a
stranger to all that passes around me; my only support is the protection
with which the king honors me. That is all-powerful, but I will not
employ it unseasonably or improperly. I know that I need the counsels
of an honorable, prudent, and well-informed man. I accept, therefore, of
yours; I even ask them from you, if your friendship go along with them.
Adieu, monsieur. My regards are due to your uncle, the marechal, the
first time you write to him."

This letter filled the duc d'Aiguillon with joy. Some days afterwards,
the prince de Soubise, who also wished to give me his advice, did not
attain the same success. It must be owned, that, for a man of the world,
he went about it in a very clumsy way. He committed the extreme error of
selecting mademoiselle Guimard as mediatrix between himself and me. This
lady came to me on the strength of our former acquaintance; she had so
little sense as not to perceive the immense distance between us which
a few days had caused, and that the opera-dancer kept by the prince de
Soubise could have no relation with the favorite of the king of France.
I endeavored, in vain, to make her perceive it, without mortifying her
too much. She always called me her dear friend, and fairly slaughtered
me with saying that _her_ prince would protect me. It was singular
for her to speak thus to me; to me from whom _her_ prince solicited
protection. She did not confine herself to this, she even insinuated to
me that I should be a gainer in some way. I laughed outright at this,
and said to the _valet de chambre_, who was stationed at the door, "Call
mademoiselle's servants." This annoyed her excessively; all the muscles
of her face were contracted with rage; but she restrained her wrath,
saluted me with an assumed respect, and went away, after having so
worthily acquitted herself of her foolish embassy.

She had quitted me for an hour, when I received a letter from him who
had sent her. The prince de Soubise begged me to grant him an interview,
in which he could enter into an explanation. I replied that I would
receive him, and he came the same day.

"I am much pained, madame," said he, on entering, "that mademoiselle
Guimard has communicated with so little address what I wished to say to
you."

"Prince, I think you would have done better to have been the bearer of
your own message. You know my station here, and would not have ridiculed
me as she has done."

M. de Soubise, much puzzled to know w