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Updated: June 28, 2025
I accordingly ordered my carriage and returned to Versailles, where, on the same evening, I received the following letter from the marechale: "MY DEAR COUNTESS, My efforts have been attended with no better success than yours. Well may the proverb say, 'There is none so deaf as he who will not hear, and M. de Rumas perseveres in treating all I advanced respecting his wife as calumnious falsehoods.
"Ah, madam," answered the wily de Rumas, in a soft and expostulating tone, "trouble not, I pray you, the repose of my family. I know too well the virtue of madame de Rumas, her delicacy, and the severity of her principles; I know too well likewise the sentiments in which her excellent parents educated her, and I defy the blackest malice to injure her in my estimation."
In pursuance with this resolution, Chamilly informed the king, that he had just been informed that madame de Rumas had a lover, who boasted of being able to turn his majesty which way he pleased, through the intervention of his mistress. Louis XV wrote off instantly to M. de Sartines, to have a watchful eye over the proceedings of the Rumas family.
Comte Jean departed to seek the assistance of M. de Sartines, who was at that time entirely devoted to my interests; and, after having diligently searched the whole rue du Temple, he succeeded in discovering madame de Rumas.
He had just learned that Chamilly frequently went to Paris, the bearer of letters from the 'king to a young and pretty female, named madame de Rumas, who resided in the old rue du Temple. Here was a pretty discovery; the king actually engaged in a love affair, letters passing between him and his mistress, whilst the head valet de chambre was acting the part of Mercury to the lovers.
On the following day, at an early hour, I repaired to the Port a l'Anglaise; M. de Rumas arrived there a few minutes after myself. He had the air and look of an honest man, but perhaps no species of deceit is more easily detected than that quiet, subdued manner, compressed lips, and uplifted eye.
"I know, madam," replied the hypocrite, "that his majesty finds great pleasure in your charming society." "And yet, sir," answered I, "his majesty experiences equal delight in the company of your wife. How answer you that, M. de Rumas?" "My wife, madam!"
At first Chamilly sought to appease my anger by eager protestations of innocence, but when he found I already knew the whole affair, and was firmly fixed in my determination, he became alarmed, threw himself at my knees, and promised to do all I would have him. We then agreed to tell Louis XV some tale of madame de Rumas that should effectually deter him from thinking further of her.
This was going too far; and Louis XV, who thought it no scandal to have a hundred mistresses, was alarmed at the thoughts of occasioning the bustle and confusion attendant upon disgracing his acknowledged favorite and recognised mistress; he therefore assured her, her request was beyond his power to grant. Madame de Rumas now sought to compromise the affair, by talking of a share in his favor.
This was going too far; and Louis XV, who thought it no scandal to have a hundred mistresses, was alarmed at the thoughts of occasioning the bustle and confusion attendant upon disgracing his acknowledged favorite and recognised mistress; he therefore assured her, her request was beyond his power to grant. Madame de Rumas now sought to compromise the affair, by talking of a share in his favor.
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