The honor of your visits--"
"The honor of my visits! That's admirable! I wish to obtain a
portion of your friendship, and to testify to the king that I am
sincerely attached to him."
"You overwhelm me, madame," cried I, much delighted, "and I beg
you to give me your confidence."
"Well, now, all is arranged between us: I suit you and you please
me. It is long since I was desirous of coming to you, but we are
all under the yoke of the must absurd tyranny: soon we shall have
no permission to go, to come, to speak, to hold our tongues, without
first obtaining the consent of a certain family. This yoke has
wearied me; and on the first word of the chancellor of France I
hastened to you."
"I had begged him, madame, to express to you how much I should be
charmed to have you when the king graced me with his presence. He
likes you, he is accustomed to the delights of your society; and I
should have been deeply chagrined had I come here only to deprive
him of that pleasure."
"He is a good master," said the marechale, "he is worthy of all
our love. I have had opportunities of knowing him thoroughly,
for I was most intimate with madame de Pompadour; and I believe
that my advice will not be useless to you."
"I ask it of you, madame la marechale, for it will be precious to me."
"Since we are friends, madame," said she, seating herself in a
chair, "do not think ill of me if I establish myself at my ease,
and take my station as in the days of yore.
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