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eceived them in a room within that called the closet of the women on duty； and these women announced them in her Majesty's apartment。
The Duc de Lauzun had a good deal of wit； and chivalrous manners。 The Queen was accustomed to see him at the King's suppers； and at the house of the Princesse de Guemenee； and always showed him attention。 One day he made his appearance at Madame de Guemenee's in uniform； and with the most magnificent plume of white heron's feathers that it was possible to behold。 The Queen admired the plume； and he offered it to her through the Princesse de Guemenee。 As he had worn it the Queen had not imagined that he could think of giving it to her； much embarrassed with the present which she had； as it were； drawn upon herself； she did not like to refuse it； nor did she know whether she ought to make one in return； afraid； if she did give anything； of giving either too much or too little； she contented herself with once letting M。 de Lauzun see her adorned with the plume。 In his secret 〃Memoirs〃 the Duke attaches an importance to his present； which proves him utterly unworthy of an honour accorded only to his name and rank
A short time afterwards he solicited an audience； the Queen granted it； as she would have done to any other courtier of equal rank。 I was in the room adjoining that in which he was received； a few minutes after his arrival the Queen reopened the door； and said aloud； and in an angry tone of voice； 〃Go； monsieur。〃 M。 de Lauzun bowed low； and withdrew。 The Queen was much agitated。 She said to me： 〃That man shall never again come within my doors。〃 A few years before the Revolution of 1789 the Marechal de Biron died。 The Duc de Lauzun； heir to his name； aspired to the important post of colonel of the regiment of French guards。 The Queen； however； procured it for the Duc du Chaatelet。 The Duc de Biron espoused the cause of the Duc d'Orleans； and became one of the most violent enemies of Marie Antoinette。
It is with reluctance that I enter minutely on a defence of the Queen against two infamous accusations with which libellers have dared to swell their envenomed volumes。 I mean the unworthy suspicions of too strong an attachment for the Comte d'Artois； and of the motives for the tender friendship which subsisted between the Queen； the Princesse de Lamballe； and the Duchesse de Polignac。 I do not believe that the Comte d'Artois was； during his own youth and that of the Queen； so much smitten as has been said with the loveliness of his sister…in…law； I can affirm that I always saw that Prince maintain the most respectful demeanour towards the Queen； that she always spoke of his good…nature and cheerfulness with that freedom which attends only the purest sentiments； and that none of those about the Queen ever saw in the affection she manifested towards the Comte d'Artois more than that of a kind and tender sister for her youngest brother。 As to the intimate connection between Marie Antoinette and the ladies I have named； it never had； nor could have； any other motive than the very innocent wish to secure herself two friends in the midst of a numerous Court； and notwithstanding this intimacy； that tone of respect observed by persons of the most exalted rank towards majesty never ceased to be maintained。
The Queen； much occupied with the society of Madame de Polignac； and an unbroken series of amusements； found less time for the Abbe de Vermond； he therefore resolved to retire from Court。 The world did him the honour to believe that he had hazarded remonstrances upon his august pupil's frivolous employment of her time； and that he considered himself； both as an ecclesiastic and as instructor； now out of place at Court。 But the world was deceived his dissatisfaction arose purely from the favour shown to the Comtesse Jules。 After a fortnight's absence we saw him at Versailles again； resuming his usual functions。
The Queen could express herself with winning graciousness to persons who merited her praise。 When M。 Loustonneau was appointed to the reversion of the post of first surgeon to the King； he came to make his acknowledgments。 He was much beloved by the poor； to whom he had chiefly devoted his talents； spending nearly thirty thousand francs a year on indigent sufferers。 The Queen replied to his thanks by saying： 〃You are satisfied； Monsieur； but I am far from being so with the inhabitants of Versailles。 On the news of your appointment the town should have been illuminated。〃〃How so； Madame？〃 asked the astonished surgeon； who was very modest。 〃Why；〃 replied the Queen； 〃if the poor whom you have succoured for the past twenty years had each placed a single candle in their windows it would have been the most beautiful illumination ever witnessed。〃
The Queen did not limit her kindness to friendly words。 There was frequently seen in the apartments of Versailles a veteran captain of the grenadiers of France； called the Chevalier d'Orville； who for four years had been soliciting from the Minister of War the post of major； or of King's lieutenant。 He was known to be very poor； but he supported his lot without complaining of this vexatious delay in rewarding his honourable services。 He regularly attended the Marechal de Segur； at the hour appointed for receiving the numerous solicitations in his department。 One day the Marshal said to him： 〃You are still at Versailles； M。 d'Orville？〃〃Monsieur；〃 he replied； 〃you may observe that by this board of the flooring where I regularly place myself； it is already worn down several lines by the weight of my body。〃 The Queen frequently stood at the window of her bedchamber to observe with her glass the people walking in the park。 Sometimes she inquired the names of those who were unknown to her。 One day she saw the Chevalier d'Orville passing； and asked me the name of that knight of Saint Louis； whom she had seen everywhere for a long time past。 I knew who he was； and related his history。 〃That must be put an end to；〃 said the Queen； with some vivacity。 〃Such an example of indifference is calculated to discourage our soldiers。〃 Next day； in crossing the gallery to go to mass； the Queen perceived the Chevalier d'Orville； she went directly towards him。 The poor man fell back in the recess of a window； looking to the right and left to discover the person whom the Queen was seeking； when she thus addressed him： 〃M。 d'Orville； you have been several years at Versailles； soliciting a majority or a King's lieutenancy。 You must have very powerless patrons。〃〃I have none； Madame；〃 replied the Chevalier； in great confusion。 〃Well！ I will take you under my protection。 To…morrow at the same hour be here with a petition； and a memorial of your services。〃 A fortnight after； M。 d'Orville was appointed King's lieutenant； either at La Rochelle or at Rochefort。
＇Louis XVI。 vied with his Queen in benevolent actions of this kind。 An old officer had in vain solicited a pension during the administration of the Duc de Choiseul。 He returned to the charge in the times of the Marquis de Montesnard and the Duc d'Aiguillon。 He urged his claims； to Comte du Muy； who made a note of them。 Tired of so many fruitless efforts； he at last appeared at the King's supper； and； having placed himself so as to be seen and heard； cried out at a moment when silence prevailed； 〃Sire。〃 The people near him said； 〃What are you about？ This is not the way to speak to the King。〃〃I fear nothing；〃 said he； and raising his voice； repeated； 〃Sire。〃 The King； much surprised； looked at him and said； 〃What do you want； monsieur。〃〃Sire；〃 answered he； 〃I am seventy years of age； I have served your Majesty more than fifty years； and I am dying for want。〃〃Have you a memorial？〃 replied the King。 〃Yes； Sire； I have。〃〃Give it to me；〃 and his Majesty took it without saying anything more。 Next morning he was sent for by the； King； who said； 〃Monsieur； I grant you an annuity of 1；500 livres out of my privy purse； and you may go and receive the first year's payment； which is now due。〃 （〃Secret Correspondence of the Court： Reign of Louis XVI。〃） The King preferred to spend money in charity rather than in luxury or magnificence。 Once during his absence； M。 d'Augivillers caused an unused room in the King's apartment to be repaired at a cost of 30；000 francs。 On his return the King made Versailles resound with complaints against M。 d'Augivillers： 〃With that sum I could have made thirty families happy；〃 he said。＇
CHAPTER IX。
From the time of Louis XVI。's accession to the throne； the Queen had been expecting a visit from her brother； the Emperor Joseph II。 That Prince was the constant theme of her discourse。 She boasted of his intelligence； his love of occupation； his military knowledge； and the perfect simplicity of his manners。 Those about her Majesty ardently wished to see at Versailles a prince so worthy of his rank。 At length the coming of Joseph II。； under the title of Count Falkenstein； was announced； and the very day on which he would be at Versailles was mentioned。 The first embraces between the Queen and her august brother took place in th