The King was very fond of having little private correspondences, very often unknown to Madame de Pompadour:  she knew, however, of the existence of some, for he passed part of his mornings in writing to his family, to the King of Spain, to Cardinal Tencin, to the Abbe de Broglie, and also to some obscure persons.  “It is, doubtless, from such people as these,” said she to me, one day, “that the King learns expressions which perfectly surprise me.  For instance, he said to me yesterday, when he saw a man pass with an old coat on, ‘il y a la un habit bien examine.’ He once said to me, when he meant to express that a thing was probable, ‘il y a gros’; I am told this is a saying of the common people, meaning, il y a gros a parier.”  I took the liberty to say, “But is it not more likely from his young ladies at the Parc, that he learns these elegant expressions?” She laughed, and said, “You are right; il y a gros.”  The King, however, used these expressions designedly, and with a laugh.

The King knew a great many anecdotes, and there were people enough who furnished him with such as were likely to mortify the self-love of others.  One day, at Choisy, he went into a room where some people were employed about embroidered furniture, to see how they were going on; and looking out of the window, he saw at the end of a long avenue two men in the Choisy uniform.  “Who are those two noblemen?” said he.  Madame de Pompadour took up her glass, and said, “They are the Duc d’Aumont, and ——.”  “Ah!” said the King; “the Duc d’Aumont’s grandfather would be greatly astonished if he could see his grandson arm in arm with the grandson of his valet de Chambre, L——­, in a dress which may be called a patent of nobility!” He went on to tell Madame de Pompadour a long history, to prove the truth of what he said.  The King went out to accompany her into the garden; and, soon after, Quesnay and M. de Marigny came in.  I spoke with contempt of some one who was very fond of money.  At this the Doctor laughed, and said, “I had a curious dream last night:  I was in the country of the ancient Germans; I had a large house, stacks of corn, herds of cattle, a great number of horses, and huge barrels of ale; but I suffered dreadfully from rheumatism, and knew not how to manage to go to a fountain, at fifty leagues’ distance, the waters of which would cure me.  I was to go among a strange people.  An enchanter appeared before me, and said to me, ’I pity your distress; here, I will give you a little packet of the powder of prelinpinpin; whoever receives a little of this from you will lodge you, feed you, and pay you all sorts of civilities.’  I took the powder, and thanked him.”  “Ah!” said I, “how I should like to have some powder of prelinpinpin! I wish I had a chest full.”  “Well,” said the Doctor, “that powder is money, for which you have so great a contempt.  Tell me who, of all the men who come hither, receives