d armies and gained victories. Despite his merit he lived long
unknown: the reason was obvious--he knew nothing of intrigue; and
his wife, though pretty, was discreet; and these are not the means to
advance a man at court.

Louis XV, who knew something of men when he chose to study them., was
not slow in detecting the talent of Lemoine, and in consequence gave
him that station in which de Broglie had been installed. No sooner
had Lemoine glanced over the affairs submitted to his control, than he
became master of them, as much as though they had occupied the whole
of his life, and in a short time he gave to his situation an importance
which it had never before reached. Unwilling, however, to incur hatred,
he enveloped himself in profound mystery, so much so that nobody, with
the exception of Messrs. d'Aiguillon and de Sartines, knew anything of
his labors. This pleased the king, who was averse to publicity.

The duc d'Aiguillon could not conceal his joy at being freed from de
Broglie, his most troublesome colleague. It was a grand point gained for
him, as he could now make sure of the post of secretary-at-war, the main
object of his ambition. He wished to be placed in the duc de Choiseul's
position, and to effect this he redoubled his attentions towards the
king, who, though not really regarding him, at length treated him as
the dearest of his subjects. There are inexplicable mysteries in weak
characters; obstinacy alarms them, and they yield because they hate
resistance.

The king was _ennuied_ to death, and became daily more dull and heavy. I
saw his gloom without knowing how to disperse it, but it did not make
me particularly uncomfortable. Occupied with my dear duc de Brissac I
almost forgot his majesty for him: the marechale de Mirepoix, who had
more experience than I had in the affairs at Versailles, and who knew
the king well, was alarmed at my negligence, and spoke to me of it.

"Do you not see," she said, one day, "what a crisis is at hand?"

"What crisis?" I asked.

"The king is dying of ennui."

"True."

"Does it not alarm you?" said the marechale.

"Why should it?"

"What makes him so? Think well when I tell you that your mortal enemy
has seized Louis XV; your most redoubtable enemy, _ennui_!"

"Very well; but what would you have me do?"

"You must amuse him."

"That is easier said than done."

"You are right, but it is compulsory. Believe me, kings are not moulded
like other men: early disg