She always pleased because her business was
to please and not to love; and it always sufficed her to render others
enthusiastic and ardent. Except this tendency to egotism, she was
the charm of society, the life of the party whom she enlivened by
her presence. She knew precisely when to mourn with the afflicted,
and joke with the merry-hearted. The king had much pleasure in
her company: he knew that she only thought how to amuse him; and,
moreover, as he had seen her from morning till evening with the
marquise de Pompadour, her absence from my parties was insupportable
to him, and almost contrary to the rules of etiquette at the chateau.
I cannot tell you how great was his satisfaction, when, at the
first supper which followed our intimacy, he saw her enter. He
ran to meet her like a child, and gave a cry of joy, which must
have been very pleasing to the marechale.
"You are a dear woman," he said to her, with an air which accorded
with his words, "I always find you when I want you; and you can
nowhere be more in place than here. I ask your friendship for our
dear countess."
"She has it already, sire, from the moment I saw her; and I
consider my intimacy with her as one of the happiest chances
of my life."
The king showed the utmost good humor in the world during the
rest of the evening. He scolded me, however, for the mystery I
had made in concealing from him the agreeable visit of the
marechale.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233