no idea, never having seen, but with your majesty's
permission, I will endeavor to learn from M. de Cassini*!" To such a
pitch did the poor man's simplicity extend. Both father and son were
nominated to attend the king of Denmark, when on his road to visit
France. The king observed to a person who repeated it to me: "The French
are generally styled a clever, witty nation; I cannot say I should ever
have been able to discover it, had I been tempted to form my opinion
from the specimen they have sent me."

*The royal astronomer--Gutenberg ed.

As far as I am concerned, after saying so many unfavorable things of the
Messrs. de Duras, I must do them the justice to say, that their conduct
towards me was everything that could be desired. I was always glad to
see them; it gave my own imagination a sort of sedative dose to converse
with these two simple-minded beings, whose interests I was always ready
to promote by every means in my power, and I trust the memory of what I
have done will be long remembered by the noble house of Duras.

This supper did not pass off so gaily as the former one. The duc de
Duras spoke as little as possible, in the dread of making some unlucky
speech, and the duc d'Ayen sat devouring the spleen he could not
give vent to, and meditating fresh objects upon whom to exercise his
malignity; he vainly endeavored to lead me on to make some ridiculous
observation, but without success; happily for him, the king did not
perceive his aim. My royal lover was indeed so entirely engrossed by me,
that he lost all the duke's manoeuvres; his transports appeared too much
for his senses to sustain, and he vowed that I should never quit him
more, but remain to be elevated by his power to the first place at
court. At the monarch's sign, the two guests withdrew.

When the duc d'Ayen quitted the room, "That nobleman is by no means to
my taste," said I to the king, "he has the air of a spy, who wishes me
no good."

"Do you really think so, my lovely comtesse?"

"I am certain of it; and I already shudder at the bare anticipation of
an enemy having access to your majesty's ear."

"Reassure yourself," said the king, with the utmost tenderness, "in me
you have a sure defender, who will never forsake you; look upon me from
this minute as your natural protector, and woe to him on whose head your
displeasure shall fall."

After this conversation the king and myself retired to rest, and when he
quitted me in the morning,