with all his accustomed douceur and politeness, that he hoped
well, but had no means but general ones of information.

"I believe," said she afterwards, "nobody was so hurt at

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the king's death as my papa! he couldn't ride on horseback next
day!"

She then told M. de Narbonne some anecdotes (very new to him, no
doubt), which she had read in the newspapers, of the Convention;
and then spoke of M. Egalit‚. "I hope," said she, flinging her
arms out with great violence, "he'll come to be gullytined. He
showed the king how he liked to be gullytined, so now I hope
he'll be gullytined himself!--So shocking! to give his vote
against his own nephew!"

If the subject of her vehemence and blunders had been less just
or less melancholy, I know not how I should have kept my face in
order.

Our evening was very pleasant when she was gone, Madame de Stael
is, with all her wildness and blemishes, a delightful companion,
and M. de N. rises upon me in esteem and affection every time I
see him: their minds in some points ought to be exchanged, for he
is as delicate as a really feminine woman, and evidently suffers
when he sees her setting les biens‚ances(83) aside, as it often
enough befalls her to do.