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"In conclusion, be assured that I shall defend you to my utmost, and am for life, "Yours, etc." Whilst we were awaiting Voltaire's reply, I determined to avenge myself on the duchesse de Grammont, who had encouraged him in his attack; and thus did I serve this lady. Persuaded that she did not know the writing of his Danish majesty, I wrote the following letter to her:
He certainly contrived to murmur a humble if somewhat hasty apology, when he found himself confronted at the door by Mme. la Duchesse herself, but he did not stand aside to let her pass.
Indeed, but for a host of motives of this kind, how explain why women are nearly always the first to betray the secret? a secret of which, perhaps, they soon weary. "Mme la Duchesse cannot see visitors, monsieur," said the man; "she is dressing, she begs you to wait for her here." Armand walked up and down the drawing-room, studying her taste in the least details.
The company some time after had retired, and I was talking with Madame de Saint-Simon, who had nearly finished undressing herself to go to bed, when a servant of Madame la Duchesse de Berry, who had formerly belonged to us, entered, all terrified.
Anne, even as the Duchesse de Longueville shone at the Hôtel de Rambouillet, with De Retz and La Rochefoucauld at her feet. This was at a period when the Italian cities were the centre of the new civilization which the Renaissance created, when ancient learning and art were cultivated with an enthusiasm never since surpassed.
That Junot's testimony, however, notwithstanding the countenance it obtained from Bonaparte's relations, ought to be cautiously received, the following passage from the Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Abrantes, vol. i. p. 250, demonstrative of the feelings of irritation between the parties, will show: "Junot escorted Madame Bonaparte when she went to join the General- in-Chief in Italy.
It was not the luxurious salon of the Duchesse du Maine, with its whirl of festivities and passion for esprit, nor that of the Temple, with its brilliant and courtly, but more or less intellectual, atmosphere; nor that of the clever and critical Marechale de Luxembourg, so elegant, so witty, so noted in its day which left the most permanent traces and the widest fame.
"You have done your cause no harm," Sogrange assured him, with subtle sarcasm. "We come now to the Duchesse." The Prince leaned towards him. It was just at this moment that a steward entered with a marconigram, which he presented to the Prince. The latter tore it open, glanced it through, and gave vent to a little exclamation. The fingers which held the missive trembled.
Violent scenes frequently took place between them; the last, which occurred at Rambouillet, went so far that Madame la Duchesse de Berry received a kick , and a menace that she should be shut up in a convent for the rest of her life; and when M. le Duc de Berry fell ill, he was thumbing his hat, like a child, before the King, relating all his grievances, and asking to be delivered from Madame la Duchesse de Berry.
"Madame," replied Ernanton, "you cannot make me tell what I do not know." "And still less what you will not tell." "Madame, all my mission consists in delivering a letter to her highness." "Well, then, give me the letter," said the lady, holding out her hand. "Madame, I believed I had had the honor of telling you that this letter was addressed to the duchesse."
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