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〃The many proofs of tender attachment with which the widow Rossin honored young Moireau make me believe that she will learn with pleasure of my having the good fortune to rescue the ill…fated youth from the cruelty of the comtesse d'Egmont。 This interesting young man no longer groans a wretched prisoner in the gloomy abode that haughty lady had selected for him； but is at this minute safe in a neighboring kingdom； under the powerful patronage of king of France； who is in possession of every circumstance relative to the affair。 I likewise know the whole of the matter； and have in my keeping the most irrefragable proofs of all that took place and should I henceforward have any reason to complain of the comtesse d'Egmont； I shall publish these documents with permission of those concerned。
〃The public will then be enabled to judge of the virtue and humanity of one who affects to treat me with a ridiculous disdain。 There exists no law against a fair lady having lovers and admirers； but a stern one forbids her to command or procure their destruction。 I KNOW ALL； and madame d'Egmont's future conduct will decide my silence and discretion。 The affair with Moireau is not the only one； others of even a graver sin preceded it。 I can publish the whole together； and； I repeat； my determination on this head depends wholly and entirely upon the manner in which madame d'Egmont shall henceforward conduct herself towards me。 I beg madame de Rossin will allow me to subscribe myself； with every feeling she so well； merits；
〃Her very humble and most obedient servant；
〃THE COMTESSE DU BARRY〃
I had communicated to no one the secret of this vengeance； I wished to keep the delight of thus exciting the rage of the princesse d'Egmont all to myself。 I was certain； that whatever might henceforward be her line of conduct towards me； that whenever she found herself in my presence； she would bitterly feel the stings of an accusing conscience； and the gnawings of that worm which dieth not in the heart of hypocritical and wicked persons； more especially when compelled to meet the eye of those who could unmask them in a minute。
On the following day I received a visit from the duc de Richelieu。 Spite of the many endeavors he made to appear smiling and good humored； a deep rage kept its station round his mouth； and contracted his lips even in the midst of the artificial smile with which he sought to dissimulate his wrath。
〃Madame； good morning；〃 said he to me； 〃I come to offer my congratulations； you really are become quite one of us； upon my word； the most experienced courtier has nothing more to teach you。〃
〃I am as yet in ignorance of the cause to which I may ascribe these compliments； M。 le marechal； which I greatly fear surpass my poor merits； and which even you will be compelled to retract them when I am better known to you。〃
〃Fear it not； madame；〃 said he； 〃your commencement is a master…stroke； and the letter you yesterday addressed to the comtesse d'Egmont〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 exclaimed I； with unfeigned astonishment； 〃in her place I certainly should not have selected you as my confidant in the affair。〃
〃And who could she better have selected than her father？ But that is not the matter in hand。 My daughter is filled with anger against you； and if I must speak the truth； I do not think your behavior towards her quite what it should have been。〃
〃Really； monsieur； I was not prepared for a reproach of this kind； and what can madame d'Egmont allege against me？ 'Tis she who has pursued me with the most bitter sarcasms； the most determined malice； and； I may add； the most impertinent behavior。 I entreat your pardon for using such strong expressions； but her behavior allows of none milder。 And what have I done in my turn？ snatched from a lingering death an unfortunate young man； whose only crime consisted in having pleased this unreasonable madame d'Egmont。 I procured the king's protection for the miserable object of the princess's affection； I obtained his safe removal to another country； and； having done all this； I communicated my knowledge of the transaction to the comtesse d'Egmont。 Does this bear any comparison with her line of conduct towards me？〃
〃But your letter； madame； your letter〃
〃Would bear alterations and amendments； sir； I am aware： I admit I did not sufficiently insist upon the atrocity of such an abuse of power。〃
〃You are then resolved； madame； to make us your enemies。〃
〃I should be very sorry； monsieur le duc； to be compelled to such extremities； but if your friendship can only be purchased at the price of my submitting to continually receive the insults of your family； I should be the first to cease to aspire to it。 If Madame d'Egmont holds herself aggrieved by me； let her carry her complaint before the parliament； we shall then see what redress she will get。 She has compromised the king's name by an arbitrary act； and since you thus attack me； you must not take it amiss if I make the king acquainted with the whole business。〃
The marechal； surprised at so severe a reply； could no longer restrain the rage which filled him。 〃I should have thought； madame；〃 said he； 〃that my daughter； in whose veins flows royal blood； might have merited some little consideration from the comtesse du Barry。〃
〃It is well； then； monsieur le duc；〃 replied I； 〃to point out to you your error。 I see in my enemies their works and actions alone； without any reference to their birth； be it high or low； and the conduct of madame d'Egmont has been so violent and unceasing towards me； that it leaves me without the smallest regret for that I have pursued towards her。〃
I had imagined that this reply would still further irritate the angry feelings of the duc de Richelieu； but it did not： he easily guessed that nothing but the king's support could have inspired me to express myself with so much energy； and； if paternal vanity strove in his heart； personal interests spoke there with even a louder voice。 He therefore sought to lay aside his anger； and； like a skilful courtier； changing his angry look and tone for one of cheerfulness：
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃I yield； I see it will not do to enter the lists against you。 I confess I came this morning but to sound your courage； and already you have driven me off the field vanquished。 There is one favor I would implore of your generosity； and that is； to be silent as to all that has transpired。〃
〃I shall not speak of it； monsieur le duc；〃 replied I； much moved； 〃unless you or madame d'Egmont set me the example。〃
〃In that case the affair will for ever remain buried in oblivion； but； madame； I will not conceal from you； that my daughter has become your most bitter and irreconcilable enemy。 〃
〃The motives which have actuated me； monsieur le marechal； are such as to leave me very little concern upon that subject。 I
flatter myself this affair will not keep you away from me； who would fain reckon as firmly on your friendship as yon may do on mine。〃
The marechal kissed my hand in token of amity； and from that moment the matter was never mentioned。
A similar scene had already occurred with the prince de Soubise； relative to the exile of his daughter。 Was it not somewhat strange； as well as unjust； that all the noblemen of the day wished to preserve to their relations the right of offending me with impunity； without permitting me even the right of defending myself。
CHAPTER XIX
Madame du Barry separates from madame de BearnLetters between these ladiesPortrait of madame de l'HopitalThe ladderThe bellConversation with madame de MirepoixFirst visit to Chantilly Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thitherThe king's Displeasure towards the princessesThe archbishop de Senlis The spoiled child of fortune； I had now attained the height of my wishes。 The king's passion augmented daily； and my empire became such as to defy the utmost endeavors of my enemies to undermine it。 Another woman in my place would have employed her power in striking terror amongst all who were opposed to her； but for my own part I contented myself with repulsing their attempts to injure me； and in proceeding to severity only when my personal interests were too deeply concerned to admit of my passing the matter over in silence。
There was no accusation too infamous to be laid to my charge； amongst other enormities they scrupled not to allege that I had been the murderess of Lebel； the king's ； who died by poison！ Was it likely； was it probable that I should seek the destruction of him to whom I owed my elevation； the most devoted of friends； and for whom my heart cherished the most lively sense of gratitude？ What interest could I possibly derive from the perpetration of such a crime？ The imputation was too absurd for belief； but slander cares little for the seeming improbability of such an event。 The simple fact remained that Lebel was dead； of course the cruel and unjust consequence became in the hands of my enemies； that I had been the principal accessory to it。
My most trifling actions were misrepresented with the same black malignity。 They even made it a crime in me to have written to madame de Bearn； thanking her for her past kindnesses； and thus setti