PARIS, Friday, Jan. 5, 1674.
It is a year ago this very day since we supped with the archbishop: at
this moment perhaps you are supping with the intendant: I am afraid,
my dear child, your mirth is feigned. All you say on this subject
to me, and to Corbinelli, is admirable. My heart thanks you for the
good opinion you have of me, in believing I hold in abhorrence all
villainous proceedings. You are not deceived.
M. de Grignan tells you true; Madame de Thiange has left off paint, and
covers her neck; you would hardly know her in this disguise. She is
frequently with Madame de Longueville, and is the very pink of modish
devotion. But she is still good company, and has not at all the air
of a recluse. I dined with her the other day; a servant brought her a
glass of liquor; she turned to me and said, “The fellow does not know
that I am become a devotee;” this made us all laugh. She spoke very
naturally of her intentions, and of her change. She is very cautious of
saying any thing that may injure the reputation of her neighbor, and
stops short when any thing of that nature escapes her; for my part, I
think her more agreeable than ever. Wagers are laid that the Princess
d’Harcourt will not turn nun these twelve months, now she is become a
lady of the palace, and paints again: this rouge is the law and the
prophets; it is the great point that our new devotion turns upon. As
for the Duchess d’Aumont, her taste is burying the dead.[92] They
say the Duchess de Charost kills people for her, with ill-compounded
medicines, and then buries them in a religious retreat. The Marchioness
d’Huxelles is very good; but La Marans is more than good. Madame de
Schomberg tells me very seriously that she is of the first order for
seclusion and penitence, not admitting any society, and refusing even
the amusements of devotion; in a word, she is a penitent in the true
sense of the word, and in all the simplicity of the primitive church.
[92] If we may believe Bussy, she rendered a service of a
different kind to the living. The Duchess of Charost was the
daughter of the Superintendent Fouquet. She apparently had her
recipe from her grandmother, by whom we have a printed collection
in two volumes, under the title of _Family Recipes by Madame
Fouquet_.
The ladies of the palace are kept in great subjection. The king has
explained himself upon this subject, and will have the queen always
attended by them. Madame de Richelieu, though she does not serve any
longer at table, is always present when the queen dines, with four
ladies, who wait by turns. The Countess d’Ayen[93] is the sixth:
she does not like the confinement of this attendance, and of being
constantly at vespers, sermons, and other religious ceremonies; but
there is no perfect happiness in this world. The Marchioness de
Castelnau is fair, blooming, and perfectly recovered from her grief.
_L’Eclair_, they say, has only changed her apartment at court, not very
much to her satisfaction. Madame de Louvigny does not seem sufficiently
delighted at her good fortune. She is thought unpardonable for not
adoring her husband in the same manner as when she was first married;
this is the first time the public was ever offended at a thing of
this nature. Madame de Brissac is beautiful, and follows the Princess
of Conti like her shadow. La Coëtquen is still the same as ever. She
has a petticoat of black velvet, embroidered with gold and silver,
and a brocade cloak. This dress cost her an immense sum; and when she
thought she made the most splendid figure imaginable, every one said
she was dressed like an actress; and she has been so much rallied in
consequence, that she has thrown it aside. La Manierosa[94] is a little
vexed at not being a lady of the palace. Madame de Duras, who would not
accept this honor, laughs at her. La Troche is, as usual, very much
interested in your affairs; but I can not express how strongly Madame
de la Fayette and M. de la Rochefoucault have your interest at heart.
[93] A feigned name.
[94] Mary Frances de Bournouville, afterward Marchioness de
Noailles.
Madame de la Fayette and I went to see M. de Turenne a few days ago;
he has a slight fit of the gout. He received us with great civility,
and talked much of you. The Chevalier de Grignan has given him an
account of your victories; he would have offered you his sword if there
had been any occasion for it. He intends to set out in three days. My
son went yesterday very much out of humor: I was not less so, at this
ill-judged and in every respect disagreeable journey.
The dauphin saw Madame Schomberg the other day; they told him his
grandfather had been in love with her: he asked in a whisper, “How many
children has she had by him?” They informed him of the manners[95] of
that time.
[95] Madame de Schomberg who is here spoken of, mother of the
marshal then living, captivated Louis XIII. when she was only
a maid of honor, by the name of Mademoiselle d’Hautefort. The
king’s gallantry exacted so little, that she even jested upon the
subject, and said he talked to her of nothing but dogs, horses,
and hunting. She was handsome and discreet. She attached herself
to Queen Anne of Austria, and shared her disgrace during the
life of Louis XIII. She afterward quarreled with her during the
regency, for having spoken too freely against Cardinal Mazarin.
The Duke du Maine[96] has been seen at court, but he has not yet
visited the queen: he was in a coach, and saw only his father and
mother.
[96] The king’s eldest son by Madame de Montespan.
The Chevalier de Châtillon has no longer any thing to seek for; his
fortune is made. Monsieur chose rather to give him the office of
captain of his guards, than Mademoiselle de Grancey that of lady of
the wardrobe. This young man therefore has the post of Vaillac, and
is well provided for: they say Vaillac is to have D’Albon’s, and that
D’Albon is discarded. I told you how our States ended, and that they
repurchased the edicts at two millions six hundred thousand livres, and
gave the same sum as a gratuitous gift, making together five million
two hundred thousand livres; that the air was rent with cries of “Long
live the king!” that we had bonfires, and sung _Te Deum_, because his
majesty was kind enough to accept it. Poor Sanzei is ill with the
measles; it is a disorder that soon passes, but is alarming from its
violence.
I see no reason to ask the king’s pardon for the humane gentleman who
was guilty of assassination; the crime is of too black a nature. The
criminals who were pardoned at Rouen were not of this stamp; it is the
only crime the king refuses to pardon. So Beavron has mentioned it to
the Abbé de Grignan.
I have heard the ladies at the palace spoken of in a way that made me
laugh. I said with Montaigne, “Let us avenge ourselves, by slandering
them.” It is, however, true that they are under extreme subjection.
The report still prevails, that the prince sets out on Monday. The same
day M. de Saint Luc is to espouse Mademoiselle de Pompadour; about this
I am quite indifferent.
Adieu, my dear; this letter is growing too long; I conclude it for
no other reason but because every thing must have an end. I embrace
Grignan, and beg him to forgive me for opening Madame de Guise’s
letter; I was very desirous to see her style: my curiosity is satisfied
forever.
Guilleragues said yesterday, that Pelisson abused the permission men
have to be ugly.[97]
[97] An expression that is become common, but which was new at
that time, or it would not have been worth noticing.