"
I felt deeply flattered by the invitation. The prince continued
to pay me several elegant and gallant compliments; and I was,
upon the whole, charmed with our interview. However, the king
was highly displeased with his daughters' proceedings. "I have
a great inclination," said he, "to forbid their going to Chantilly at
all. Upon my word, if I were to listen to them, they would fain
make of me the same puppet they allow themselves to become in
the hands of the greatest simpleton who will take the trouble of
leading them."
I endeavored to appease his anger, by reminding him, that he could
not expect perfection from his daughters; and that, forced as they
were to hear me continually spoken ill of by my enemies, it was
next to impossible they should be able to prevent themselves from
adopting the opinion of those around them. "And that," said he,
"is what I principally find fault with. What have they to do with
aping the tone of those about them; and what point of their duty
teaches them to detest those whom I love? I will take care to let
them know my displeasure."
All my endeavors were in vain; I could obtain no change of his
purpose; and, summoning the archbishop de Senlis, he spoke to
him in a manner that plainly evinced his intention of making him
responsible for the actions of the princesses. Poor M.
Pages:
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282