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s of the comte de Montbarrey； it would have been necessary to have seen him as he then was； and not what he became since the imbecility of M。 de Maurepas。 When I told comte Jean of his visit； he would not believe such insolence。 You must know that my brother…in…law also wished to direct me； but I did not consider him sufficiently clever。 His marvellous genius was eclipsed in politics。 He swore at my ingratitude； and I could only appease him by an offering of plenty of money。
In the midst of this cross…fire of intrigues； one was devised against me which might have terminated in my ruin； but； thanks to the indefatigable activity of comte Jean； only served to fix me more firmly in my situation。 Lebel； of whom I have said nothing for this age； came to me one day： his face was sad； and his look serious。 By his manner I augured that my reign had passed； and that I must quit my post。 I awaited what he should say with mortal impatience。 At length he began thus：
〃Madame； you have many bitter enemies； who are laboring to effect your ruin with a blood…thirstiness which nothing can assuage。 They have now spread a report that you are not married。 This infamous calumny〃
〃Ah； is that all？' said I with joy； 〃no； my dear Lebel； this time they do not calumniate me。 The worthy creatures for once are right。〃
〃What；〃 said Lebel； in a tone of alarm almost comic； 〃what； are you really not married？〃
〃No。〃
〃Are you not the wife of the comte Guillaume du Barry？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you have deceived the king； and played with me。〃
〃Lebel； my friend； take another tone。 No one has any right to complain。 You have given me to the king as a person to please him； I do so。 The rest can be no matter of yours。〃
〃Pardon me； madame； it is a matter of the greatest consequence to me。 I am terribly compromised in this affair； and you with me。〃
Lebel told me that the duchesse de Grammont had begged him to call upon her； and had bitterly reproached him about the mistress he had procured for the king； the duchesse affirmed that I was a nameless and unmarried creature； and added； that it was his duty to make the king acquainted with these particulars； unless I； the pretended wife of du Barry； would consent to go to England when a large pension should be assured to me。
〃No； my dear Lebel； I will not go to England； I will remain in France； at Versailles； at the chateau。 If I am not married I will be； the thing is easily managed。〃
Lebel。 somewhat assured； begged me to send for comte Jean； and when he came he （Lebel） recommenced his tale of grief。
〃You are drowning yourself in a glass of water；〃 said my future brother…in…law to him； beginning to treat him with less ceremony； 〃go back to the duchesse de Grammont； and tell her that madame was married at Toulouse。 She will have an inquiry set on foot； in the mean while my brother will arrive； and the marriage will take place。 Then we will show the rebels a real comtesse du Barry； and whether my sister…in…law be a lady of six months' standing or only of yesterday； that is of no consequence to the king of France。〃
After this conversation Lebel delivered the message to the duchesse de Grammont； who told him that she should write to Toulouse to the attorney…general。 This was what the comte Jean wished and he was prepared for her。
But； you will say to me； was it certain that your asserted husband would marry you？ Were there no difficulties to fear？ None。 Comte Guillaume was poor； talented； and ambitious； he liked high living； and would have sold himself to the devil for riches。 He was happy in marrying me。 Comte Jean would not have ventured such a proposal to his other brother； the comte d'Hargicourt； who had much good sense and great notions of propriety； and who at Versailles was called the ； a distinction not over flattering to his two brothers。
The same evening the whole family arrived； and was presented to me the next day。 My two future sisters…in…law frightened me at first with their provincial manners and southern accent； but； after a few minutes； I found that this Gascon pronunciation had many charms with it。 Mesdemoiselles du Barry were not handsome but very agreeable。 One was called Isabelle； whom they had nicknamed ； the other's name was Fanchon； and her name had been abbreviated to 〃。〃 The latter had much talent； and even brought to Versailles with her； an instinctive spirit of diplomacy which would have done honor to a practised courtier。 She would have been thought simple； unsophisticated； and yet was full of plot and cunning。
I was soon much pleased with her； and the king became equally so。 He was always very much amused at hearing her talk （provincially）； or recite the verses of one Gondouli； a poet of Languedoc。 He used to make her jump upon his knees； and altho' she had passed the first bloom of youth； he played with her like a child。 But what most particularly diverted the king； was calling my sister…in…law by her nickname； 〃；〃 he was always saying； 〃do this； go there； come here。〃 Louis XV did the same with his own daughters： he had amongst them a ； a ； a ； and they were the ladies Victoire； Adelaide； and Sophie； whom he thus elegantly designated。 I so soon saw the taste of the king for nicknames that I gave him one； it was Lafrance。 So far from being angry with me； he laughed to tears every time that I called him so。 I must confess； ； that the anecdote about the coffee is true。* I will only justify myself by saying； that if I expressed myself coarsely it was not in consequence of my vulgar education； but because the king liked such modes of expression。
*Louis XV had a habit of making his own coffee after dinner。 One day the coffee boiled over the sides of the pot； and madame du Barry cried out； 〃 Eh； Lafrance； ton cafe f … le camp。〃 （author）
Let me revert to my marriage； which was performed secretly at the parish of Saint Laurent。 I believe the king knew of it； altho' he never alluded to it any more than myself。 Thus the malice of my enemies was completely balked in this affair。 Some days afterwards comte Jean received a letter from the attorney…general of the parliament of Toulouse； M。 the marquis de Bonrepos…Riquet。 This gentleman informed my brother…in…law that he had been applied to； to institute an inquiry at all the notaries； and amongst all the registers of the parishes for the proof of my marriage； that he warned us to be on our guard； and that whatever diligence he might be desired to employ； he should do nothing without informing us。 We felt the obligation of this proceeding； and my brother…in…law thanked the attorney…general in my name as well as in his own。 He told him that it was not at Toulouse that the parties interested should make their researches for my marriage certificate； but at Paris； either at the parish church of Saint Laurent； or at the notary's； Lepot d'Auteuil。 M。 de Bonrepos gave part of this reply to the duchesse de Grammont。 Great was the bustle amongst the Choiseuls！ I leave you to judge of the fury of the lady or ladies； for the contesse de Grammont was no less irritated than the other； always prepossessed with the idea； that to please the king was to wrong their family。 The comtesse de Grammont had not half the talent of the duchesse； she had only her faults。 She showed herself so rude and impertinent towards me； that I was at length compelled； not to exile her of my own accord； but to allow that she should be so served。 But I anticipate； for this did not occur until the following year。
The king by all his kindnesses endeavored to recompense me for these attacks： he appeared charmed to see me surrounded by my husband's family。 He placed amongst the pages the vicomte Adolphe du Barry； son of comte Jean； a young man of great promise； but whose destiny was so brief and so unfortunate。 My husband's family testified much affection for me； as did the duc d'Aiguillon； to whom I daily attached myself。 He carefully kept from me all that could give me pain； and took a thousand precautions that no unpleasant reports should reach me。 If we passed a short time without meeting he wrote to me； and I confess I was delighted with a correspondence which formed my own style。 Mademoiselle Chon； my sister…in…law； and I also wrote to each other； and that from one room to another。 I remember that one day； having broken a glass of rock crystal which she had given me； I announced my misfortune in such solemn style； and with so well feigned a tone of chagrin； that the letter amused the whole family。 The king saw it； and was so much pleased that he kept it； and next day sent me a golden goblet enriched with stones； which I gave to Chon； to whom it rightfully belonged。
CHAPTER VI
Journey to ChoisyThe comtesse du Barry and Louis XVThe king of DenmarkThe czar PeterFrederick IIThe abbe de la Chapelle An experimentNew intriguesSecret agents…The comtesse and Louis XVOf the presentationLetter of the comtesse to the duc d'AiguillonReplyPrince de Soubise
Up to this period I had resided constantly at Versailles or Paris； according to the pleasure of the king； but had never followed his majesty in any of his