languid nature
would allow him, he sought notoriety in every quarter. "No man's pie was
free from his ambitious finger." He had acted with Madame de Pompadour's
company of amateurs at Versailles, and, though surrounded by clever
gentlemen like D'Entragues and De Maillebois, firmly believed himself
the only worthy supporter of Madame d'Etioles. On the strength of his
supposed supremacy, he had from time to time graciously volunteered his
aid to Lekain and Mlle. Clairon in the preparation of their most
difficult _roles_. He had supplied the poet Beauverset with now and then
a topic, and imagined himself to be the true source whence that
incendiary rhymer drew his choicest inspirations. After the success of
Rousseau's _Devin du Village_, he had driven the composer wild by his
offers to assist him in the purification of his melodies. Nothing in the
way of notoriety was too high or too low for him. He had laid out a plan
for the replanting of the Trianon gardens, and was disgusted because
Richard, the king's gardener, politely declined to adopt it; and he had
been heard to say that in the composition of sauces and _ragouts_ he
could easily rival his Majesty himself, and would prove his superiority,
but for the fear of losing favor at court.

M. de Berniers and M. de Montalvan had met a short time before the
attack upon Minorca. The gallant soldier was no flatterer, but the
conceited little Parisian amused him sufficiently to occupy a good
share of his leisure. He satirized De Berniers mercilessly from morning
till night, to the latter's great astonishment, he having up to that
time received only adulation and deference from his companions. But the
name of "Fronsacquin," which De Montalvan had jestingly applied, so
gratified his puerile vanity, that for a few days he looked upon the
warlike adventurer almost with affection. Their intimacy had, however,
been broken off a few days before De Montalvan's departure, in
consequence of De Berniers's chagrin at losing a wager he had boastingly
made. He had declared himself capable of securing the attention of any
lady, however distinguished in appearance and however reserved in
manner, that his friends might indicate, at a certain masked ball, and
of bringing her openly to sup with them. De Montalvan defied him, and,
selecting a fresh-faced lad from the opera, trained him to a perfect
illustration of feminine modesty and simplicity, and set De Berniers
upon him. Of course the farce