"It is to you that I owe this bounty of the king."
"Yes, partly, to make the present entire; he would only have
given you half the sum."
"I recognize him well in that he does not like to empty his casket.
He would draw on the public treasury without hesitation for
double the revenue of France, and would not make a division of a
single crown of his own private
."
I give this speech ; and this was all the gratitude
which madame de Mirepoix manifested towards Louis XV. I was
pained at it, but made no remark. She took up the portfolio,
examined it carefully, and, bursting into a fit of laughter, said,
while she flung herself into an arm-chair,
"Ah! ah! ah! this is an unexpected rencontre! Look at this
portfolio, my dear friend: do you see the locks with which it is
decorated? Well, they once adorned the head of madame de
Pompadour. She herself used them to embroider this garland of
silver thread; she gave it to the king on his birthday. Louis XV
swore never to separate from it, and here it is in my hands."
Then, opening the portfolio, and rummaging it over, she found in
a secret pocket a paper, which she opened, saying, "I knew he
had left it."
It was a letter of madame de Pompadour, which I wished to have,
and the marechale gave me it instantly; the notes remained with
her.
Pages:
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237