登陆注册
5164300000091

第91章

"Go, "said I to him," carry this note immediately to the duc de Villeroi, and wait, if it be necessary, the whole day, until you can return with the assurance that you have delivered it into his own hand."Whilst I was thus speaking to the man, who had been engaged by my steward, and very recently entered into my service, I chanced to look at him inadvertently, when my attention was arrested by seeing him rapidly change colour. I could not at the moment conceive what could thus agitate him, and making a sign for him to depart immediately upon his commission, he slowly left the room, regarding me as he went in such a manner, that I could not fail recognising him: and here, my friend, I must lay aside every particle of self-love and vanity ere I can make you a complete confession; the retrospect of my life brings many events, of which the remembrance is indeed painful to me, and only the solemn promise I am under to conceal nothing restrains me from consigning many particulars to oblivion. I am once more about to incur the chance of drawing down your contempt by my candour, but before Ienter upon the subject, permit me to conclude my affair with the duc de Villeroi.

My letter was a thunderbolt to the duke. He better than any one knew the extent of my credit, which he dreaded, lest I might employ it to his injury; he therefore hastened to reply to me in the following words:--"MADAME LA COMTESSE,--I am a most unhappy, or rather a vilely calumniated man; and my enemies have employed the most odious means of making me appear despicable in your eyes. I confess, that not daring to aspire to you, I stopped at the footstool of your throne, but I wholly deny the words which have been laid to my charge. I venture to expect from your justice that you will grant me the favour of an opportunity of exculpating myself from so black a charge. It would be cruel indeed to condemn a man without hearing him.

"I am with the most profound respect, &c."To this hypocritical epistle I replied by another note as follows:--"Every bad and unfavourable case may be denied, monsieur le duc, therefore I am not astonished at your seeking to repel the charge of having uttered the disrespectful words laid to your charge. As for the explanations you offer me they would be fruitless; I will have none with those who have either been my friends or appeared to be such. I must therefore beg you will cease all attempts at a correspondence which can lead to no good results.

"I have the honour to remain, &c., &c."

After this business was despatched, I caused Sophie to be sent for to attend me.

"Well, Sophie," said I, " you perceive the confusion you have occasioned through your folly. Is it then true that the duc de Villeroi has spoken of love to you?""Yes, indeed, madam," replied the poor girl, weeping bitterly.

"And you return his passion."

"I believe so, madam."

This confession made me smile. I continued--"Then you are not quite sure of the fact?""No, madam; for when I do not see him I forget all about it; but when he is before me, so handsome and so generous, so full of love, I try to make myself equally fond of him; but somehow Icannot help preferring his courier, M. l'Eclair."These last words completely destroyed all attempts at preserving my gravity, and I burst into the most uncontrollable laughter, which, however, soon gave place to a painful recollection of how soon this young and artless creature, as simple as she was beautiful, was likely to lose this open-heartedness in the hands of her seducer.

"Sophie," said I to her at last, "this unfortunate affair forbids my retaining you any longer in my service; I am compelled to send you from me. I trust this noble lover of yours will never forsake you; have a care only to conceal from him, should you persist in encouraging his addresses, that he has a rival in the person of his courier, l'Eclair."Sophie threw herself weeping at my feet. I raised and encouraged her by the kindest words to pursue the right path, but I remained steady in my determination of sending her from me.

I was not mistaken. The duc de Villeroi became the possessor of poor Sophie, and publicly boasted of having her under his protection.

He did not, however, proceed to these extreme measures until he had essayed every possible means of effecting a reconciliation with me, and he employed more than a hundred persons in the vain attempt of inducing me to pardon him. With this view the marechale de Mirepoix, whose succour he had implored, observed to me that it was sometimes necessary to feign to overlook an insult; Ireplied, that dissimulation was an art I knew nothing of, nor did I wish ever to acquire it.

"Really, my dear countess," cried she, "you should not live at court, you are absolutely unfit for it.""It may be so," replied I; "but I would rather quit Versailles altogether than be surrounded by false and perfidious friends."All the remonstrances of the good-natured marechale were fruitless, I could not bring myself to pardon a man who had so openly outraged my friendship.

Directly I saw the king, I related the whole affair to him.

"It must be confessed," said he, "that the duke has behaved very ill towards you, but he has certainly shown his taste as far as regards Sophie. She is a sweet creature.""Ah! you are all alike," cried I. "You gentlemen think a pretty face an excuse for every fault; and he only deserves blame who can attach himself where beauty is wanting.""Because he is a simpleton for so doing," said Louis XV with the utmost gravity, giving me at the same time an affectionate embrace.

同类推荐
  • 空谷道澄禅师语录

    空谷道澄禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 审斋词

    审斋词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台案汇录戊集

    台案汇录戊集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿毗达磨发智论

    阿毗达磨发智论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 丽白楼诗话

    丽白楼诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七彩的分光

    七彩的分光

    应用光学家王大珩,讲述自己从事光学研究的经历和故事。主要内容包括:出生地的秘密、祖父的丹桂、16岁的私塾先生、驻日公使寻访穷留学生、学业荒芜两鬓丝、八旬老父自题挽联抱憾而终、踩着板凳上黑板、鸡兔同笼的教益、小圣人挨板子、水碗中弯折的筷子、一个人得了两块银盾、“抠门儿”老子、考上了三所大学、最崇敬的老师、与钱三强莫逆相交70载、南下逃难等等。
  • 主角命的我的异世生活竟然是这样

    主角命的我的异世生活竟然是这样

    一名喜爱二次元的宅男学生一不小心舍命救了个人就升级为大神恩人穿越成了人生赢家,怎么看都是主角设定,但是······
  • 贵平吟草

    贵平吟草

    主要包括:无题;登庐山感赋;清明扫父墓;寻诗;七回乡偶书;重走砍柴路;重游黄龙寺;三过双井村(三首);读《石湾诗草》(两首);一二怀乡;赠妻;修江月夜等。
  • 与科学家相约(科学知识大课堂)

    与科学家相约(科学知识大课堂)

    为了普及科学知识,探索科学发展的历程,领略科学丰富多彩的趣味,弘扬科学名家的丰功伟绩,学习科学家不懈的创新精神与无私的奉献精神,培养青少年科学、爱科学的浓厚兴趣,并密切结合青少年朋友日常的生活与学习特点,我们组织编写了这套《科学知识大课堂》。作为一套普及科学知识的通俗读物,本书有别于专业的学术论著,侧重于知识性、趣味性、实用性,注重对青少年科技素质的培育、科学兴趣的培养、科学精神的塑造与科学方法的启迪,不求面面俱到,但求言之有物,物有所指,指有所发。
  • 绛云楼俊遇

    绛云楼俊遇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Bob Son of Battle

    Bob Son of Battle

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 腹黑帝少:千金老婆好难追

    腹黑帝少:千金老婆好难追

    他是位高权重的军中少将,年轻一代的古武第一人,他看似温和儒雅,实则疏淡冷漠。无数名媛淑女为之疯狂,他不屑一顾,却唯独对她莫名心软,处处袒护。而她是重生而来的复仇者,不但得了个神秘莫测的位面交易系统,还吸引了一个牛逼男人的注意,从此过上复仇虐渣,你追我退的生活。
  • 山花儿

    山花儿

    下午,孩子们走了。吃过了饭,青草子就坐在轮椅上抱着孩子,山花儿在地里忙活着,种菜种庄稼。也去喂鸡喂猪。自己的亲人、村庄里的人时常来,帮着干一些活儿,也在场院里拉拉家常。而有了这不幸后,更多了亲人和村里人的关怀,在这样的温暖里,青草子感到又找到了曾经的幸福。就在这幸福里,青草子和山花儿内心有了一样的渴望,渴望奇迹发生,哪天,他能站起来,像曾经相恋时一样,像婚后那段平静而幸福的生活一样。
  • 王子公主事件簿

    王子公主事件簿

    **‘蓝色深雪’系列之一**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“如果没有相等的爱,那就让我爱多一些吧。”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~婚礼上,丈夫的“旧情人”故去,留给她一个便宜儿子。父亲病逝、家族风波、商战、扑朔迷离的恋情……这一切的一切,假若不是遇到了他,她还会面对这样繁乱的人生吗?当一切都不再值得信任,唯一庆幸的是,她的手中,还握着、他对她永恒不变的爱情。******************************************更新时间:每晚6点-8点,周末偶尔会提前至中午12点。每天一更。******************************************嗯嗯、票票、长评……偶都要~~~