Some days
afterwards, the prince de Soubise, who also wished to give me
his advice, did not attain the same success. It must be owned,
that, for a man of the world, he went about it in a very clumsy
way. He committed the extreme error of selecting mademoiselle
Guimard as mediatrix between himself and me. This lady came to
me on the strength of our former acquaintance; she had so little
sense as not to perceive the immense distance between us which a
few days had caused, and that the opera-dancer kept by the prince
de Soubise could have no relation with the favorite of the king
of France. I endeavored, in vain, to make her perceive it, without
mortifying her too much. She always called me her dear friend,
and fairly slaughtered me with saying that
prince would
protect me. It was singular for her to speak thus to me; to me
from whom prince solicited protection. She did not confine
herself to this, she even insinuated to me that I should be a
gainer in some way. I laughed outright at this, and said to the
, who was stationed at the door, "Call
mademoiselle's servants." This annoyed her excessively; all the
muscles of her face were contracted with rage; but she restrained
her wrath, saluted me with an assumed respect, and went away,
after having so worthily acquitted herself of her foolish embassy.
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