night, and even La Martinière seemed inclined to hope.
As yet, then, there were no safe grounds for abandoning
me, and about two o'clock in the afternoon I was fa-
voured with a visit from madame de Mirepoix, who, run-
ning up to me, exclaimed with her usual vivacity,

"Oh, my dear creature, how I longed to see you!" and
then leading me into another chamber, she added,

"Do you know I quite missed you? As I wrote you,
my time hung heavily on my hands. What in the world
will become of me if I am compelled to resign the de-
lightful hours granted to the envied few who are per-
mitted the entrée to the petits appartements? For you
see, my dear, the dauphiness will be far from bestowing
that honour upon me. I am too old to form one of her
coterie, and I shall be laid aside like the rest of the
antiquities of the château. By the way," continued
the voluble maréchale, "there is already a great cabal in the
château respecting the formation of a new ministry, in
which, besides desiring lucrative posts for themselves, all
are anxious to introduce their private friends; in the
midst of so many absorbing interests you appear to be
already forgotten, which, by the way, is no bad thing
for you. Your best plan is to remain perfectly tranquil."
Then rapidly passing to her most prevailing idea, this
excellent friend proceeded to inquire what the king had
bestowed on me as a parting present, "for," said she, "he
would not certainly permit you to leave Versailles empty-
handed."

"It is a point," replied I, "that neither his majesty nor
myself once thought of."

"Then such an omission proves him a vile egotist, and
you a prodigious simpleton," answered she; "and were I
in your place, I would commission the duc d'Aiguillon to
make a direct demand of a future provision for you; you
really should see about this, and secure to yourself a
noble establishment for yourself and your friends, who
ought not to suffer for your overstrained delicacy. Look
at the duc de Choiseul, who has kept a regular court at
Chanteloup, and never wanted for a train of courtiers
at it."

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