Itmustbeconfessedthatwesometimeskeptverybad
　　companyatVersailles。
　　Theking，whoabhorreddegradingactions，
　　didnotliketheducdeFronsac，butwasfullofkindlyfeeling
　　towardstheducd’Aiguillon。
　　Thelatterexperiencedtheextent
　　ofhisfavorinhislongandobstinatestrugglewiththeparliament
　　ofBretagne。
　　Itmustbeowned，thatifhegainedthevictoryat
　　court，hedecidedlylostitinthecity，andIwaspublicly
　　insultedonthisaccountinthemostbrutalmanner。
　　However，
　　thefriendshipwhichhisfirstinterviewinspiredmewith，Ihave
　　alwayspreservedunaltered。
　　Theweekglidedaway，andeachdaymyfortuneseemedmorefully
　　assured。
　　Theloveofthekingincreased，heheapedpresentson
　　meperpetually，andseemedtothinkhenevercoulddoenoughfor
　　me。
　　ThebountiesofLouisXVwereknown，andinstantlyaroused
　　againstmethetwoenemieswithwhomIhadbeenthreatened——the
　　ducdeChoiseulandtheduchessedeGrammont，hissister。
　　Imust
　　say，however，that，atfirst，thebrothercontentedhimselfwith
　　despisingme，buttheduchessewasfurious；Ihadoffendedher
　　feminineself-love，andshecouldnotforgiveme。
　　Ihavetoldyou
　　thatsheobtainedpossessionofthekingbystratagem。
　　Thisis
　　fact。
　　Shewasinaplaceofconcealmentduringaregaldebauch，
　　andwhenLouisleftthetable，withhisheadheatedbywine，she
　　awaitedhiminhisbedtocommitasortofviolenceonhim。
　　What
　　curiousambition！
　　Assoonasthisnobleladylearnedmyposition，
　　shewasdesirousofknowingwhoIwas，andIhavebeentold
　　sinceallthemeasuresshetooktolearnthis。
　　Shedidnot
　　confinehersearchtothecircleofVersailles，buthastenedto
　　prosecuteherinquiriesinPariswithM。deSartines。
　　The
　　lieutenantofpolicenotsuspectingthefavorthatawaitedme，
　　aswellasthatwhichIalreadyenjoyed，andontheotherhand
　　persuadedofthatoftheChoiseulfamily，setallhisbloodhounds
　　onmytraces。
　　Theydidnotfailtobringhimbackathousand
　　horribletalesaboutme，withwhichhegratifiedtheduchesse，
　　who，thinkingtherebytodomeasevereinjury，spreadinthe
　　chateauamultitudeofprejudicialtalesagainstme，hopingthat
　　theywouldreachtheearsofthekinganddisgusthimwithhis
　　amour。
　　Itwasatthisjuncturethatappearedinthe““thoseinfamousarticles，collectedinwhattheycall
　　theCollectionofBachaumont。
　　Fromthesamesourceproceeded
　　thesongswhichfilledParis，andweresung
　　abouteverywhere。
　　Thesescandalsproducednoothereffectthan
　　increasingtheattachmentwhichthekinghadforme，andto
　　diminishthatwhichhefeltfortheducdeChoiseul。
　　Passionneverreasons；ifithadcommonsense，itwouldperceive
　　thatitcannotdisgustaloverbyvilifyinghismistress，but，on
　　thecontrary，interestshisself-loveinsupportingher。
　　Thus
　　alltheseintriguesscathedmenot；Ididnotmentiontomy
　　counsellorcomteJeananinsultwhichImetwithinthepark
　　atVersaillesfrommadamedeGrammont。
　　Ididnottellittothe
　　king，notwishingtocreateanydisturbanceatcourt。
　　Iavenged
　　myselfbymyself，andthinkIconductedmyselfremarkablywell
　　inthisadventure，whichwasasfollows:
　　IwaswalkinginthegardenwithHenriette，whohadgivenmeher
　　arm；itwasearlyinthemorning，andthewalksappearedsolitary。
　　WewalkedtowardsthesideoftheIled’Amour，whenwe
　　heardthestepsoftwopersonswhocamebehindus。
　　Henriette
　　turnedherheadandthensaidtome，“HerearemesdamesdeBrionne
　　anddeGrammont。“
　　Iknewthelatterbutveryslightly，andthe
　　formernotatall。
　　Certainlyshecouldnothavebeenthereby
　　chance；theyknewIshouldbethere，andwishedtoseemeclosely。
　　Notsuspectingwhatwastofollow，Iwasdelightedattherencontre。
　　Theypasseduswithheaderect，haughtyair；lookedatmewitha
　　disdainfulstare，laughedrudelyandwalkedaway。
　　Altho’such
　　behavioroffendedme，itdidnotputmeoutofhumor；Ithought
　　itverynaturalformadamedeGrammonttobeirritatedagainstme。
　　Henriettehadlessmagnanimity。
　　Sherepeatedsooftenhow
　　impertinentitwasthustoinsultafemalehonoredbythebounties
　　oftheking，andsofarexcitedmyfeelings，thatinsteadof
　　returningasprudencesuggested，Ifollowedthestepsofthese
　　ladies。
　　IdidnotproceedfarbeforeIrejoinedthem；theywere
　　seatedonabench，awaitingmyarrivalasitappeared。
　　Ipassed
　　closetothem，andatthatmomenttheduchessedeGrammont，
　　raisinghervoice，said，
　　“Itmustbeaprofitablebusinesstosleepwitheverybody。“
　　Iwasexcessivelynettled，andinstantlyretorted，“AtleastI
　　cannotbeaccusedofmakingaforcibleentryintoanyperson’s
　　bed。“
　　Thearrowwenttothemarkandpenetrateddeeply。
　　The
　　wholecountenanceoftheduchesseturnedpale，exceptherlips，
　　whichbecameblue。
　　Shewouldhavesaidsomethingfoolish，but
　　madamedeBrionne，morecoolbecausetouchedlessnearly，placed
　　herhandoverhercompanion’smouth。
　　Iinmyturnwalkedaway
　　withHenriette，laughingtilltearscameintomyeyesatthis
　　pleasingvictory。
　　TheduchessedeGrammont，whohadnofurtherinclinationtolaugh，
　　toldthewholetoherbrother。
　　He，wholovedherexcessively，too
　　muchsoperhaps，reprimandedher，nevertheless，andpointedout
　　toherthedisadvantageinanopenstrugglewithme。
　　Madamede
　　Brionnewasenjoinedtosecrecy，butthatdidnotpreventherfrom
　　confidingtheaffairtothedowagerduchessed’Aiguillon。
　　Thislatterwasaladyofmostsuperiormerit，unitingtomuch
　　witmoresolidacquirements。
　　ShespokeEnglishlikeanative。
　　Herdeath，whichhappenedin1772，wasagreatmisfortunetoher
　　son，towhomshegavethemostexcellentcounsel。
　　Shetoldmy
　　adventuretoherdaughter-in-law，who，excessivelyambitious，saw，
　　withoutanypain，theincreasingattachmentofherhusbandfor
　　me。
　　Imusttellyou，inaparenthesis，thatIalwayslivedonthe
　　besttermswithher，andthat，inmydisgrace，herfriendshipdid
　　notweaken。
　　Imustdoherthisjustice。
　　Allmy
　　havenotbeenequallyfaithfultowardsme。
　　Thesetwoladiesknowingthisoccurrence，theducd’Aiguillonwas
　　notlongkeptinignorancethatsomethinghadhappened。
　　Hecame
　　inhastetoseeme，andinquiredwhatitwas。
　　Butheaskedinvain，
　　Iwouldnottellhim。
　　Mysecrecyhurthim，andonhisreturnhome
　　hewrotetome。
　　AsIhavegreatpleasureintellingyouallthat
　　recallsthisamiablegentlemantomymind，Iwilltranscribehis
　　letter，whichwillgiveyouanopportunityofjudgingoftheturn
　　ofhismind。