n the kingdom. As his relatives had nothing to give Joachim, they made
him an abbe. Like Bernard, he came when very young to Paris, confiding in
his lucky planet, smiling on every one, and reaping a plentiful harvest
of smiles in return. He was then a handsome young man, with a bright eye
and an animated mouth. In figure he was herculean, and here we find, in
contradiction of Buffon's saying, that the style was _not_ the man, no
more than it was with Bernard, who was also of large stature.

Joachim passed the winter at Saint-Sulpice, but, like Boufflers a little
later, far from singing the Canticles, he employed his time in the more
mundane occupation of scribbling love-songs. At the end of the winter he
was appointed vicar in a little town of his native department. "Vicar!"
said Joachim; "I'll not disturb myself for such a trifle." Shortly
afterward he was nominated Abbe de Bernis; but not a step would he budge
from the capital. In Paris then he remained, penniless it is true, but
without a care or thought for the future, and full of confidence in his
lucky planet--a confidence which, it must be said, was not misplaced. His
acquaintance with Madame d'Etioles began through an intrigue which he had
with a certain _marchande des modes_, who worked for the future favorite.
Having perceived the young girl one night at the theater in company with
her lover, Madame d'Etioles summoned her the following morning to her
house, and in the course of conversation inquired if that handsome young
man she had with her at the theater was her cousin.

"No, madame," replied the milliner; "he is my lover."

"Ah, indeed! he is your lover is he? And what does he do?"

"No great things, madame; he makes verses."

"A maker of verses!" said Madame d'Etioles; "that is amusing. Do not
forget my cap, and tell your young poet to come and see me."

In consequence of this invitation Bernis called on Madame d'Etioles, who
Received him with all the graces in the world, and from that hour
commenced a friendship which lasted for many years, and was the origin of
De Bernis' future advancement in the world.

Despite his great acquaintances, our abbe was none the richer; but he
laughed gaily at his poverty, and waited for better times. According to
all accounts the garret which he inhabited was in a wretchedly
dilapidated condition; his furniture consisted of a "bad bed covered with
some mules' saddle-cloths, which M. de Ferriol had brought from
Const