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precepts of the economists into execution； and trusted that in so doing he was labouring for the welfare of his people。 The King of Naples suffered him to go on speaking for a long time； and then casually asked how many Neapolitan families there were in Tuscany。 The Duke soon reckoned them up； as they were but few。 〃Well； brother；〃 replied the King of Naples； 〃I do not understand the indifference of your people towards your great reforms； for I have four times the number of Tuscan families settled in my States that you have of Neapolitan families in yours。〃
The Queen being at the Opera with the Emperor； the latter did not wish to show himself； but she took him by the hand； and gently drew him to the front of the box。 This kind of presentation to the public was most warmly received。 The performance was 〃Iphigenia in Aulis；〃 and for the second time。 the chorus； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre Reine！〃 was called for with universal plaudits。
A fete of a novel description was given at Petit Trianon。 The art with which the English garden was not illuminated； but lighted； produced a charming effect。 Earthen lamps； concealed by boards painted green； threw light upon the beds of shrubs and flowers； and brought out their varied tints。 Several hundred burning fagots in the moat behind the Temple of Love made a blaze of light； which rendered that spot the most brilliant in the garden。 After all； this evening's entertainment had nothing remarkable about it but the good taste of the artists； yet it was much talked of。 The situation did not allow the admission of a great part of the Court； those who were uninvited were dissatisfied； and the people； who never forgive any fetes but those they share in； so exaggerated the cost of this little fete as to make it appear that the fagots burnt in the moat had required the destruction of a whole forest。 The Queen being informed of these reports； was determined to know exactly how much wood had been consumed； and she found that fifteen hundred fagots had sufficed to keep up the fire until four o'clock in the morning。
After staying a few months the Emperor left France； promising his sister to come and see her again。 All the officers of the Queen's chamber had many opportunities of serving him during his stay； and expected that he would make them presents before his departure。 Their oath of office positively forbade them to receive a gift from any foreign prince； they had therefore agreed to refuse the Emperor's presents at first； but to ask the time necessary for obtaining permission to accept them。 The Emperor； probably informed of this custom； relieved the good people from their difficulty by setting off without making a single present。
About the latter end of 1777 the Queen； being alone in her closet； sent for my father…in…law and myself； and； giving us her hand to kiss； told us that； looking upon us both as persons deeply interested in her happiness； she wished to receive our congratulations；that at length she was the Queen of France； and that she hoped soon to have children； that till now she had concealed her grief； but that she had shed many tears in secret。
Dating from this happy but long…delayed moment； the King's attachment to the Queen assumed every characteristic of love。 The good Lassone； first physician to the King and Queen； frequently spoke to me of the uneasiness that the King's indifference； the cause of which he had been so long in overcoming； had given him； and appeared to me at that time to entertain no anxiety except of a very different description。
In the winter of 1778 the King's permission for the return of Voltaire； after an absence of twenty…seven years； was obtained。 A few strict persons considered this concession on the part of the Court very injudicious。 The Emperor； on leaving France； passed by the Chateau of Ferney without stopping there。 He had advised the Queen not to suffer Voltaire to be presented to her。 A lady belonging to the Court learned the Emperor's opinion on that point； and reproached him with his want of enthusiasm towards the greatest genius of the age。 He replied that for the good of the people he should always endeavour to profit by the knowledge of the philosophers； but that his own business of sovereign would always prevent his ranking himself amongst that sect。 The clergy also took steps to hinder Voltaire's appearance at Court。 Paris； however； carried to the highest pitch the honours and enthusiasm shown to the great poet。
It was very unwise to let Paris pronounce with such transport an opinion so opposite to that of the Court。 This was pointed out to the Queen； and she was told that； without conferring on Voltaire the honour of a presentation； she might see him in the State apartments。 She was not averse to following this advice； and appeared embarrassed solely about what she should say to him。 She was recommended to talk about nothing but the 〃Henriade；〃 〃Merope；〃 and 〃Zaira。〃 The Queen replied that she would still consult a few other persons in whom she had great confidence。 The next day she announced that it was irrevocably decided Voltaire should not see any member of the royal family；his writings being too antagonistic to religion and morals。 〃It is； however； strange；〃 said the Queen； 〃that while we refuse to admit Voltaire into our presence as the leader of philosophical writers； the Marechale de Mouchy should have presented to me some years ago Madame Geoffrin； who owed her celebrity to the title of foster…mother of the philosophers。〃
On the occasion of the duel of the Comte d'Artois with the Prince de Bourbon the Queen determined privately to see the Baron de Besenval； who was to be one of the witnesses； in order to communicate the King's intentions。 I have read with infinite pain the manner in which that simple fact is perverted in the first volume of M。 de Besenval's 〃Memoirs。〃 He is right in saying that M。 Campan led him through the upper corridors of the Chateau； and introduced him into an apartment unknown to him； but the air of romance given to the interview is equally culpable and ridiculous。 M。 de Besenval says that he found himself； without knowing how he came there； in an apartment unadorned； but very conveniently furnished； of the existence of which he was till then utterly ignorant。 He was astonished； he adds； not that the Queen should have so many facilities； but that she should have ventured to procure them。 Ten printed sheets of the woman Lamotte's libels contain nothing so injurious to the character of Marie Antoinette as these lines； written by a man whom she honoured by undeserved kindness。 He could not have had any opportunity of knowing the existence of the apartments； which consisted of a very small antechamber； a bedchamber； and a closet。 Ever since the Queen had occupied her own apartment； these had been appropriated to her Majesty's lady of honour in cases of illness； and were actually so used when the Queen was confined。 It was so important that it should not be known the Queen had spoken to the Baron before the duel that she had determined to go through her inner room into this little apartment； to which M。 Campan was to conduct him。 When men write of recent times they should be scrupulously exact； and not indulge in exaggerations or inventions。
The Baron de Besenval appears mightily surprised at the Queen's sudden coolness； and refers it to the fickleness of her disposition。 I can explain the reason for the change by repeating what her Majesty said to me at the time； and I will not alter one of her expressions。 Speaking of the strange presumption of men； and the reserve with which women ought always to treat them； the Queen added that age did not deprive them of the hope of pleasing； if they retained any agreeable qualities； that she had treated the Baron de Besenval as a brave Swiss； agreeable； polished； and witty； whose gray hairs had induced her to look upon him as a man whom she might see without harm； but that she had been much deceived。 Her Majesty； after having enjoined me to the strictest secrecy； told me that； finding herself alone with the Baron； he began to address her with so much gallantry that she was thrown into the utmost astonishment； and that he was mad enough to fall upon his knees； and make her a declaration in form。 The Queen added that she said to him： 〃Rise； monsieur； the King shall be ignorant of an offence which would disgrace you for ever；〃 that the Baron grew pale and stammered apologies； that she left her closet without saying another word； and that since that time she hardly ever spoke to him。 〃It is delightful to have friends；〃 said the Queen； 〃but in a situation like mine it is sometimes difficult for the friends of our friends to suit us。〃
In the beginning of the year 1778 Mademoiselle d'Eon obtained permission to return to France； on condition that she should appear there in female dress。 The Comte de Vergennes entreated my father； M。 Genet； chief clerk of Foreign Affairs； who had long known the Chevalier d'Eon； to receive that strange personage at his house； to guide and restrain； if possible； her ardent disposition。 The Queen； on learning her arrival at Versailles； sent a footman to desire my father to bring her into her pre