"
"Upon my word," said I, smiling, "I do not wonder at the kind
looks with which the ladies favour me, if my presence is capable
of producing so much mischief."
"Pray, my dear," answered the marechale, "be under no mistake:
you might be as much beloved as others are, if you did not
monopolize the king's affections; the consequence is, that every
woman with even a passable face looks upon you as the usurper of
her right, and as the fickle gentlemen who woo these gentle ladies
are all ready to transfer their homage to you directly you appear,
you must admit that your presence is calculated to produce no
inconsiderable degree of confusion."
The commencement of a play which formed part of the evening's
entertainment obliged us to cease further conversation. The first
piece represented was "
,"a charming pastoral, to
which the music of Monsigny gave a fresh charm; the actors were
selected from among the best of the Comedie Italienne--the divine
Clairval, and the fascinating mademoiselle Caroline. I was
completely enchanted whilst the play lasted; I forgot both my
cabals and recent triumph, and for a while believed myself
actually transported to the rural scenes it represented, surrounded
by the honest villagers so well depicted; but this delightful
vision soon passed away, and soon, too soon I awoke from it to
find myself surrounded by my friends at court.
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