Both he and the prince de Conde had their ambitious
speculations in the present change of ministers; and both fancied,
that because their relation, the duke, had governed during the
king's minority, the right to the several appointments now vacant,
belonged as a matter of course to their family. The count had
already sent to solicit my interest, through the mediation of
madame de Monaco, mistress to the prince de Conde; and, as I
shrewdly suspect, the occasional
of himself. Finding
this measure did not produce all the good he expected, he came,
without further preface, to speak to me himself about it. Unwilling
to come to an open rupture with him, I endeavoured to make him
comprehend, that the policy of the sovereign would never permit
his placing any of the administrative power in the hands of the
princes of his family; that he had consented, most reluctantly, to
investing them with military command, and that it would be fruitless
to urge more.
The comte de la Marche appeared struck by the justness of my
arguments; he replied,
"Well, madam, since I cannot be a minister, I must e'en give up
my wishes; but, for the love of heaven intreat of the king to
bestow his favours in the shape of a little pecuniary aid. Things
look ill at present; they may take a worse turn, but he may
confidently rely on my loyalty and devotion: the supreme courts,
driven to the last extremity, will make a stand, and princes and
peers will range themselves under the banners.
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