the young dauphin and the princes his brothers. He deceived me
like a true Jesuit as he was, in telling me that the
were well disposed towards me ; and on my side I cheated him with
a promise of confidence and, friendship which I never bestowed.
Ah! my friend, again and again must I exclaim, what a villainous
place is a court!

Whilst the duc de la Vauguyon was seeking to enlist me under
the banners of heaven or the Jesuits, the marquis of Chauvelin
also essayed to make me his pupil; but as frank as he was amiable,
this nobleman did not go to work in a roundabout manner. He
came to me loyally, requesting me to consider his interests and mine.

"The king likes me," said he, "and I am attached to him body and
soul. He tenderly loves you, and I should have no difficulty in
doing the same thing; but as I am no longer of an age to inspire
you with the passion which I should feel towards you, I content
myself with your friendship. I have no enemy here, and no wish
to hurt any person. Thus you need not fear that I shall urge you
to any measures that might compromise you. It is the hatred of
the kingdom that you will have to fear. France is about to march
in a better track, and the best plan is to follow its lead. It
pains me, madame, to use language which may appear severe to you;
we ought only to talk to you of your beauty and the love which it
inspires. But in your situation, even that beauty may serve the
interests of France, and it is for that motive that I come to
solicit you."

I replied to M. de Chauvelin with equal frankness. I told him
that my sole intentions were to confine myself to the circle of