de Rumas perseveres in
treating all I advanced respecting his wife as
calumnious falsehoods. According to his version
of the tale, madame de Rumas has no other
motive in seeing Louis XV so frequently, but to
implore his aid in favor of the poor in her
neighborhood. I really lost all patience when
I heard him attempting to veil his infamous conduct
under the mask of charity; I therefore proceeded at
once to menaces, telling him that you bad so many
advantages over his wife, that you scorned to
consider her your rival: but that, nevertheless,
you did not choose that any upstart pretender
should dare ask to share his majesty's heart.
To all this he made no reply; and as the sight of
him only increased my indignation, I at length
desired him to quit me. I trust you will pardon
me for having spoken in as queenlike a manner
as you could have done yourself.
"Adieu, my sweet friend."
This letter was far from satisfying me, and I determined upon
striking a decisive blow. I sent for Chamilly, and treating him
with all the contempt he deserved, I told him, that if the king
did not immediately give up this woman he might prepare for his
own immediate dismissal. At first Chamilly sought to appease my
anger by eager protestations of innocence, but when he found I
already knew the whole affair, and was firmly fixed in my
determination, he became alarmed, threw himself at my knees, and
promised to do all I would have him.
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