He was not long in giving her an unequivocal proof of his regard. The duc de Duras asked her, in presence of the king and myself, why she did not wear her diamonds as usual.
“They are my representatives,” was her reply.
“What do you mean by representatives?” said I.
“Why, my dear countess, they are with a Jew instead of my sign-manual. The rogue had no respect for the word of a relation of the Holy Virgin and the daughter of the Beauvau. I was in want of thirty thousand francs; and to procure it I have given up my ornaments, not wishing to send to the Jew the old plate of my family, altho’ the hunks wanted it.”
We all laughed at her frankness, and the gaiety with which she gave this statement, but we went no further; to her great regret, no doubt, for I believe that the scene had been prepared between her and M. de Duras, either to let her profit in time of need, or else that she wished to pluck a feather from our wing. When I was alone with the king, he said,
“The poor maréchale pains me; I should like to oblige her and think I will give her five hundred louis.”
“What will such a petty sum avail her? You know what she wants; either send her the whole or none. A king should do nothing by halves.”
Louis XV answered me nothing; he only made a face, and began to walk up and down the room. “Ah,” said I, “this excellent woman loves your majesty so much, that you ought to show your gratitude to her, were it only to recompense her for her intimacy with me.”
“Well, you shall carry her the sum yourself, which Lebel shall bring you from me. But thirty thousand francs, that makes a large pile of crown-pieces.”
“Then I must take it in gold.”