You must attach these to you by
place and favor: they must be first thought of, and then you must
think of yourself and me, my dear girl."
"All this is well enough," I replied, "but as yet I am nothing."
"
! to-morrow you will be everything," cried comte
Jean, with his determined energy. "But we must think about
this morrow. Make haste, noble comtesse; go to all the milliners,
seek what is elegant rather than what is rich. Be as lovely,
pleasing, and gay as possible; this is the main point, and God
will do all the rest."
He pronounced this blasphemy in a laughing tone, and I confess I
could not help joining in the laugh, and then hastened to comply
with his directions.
CHAPTER II
A slight preface--Arrival at Versailles--<"La toilette">--Portrait
of the king--The duc de Richelieu--The marquis de Chauvelin--The
duc de la Vauguyon-Supper with the king--The first night--The
following day--The curiosity of comte Jean--Presents from the
king--How disposed of
The chances against our succeeding in our enterprise were at least
a thousand to one. The sea upon which, trusting to the favorable
influence of my leading star, we were about to venture, was filled
with rocks and shoals which threatened the poor mariner who should
direct his bark near them. In the first place, I had to dread my
obscure birth, as well as the manner in which my life had been
passed; and still more had I to fear the indifferent reputation of
comte Jean.
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