"
After this conversation Lebel delivered the message to the duchesse
de Grammont, who told him that she should write to Toulouse to the
attorney-general. This was what the comte Jean wished and he was
prepared for her.
But, you will say to me, was it certain that your asserted husband
would marry you? Were there no difficulties to fear? None.
Comte Guillaume was poor, talented, and ambitious; he liked high
living, and would have sold himself to the devil for riches. He
was happy in marrying me. Comte Jean would not have ventured
such a proposal to his other brother, the comte d'Hargicourt, who
had much good sense and great notions of propriety, and who at
Versailles was called the
; a distinction not over
flattering to his two brothers.
The same evening the whole family arrived, and was presented to me
the next day. My two future sisters-in-law frightened me at first
with their provincial manners and southern accent; but, after a
few minutes, I found that this Gascon pronunciation had many charms
with it. Mesdemoiselles du Barry were not handsome but very
agreeable. One was called Isabelle, whom they had nicknamed
, the other's name was Fanchon, and her name had been
abbreviated to "." The latter had much talent, and even
brought to Versailles with her, an instinctive spirit of diplomacy
which would have done honor to a practised courtier.
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