The king’s friends--The duc de Fronsac--The duc d’Ayen’s
remark--Manner of living at court--The marquis de Dreux
–Brézé--Education of Louis XV--The _Parc-aux-Cerfs_--Its
household--Its inmates--Mère Bompart--Livres expended on the
_Parc-aur-Cerfs_--Good advice--Madame
I was now firmly fixed at court, the king, more than ever devoted to
me, seemed unable to dispense with my constant presence. I had so
successfully studied his habits and peculiarities, that my empire over
him was established on a basis too firm to be shaken, whilst my power
and unbounded influence convinced my enemies, that, so long as the
present monarch sat upon the throne of France, their attempts at
diminishing my credit and influence would only recoil upon themselves.
Louis XV generally supped in my apartments every evening, unless indeed,
by way of change, I went to sup with him. Our guests were of course of
the first order, but yet not of the most exemplary morals. These persons
had tact, and saw that, to please the king, they must not surpass him;
so that, if by chance he should reflect on himself, he would appear to
advantage amongst them. Poor courtiers! It was labour in vain. The king
was in too much fear of knowing himself to understand that study: he
knew the penetration and severity of his own judgment, and on no account
would he exercise it at his own expense.
The duc de Duras, although a man of little wit, was yet gay and always
lively. He amused me; I liked his buoyant disposition, and forgave him
although he had ranged himself with the protesting peers. In fact, I
could not be angry with him. The folly of opposition had only seized
on him because it was epidemic. The dear duke had found himself
with wolves, and had begun to howl with them. I am sure that he was
astonished at himself when he remembered the signature which he had
given, and the love he had testified for the old parliament, for
which, in fact, he cared no more than Jean de Vert. God knows how he
compensated for this little folly at the château. It was by redoubling
his assiduities to the king, and by incessant attentions to me. In
general, those who wished to thrive at court only sought how to make
their courage remembered; M. de Duras was only employed in making his
forgotten.
The prince de Terigny, the comte d’Escars, the duc de Fleury, were not
the least amusing. They kept up a lively strain of conversation, and the
king laughed outrageously. But the vilest of the party was the duc
de Fronsac. Ye gods! what a wretch! To speak ill of him is no sin. A
mangled likeness of his father, he had all his faults with not one of
his merits. He was perpetually changing his mistresses, but it cannot be
said whether it was inconstancy on his part, or disgust on theirs, but
the latter appears to me most probable. Though young, he was devoured by
gout or some other infirmity, but it was called gout out of deference
to the house of Richelieu. They talked of the duchess de ------, whose
husband was said to have poisoned her.
The saints of Versailles--the duc de la Vauguyon, the duc d’Estissac,
and M. de Durfort--did like others. These persons practised religion in
the face of the world, and abstained from loose conversation in presence
of their own families; but with the king they laid aside their religion
and reserve, so that these hypocrites had in the city all the honours
of devotion, and in the royal apartments all the advantages of loose
conduct. As for me, I was at Versailles the same as everywhere else. To
please the king I had only to be myself. I relied, for the future, on
my uniformity of conduct. What charmed him in the evening, would delight
again the next day. He had an equilibrium of pleasure, a balance of
amusement which can hardly be described; it was every day the same
variety; the same journeys, the same fêtes, the balls, the theatres,
all came round at fixed periods with the most monotonous regularity. In
fact, the people knew exactly when to laugh and when to look grave.
There was in the château a most singular character, the grand master of
the ceremonies of France. His great-grandfather, his grandfather, his
father, who had fulfilled these functions for a century, had transmitted
to him their understanding and their duties. All he thought of was how
to regulate the motions and steps of every person at court. He adored
the dauphin and dauphiness, because they both diverted and fatigued
themselves according to the rules in such cases made and provided. He
was always preaching to me and quoted against me the precedents of Diane
de Poitiers, or Gabrielle d’Estreés. One day he told me that all the
misfortunes of Mademoiselle de la Vallière occurred in consequence of
her neglect of etiquette. He would have had all matters pass at court
during the old age of Louis XV as at the period of the childhood
of Louis XIV, and would fain have had the administration of the
_Parc-aux-Cerfs_, that he might have arranged all with due ceremonies.
Since this word _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ has escaped my pen, I will tell you
something of it. Do you know, my friend, that but little is known of
this place, of which so much has been said. I can tell you, better
than any other person, what it really was, for I, like the marquise de
Pompadour, took upon myself the superintendence of it, and busied myself
with what they did there. It was, _entre nous_, the black spot in the
reign of Louis XV, and will cost me much pain to describe.
The vices of Louis XV were the result of bad education. When an infant,
they gave him for governor the vainest, most coxcombical, stupidest
of men--the duc de Villeroi, who had so well served the king (_si bien
servi le roi_),*
* The countess alludes to the _chanson_ written, after his
famous defeat, “_Villeroi, Villeroi a fort bien servi le
roi_.” (Ed.) i.e., author
Never had courtier so much courtiership as he. He saw the young prince
from morning till night, and from morning till night he was incessantly
repeating in his ears that his future subjects were born for him, and
that they were all dependent on his good and gracious pleasure. Such
lessons daily repeated, necessarily destroyed the wise instructions
of Massillon. When grown up, Louis XV saw the libertinism of cardinal
Dubois and the orgies of the regency: madame de Maillis’ shameless
conduct was before his eyes and Richelieu’s also. Louis XV could not
conduct himself differently from his ministers and his family. His timid
character was formed upon the example of others. At first he selected
his own mistresses, but afterwards he chose some one who took that
trouble off his hands. Lebel became purveyor in chief to his pleasures;
and controlled in Versailles the house known as the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_.
As soon as the courtiers knew of the existence and purposes of this
house, they intrigued for the control of it. The king laughed at
all their efforts, and left the whole management to Lebel, under the
superintendence of the comte de Saint-Florentin, minister of the royal
household. They installed there, however, a sort of military chief,
formerly a major of infantry, who was called, jestingly, M. de
Cervieres; his functions consisted in an active surveillance, and in
preventing young men from penetrating the seraglio. The soldiers at the
nearest station had orders to obey his first summons. His pay was twelve
thousand livres a year.
A female styled the _surintendante_ had the management of the domestic
affairs; she ruled with despotic sway; controlled the expenses;
preserved good order; and regulated the amusement of her charges,
taking care that they did not mix one with the other. She was an elderly
canoness of a noble order, belonging to one of the best families in
Burgundy. She was only known at the _Parc_ as _Madame_, and no one
ventured to give her any other title. Shortly after the decease of Mme.
De Pompadour, she had succeeded in this employ a woman of low rank, who
had a most astonishing mind. Louis XV thought very highly of her, and
said that if she were a man he would have made her his minister. She put
the harem on an admirable system, and instructed the _odalisques_ in all
the necessary etiquette.
The Madame of my time was a woman of noble appearance, tall, ascetic,
with a keen eye and imperious manner. She expressed a sovereign contempt
for all the low-born beauties confided to her trust. However, she did
not treat her wards ill, for some one of them might produce a passion
in the heart of the king, and she was determined to be prepared
for whatever might fall out. As to the noble ladies, they were her
favourites. Madame did not divide her flock into fair and dark, which
would have been natural, but into noble and ignoble. Besides Madame,
there were two under-mistresses, whose duties consisted in keeping
company with the young ladies who were placed there. They sometimes
dined with new comers, instructed them in polite behaviour, and aided
them in their musical lessons or in dancing, history, and literature
in which these _éléves_ were instructed. Then followed a dozen women
of lower station, creatures for any service, half waiting women, half
companions, who kept watch over the young ladies, and neglected nothing
that could injure each other at every opportunity. The work of the house
was performed by proper servants and male domestics, chosen expressly
for their age and ugliness. They were paid high, but in return for the
least indiscretion on their part, they were sent to linger out their
existence in a state prison. A severe watch was kept over every person
of either sex in this mysterious establishment. It was requisite, in
fact, that an impenetrable veil should be cast over the frailties of the
king; and that the public should know nothing of what occurred at the
_Parc-aux-Cerfs_.
The general term _élèves_ was applied to the young persons who were kept
there. They were of all ages from nine to eighteen years. Until fifteen
they were kept in total ignorance of the city which they inhabited.
When they attained that age, no more mystery was made of it; they only
endeavoured to prevent them from believing that they were destined for
the king’s service. Sometimes they were told that they were imprisoned
as well as their family; sometimes, a lover rich and powerful kept them
concealed to satisfy his love. One thought she belonged to a German
prince, another to an English lord. There were some, however, who,
better informed, either by their predecessors, or by chance, knew
precisely what was in store for them, and accordingly built some
exceedingly fine castles in the air. But when they were suspected to be
so knowing, they were sent away, and either married (if pregnant), or
compelled to enter a cloister or chapter.
The noble damsels were served with peculiar etiquette, their servants
wore a green livery. Those who belonged to the ignobles, had their
valets clothed only in gray. The king had arranged this, and applauded
it as one of the most admirable decisions of his life, and contended
with me that the families who paid this impost for his pleasures, were
greatly indebted to him for it. I assure you, my friend, that there are
often very peculiar ideas in the head of a king.
After _madame_, the _sous-madames_, the young ladies, came a lady,
who had no title in the house, because she “carried on the war” out
of doors, but still was a most useful personage. In very truth la Mère
Bompart was a wonderful animal. Paint to yourself a woman rather small
than large, rather fat than lean, rather old than young, with a good
foot, a good eye, as robust as a trooper, with a decided “call” for
intrigue, drinking nothing but wine, telling nothing but lies, swearing
by, or denying God, as suited her purpose. Fancy such an one, and you
will have before you _la Mère Bompart, Pourvoyeuse en chef des celludes
du Parc-aux-Cerfs_.
She was in correspondence with all sorts of persons, with the most
celebrated _appareilleuses_, and of course with the most noted pimps.
She treated Lebel as her equal, went familiarly to M. de Sartines and
occasionally condescended to visit M. de Saint-Florentin. Everybody at
court received her graciously; everybody but the king and myself, who
held her in equal horror.
The _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ cost enormous sums. The lowest expense was
calculated at 150,000 livres, to pay only the functionaries and the
domestics, the education and the board of the _élèves_, etc. This does
not include the cost of the _recruiting service_, the indemnities paid
to families, the dowry given with them in marriage, the presents made to
them, and the expenses of the illegitimate children: this was enormous
in cost, at least 2,000,000 livres a year, and yet I make the lowest
estimation. The _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ was kept up for thirty-four years:
it cost annually 4 or 5,000,000 livres, and that will amount to nearly
150,000,000 (£ 6,250,000). If you think I mistake, go through the
calculation.
A short time after my sojourn at Versailles, when I was the acknowledged
mistress of the king, the duc de Richelieu asked me if I had heard of
the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_? I asked him, in my turn, what he meant, and if
I could procure any account of the place. He then told me of the care
which madame de Pompadour bestowed On the place, the advantage she drew
from it, and assured me of the necessity for following her example. I
spoke of this to comte Jean, and begged his advice. My brother-in-law
replied:--
“You must do as the marquise de Pompadour did, and as the duc de
Richelieu has advised. They spend a vast deal of money in this house,
and I undertake to look over their accounts. Nominate me your prime
minister, and I shall be the happiest of men. It is impossible but there
must be something to be gleaned from his majesty.”
“In truth, my dear brother-in-law, you would be in your element; money
to handle and young girls to manage. What more could you covet? You
will establish a gaming table at the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_, and never quit it
again.”
Comte Jean began to laugh, and then seriously advised me to follow the
plain counsel of the duc de Richelieu.
I decided on doing so. I sent for Madame. She came with all the
dignity of an abbess of a regally founded convent. But in spite of
her pretensions, I only saw in her the rival of Gourdan and Paris, and
treated her as such; that is, with some contempt, for with that feeling
her office inspired me. She told me all I have described to you, and
many other things which have since escaped me. At that time there were
only four _élèves_ in the house. When she had given me all the details
I wished, I sent her away, desiring to be informed of all that passed in
her establishment.