Two persons—­the Lieutenant of Police and the Postmaster-General—­were very much in Madame de Pompadour’s confidence; the latter, however, became less necessary to her from the time that the King communicated to M. de Choiseul the secret of the post-office, that is to say, the system of opening letters and extracting matter from them:  this had never been imparted to M. d’Argenson, in spite of the high favour he enjoyed.  I have heard that M. de Choiseul abused the confidence reposed in him, and related to his friends the ludicrous stories, and the love affairs contained in the letters which were broken open.  The plan they pursued, as I have heard, was very simple.  Six or seven clerks of the post-office picked out the letters they were ordered to break open, and took the impression of the seals with a ball of quicksilver.  Then they put each letter, with the seal downwards, over a glass of hot water, which melted the wax without injuring the paper.  It was then opened, the desired matter extracted, and it was sealed again, by means of the impression.  This is the account of the matter I have heard.  The Postmaster-General carried the extracts to the King on Sundays.  He was seen coming and going on this noble errand as openly as the Ministers.  Doctor Quesnay often, in my presence, flew in such a rage about that infamous Minister, as he called him, that he foamed at the mouth.  “I would as soon dine with the hangman as with the Postmaster-General,” said the Doctor.  It must be acknowledged that this was astonishing language to be uttered in the apartments of the King’s mistress; yet it went on for twenty years without being talked of.  “It was probity speaking with earnestness,” said M. de Marigny, “and not a mere burst of spite or malignity.”

The Duc de Gontaut was the brother-in-law and friend of M. de Choiseul, and was assiduous in his attendance on Madame de Pompadour.  The sister of M. de Choiseul, Madame de Grammont, and his wife were equally constant in their attentions.  This will sufficiently account for the ascendency of M. de Choiseul, whom nobody would have ventured to attack.  Chance, however, discovered to me a secret correspondence of the King, with a man in a very obscure station.  This man, who had a place in the Farmers General, of from two to three hundred a year, was related to one of the young ladies of the Parc-aux-cerfs, by whom he was recommended to the King.  He was also connected in some way with M. de Broglie, in whom the King placed great confidence.  Wearied with finding that this correspondence procured him no advancement, he took the resolution of writing to me, and requesting an interview, which I granted, after acquainting Madame de Pompadour with the circumstance.  After a great deal of preamble and of flattery, he said to me, “Can you give me your word of hour, and that of Madame de Pompadour, that no mention whatever of what I am going to tell you will be made to the King?” “I think I can assure you that, if you require such a promise