CHAPTER VII
The comtesse and the duc d’Aiguillon—M. de Soubise—Louis
XV and the duc d’Aiguillon—Letter from the comtesse to the
king—Answer of the king-The “Nouvelles a la Main”—The
comtesse and Louis XV—The supper—The court ladies
mystified—The comtesse and M. de Sartines
I was still triumphing at the skill which I had displayed in my conference with the prince de Soubise when the duc d’Aiguillon entered.
“Good heaven,” said he, kissing my hand very tenderly, “into what inquietude did you throw me by your dear and cruel letter. The ambiguity of your style has caused me inexpressible sorrow; and you have added to it by not allowing me to come to you at the first moment.”
“I could not: I thought it would be dangerous for you to appear before the king previously to having seen me.”
“Would the king have thought my visit strange?” asked the duke, not without some emotion.
“That is not the point. The black spite of my enemies has not yet deprived me of the counsels of a friend. But as it is necessary to speak to the king in my favor, I wish that he should not know that you do so at my request.”
After this I related to the duke my conversation with the king.
“Your situation is delicate,” said he to me, “but it should not trouble you. The king is weak, we must give him courage. It is his pliancy of disposition rather than his resistance that we must contend with, and I go to act upon it.”