Thus, for months, Louis found himself baffled in all his efforts to win the prize on which he had set his heart until, in September, 1742, one formidable obstacle was removed from his path by the death of Madame de Mazarin.  To Madame de la Tournelle the loss of her protectress was little short of a calamity, for it left her not only homeless, but practically penniless; and, in her extremity, she naturally turned hopeful eyes to the King, of whose passion she was well aware.  At least, she hoped, he might give her some position at his Court which would rescue her from poverty.  When she begged Maurepas, Madame de Mazarin’s kinsman and heir, to appeal to the King on her behalf, his answer was to order her and her sister, Madame de Flavacourt, to leave the Hotel Mazarin, thus making her plight still more desperate.

But, fortunately, in this hour of her greatest need she found an unexpected friend in Louis’ ill-used Queen, who, ignorant of her husband’s infatuation for the beautiful Madame de la Tournelle, sent for her, spoke gracious words of sympathy to her, and announced her intention of installing her in Madame de Mazarin’s place as a lady of the palace.  Thus did fortune smile on Madame just when her future seemed darkest.  But her troubles were by no means at an end.  Fleury and Maurepas were more determined than ever that the King should not come into the power of a woman so alluring and so dangerous; and they exhausted every expedient to put obstacles in her path and to discover and support rival claimants to the post.

For once, however, Louis was adamant.  He had not waited so long and feverishly for his prize to be baulked when it seemed almost in his grasp.  Madame de la Tournelle should have her place at his Court, and it would not be his fault if she did not soon fill one more exalted and intimate.  Thus it was that when Fleury submitted to him the list of applicants, with la Tournelle’s name at the bottom, he promptly re-wrote it at the head of the list, and handed it back to the Cardinal with the words, “The Queen is decided, and wishes to give her the place.”

We can picture Madame de Mailly’s distress and suspense while these negotiations were proceeding.  She had, as we have seen in the previous chapter, been supplanted by one sister in the King’s affection; and just as she was recovering some of her old position in his favour, she was threatened with a second dethronement by another sister.  In her alarm she flew to Madame de la Tournelle, to set her fears at rest one way or the other.  “Can it be possible that you are going to take my place?” she asked, the tears streaming down her cheeks.  “Quite impossible, my sister,” answered Madame, with a smile; and Madame de Mailly, thus reassured, returned to Versailles the happiest woman in France—­to learn, a few days later, that it was not only possible, it was an accomplished fact.  For the second time, and now, as she knew well, finally, she was ousted from the affection of the King she loved so sincerely; and again it was a sister who had done her this grievous wrong.  She was determined, however, that she would not quit the field without a last fight, and she knew she had doughty champions in Fleury and Maurepas, who still refused to acknowledge defeat.