Paris.
I dined yesterday with an equal number of both sexes, at the Chevalier
B——’s. He is F——’s very intimate friend, and has a charming house within
a few leagues of Paris, which the Marquis makes full as much use of as
the owner.
The Chevalier has a considerable revenue, which he spends with equal
magnificence and œconomy. He has been married many years to his present
lady, a most agreeable woman, with whom he possesses every thing which
can make their union happy, except children. They endeavour to forget
this disagreeable circumstance, by a constant succession of company; and,
which is very singular here, the society entertained by the husband and
wife are the same.
F——, though much younger than either, is a great favourite of both; and
they are always pleased when he invites a small company of his friends to
dine at their house.
The present party was proposed by Madame de M——, a rich young widow,
much admired here; of whom I shall give you a glimpse, en passant—for do
not imagine I undertake to describe the most undescribable of all human
beings,—a fine French lady.
Madame de M—— has some wit, more beauty, and vivacity in the greatest
measure:—if there were a fourth degree of comparison, I should place
her vanity there. She laughs a great deal, and she is in the right; for
her teeth are remarkably fine. She talks very much, and in a loud and
decisive tone of voice.—This is not so judicious, because her sentiments
are not so brilliant as her teeth, and her voice is rather harsh.—She is
received with attention and respect every where;—that she owes to her
rank.—She is liked and followed by the men; this she owes to her beauty.
She is not disliked by the women, which is probably owing to her foibles.
This lady is thought to be fond of F——: so, to prevent scandal, she
desired me to call at her house, and attend her to the Chevalier’s.
I found her at her toilette, in consultation with a general officer and
two abbés, concerning a new head-dress which she had just invented.—It
was smart and fanciful; and, after a few corrections, received the
sanction of all those critics. They declared it to be a valuable
discovery, and foretold that it would immediately become the general
mode of Paris, and do immortal honour to the genius of Madame de M——.
She wheeled from before the glass, with an air of exultation.—Allons,
donc, mes enfans—à la gloire,—cried she; and was proceeding to give
orders for her equipage, when a servant entered, and informed her, that
Madame la Comtesse had accepted her invitation, and would certainly do
herself the honour of dining with her.
I despair of giving you an idea of the sudden change which this message
occasioned in the features of Madame de M——. Had she heard of the
death of her father, or her only child, she could not have been more
confounded.—Est il possible (said she, with an accent of despair) qu’on
puisse être si bête!—The servant was called, and examined regarding the
import of the answer he had brought from Madame la Comtesse.—It was even
so—she was assuredly to come.—Fresh exclamations on the part of Madame
de M——. Did you send to invite her for this day? said I.—Undoubtedly I
did, replied Madame de M——. That could be delayed no longer.—She came to
town last Sunday.—I therefore sent her the politest message in the world,
begging to have the honour of her company for this day, at dinner; and
behold, the horrid woman (with a rudeness, or ignorance of life without
example) sends me word she will come.
It is very shocking, indeed, said I, that she should have misunderstood
your kindness so prodigiously.—Is it not, said she? Could any mortal have
expected so barbarous a return of civility?—She is connected with some of
my relations in the country:—when she came to town, I immediately left my
name with her porter.—She called next day on me—I had informed my Swiss,
that I was always to be out when she came. I was denied accordingly.—Celà
est tout simple, et selon les régles. The woman is twenty years older
than I, and we must be insupportable to each other.—She ought to have
seen, that my invitation was dictated by politeness only:—the same
politeness on her part should have prompted her to send a refusal. In
this manner we might have visited each other, dined and supped together,
and remained on the most agreeable footing imaginable through the whole
course of our lives:—but this instance of grosièreté must put an end to
all connection.—Well—there is no remedy:—I must suffer purgatory for this
one day. Adieu.—Present my compliments to Madame B——. Inform her of this
horrid accident.
Having condoled with Madame de M—— on her unmerited misfortune, I took
my leave and joined F——, to whom I recounted the sad chance which had
deprived us of that lady’s company.
He did not appear quite so unhappy as she had on the occasion; but he
swore he was convinced that the Countess had accepted the invitation
to dinner par pure malice; for, to his knowledge, she was acquainted
with their party to the Chevalier B——’s, and had certainly seized
that opportunity of plaguing Madame de M——, whom she hated. Without
that douceur, he imagined, the dinner would be as great a purgatory
to the Countess, as it could possibly be to Madame de M——. How these
affectionate friends contrived to pass their time together I know
not, but we had a most agreeable party at the Chevalier’s—the Marquis
entertaining the company with the history of Madame M——’s misfortune, and
the loving tête à tête which it had occasioned.—This he related with
such sprightliness, and described his own grief and disappointment with
such a flow of good humour, as in some degree indemnified the company for
the lady’s absence.