Notwithstanding all that the Princess has suffered, she daily regrets the loss of her husband.  I am often quite angry to see her bewailing her widowhood instead of enjoying the repose which it affords her; she wishes that her husband were alive again, even although he should torment her again as much as before.

She was desirous that Mademoiselle de Conde should marry the late Margrave; this lady was incomparably more handsome than her sister; but I think he had a greater inclination for Mademoiselle de Vendome, because she seemed to be more modest and quiet.

The Princess, who has been born and educated here, had not the same dislike that I felt to her son’s marrying an illegitimate child, and yet she has repented it no less.  She is exceedingly unhappy with respect to her children.  The Princesse de Conti, mother of the Prince de Conti, who is rather virtuous than otherwise, is nevertheless a little simpleton, and is something like the Comtesse Pimbeche Orbeche, for she is always wishing to be engaged in lawsuits against her mother; who, on her part, has used all possible means, but without success, to be reconciled to her.  On Thursday last (10th March, 1720) she lost her cause, and I am very glad of it, for it was an unjust suit.  The younger Princess wished the affair to be referred to arbitration; but the son would have the business carried through, and made his counsel accuse his mother of falsehood.  The advocate of the Princess replied as follows: 

“The sincerity of the Princesse de Conti and of the Princess her daughter are so well known that all the world can judge of them.”  This has amused the whole palace.

SECTION XXXI.—­LOUISE-ELIZABETH, PRINCESSE DE CONTI, CONSORT OF LOUIE-ARMAND DE CONTI.

[Illustration:  Princesse de Conti—­276]

She is a person full of charms, and a striking proof that grace is preferable to beauty.  When she chooses to make herself agreeable, it is impossible to resist her.  Her manners are most fascinating; she is full of gentleness, never displaying the least ill-humour, and always saying something kind and obliging.  It is greatly to be regretted that she is not in the society of more virtuous persons, for she is herself naturally very good; but she is spoiled by bad company.  She has an ugly fool for her husband, who has been badly brought up; and the examples which are constantly before her eyes are so pernicious that they have corrupted her and made her careless of her reputation.  Her amiable, unaffected manners are highly delightful to foreigners.  Among others, some Bavarians have fallen in love with her, as well as the Prince Ragotzky; but she disgusted him with her coquetry.

She does not love her husband, and cannot do so, no less on account of his ugly person than for his bad temper.  It is not only his face that is hideous, but his whole person is frightful and deformed.  She terrified him by placing some muskets and swords near her bed, and assuring him that if he came there again with his pistols charged, she would take the gun and fire upon him, and if she missed, she would fall upon him with the sword.  Since this time he has left off carrying his pistols.