Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon-- The comtesse
du Barry at Chantilly--Opinion of king and comte de la Marche respecting the
"Iron Mask"--Madame du Barry visits madame de Lagarde
My acquaintance with the singular being I was speaking of in the last chapter did
not end here, as you will find in the sequel. I will now give you an account of an
equally strange affair, in nearly the same words as Louis XV himself related it to
me. Altho' strongly recommended by my sister-in-law and M. de Sartines to
conceal the whole story of my mysterious friend from the king, yet,
unaccustomed to the prudential observation of court reserve, I, one fine evening,
in order to fill up a long blank in the conversation, related the story from
beginning to end. His majesty listened with attention until I had concluded.
"This is indeed," said he, "a most singular history; and I think you have acted very
wisely in putting an end to all such interference on the part of the police; for in
such cases you frequently run great risks to procure a trifling gratification. We
have seen something of the same sort in our family."
This discourse excited my curiosity; and I entreated of him to explain himself
more fully. "I ought not to do so," replied he; "such transactions should be kept
for ever concealed; but as more than half a century has elapsed since the event I
allude to took place, I think I may venture to break the silence I have religiously
observed until now. You are the only person I have ever mentioned it to, and I
must bind you to the strictest secrecy."
This I faithfully promised; and so long as Louis XV lived I kept my word.
"At the conclusion of the last century, during the month of September," resumed
the king, "it happened that Louis XIV, and madame de Maintenon formed the
wish of consulting together some learned astrologer, in order to ascertain
whether the coming age would be productive of good or ill to them. As neither of
them knew to whom to apply, in order to attain their object, madame de
Maintenon was compelled to confide her wishes to her friend, madame de
Montchevreuil, who readily engaged to find for her the person she required; for,
spite of the severity with which the law visited such practices, there was no
scarcity of dealers in augury, who promised good or bad fortune accordingly as
they were paid for it.
"Whilst this lady was making diligent search after one perfectly competent to
satisfy madame de Maintenon, this latter, in conjunction with the king, despite the
superiority of their minds, was greatly disturbed at the probable consequences of
the step they meditated. Their desire to penetrate into futurity appeared to them
as ridiculous as it was criminal, but their weaker feelings triumphed; and the
result of their deliberations was that far from relinquishing their intention of
searching the book of fate, they should lose neither pains nor trouble to attain
their object; and to encourage each other, they reckoned upon their fingers the
names of every person of their acquaintance, or even belonging to the court, who
had derived profit and advantage from the predictions of fortune-tellers.
"The minds of all at this period were still imbued with those superstitious feelings,
of which many of the most illustrious persons had given ample proof even in the
