since learned that Francis I. assumed the same name,
altho' upon a very different occasion. Replying to a
letter from Charles V., in which that emperor had given
himself a long string of high sounding titles, he contented
himself with simply signing his letter, " François, baron de
Gonesse." Louis XV. was very fond of borrowed appel-
lations. Unlike the vanity so common to mankind, of
seeking to set off their pretensions by assumed titles, it
is the pleasure of royalty to descend to a lower grade in
society when concealment becomes desirable, either from
policy or pleasure; and Louis sought in the familiarity in
which a plain baron might safely indulge, a relief from
the ennui attendant upon the rigid etiquette of a regal
state. I had omitted in my letter to the baron, to remind
him that we were to meet that very evening, but that
did not prevent my repairing to Versailles punctually at
the appointed hour. I was conducted into the same
apartment as before, where I found the same females
who had then assisted at my toilet again prepared to lend
their aid; and from this moment I had a regular estab-
lishment of attendants appointed for my use.

The moment the king was informed of my arrival,
unable to restrain his impatience, he hastened to me to
assist at my dressing table, and he continued standing
beside me so long as the operation lasted; I felt greatly
embarrassed, not knowing whether I durst take the
liberty of requesting him to be seated. However, my
silence on the subject was greatly admired, and ascribed
to my perfect acquaintance with polished life, when in
reality it originated from mere timidity. My triumph
was complete; the monarch smiled at and admired every
word as it fell from my lips, kissed my hands, and played
with the curls of my long hair, sportively twisting his
fingers amidst my flowing ringlets with all the vivacity of
a lover of twenty. The company upon this evening was
different from that of the former occasion, consisting of
the duc de Duras, first gentleman of the bedchamber,
and the duc d'Ayen, who had the reputation of being a
great wit; however, in my opinion, he was much more
deserving the character of a real fiend; his very breath

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