"Besides," added the king, in a tone of less anger, but no less
emphatically, "I see with pain that the police do not do their duty
with regard to all these indignities."
"Yet," said the duc de Duras, "M. de Sartines does wonders."
"Then why does he tolerate such insults? I will let him know
my discontent."
The duc de Duras was alarmed, and kept his mouth closed. The king
then, resuming his gaiety, joked the two gentlemen on their secret
intrigues: then changing the conversation suddenly, he talked of
the expected arrival of the king of Denmark.
"Duc de Duras," said he, "you and your son must do the office of
master of ceremonies to his
majesty. I hope you will
endeavor to amuse him."
"Yes, sire."
"Mind, what you undertake is no joke. It is no easy matter to
amuse a king."
This was a truth which I perceived at every moment, and our monarch
was not the one to be amused with trifling exertion. Frequently
when he entered my apartment he threw himself on an ottoman, and
yawned most excessively, yes, yawned in my company. I had but one
mode of rousing him from this apathy, but it was a sure one. I
spoke of the high magistracy and its perpetual resistance to the
throne. Then the king aroused, instantly sprung from his seat,
traversed the room with rapid strides, and declaimed vigorously
against the ; thus he styled the parliaments.
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