de Voltaire."
I have related to you this episode of my history, that it may
recompense you for the tiresome details of my presentation. I
resume my recital. I told you that M. de Maupeou had told me
that he would endeavor to bring madame la marechale de Mirepoix,
and introduce her to me, trusting to the friendship she had evinced
for madame de Pompadour during, the whole time of the favor and
life of her who preceded me in the affections of Louis XV. I
found, to my surprise, that he said nothing to me concerning it
for several days, when suddenly madame la marechale de Mirepoix
was announced.
At this name and this title I rose quite in a fluster, without
clearly knowing what could be the object of this visit, for which
I was unprepared. The marechale, who followed closely on the
valet's heels, did not give me time for much reflection. She took
me really
, and I had not time to go and meet her.
"Madame la marechale," said I, accosting her, "what lucky chance
brings you to a place where the desire to have your society is so great?"
"It is the feeling of real sympathy," she replied, with a gracious
smile; "for I also have longed for a considerable time to visit
you, and have yielded to my wishes as soon as I was certain that
my advances would not be repulsed."
"Ah, madame.," said I, "had you seriously any such fear? That
tells me much less of the mistrust you had of yourself than of the
bad opinion you had conceived of me.
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