“After this, you will judge, my dear, whether you were very likely to be graciously received when you went open-mouthed with your compliment to the Marquise.  This adventure,” continued she, “reminded the King of one which occurred about fifteen years ago.  The Comte d’E——­, who was what is called enfant d’honneur to the Dauphin, and about fourteen years of age, came into the Dauphin’s apartments, one evening, with his bag-wig snatched off, and his ruffles torn, and said that, having walked rather late near the piece of water des Suisses, he had been attacked by two robbers; that he had refused to give them anything, drawn his sword, and put himself in art attitude of defence; that one of the robbers was armed with a sword, the other with a large stick, from which he had received several blows, but that he had wounded one in the arm, and that, hearing a noise at that moment, they had fled.  But unluckily for the little Count, it was known that people were on the spot at the precise time he mentioned, and had heard nothing.  The Count was pardoned, on account of his youth.  The Dauphin made him confess the truth, and it was looked upon as a childish freak to set people talking about him.”

The King disliked the King of Prussia because he knew that the latter was in the habit of jesting upon his mistress, and the kind of life he led.  It was Frederick’s fault, as I have heard it said, that the king was not his most steadfast ally and friend, as much as sovereigns can be towards each other; but the jestings of Frederick had stung him, and made him conclude the treaty of Versailles.  One day, he entered Madame’s apartment with a paper in his hand, and said, “The King of Prussia is certainly a great man; he loves men of talent, and, like Louis XIV., he wishes to make Europe ring with his favours towards foreign savans.  There is a letter from him, addressed to Milord Marshal, ordering him to acquaint a superieur man of my kingdom (D’Alembert) that he has granted him a pension;” and, looking at the letter, he read the following words:  “You must know that there is in Paris a man of the greatest merit, whose fortune is not proportionate to his talents and character.  I may serve as eyes to the blind goddess, and repair in some measure the injustice, and I beg you to offer on that account.  I flatter myself that he will accept this pension because of the pleasure I shall feel in obliging a man who joins beauty of character to the most sublime intellectual talents.”  The King here stopped, on seeing MM. d’Ayen and de Gontaut enter, and then recommenced reading the letter to them, and added, “It was given me by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to whom it was confided by Milord Marshal, for the purpose of obtaining my permission for this sublime genius to accept the favour.  But,” said the King, “what do you think is the amount?” Some said six, eight, ten thousand livres.  “You have not guessed,” said the King; “it is twelve hundred livres.”  “For sublime talents,” said the Duc d’Ayen, “it is not much.  But the philosophers will make Europe resound with this letter, and the King of Prussia will have the pleasure of making a great noise at little expense.”