnestly desire supreme command; and so completely had she
learned to play my part, that I have frequently surprised her giving
private instructions to my ambassadors, differing altogether from what
I myself had dictated to them. Upon the same principle she maintained at
various courts envoys and ministers, who acted by her orders, and in her
name; she even succeeded in obtaining the friendship of the grave and
austere Marie Therese, who ultimately carried her condescension so far,
as only to address the marchioness by the title of 'cousin' and 'dear
friend.' I must confess, however, that these proceedings on the part of
madame de Pompadour were by no means agreeable to me, and I even prefer
your ignorance of politics to her incessant interference with them."

This was said by Louis XV upon the occasion of the approaching marriage
of the comte d'Artois, the object of universal cabal and court intrigue
to all but myself, who preserved perfect tranquillity amidst the general
excitement that prevailed.

Various reasons made the marriage of this prince a matter of imperative
necessity. In the first place, the open gallantry of the young count
had attracted a crowd of disreputable personages of both sexes to
Versailles, and many scandalous adventures occurred within the chateau
itself; secondly, a motive still more important in the eyes of Louis XV,
originated in the circumstance of neither the marriage of the dauphin
nor that of the comte de Provence having been blest with any offspring.
The king began to despair of seeing any descendants in a direct line,
unless indeed heaven should smile upon the wedded life of the comte
d'Artois. Louis XV disliked the princes of the blood, and the bare idea
that the duc d'Orleans might one day wield his sceptre would have been
worse than death.

Many alliances were proposed for the prince. Marie Josephe, infanta of
Spain, was then in her twentieth year, and consequently too old. The
princess Marie-Francoise-Benedictine-Anne-Elizabeth-Josephe-Antonine
Laurence-Ignace-Therese-