rits, that I hesitated ere I disturbed a gaiety to
which Louis XV was so little prone. However, I took him aside, saying,
"Sire, I have to ask atonement and reparation for a most horrible
piece of injustice." After which, I proceeded to acquaint him with the
distressing history of his unfortunate mistress. He appeared perfectly
well to recollect the female to whom I alluded; and when I ceased
speaking, he said, with a half-suppressed sigh,

"Poor creature! she has indeed been unfortunate; seventeen years and
five months in prison! The duc de la Vrilliere is greatly to blame in
the affair; but when once he has placed persons between four walls, he
thinks he has fulfilled the whole of his duty. He should recollect, that
a good memory is a necessary qualification for situation he holds; it
is indeed an imperative duty in him to think of the poor wretches he
deprives of their liberty."

"And in you too, sire," interrupted I; "and it appears to me that
you have lost sight of it, in the present affair, as culpably as your
minister."

"I confess it, indeed," answered Louis XV; "but the unfortunate
sufferer herself was not without a due share of blame in the matter. Her
presumption had greatly irritated madame de Pompadour, who punished her
as she thought fit: of course I could not, consistently with the regard
I professed for the marchioness, interfere in the execution of her
vengeance."

"I do not agree with you," said I.

"Why, what else could I do?" asked Louis XV, with the most imperturbable
calmness; "she had superior claims, was acknowledged as chief favorite,
and I could not refuse her the sacrifice of a mere temporary caprice."

"Very well said," answered I, "and founded upon excellent principles;
but surely it was not necessary to shut up the object of your caprice in
a state prison, and, above all, to leave her there for such a length of
time. However, the mischief is done; and all we have to think of is to
repair it. You have now, sire, a fine opportunity of displaying your
royal munificence."

"You think, then," returned Louis XV, "that I am bound to make this
unhappy girl some present? Well, I will; to-morrow I will send her
10,000 louis."

"A thousand louis!" exclaimed I, clasping my hands; "what, as a
recompense for seventeen years' imprisonment? No, no, sire, you shall
not get off so easily; you must must settle on her a pension of 12,000
livres, and present her with an order for 100,000 more as an im