For this end, they despatched as ambassador the chevalier de
Coigny to the house of madame de Bearn. He, following the
instruction, sought by turns to seduce and intimidate the countess,
but all went for nothing. Madame de Bearn told the chevalier de
Coigny, that she had been with me to ask my influence with the
chancellor. The chevalier left her without being able to obtain
any other information.
This bad success did not dishearten the Choiseuls. They sent
this time to madame de Bearn, M. de Roquelaure, bishop of Senlis,
and grand almoner to the king. This prelate was much liked at
court, and in high favor with mesdames (the king's daughters). We
were good friends together at last, but in this particular he was
very near doing me great wrong. M. de Roquelaure having called
on madame de Bearn, told her that he well knew the nature of her
communications with me.
"Do not flatter yourself," said he, "that you will obtain thro'
the influence of the comtesse du Barry, all that has been promised
you. You will have opposed to you the most powerful adversaries
and most august personages. It cannot be concealed from you,
that mesdames contemplate the presentation of this creature with
the utmost displeasure. They will not fail to obtain great influence
over the future dauphin, and will do you mischief with him; so
that, whether in the actual state of things, or in that which the
age and health of the king must lead us to anticipate, you will
be in a most unfortunate situation at court.
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