“Youareaverydangerouswoman，“criedtheking，interrupting
　　mebyloudfitsoflaughter，“andyouarecunningenougheven
　　tosurprisethesecretsofthestate。“
　　“’Tisyou，rather，whocouldnotresisttheinclinationtoletme
　　seethatyouknewwhatthemarechalhaddeclaredyouignorantof。
　　Whichofustwoisthemoretoblame，Iwonder？“
　　“Myself，Ithink，“answeredtheking；“forafterall，youdidbut
　　actwiththecandorandcuriosityofyoursex:itwasformeto
　　haveemployedmoreoftheprudenceofakinginmyrepliesto
　　yourinterrogatories。“
　　“Well，but，“saidI，“sinceyoureallydoknowallaboutthisman
　　withtheironmask，youwilltellittome，willyounot？“
　　“IshouldbeverycarefulhowIgratifiedyourcuriosity，“said
　　he；“thisisapointofhistorywhichmustneverbeclearedup；
　　statereasonsrequirethatitshouldforeverremainamatterofdoubt。“
　　“Andmusthaveyoutellme，“returnedI；“dopraytell，andI
　　willloveyouwithallmyheart。“
　　“Itcannotbe。“
　　“Andwhynot？
　　Thisunfortunatepersonhasbeenlongdeadwithout
　　leavinganyposterity。“
　　“Areyouquitesureofthat？“
　　inquiredtheking，inaserioustone。
　　“Butwhatsignifies，“saidI，“whetherhebedeadoralive？
　　I
　　entreatofyoutobestowuponmethisproofofyourconfidence。
　　Whoofallthosewhohavespokenofhimhavetoldthetruth？“
　　“Nobody；butVoltairehasapproacheditmorenearlythanany
　　oneelse。“
　　Afterthispartialconfessionthekingimploredofmetochange
　　theconversation，whichIcouldeasilyperceivewasextremely
　　disagreeabletohim。
　　Nevertheless，itseemedtomequiteclear，
　　thatthiscelebratedpersonbelongedtotheroyalfamily，butby
　　whattitleIcouldnotdevise。
　　ItwasinvainthatIafterwards
　　revivedthesubject；notevenduringthemosttenderconfidences
　　couldIobtaintheinformationIdesired。
　　PossiblyhadIlived
　　withhimsomeyearsmoreImighthavesucceededindrawingfrom
　　himallheknewrespectingtheobjectofmycuriosity。
　　Oldmen，
　　likechildren，canconcealnothingfromthosetheylove，andwho
　　haveobtainedoverthemaninfluencetheywillinglysubmitto。
　　BeforeIproceedtomoreimportantevents，Iwouldfainspeakof
　　personswithwhomIlivedbeforemyelevation。
　　Mygodfather，
　　M。BillardduMonceau，wasstillliving，aswellasmadameLagarde，
　　withwhomIhadresidedascompanion。
　　Myinterviewwiththe
　　formeriswellknown；andtheauthorsof“AnecdotesofMyLife，“
　　publishedthirteenyearssince，havestrictlyadheredtothetruth，
　　withtheexceptionofsomevulgarismstheyhaveputintothe
　　mouthofthatexcellentmanwhichheneveruttered。
　　AstomadameLagarde，shewasstrangelysurprisedtoseemearrive
　　atherhouse；andtheevidentembarrassmentmypresenceoccasioned
　　herwasasufficientrevengeonmypartforthemanyunkindthings
　　shehadsaidanddonerespectingme。
　　Iwouldnotprolongher
　　uncomfortablesituation，butstudiedtoconductmyselfwiththe
　　sameunaffectedsimplicityofformerdays。
　　Italkedoverthe
　　past，inquiredafterherfamily，andofferedmybestservicesand
　　protectionwithoutmaliceforwhatwasgoneby，andwithperfect
　　sincerityforthefuture。
　　Butspiteofallmyendeavorstospare
　　herfeelings，itwasevidentthatrageandhumiliationatthe
　　advantagemyalteredfortunesgavemeoverher，struggledwithin
　　her，andtheconflictofhermindwasbuttooplainlydepictedin
　　hercountenance。
　　However，thatwastheleastofmytroubles；I
　　soonrestoredhertocomparativecalmness；andbeforeIquitted
　　her，madeherpromiseshewouldcomeandseeme。
　　Shewouldgladlyhaveevadedthisrequest；butherson，themaster
　　ofrequests，whosufficientlymisjudgedmetofearmyresentment，
　　andwhopossessedgreatinfluenceoverher，inducedhertopresent
　　herselfatmyhouse。
　　Sheaccordinglycametocalluponme，witha
　　mindburstingwithspiteandjealousy；yetshechokeddownher
　　angrypassions，andsofarhumbledherself，astoentreatmy
　　pardonforherownsakeandthatofherfamily，forallher
　　unkindnesstowardsme。
　　Iwouldnotallowhertofinish；“Madame，“
　　saidI，“Ionlyallowagreeablerecollectionstofindaplacein
　　mymemory；hadIentertainedtheslightestresentmentagainst
　　eitheryouoryours，youmaybequitecertainIshouldnothave
　　againenteredyourdwelling；andIagainrepeattheofferI
　　madetheotherday，ofgladlyseizingthefirstopportunity
　　ofbeingusefultoyou。“
　　Eachofthesewordsexpressiveofthekindestfeelingstowards
　　herwaslikethestabofaponiard。
　　She，however，extolledthem
　　withthemostexaggeratedpraise，imploringmetobelievehow
　　deeplysheregrettedherbehavior，andtalkedsolongandsomuch
　　aboutit，thatwhenshequittedme，itwaswiththemostcertain
　　impressiononmymind，thatinherIpossessedamostviolentand
　　implacableenemy，andinthisconclusionIwasquitecorrect。
　　M。
　　Dudelay，herson，hadtheeffronterytorequesttobepresentedto
　　me，andchargedtheexcellentM。deLabordetomakeknownhis
　　wishestome。
　　IbeggedhewouldinformM。Dudelay，thatIadmitted
　　intothecircleofmyacquaintanceonlysuchaswereknowntothe
　　king；andthatifhethoughtpropertoapplytohismajesty，I
　　shouldobeyhisroyalwillonthesubject，whateveritmightbe。
　　Hejustlyconsideredthisrepulseasabitingraillery，forwhich
　　heneverforgaveme。
　　Ientertainednoillwillagainsthimforhis
　　pastperfidy，butIconsidereditstrangethatheshouldpresumeto
　　approachmewithfamiliarity。
　　Ishouldnothaveadoptedthesame
　　lineofconducttowardsthefarmer-general，hisbrother，who，
　　lessassuming，contentedhimselfwithassuringmeofhisdevotion，
　　andthesincereregretwithwhichhecontemplatedthepast，without
　　everseekingtointroducehimselfintomypresence。
　　ThechevalierdelaMorliere——PortraitoftheducdeChoiseul——
　　TheducdeChoiseulandthecomtesseduBarry——No
　　reconciliationeffected——MadameduBarryandtheduc
　　d’Aiguillon——MadameduBarryandLouisXV
　　AboutthisperiodIreceivedapieceofattention，anythingbut
　　gratifyingifconsideredinastrictlyhonourablesense。
　　The
　　contemptiblechevalierdelaMorliere，whodetestedme，and
　　subsequentlypursuedmewithrage，presumedtodedicatetome
　　somewretchedcollectionofhiscompositions，andIhadthe
　　weaknesstoacceptthededication；Ihadeventhestillgreater
　　follytoreceiveitsauthoratmyhouse；thispieceofcondescension
　　injuredmegreatly。
　　UntilthatperiodIhadnot，likemadamede
　　Pompadour，shownmyselftheprotectressandpatronessofmenof
　　letters；andevenmywarmestfriendscouldnotdeny，thatin
　　steppingforwardsastheencouragerofliterature，Ihadmadea
　　veryunfortunatechoiceinselectingthechevalierdelaMorliere
　　asthefirstobjectofmypatronage。
　　ButhowcouldIhavedone
　　otherwise？
　　TheprincedeSoubise，whofoundthismanserviceable
　　uponmanyoccasions，wouldhavesacrificedanythingtopromote
　　hisadvancement；andIhavebeenassured，thathadthemarechal
　　takenhalfthepainsonthedayprevioustothebattleofRasbach，
　　weshouldnothaveleftitsodisgracefully。
　　Thekingwellknewtheunfortunatechevalierforamanasdestitute
　　ofmodestyasmerit；whenthereforehesawhisbookuponthe
　　mantel-pieceofmydrawing-room，hesaid，
　　’So！
　　youaretheinspiringmuseofthechevalierdelaMorliere；
　　Ionlywarnyou，whenthedaycomesforhimtobehanged，
　　nottoaskmetopardonhim。“
　　“Beassured，“repliedI，“thatIwillneverdeprivethePlacede
　　Greveofonesoformedtodohonourtoit。“
　　Infact，thechevalierwaswithinanaceofreachingitbefore
　　hisfriendsanticipated；for，veryshortlyafterthisconversation，
　　hewasguiltyofthemostdetestablepieceofknaveryIever
　　heardof。
　　Helearnedthatanunfortunateyoungmanfromthe
　　country，intowhoseconfidencehehadwormedhimself，wasto
　　receive15，000livresonhisfather’saccount；heinvitedhimto
　　supper，and，bytheaidoftwovillainslikehimself，strippedhim
　　ofhislastsous。
　　Notsatisfiedwiththis，hewrotethefather
　　suchanexaggeratedaccountofhisson’slossandgeneralbad
　　habits，thattheenragedandirritatedparentprocuredanorder
　　toconfinehissonatSaintLazare！
　　Didyoueverhearofamore
　　infamousandaccomplishedroguethanmyhonourable？
　　However，Ishallgivehimuptohisfate，beitgoodorbad，and
　　proceedwiththerelationofmyaffairwithducdeChoiseul。
　　Ihadnamedtomadamedel’HopitalthehouratwhichIcould
　　receivetheduke。
　　Shehadrequested，inpursuanceofherdirections，
　　nodoubt，thattheconversationbetweenusshouldtakeplace
　　eitheramidstthegrovesofVersaillesorinthelabyrinthof
　　Marly；——theself-loveofM。deChoiseulinducinghimtodesire
　　thatthisinterviewshouldbesocontrived，astoweartheairof
　　amerechancerencontre。
　　TothisIwouldnotconsent；saying，
　　thatitdidnotsuitmypleasuretoquitthehouse；andthatwhen
　　agentlemansolicitedthefavourofspeakingtoalady，itbecame
　　hisbusinesstowaituponher，withoutexpectingsheshouldcome
　　insearchofhim；and，spiteofalltheargumentsofmadamede
　　l’Hopital，Ipersistedinmydetermination:shehadnoalternative
　　buttosubmit，andIawaitedthecomingofM。deChoiseulonthe
　　followingday。
　　TheducdeChoiseulpossessedagreaterreputationthanhis
　　talentswereentitledto；andhisadvancementwasmoreattributable
　　tohisgoodfortunethanhismerit。
　　Hehadfoundwarmand
　　powerfulassistantsinbothphilosophersandwomen；hewasa
　　confirmedegotist，yetpassedforamanwhocaredlittleforself。
　　Hewasquickatmattersofbusiness，andheobtainedthecharacter
　　ofadeepandprofoundpolitician。
　　Itmust，however，beadmitted，
　　thathewaswitty，gallant，andgiftedwithmannerssoelegantand
　　fascinating，thattheyneverfailedtoremovethefirstunfavourable
　　impressioncausedbyhisexcessiveplainness。
　　Thetideofpublic