CHAPTER XIII
Of the presentation—The king and the duc de Richelieu at
comtesse du Barry’s—M. de la Vauguyon—Conversation—Letter
of the duke to the comtesse du Barry—Reply—The countess
unites herself with the Jesuit party—Madame Louise—Madame
Sophie—M. Bertin—Madame de Bercheny
This fit of anger of madame Adélaïde had given additional courage to the cabal. It began to exclaim and plot against me with redoubled force; hoping thus to intimidate the king, and effectually bar my presentation; but it only tended to hasten it. One evening, when the king and the maréchal de Richelieu were with me, he said to me,
“A stop must be put to these clamors. I see that until you are presented, there will be doubts perpetually arising and tormenting us on the subject; and until it takes place I shall have no ease. Parbleu! Let us take the best means in our power of reducing these malcontents to silence.”
“Sire,” replied the maréchal, “make your will palpable, and you will see all the court submit.”
“Yes, but my daughters?”
“Mesdames know better than any persons the deference due to your orders.”
“I assure you,” replied the king, “that it will be an unpleasant quarter of an hour for me to pass.”
“Well, sire, then charge one of us with the mission: the bishop of Senlis, for instance, or M. de la Vauguyon. I feel assured that either of them will acquit himself admirably in the business, with the previous understanding that your majesty will support him with your authority.”