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〃Really； my dear countess；〃 cried she； 〃you should not live at court； you are absolutely unfit for it。〃
〃It may be so；〃 replied I； 〃but I would rather quit Versailles altogether than be surrounded by false and perfidious friends。〃
All the remonstrances of the good…natured marechale were fruitless； I could not bring myself to pardon a man who had so openly outraged my friendship。
Directly I saw the king； I related the whole affair to him。
〃It must be confessed；〃 said he； 〃that the duke has behaved very ill towards you； but he has certainly shown his taste as far as regards Sophie。 She is a sweet creature。〃
〃Ah！ you are all alike；〃 cried I。 〃You gentlemen think a pretty face an excuse for every fault； and he only deserves blame who can attach himself where beauty is wanting。〃
〃Because he is a simpleton for so doing；〃 said Louis XV with the utmost gravity； giving me at the same time an affectionate embrace。
CHAPTER XXIV
The prince des Deux PontsPrince MaxThe dauphin and Marie AntoinetteThe comtesse du Barry and Bridget RupertThe countess and Genevieve MathonNoelFresh amoursNocturnal adventure Conclusion of this intrigue
All my friends were not treacherous as the duc de Villeroi； and I may gratefully assert I have possessed many true and sincere ones who have ever faithfully adhered to my fortunes。 One in particular I shall mention here； that I may recommend him to your warmest esteem； for； although of high and distinguished rank； he did not despise the good opinion of the meanest citizen。 I speak of the prince de Deux Ponts； Charles Auguste Christian。 This prince； who chanced to visit France during the zenith of my court favour； was very desirous of seeing me； and both he and his brother were presented to me by the comte de la Marche； their friend； and they quickly requested the honor of my friendship。 Auguste Christian pleased me most by his gentle and amiable manners； although most persons gave the preference to his brother； Maximilian Joseph； better known by the name of prince Max。 Auguste Christian； in the fervour of his attachment； speaking openly to me of the delicacy of the situation； proposed to me； in case of any reverse； that I should seek an asylum in his dominions； and I must do him the justice to say； that at the death of the king； far from forgetting his proffer； he lost no time in reminding me of it。 Fidelity and attachment such as his； is sufficiently rare to merit a place in my journal。 The prince des Deux Ponts was presumptive heir to an immense inheritance； that of the electorate of Bavaria； and the electorate Palatine； to the latter of which he was direct heir after the decease of his cousin； the present elector。 I could almost wish that he had already succeeded to these possessions： he can never reign too soon for the happiness of his subjects。
Prince Max had served in France； he was extremely well looked upon at court both by the king and the princesses。 As for the dauphiness； prejudiced against him as she was by her mother； she naturally regarded him with an eye of cool mistrust； and manifested her open dislike by never inviting him to any of her parties。 Prince Max spoke of this pointed neglect to the king； who immediately summoned the dauphin。 〃My son；〃 said he to him； 〃I see with regret that prince Max is never an invited guest at any of your balls and fetes。 Remember； he belongs to a family which has been our most ancient ally； and do not take up the quarrels of a house which； until your marriage； has ever been disposed in deadly hatred to us。〃
If the dauphin was not gifted with a very extensive capacity； he was possessed of sufficient plain sense to comprehend； and to enter into the views of his grandfather； to whom he pledged his word； that henceforward prince Max should be treated with more respect； and he kept his word； for the instant he returned to his apartments； he commanded the duc de la Vauguyon to add the name of prince Max to the list of invited persons。 When the paper was drawn out it was carried to the dauphiness； who was with her husband。 She read on till she came to the name of prince Max； which she desired might be erased； but the dauphin interfered。 〃Oblige me；〃 cried he； 〃by suffering this name to remain； his ancestors have for ages been the friends of our family； and his alliance may one day be useful to us in Germany。〃
The dauphiness comprehended the signification of these words； and her fine eyes were filled with tears。 However； she no longer insisted upon the erasure； when her husband； who most tenderly loved her； further declared it to be the king's desire that nothing should be done which could in any way displease the prince des Deux Ponts。 He was； therefore； from that period invited to the house of Marie Antoinette； who indemnified herself for this compulsory civility； by refusing to bestow upon him one single smile or gracious word。 It must indeed be agreed that the dauphiness had brought with her into France too many Austrian notions； which she was long in losing for those of a wife and mother； but now at the moment of my writing this； she is much changed； and is as true a French woman as though she had been born and bred in Paris。 Unfortunately； the people appear slow in giving her credit for her altered opinions； and to this mistake will she owe the loss of that general love and popularity to which she has such just claims。
Prince Auguste Christian entertained for me a sincere regard； which I returned with the truest friendship。 My feelings were as pure and simple as his own； spite of the odious calumnies with which my enemies have attacked this harmless acquaintance； but their slander in this matter was no worse than the manner in which they spoke of every person who visited me。 According to their report； I was the mistress of all who presented themselves。 'Tis well for you； ye courtly dames； that you may convert friends into lovers with impunity； be the number ever so large none dares arraign your conduct； but for those of more humble pretensions it is indeed considered atrocious to number more than two admirers； should we ask to swell the list to a thirdwhat comments； what scandal； what vilifying reports are in circulation！ In this letter； my friend； I shall speak to you exclusively of myself。 You will find little in my conduct to praise； and I fear； much to blame。 You will easily perceive my heart was better than my head； and dear as your opinion is to me； I write on in the hope； that should my candid avowal lose me any portion of your esteem； it will yet obtain me a larger share of your friendship。 The dismissal of Sophie from my service occasioned a vacancy in my household。 Immediately her departure was known； I received numberless solicitations from all who heard of it。 Three days afterwards； Henriette came to inform me that the wife of an attorney of Chatelet solicited the task of serving me in Sophie's stead； that she was a well…looking and respectable person； and might very probably suit me。
〃Will you see her； madam？〃 continued Henriette。 〃She is recommended by the marchioness de Montmorency。〃
〃Willingly；〃 answered I； 〃desire her to come in。〃 Henriette left me and quickly returned； introducing the new candidate。
At the first glimpse I recognised Brigitta Rupert； that haughty girl； who had been my early friend and companion at Saint Aure； but who found it impossible to continue her friendship and favour to a humble milliner's girl。 The sight of her occasioned me a surprise by no means of a pleasing nature； and the involuntary start I gave； evidently recalled me to her recollection。 In a moment her cheeks assumed the paleness of death； and her self…love seemed to suffer the most horrible torments at the light in which our rencontre mutually placed us。 As soon as she could command herself sufficiently to speak； she cried；
〃Ah！ madam； do I then appear in your presence？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied I； 〃before the poor and humble milliner to whom you so harshly refused your friendship；〃
〃Fortune has well avenged you； madam；〃 said Brigitta； in a melancholy tone； 〃and as I can easily imagine how unpleasant the sight of me must be； I will hasten to relieve you from it。〃
These last words touched me； and restored me in a degree to my natural good temper。
〃Brigitta；〃 said I to her； 〃after the little affection you have ever manifested for me； it would be impossible as well as unwise to take you into my service； but let me know in what way I can best promote the interest of yourself and husband； and I pledge myself to accomplish it for you。〃
〃I thank you； madam；〃 answered she； resuming her accustomed haughtiness； 〃I came to solicit a situation near the person of the comtesse du Barry。 Since that is refused me； I have nothing more to request。〃
〃Be it as you please；〃 replied I。 Brigitta made a low courtesy； and quitted the room。
Henriette； who had been the witness of this scene； expressed her apprehensions that I should be displeased with her for introducing an unwelcome visitor to me。 〃No；〃 cried I； 〃'tis not with you I am vexed。； but myself。〃
〃And why so； dear madam？〃
〃Because I reproach myself with having in my own prosperity forgotten one of my earliest and dearest friends； who