按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
y hands more ready to discharge the trust than yours。〃 Saying this； M。 de Choiseul placed his credentials in the hands of the duke； and slightly bowing； turned his back upon him； as though he had forgotten his presence。 M。 de Choiseul then retired to summon his sister； to communicate to her and his wife the misfortune which had befallen him： he then set out for Paris； to make the necessary preparations for removing to Chanteloup。 There an officer from the king； charged to accompany him to his place of exile； gave him his majesty's orders that he should see no person； and receive no visits。
This order did not proceed from me； but was the work of the duc de la Vrilliere； who sought； by this paltry action； to avenge himself upon M。 de Choiseul for the reception he had given him。 It was wholly useless； however； for in the exile of the duke was seen a thing unheard of； perhaps； before； and； in all probability； unlikely ever to occur againthe sight of a whole court espousing the part of an exiled minister； and openly censuring the monarch who could thus reward his services。 You； no doubt； remember equally well as myself the long file of carriages that for two days blocked up the road to Chanteloup。 In vain did Louis XV express his dissatisfaction； his court flocked in crowds to visit M。 de Choiseul。
On the other hand； the castle was not in a more tranquil state。 At the news of the dismissal and banishment of M。 de Choiseul； a general hue and cry was raised against me and my friends： one might have supposed； by the clamours it occasioned； that the ex…minister had been the atlas of the monarchy； and that； deprived of his succour； the state must fall into ruins。 The princesses were loud in their anger； and accused me publicly of having conspired against virtue itself！ The virtue of such a sister and brother！ I ask you； my friend； is not the idea truly ludicrous？
The dauphiness bewailed his fall with many tears； at least； so I was informed by a lady of her suite； madame de Campan。 This lady was a most loquacious person； she frequently visited my sister…in…law； and； thanks to her love of talking； we were always well…informed of all that was passing in the household of Marie Antoinette。 However； the dauphin was far from sharing the grief Of his illustrious spouse。 When informed of the dismissal of the duke； he cried out； 〃Well； madame du Barry has saved me an infinity of troublethat of getting rid of so dangerous a man； in the event of my ever ascending the throne。〃 The prince did not usually speak of me in the most flattering terms； but I forgave him on the present occasion； so much was I charmed with his expression relative to the late minister； it afforded me the certainty that I should not have to dread the possibility of his recalling de Choiseul。
Whilst many were bewailing the downfall of the des Choiseuls； others； who had an eye more to self…interest； presented themselves to share in the spoils of his fortune。 There were the princes de Soubise and de Conde； the duc de la Vauguyon； the comtes de Broglie； de Maillebois； and de Castries； the marquis de Monteynard and many others； equally anxious for a tempting slice of the ministry； and who would have made but one mouthful of the finest and best。
The marquise de 1' Hopital came to solicit my interest for the prince de Soubise； her lover。 I replied； that his majesty would rather have the marechal for his friend than his minister； that； in fact； the different appointments had taken place； and that； if the names of the parties were not immediately divulged； it was to spare the feelings of certain aspirants to the ministry： madame de 1' Hopital withdrew； evidently much disconcerted at my reply。 Certainly M。 de Soubise must have lost his reason； when he supposed that the successor of M。 de Choiseul would be himself； the most insignificant prince of France； he only could suppose that he was equal to such an elevation。 However this may be； he took upon himself to behave very much like an offended person for some days； but； finding such a line of conduct produced no good； he came round again； and presented himself as usual at my parties； whilst I received him as though nothing had occurred。
I had more difficulty in freeing myself from the importunities of Messieurs de Broglie and de Maillebois。 I had given to each of them a sort of promise； I had allowed them to hope； and yet； when the time came to realize these hopes； I told them； that I possessed much less influence than was generally imagined； to which they replied； that they knew my power to serve them was much greater than I appeared to believe。 After a while； I succeeded in deadening the expectations of M。 de Broglie； but M。 de Maillebois was long ere he would abandon his pursuit。 When every chance of success had left him； he gave way to so much violence and bitterness against M。 d'Aiguillon； that the duke was compelled to punish him for his impudent rage。 I will mention the other candidates for the ministry at another opportunity。
CHAPTER XXVII
The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du BarryThe countess and the prince de CondeThe duc de la Vauguyon and the countess Provisional ministerRefusal of the secretaryship of warDispleasure of the kingThe marechale de MirepoixUnpublished letter from Voltaire to Madame du BarryHer reply
The comte de la Marche had always evinced the warmest regard for me； and he sought； on the present occasion； to be repaid for his attachment。 Both he and the prince de Conde had their ambitious speculations in the present change of ministers； and both fancied； that because their relation； the duke； had governed during the king's minority； the right to the several appointments now vacant； belonged as a matter of course to their family。 The count had already sent to solicit my interest； through the mediation of madame de Monaco； mistress to the prince de Conde； and； as I shrewdly suspect； the occasional of himself。 Finding this measure did not produce all the good he expected； he came； without further preface； to speak to me himself about it。 Unwilling to come to an open rupture with him； I endeavoured to make him comprehend； that the policy of the sovereign would never permit his placing any of the administrative power in the hands of the princes of his family； that he had consented； most reluctantly； to investing them with military command； and that it would be fruitless to urge more。
The comte de la Marche appeared struck by the justness of my arguments； he replied；
〃Well； madam； since I cannot be a minister； I must e'en give up my wishes； but； for the love of heaven intreat of the king to bestow his favours in the shape of a little pecuniary aid。 Things look ill at present； they may take a worse turn； but he may confidently rely on my loyalty and devotion： the supreme courts； driven to the last extremity； will make a stand； and princes and peers will range themselves under the banners。 We well know how much this resistance will displease his majesty； I pledge myself never to forsake your cause； but to defend it with my life； that is； if my present pressing necessity for money be satisfied。 How say you； madam； can you procure it for me？〃
〃Very probably I may be enabled to assist you；〃 replied I； 〃but you must first inform me how much will satisfy you。〃
〃Oh；〃 answered he； carelessly； 〃something less than the mines of Peru will suffice； I am not extravagant； and merely ask for so much as is absolutely necessary。 In the first place 60；000 livres paid down； and secondly； a yearly payment of 200；000 more。〃
This demand did not appear to me unreasonable； and I undertook to arrange the matter to the prince's satisfaction； well pleased on my own side to secure so illustrious an ally at so cheap a rate； I procured the assent of the king and the comptroller…general； the 60；000 livres were bestowed on the comte de la Marche in two separate payments； the pension settled on him； and； still further； an annuity of 30；000 livres was secured to madame de Monaco； and I must do the count the justice to say； that he remained faithful to our cause amidst every danger and difficulty； braving alike insults； opprobrium； and the torrent of pamphlets and epigrams of which he was the object； in fact； we had good reason for congratulating ourselves upon securing such devotion and zeal at so poor a price。
The prince de Conde； surrounded by a greater degree of worldly state and consideration； was equally important to us； although in another way。 He had in some degree compromised popularity by attaching himself to me from the commencement of my court favour； and the reception he bestowed on me at Chantilly had completed his disgrace in the eyes of nobility。 He visited at my house upon the most friendly footing； and whenever he found me； he would turn the conversation upon politics； the state of affairs； and the great desire he felt to undertake the direction of them in concert with me； he would add； 〃You might play the part of madame de Pompadour； and yet you content yourself with merely attempting to do so； you are satisfied with possessing influence when you might exercise power and command。 Your alliance with a prince of the blood would render you sole mistress