She awoke from her reverie, and, throwing her muff on the easy-chair, replied, “It is a wolf who makes the sheep reflect.”  I went out:  the King entered shortly after, and I heard Madame de Pompadour sobbing.  The Abbe came into my room, and told me to bring some Hoffman’s drops:  the King himself mixed the draught with sugar, and presented it to her in the kindest manner possible.  She smiled, and kissed the King’s hands.  I left the room.  Two days after, very early in the morning, I heard of M. d’Argenson’s exile.  It was her doing, and was, indeed, the strongest proof of her influence that could be given.  The King was much attached to M. d’Argenson, and the war, then carrying on, both by sea and land, rendered the dismissal of two such Ministers extremely imprudent.  This was the universal opinion at the time.

Many people talk of the letter of the Comte d’Argenson to Madame d’Esparbes.  I give it, according to the most correct version: 

“The doubtful is, at length, decided.  The Keeper of the Seals is dismissed.  You will be recalled, my dear Countess, and we shall be masters of the field.”

It is much less generally known that Arboulin, whom Madame calls Bou-bou, was supposed to be the person who, on the very day of the dismissal of the Keeper of the Seals, bribed the Count’s confidential courier, who gave him this letter.  Is this report founded on truth?  I cannot swear that it is; but it is asserted that the letter is written in the Count’s style.  Besides, who could so immediately have invented it?  It, however, appeared certain, from the extreme displeasure of the King, that he had some other subject of complaint against M. d’Argenson, besides his refusing to be reconciled with Madame.  Nobody dares to show the slightest attachment to the disgraced Minister.  I asked the ladies who were most intimate with Madame de Pompadour, as well as my own friends, what they knew of the matter; but they knew nothing.  I can understand why Madame did not let them into her confidence at that moment.  She will be less reserved in time.  I care very little about it, since I see that she is well, and appears happy.

The King said a thing, which did him honour, to a person whose name Madame withheld from me.  A nobleman, who had been a most assiduous courtier of the Count, said, rubbing his hands with an air of great joy, “I have just seen the Comte d’Argenson’s baggage set out.”  When the King heard him, he went up to Madame, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “And immediately the cock crew.”

“I believe this is taken from Scripture, where Peter denies Our Lord.  I confess, this circumstance gave me great pleasure.  It showed that the King is not the dupe of those around him, and that he hates treachery and ingratitude.”

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