"
The duke had no difficulty to comprehend the indirect menace
implied: he instantly renewed his regrets for the
disturbances that had occurred.
"Add ," said Louis XV. "I am content with you and
your services, duke. I have just proved this to you, by giving
your brother more than he could expect from me; but have not I
the right to have my intimacies respected? It appears to me that
if you spoke more decidedly in your family you would command
more attention."
"This makes me fear, sire, that your majesty does not believe me
sincere in my expression of the regret which I just took the
liberty to utter to your majesty."
", monsieur le duc, you certainly do not like
madame du Barry."
"I neither like nor hate her, sire; but I see with trouble that
she receives at her house all my enemies."
"Whose fault is that if it be so? Your own; you, who would never
visit her; she would have received you with pleasure, and I have
not concealed from you the satisfaction I should have experienced."
These last words made the duke start, his eyes became animated.
After a moment's reflection he said to the king,
"Sire, is it indispensably necessary for the service of the state
that I endeavor to attain the good-will of madame la comtesse
du Barry?"
"No."
"Well, then, sire, allow matters to remain as they are.
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