Memoirs of the Courts of Louis XV and XVI. Being secret memoirs of Madame Du Hausset, lady's maid to Madame de Pompadour, and of the Princess Lamballe — Volume 5 by Mme. Du Hausset
page 38 of 66 (57%)
page 38 of 66 (57%)
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person intimate with the author, the margin of which, in the handwriting
of M. de Calonne, actually contained numerous additional circumstances which were to have been published in a second edition! This publication my agent, aided by some English gentlemen, arrived in time to suppress. "The copy I allude to was brought to Paris and shown to the Queen. She instantly flew with it in her hands to the King's cabinet. "'Now, Sire,' exclaimed she, 'I hope you will be convinced that my enemies are those whom I have long considered as the most pernicious of Your Majesty's Councillors--your own Cabinet Ministers--your M. de Calonne!--respecting whom I have often given you my opinion, which, unfortunately, has always been attributed to mere female caprice, or as having been biassed by the intrigues of Court favourites! This, I hope, Your Majesty will now be able to contradict!' "The King all this time was looking over the different pages containing M. de Calonne's additions on their margins. On recognising the hand-writing, His Majesty was so affected by this discovered treachery of his Minister and the agitation of his calumniated Queen that he could scarcely articulate. "'Where,' said he, I did you procure this?' "'Through the means, Sire, of some of the worthy members of that nation your treacherous Ministers made our enemy--from England! where your unfortunate Queen, your injured wife, is compassionated!' "'Who got it for you?' |
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