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Saying this he passed on without giving me the opportunity of replying, as I could have wished to have done. The marechale de Mirepoix, to whom I had confided my secret, and of whose fidelity I was assured, was present at the fete.
Saying this he passed on without giving me the opportunity of replying, as I could have wished to have done. The marechale de Mirepoix, to whom I had confided my secret, and of whose fidelity I was assured, was present at the fete.
Much as their presence constrained me, I still kept my place beside the sick-bed of his majesty, who would not suffer me to leave him for a minute. At an early hour the marechale de Mirepoix returned, according to her promise. I met her in the corridor as I was passing along on my way to the king's apartment; her face was full of cheerful smiles.
She mentioned him to the newly appointed bishop, who could not even understand to what she alluded. She related the affair, when he called heaven to witness that he knew nothing of any Jacobite either directly or indirectly." "And how did the marchioness get rid of her rival?" inquired I of madame de Mirepoix. "By a very simple and effective expedient.
"At the house of Mirepoix, the glover," I answered coldly, "in the Rue Platriere. Do you know him? You do. Well, she was kept there a prisoner, until we helped her to escape an hour or so ago." He did not seem to comprehend even then. I could see little of his face, but there was doubt and wonder in his tone when he spoke. "Mirepoix the glover," he murmured.
"Is it possible?" exclaimed I, with a warmth I could not repress. "The duchess," resumed madame de Mirepoix, "says he is an ill-bred and ungrateful man, and the countess insists upon it he is a downright pedant." 'Shameful, indeed," cried I; "but can you, my dear friend, account for the ill-nature with which these ladies speak of poor Rousseau?" "Oh!
The marechale de Mirepoix used to assert that Louis XV was the only prince of his line who ever knew the value of a crown. She had, nevertheless, managed to receive plenty from him, although, I must own, that she had had no small difficulty in obtaining them; nor did the king part with his beloved gold without many a sigh of regret.
But to return to present matters. The king was always thinking of the " Nouvelles a la Main," and determined to avenge me as openly as I had been attacked. Two or three days afterwards he gave a supper, to which he invited the duchesse and comtesse de Grammont, madame de Forcalquier, the princess de Marsan, the marechale de Mirepoix, and the comtesses de Coigny and de Montbarrey.
His calculation was that Mirepoix would be so outraged that he would make it impossible for Voltaire ever to return to France; and in that case well, Voltaire would have no other course open to him but to stay where he was, in Berlin, and Madame du Châtelet would have to make the best of it. Of course, Frederick's plan failed, and Voltaire was duly informed by Mirepoix of what had happened.
But I went down the Rhone, and embarked at Toulon, as well on account of the war, and from a motive of economy, as to obtain a passport from M. de Mirepoix, who then commanded in Provence, and to whom I was recommended. M. de Montaigu not being able to do without me, wrote letter after letter, desiring I would hasten my journey; this, however, an accident considerably prolonged.
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