Soubise. After the first compliments,

"Well, madame la comtesse, when is your presentation to take place?"

"I do not know, monsieur le marechal; there are obstacles in the
way. I fear that they who wish to injure me abuse their influence
with the king."

"I see that his majesty hesitates, altho' he is desirous of giving
you station. He must be stimulated to know that he is master;
and that if he shows any wavering in this particular, it will be
made use of to govern him hereafter."

Heartily did I applaud the language of M. de Soubise: I did not
suspect that the dear prince had another motive behind. At the
end of the interview he said,

"Madame, you would not have been as you now are had you been
more conciliatory towards me. I know the king, and know how to
manage him. I flatter myself that you would have been now presented
had you deigned to hear my advice."

"Did I reject it? Was I wrong in declining to have mademoiselle
Guimard as ambassadress? Were you assured of her silence?
Might she not have compromised us?"

"You are right; I did as one would have done at your age, and you
have done as I should do at mine; but there is always time to amend."

"Certainly, prince."