This, however, was the only movement of weakness
which I betrayed. When I recovered a little, the comte Jean told
me the conversation he had had with Lebel. I joked about the title
of baron de Gonesse, and I promised to treat the king as if
ignorant of his incognito. One thing only made me uneasy, and
that was supping with the duc de Richelieu, who had seen me
before at madame de Lagarde's; but the idea that he would not
remember me gave me renewed courage.
On so important an occasion, comte Jean did not forget to repeat
his instructions over again. These are nearly his words, for I
think I learnt them by heart.
"Remember that it is on your first interview that your safety
depends. Let him learn, through you, those utter tendernesses
which have been sought for him in vain heretofore. He is like
the monarch of old, who was willing to pay the half of his crown
for an unknown pleasure. Lebel is wearied in seeking every week
for new fruit. He is quite disposed to serve you, and will second
you in the best manner. You are about to become the centre of
attraction to all courtiers, and noble
. You must
expect that they will endeavor to cry you down, because you will
have carried off from them a gem to which every family has its
pretensions. You must at first stand firmly before the storm, but
afterward you will find all enlist themselves under your banner,
who have no wife, sister, nor daughter; that is, all who have no
mistress to offer to the king.
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