mettoexchangetheirsoftvows。
　　Happilythedeitywhopresidedoverthehonorofthedukewas
　　carefullywatchingtheirproceedings。
　　Thisguardianangelwasno
　　otherthanmadameDuverger，hisformermistress，who，unableto
　　bearthedesertionofhernobleadmirer，hadvowed，inthefirst
　　burstofrageanddisappointment，tohaverevengesoonerorlater
　　uponhertriumphantrival。
　　Withthisviewshespiedoutallthe
　　proceedingsofmademoiselleMesnard，whosestoleninterviews
　　andinfidelityshewasnotlongindetecting；sheevencontrived
　　towinovera，bywhoseconnivanceshewas
　　enabledtoobtainpossessionofseveralletterscontaining
　　irrefragableproofsofguilt，andthesesheimmediatelyforwarded
　　totheducdeChaulnes。
　　Thisproudandhaughtynoblemanmighthavepardonedhismistress
　　hadshequittedhimforapeeroftherealmandhisequal，butto
　　besupplantedbyameremanofbusiness，anauthor，too！——the
　　disgracewastoohorribleforendurance。
　　Theenragedloverflew
　　toBeaumarchais，andreproachedhimbitterlywithhistreachery；
　　thelattersoughttodenythecharge，buttheduke，losingall
　　self-possession，threwthelettersinhisface，callinghimabase
　　liar。
　　Atthisinsult，Beaumarchais，who，whateverhisenemiesmay
　　sayofhim，wascertainlynotdeficientincourage，demanded
　　instantsatisfaction。
　　Theduke，bywayofanswer，seizedtheman
　　oflettersbythecollar，Beaumarchaiscalledhisservants，who，
　　intheirturn，summonedtheguard，whichspeedilyarrivedaccompanied
　　bythecommissary，andwithmuchdifficultytheysucceededin
　　removingM。deChaulnes。
　　whoappearedtohaveentirelylost
　　hisreasonfromtheroom。
　　Theconductofthedukeappearedtouscompletelyoutofplace，
　　andhewouldcertainlyhaveansweredforitwithinthewallsof
　　theBastille，hadnothisfamilymadegreatintercessionforhim。
　　Ontheotherhand，Beaumarchais，whoeagerlyavailedhimselfof
　　everyopportunityofwritingmemorials，composedoneonthe
　　subjectofhisquarrelwithM。deChaulnes，complainingthata
　　greatnoblemanhaddaredtoforcehimselfintohishouse，andlay
　　forciblehandsonhim，asthoughhewereathieforafelon。
　　The
　　wholeofthepamphletwhichrelatedtothisaffairwasadmirably
　　written，and，likethe“BarberofSeville，“markedbyastrongly
　　sarcasticvein。
　　However，thethingfailed，andtheducdela
　　Vrilliere，theswornenemyofmenofwitandtalent，caused
　　BeaumarchaistobeimmediatelyconfinedwithinFort1’Eveque。
　　Sothattheoffendedpartywasmadetosufferthepenaltyof
　　theoffence。
　　InthesameyearthecomtedeFuentes，ambassadorfromSpainto
　　thecourtofLouisXV，tookleaveofus。
　　Hewasreplacedbythe
　　comted’Aranda，whowasinamannerindisgracewithhisroyal
　　master:thisnoblemanarrivedprecededbyahighlyflattering
　　reputation。
　　Inthefirstplace，hehadjustcompletedthedestruction
　　oftheJesuits，andthiswasentitlinghimtonosmallthanksand
　　praisesfromencyclopedists。
　　Everyoneknowsthosetwolines
　　ofVoltaire’s——
　　“Arandadansl’Espagneinstruisantlesfideles，
　　Al’inquisitionvientderognerlesailes。“
　　*
　　*“ArandainSpaininstructingthefaithful
　　attheInquisitionhasjustclippedwings。“——
　　Gutenberged。
　　Thesimplicityofcomted’Arandaindemnifiedusinsomedegree
　　forthehaughtysuperciliousnessofhispredecessor。
　　Althoughno
　　longeryoung，hestillpreservedallthetoneandvigorofhis
　　mind，andonlythehabitwhichappearedtohavebeenbornwith
　　himofreflecting，gavehimaslowandmeasuredtoneinspeaking。
　　Hisreservedandembarrassedmannerswerebutill-calculated
　　toshowthemanashereallywas，anditrequiredallthe
　　advantagesofintimacytoseehiminhistruevalue。
　　Youmay
　　attachsomuchmorecredittowhatIsayofthisindividual，asI
　　canonlyadd，thathewasbynomeansoneofmybestfriends。
　　WhenLouisXVheardofthenominationofthecomted’Arandato
　　theembassyfromSpaintoFrance，heobservedtome，
　　“ThekingofSpaingetsridofhisChoiseulbysendinghimtome。“
　　“Thenwhynotfollowsoexcellentanexample，sire？“
　　repliedI；“
　　andsinceyourChoiseuliswearyofChanteloup，whynotcommand
　　himuponsomepoliticalerrandtothecourtofMadrid。“
　　“Heavenpreservemefromsuchathing，“exclaimedLouisXV。
　　“Such
　　amanasheisoughtnevertoquitthekingdom，andIhavebeen
　　guiltyofconsiderableoversighttoleavehimthelibertyofso
　　doing。
　　Buttoreturntocomted’Aranda；hehassomemeritI
　　understand；stillIlikenotthatclassofpersonsaroundme；they
　　areinexorablecensors，whocondemnalikeeveryactionofmylife。“
　　However，nottheking’sgreatestenemycouldhavefoundfault
　　withhismannerofpassinghisleisurehours。
　　Agreatpartof
　　eachdaywasoccupiedinamysteriousmanufactureofcasesfor
　　relics，andoneofhis，namedTurpigny，was
　　intrustedwiththecommissionofpurchasingoldshrinesand
　　reliquaries；hecausedthesacredbones，orwhateverelsethey
　　contain，tobetakenoutbyGrandelatz，oneofhisalmoners，
　　re-adjusted，andthenreturnedtonewcases。
　　Thesereliquaries
　　weredistributedbyhimtohisdaughters，oranyladiesofthe
　　courtofgreatacknowledgedpiety。
　　WhenIheardofthisImentioned
　　ittotheking，whowishedatfirsttoconcealthefact；but，as
　　hewasnoadeptatfalsehoodordisguise，hewascompelledto
　　admitthefact。
　　“Itrust，sire，“saidI，“thatyouwillbestowoneofyour
　　prettiestandbest-arrangedreliquariesonme。“
　　“No，no，“returnedhe，hastily，“thatcannotbe。“
　　“Andwhynot？“
　　askedI。
　　“Because，“answeredhe，“itwouldbesinfulofme。
　　Askanything
　　elseinmypowertobestow，anditshallbeyours。“
　　ThiswasnohypocrisyonthepartofLouisXV，who，spiteofhis
　　somewhatirregularmodeoflife，professedtoholdreligionin
　　thehighesthonorandesteem；toallthatitproscribedhepaid
　　thesubmissionofachild。
　　Wehadampleproofsofthisinthe
　　sermonspreachedatVersaillesbytheabbedeBeauvais，afterwards
　　bishopofSenetz。
　　Thisecclesiastic，filledwithaninconsideratezeal，fearednot
　　openlytoattackthekinginhispublicdiscourses；heevenwent
　　sofarastointerferewithmanythingsofwhichhewasnota
　　competentjudge，andwhichbynomeansbelongedtohisjurisdiction:
　　infact，therewereamplegroundsforsendingtheabbetothe
　　Bastille。
　　Thecourtopenlyexpresseditsdissatisfactionatthis
　　audacity，andformyownpartIcouldnotavoidevincingthe
　　livelychagrinitcausedme。
　　Yet，wouldyoubelieveit，LouisXV
　　declared，inatonefromwhichtherewasnoappeal，thatthis
　　abbehadmerelydonehisduty，andthatthosewhohadbeenless
　　scrupulousintheperformanceoftheirs，woulddowelltobe
　　silentonthesubject。
　　Thiswasnotall；thecardinaldela
　　RocheAymon，hisgrandalmoner，refusedtosanctionthenomination
　　ofM。deBeauvaistothebishopric，underthepretextofhisnotbeing
　　noblydescended。
　　M。deBeyons，bishopofCarcassone，aprelateofirreproachable
　　character，wasdeeplydistressedtofindthatthewantofbirth
　　wouldexcludeM。deBeauvaisfromthedignitiesofhisholy
　　profession。
　　Hewenttodiscussthematterwiththegrandalmoner，
　　whoagainadvancedhisfavoritepleaforexcludingM。deBeauvais。
　　“My
　　lord，“repliedM。deBeyons，“ifIbelievedthatnobilityof
　　descentwerethechiefrequisiteforouradvancementinour
　　blessedcalling，Iwouldtramplemycrosierunderfoot，and
　　renounceforeverallchurchdignities。“
　　M。deBeyonssoughttheking，andloudlycomplainedtohimof
　　theinfatuationandobstinacyofM。delaRocheAymon。
　　LouisXV
　　howevercommandedthatM。deBeauvaisshouldbeappointedto
　　thefirstvacantsee，andwhenthegrandalmonerrepeatedhis
　　objectionstothepreferment，thekinganswered，“Monsieurle
　　cardinal，inthedaysofourblessedSaviourtheapostleshadno
　　needtopresenttheirgenealogicaltree，dulywitnessedand
　　attested。
　　ItismypleasuretomakeM。deBeauvaisabishop；
　　letthatendthediscussionofthematter。“
　　Thecommandwastooperemptorytoadmitofanycoursebut
　　instantandentiresubmission。