Madame de Forcalquier most ardently desired the place of lady of
honor, without flattering herself with any hopes of obtaining it;
and, not liking to ask me openly for it, she applied to the duc
de Cosse. I felt some regret that she had gone to work in so
circuitous a manner, and in consequence wrote her the
following note:--
"MADAM, --I am aware that you are desirous of
obtaining the post of lady of honor. You should
not have forgotten that I am sufficiently your
friend to have forwarded your wishes by every
possible exertion. Why did you apply to a third
person in preference to seeking my aid? I really
am more than half angry with you for so doing.
Believe me, my friends need not the intervention
of any mediator to secure my best services. You,
too, will regret not having made your first
application to me, when I tell you that I was
reserving for you the very place you were seeking
by so circuitous a route. Yes, before you had asked
it, the post of lady of honor was yours. I might
have sought in vain for a person more eminently
qualified for the office than yourself, or one in
whom I could place more unlimited confidence.
Come, my friend, I pray of you, not to thank me,
who have found sufficient reward in the pleasure
of obliging you, but to acknowledge the extreme
kindness and alacrity with which his majesty has
forwarded your wishes.
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