Conversation with the king--Marriage of the comte d'Artois-- Intrigues--The place
of lady of honor--The marechale de Mirepoix-- The comtesse de Forcalquier and
madame du Barry--The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame Boncault
The king was much annoyed at the indifference I evinced for all state secrets,
and frequently observed to me, "You are not at all like madame de Pompadour:
she was never satisfied unless she knew all that was going on, and was
permitted to take an active part in every transaction; she would frequently scold
me for not telling her things of which I was myself ignorant. She was at the
bottom of the most secret intrigues, and watched every turn of my countenance,
as though she sought to read in my eyes the inmost thoughts of my mind.
Never," continued the king, "did woman more earnestly desire supreme
command; and so completely had she learned to play my part, that I have
frequently surprised her giving private instructions to my ambassadors, differing
altogether from what I myself had dictated to them. Upon the same principle she
maintained at various courts envoys and ministers, who acted by her orders, and
in her name; she even succeeded in obtaining the friendship of the grave and
austere Marie Therese, who ultimately carried her condescension so far, as only
to address the marchioness by the title of 'cousin' and 'dear friend.' I must
confess, however, that these proceedings on the part of madame de Pompadour
were by no means agreeable to me, and I even prefer your ignorance of politics
to her incessant interference with them."
This was said by Louis XV upon the occasion of the approaching marriage of the
comte d'Artois, the object of universal cabal and court intrigue to all but myself,
who preserved perfect tranquillity amidst the general excitement that prevailed.
Various reasons made the marriage of this prince a matter of imperative
necessity. In the first place, the open gallantry of the young count had attracted a
crowd of disreputable personages of both sexes to Versailles, and many
scandalous adventures occurred within the chateau itself; secondly, a motive still
more important in the eyes of Louis XV, originated in the circumstance of neither
the marriage of the dauphin nor that of the comte de Provence having been blest
with any offspring. The king began to despair of seeing any descendants in a
direct line, unless indeed heaven should smile upon the wedded life of the comte
d'Artois. Louis XV disliked the princes of the blood, and the bare idea that the duc
d'Orleans might one day wield his sceptre would have been worse than death.
Many alliances were proposed for the prince. Marie Josephe, infanta of Spain,
was then in her twentieth year, and consequently too old. The princess Marie-
Francoise-Benedictine-Anne-Elizabeth- Josephe-Antonine-Laurence-Ignace-
Therese -Gertrude-Marguerite- Rose, etc., etc., of Portugal, although younger
than the first- mentioned lady, was yet considered as past the age that would
have rendered her a suitable match for so young a bridegroom. The daughter of
any of the electoral houses of Germany was not considered an eligible match,
and the pride of the house of Bourbon could not stoop to so ignoble an alliance.
There was no alternative left therefore, but to return to the house of Savoy, and
