ellor, but he was not equally
so with the comte Jean.

"I do not like," said he to me, "your Du Barry monkey. He is a
treacherous fellow, who has betrayed his party, and I hope some of these
mornings we shall hear that the devil has wrung his neck."

CHAPTER IX

The king of Denmark--The courtesans of Paris--The duc de
Choiseul and the bishop of Orleans--Witty repartees of the
king of Denmark--His visit to madame du Barry--"The court of
king Petaud," a satire--Letter of the duc d'Aiguillon to
Voltaire--The duchesse de Grammont mystified--Unpublished
letter of Voltaire's

From this moment, and in spite of all that comte Jean could say
against it, a new counsellor was admitted to my confidence. He was the
chancellor. The duc d'Aiguillon and he were on very good terms, and
these two, with the abbe Teray, of whom I shall speak to you presently,
formed a triumvirate, which governed France from the disgrace of M. de
Choiseul to the death of the king. But before I enter upon a detail
of those politics, of which you will find that I understand something,
allow me to continue the history of my presentation, and also to give
some account of Christian VII.

You know that his Danish majesty was expected with anything but pleasure
by the king of France, and with curiosity by the rest of the nation. Men
and women were impatient to see a king, under twenty years of age, who
was traversing Europe with a design of attaining instruction. Married
to a lovely woman, Caroline Mathilde, he had left her on the instant,
without suspecting that this separation would prove fatal to both. At
Paris, the real character of this prince was not known, but a confused
report of his gallantry was spread abroad, on which all the courtesans
of note in the city began to try all arts to please him, each hoping
to attract him to herself, and dip into his strong box. M. de Sartines
amused us one evening, the king and myself, by telling us of the plans
of these ladies. Some were going to meet his Danish majesty, others
were to await him at the barrier, and two of the most renowned,
mesdemoiselles Gradi and Laprairie, had their portraits painted, to send
to the young monarch as soon as he should arrive.

Christian VII entered Paris the latter end of the month of October,
1768. MM. de Duras complimented him in the king's name, and informed him
that they were charged with the office of receiving his commands during
his re