memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第49部分

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e　the　general　torrent？　　It　bore　me　down。〃

〃And　you　fear　lest　it　should　carry　you　beyond　your　depth；　and　would　fain　return　to　；　is　it　not　so；　my　lord　duke？〃

At　this　ironical　speech　an　expression　of　heavy　displeasure　rose　to　the　countenance　of　M。　de　Choiseul；　and　he　remained　for　several　minutes　like　a　man　who　fears　to　trust　himself　to　reply。　　Then　he　added；

〃Madam；　when　I　solicited　the　favour　of　this　conversation；　it　was　with　the　sincerest　desire　of　adjusting　all　differences　between　us；　and　it　would　but　ill　advance　that　purpose　were　I　now　to　reply　to　you　with　warmth　and　petulance；　condescend；　on　your　part；　to　lay　aside　sarcasm　and　raillery。　　You　have　already　too　many　advantages　over　me；　and　it　would　ill　accord　with　your　wonted　generosity　to　insult　a　half…conquered　foe。〃

〃You　are　right；　my　lord；〃　answered　I；　〃jests　and　recrimination　will　effect　nothing；　let　us　rather　proceed　at　once　to　consider　what　is　best　for　the　interest　of　both。〃

〃Willingly；〃　replied　he。　　'Now　you　speak　to　the　purpose；　and　as　I　was　prepared　to　hear　youare　you　inclined　for　a　serious　discussion　of　our　business？〃

〃Pray　begin；　my　lord；　I　am　all　attention。〃

〃Well；　madam；　I　deeply　regret　all　that　has　passed；　and　deplore　that　my　friends　and　part　of　my　family　should　be　disagreeable　to　you；　I　take　upon　myself　to　engage　that　their　hostility　shall　end；　and　am　willing　to　afford　you　the　most　perfect　satisfaction　upon　this　point。　　Impressed　with　highest　respect　for　his　majesty；　and　the　most　lively　desire　to　serve　him；　I　ask　for　nothing　more　than　to　be　on　good　terms　with　those　he　loves；　and　as　for　the　future；　my　unshrinking　loyalty　may　be　relied　on。〃

〃I　am　well　assured　of　it；　my　lord　duke；　and　likewise　you　have　never　taken　any　part　in　the　calumnies　which　have　been　aimed　at　me。　　Let　us　then　forgive　the　and　since　we　are　agreed　as　to　the　future；　let　us　speak　but　of　the　present。　　I　have　friends　fitted　to　serve　the　king；　whose　ambition　leads　them　to　aspire　to　that　honour。　　What　will　you　do　to　assist　them？〃

〃Ere　I　promise　that；　madam；　it　is　necessary　I　should　be　acquainted　with　them。〃

〃What　would　it　avail　to　name　them　to　you？　　You　perfectly　well

comprehend　to　whom　I　allude。　　I　am　resolutely　decided　to　support　them；　and　to　employ　for　this　purpose　the　friendship　with　which　his　majesty　deigns　to　honour　me。〃

The　duke　coloured　deeply　at　these　words。

〃Then；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃　you　would　fain　strip　me　to　enrich　others？〃

〃No；　my　lord；　I　ask　but　a　division　of　your　possessions。　　You　cannot　have　every　thing；　and　it　would　not　be　fair　that　our　reconciliation　should　be　profitable　to　you　only。〃　〃I　did　not　anticipate；　madam；　in　coming　hither；　that　you　would　command　me　to　offer　up　myself　as　a　sacrifice　upon　an　altar　raised　by　you　to　the　interests　of　your　friends。〃

〃Meaning　to　say；　my　lord　duke；　that　you　will　keep　every　thing　to　yourself。　　I　cannot　compliment　you　upon　your　liberality；　however　I　may　for　your　candour。〃

〃Madam；　I　have　never　since　my　entry　into　the　ministry　sought　to　live　at　the　expense　of　my　country；　and　let　me　resign　office　when　I　may；　I　shall　retire　loaded　only　with　debts；　whilst　you　and　your　friends　draw　large　revenues　from　the　nation。〃

The　conversation　became　warm　and　angry；　the　duke　and　myself；　with　crimson　cheeks　and　inflamed　countenances；　surveyed　each　other　with　haughty　defiance。　　At　length　he　added；

〃I　had　hoped　that　I　should　have　quitted　you　more　kindly　disposed　towards　me。〃

〃And　I；　my　lord；　fancied　that　you　were　coming　with　an　ardent　desire　for　peace；　but　no；　the　spirit　of　your　sister　leads　you　astray；　and　you　would　fain　punish　me　for　her　absence　from　court。〃

〃Madam；　I　beseech　you　to　leave　my　sister　in　peace；　she　has　gone；　that　ought　to　satisfy　you。　　We　will　not；　if　you　please；　speak　of　her。〃

〃I　only　wish　that　she　would　likewise　do　me　the　honour　to　be　silent　respecting　me。　　I　am　not　ignorant　that　she　continues　to　aim　her　slanders　at　me　from　afar　as　she　did　when　near　me。　　One　might　suppose　that　the　sole　object　of　her　journeyings　was　but　to　excite　all　France　against　me。〃

〃Madam；　you　are　mistaken。　　My　sister〃

〃Continues　to　play　the　same　part　in　the　country　she　did　in　Paris。　She　detests　me　because　I　happen　to　have　youth　and　beauty　on　my　side。　　May　her　hatred　last　forever。〃

〃Ah；　madam；　say　not　so；　for　with　your　charms　you　are　indeed　too　formidable　an　antagonist；　and　the　more　so；　as　I　clearly　perceive　you　are　not　inclined　for　peace。〃

〃At　least；〃　said　I；　〃the　war　on　my　side　shall　be　fair　and　open；　and　those　belonging　to　you　have　not　always　waged　it　with　me　upon　those　terms。〃

The　duke　merely　warded　off　this　last　assertion　by　some　unmeaning　compliment；　and　we　separated　greater　enemies　than　ever。

The　first　person　to　whom　I　could　communicate　what　had　passed　was　the　duc　d'Aiguillon。　　He　listened　to　my　recital　without　any　decided　expression　of　his　opinion；　but　no　sooner　had　I　concluded；　than　he　took　me　by　the　hand；　and　pressing　it　with　a　friendly　grasp；

〃How　I　congratulate　you；〃　said　he；　〃upon　the　good　fortune　which　has　extricated　you　from　this　affair。　　Do　you　know　that　a　reconciliation　with　the　duc　de　Choiseul　would　have　involved　your　inevitable　disgrace？　　What　evil　genius　counselled　you　to　act　in　such　a　manner？〃

〃I　fancied　I　was　doing　right；〃　said　I；　〃in　thus　proving　to　the　king　that　I　was　not　an　unreasonable　woman。〃

〃The　Choiseuls；〃　replied　he；　〃would　have　entangled　you　in　their　nets；　and；　separated　from　your　real　friends；　would　have　made　you　the　innocent　author　of　your　own　destruction。　　Tell　the　king　just　so　much；　that　the　duc　de　Choiseul　has　been　to　see　you；　that　you　conversed　together　some　time；　and　that　he　has　offended　you　more　than　ever。〃

〃I　promise　you；　my　kind　friend；〃　said　I；　〃to　follow　your　advice。〃

When　I　next　saw　the　king；　I　apprized　him　of　the　visit。

〃That　does　not　astonish　me；〃　said　Louis　XV；　〃the　duke　is　anxious　to　be　on　friendly　terms　with　you。〃

〃He　has　then　taken　a　very　contrary　road　to　arrive　at　my　friendship；〃　said　I；　〃if　he　really　desires　that　we　should　be　on　good　terms；　he　must　conduct　himself　very　differently〃；　and　there　the　conversation　ended。　　But　several　days　afterwards；　having　sent　away　my