atter presented itself. The Princess Orsini was nothing loath to
accept this position when it was spoken of, and she wrote to the
Duchesse de Noailles as follows in soliciting her influence with the
French court: "My intention is only to go to Madrid and remain there as
long as the king chooses, and afterward to return to Versailles and give
an account of my journey.... I am the widow of a grandee, and acquainted
with the Spanish language; I am beloved and esteemed in the country; I
have numerous friends, and particularly the Cardinal Pontocarrero; with
these advantages, judge whether I shall not cause both rain and sunshine
at Madrid, and whether I shall incur the imputation of vanity in
offering my services." Saint-Simon, who knew the princess well, has
written in his _Memoirs_ the following description of her appearance and
character, and it is so lucid in its statement and such an admirable
specimen of pen portraiture that it is given in its entirety:

"She was above the middle size, a brunette with expressive blue eyes;
and her face, though without pretension to beauty, was uncommonly
interesting. She had a fine figure, a majestic and dignified air, rather
attractive than intimidating, and united with such numberless graces,
even in trifles, that I have never seen her equal either in person or
mind. Flattering, engaging, and discreet, anxious to please for the sake
of pleasing, and irresistible when she wished to persuade or conciliate,
she had an agreeable tone of voice and manner, and an inexhaustible fund
of conversation, which was rendered highly entertaining by accounts of
the different countries she had visited, and anecdotes of the
distinguished persons whom she had known and frequented. She had been
habituated to the best company, was extremely polite and affable to all,
yet peculiarly engaging with those whom she wished to distinguish, and
equally skilful in displaying her own graces and qualifications. She was
adapted by nature for the meridian of courts, and versed in all the
intrigues of cabinets from her long residence in Rome, where she
maintained a princely establishment. She was vain of her person and fond
of admiration, foibles which never left her, and hence her dress in
every season of life was too youthful for her age and sometimes even
ridiculous. She possessed a simple and natural eloquence, saying always
what she chose, and as she chose, and nothing more. Secret with regard
to herself; faithfu