Louis XV smiled, and I pulled the bell; when a valet appeared, I said,
“Go and find M. de la Vauguyon for his majesty.”
When we were alone, “What, already?” said Louis XV.
“Madame is right,” replied the duke, “we must strike while the iron is hot.”
The king began to pace up and down the room, which was his invariable custom when anything disturbed him: then suddenly stopping,
“I should not be astonished at a point blank refusal from M. de la Vauguyon.”
“Oh, sire, make yourself easy; the governor has no inclination to follow the steps of Montausier or Beauvilliers. In truth you are very candid; and I must tell you, that you have too good an opinion of us.”
At this moment M. de la Vauguyon entered. He saluted the king with humility; and asked him, in a mild tone of voice, what his pleasure was with him.
“A real mark of your zeal,” was the king’s reply.
“And of your gallantry,” added the maréchal, who saw the hesitation of the king. Louis XV was enchanted that another should speak for him. M. de Richelieu continued: