nd this title I rose quite in a fluster, without clearly
knowing what could be the object of this visit, for which I was
unprepared. The marechale, who followed closely on the valet's heels,
did not give me time for much reflection. She took me really _a
l'improviste_, and I had not time to go and meet her.

"Madame la marechale," said I, accosting her, "what lucky chance brings
you to a place where the desire to have your society is so great?"

"It is the feeling of real sympathy," she replied, with a gracious
smile; "for I also have longed for a considerable time to visit you,
and have yielded to my wishes as soon as I was certain that my advances
would not be repulsed."

"Ah, madame.," said I, "had you seriously any such fear? That tells me
much less of the mistrust you had of yourself than of the bad opinion
you had conceived of me. The honor of your visits--"

"The honor of my visits! That's admirable! I wish to obtain a portion of
your friendship, and to testify to the king that I am sincerely attached
to him."

"You overwhelm me, madame," cried I, much delighted, "and I beg you to
give me your confidence."

"Well, now, all is arranged between us: I suit you and you please me. It
is long since I was desirous of coming to you, but we are all under the
yoke of the must absurd tyranny: soon we shall have no permission to
go, to come, to speak, to hold our tongues, without first obtaining the
consent of a certain family. This yoke has wearied me; and on the first
word of the chancellor of France I hastened to you."

"I had begged him, madame, to express to you how much I should be
charmed to have you when the king graced me with his presence. He likes
you, he is accustomed to the delights of your society; and I should
have been deeply chagrined had I come here only to deprive him of that
pleasure."

"He is a good master," said the marechale, "he is worthy of all our
love. I have had opportunities of knowing him thoroughly, for I was most
intimate with madame de Pompadour; and I believe that my advice will not
be useless to you."

"I ask it of you, madame la marechale, for it will be precious to me."

"Since we are friends, madame," said she, seating herself in a chair,
"do not think ill of me if I establish myself at my ease, and take my
station as in the days of yore. The king loves you: so much the better.
You will have a double empire over him. He did not love the marquise,
and allowed himself to be gov