Yesterday my son was requested to permit the Duc du Maine to be reconciled with his wife.  His answer was, “They might have been reconciled without speaking to me about it, for whether they become friends again or not, I know what to think of them.”

SECTION XXXIX.—­THE DUCHESSE DU MAINE, LOUISE-BENOITE, DAUGHTER OF HENRI-JULES DE CONDE.

[Illustration:  Duchesse du Maine—­314]

Madame du Maine is not taller than a child ten years old, and is not well made.  To appear tolerably well, it is necessary for her to keep her mouth shut; for when she opens it, she opens it very wide, and shows her irregular teeth.  She is not very stout, uses a great quantity of paint, has fine eyes, a white skin, and fair hair.  If she were well disposed, she might pass, but her wickedness is insupportable.

She has good sense, is accomplished, and can talk agreeably on most subjects.  This brings about her a host of learned men and wits.  She flatters the discontented very adroitly, and says all ill things of my son.  This is the secret by which she has made her party.  Her husband is fond of her, and she in turn piques herself upon her love for him; but I should be sorry to swear to her sincerity.  This at least is certain, that she rules the Duc du Maine absolutely.  As he holds several offices, he can provide for a great number of persons, either in the regiment of Guards, of which he is General; or in the Artillery, of which he is Grand Master; or in the Carabineers, where he appoints all the officers; without reckoning his regiments, by which he attracts a great number of persons.

Madame du Maine’s present lover is the Cardinal de Polignac; but she has, besides, the first Minister and some young men.  The Cardinal is accused of having assisted in the refutation of Fitz-Morris’s letters, although he has had this very year (1718) a long interview with my son, and has sworn never to engage in anything against his interests, notwithstanding his attachment to the Duchesse du Maine.

The Comte d’Albert, who was here last winter, took some pains to make himself agreeable to Madame du Maine, and succeeded so well as to make the Cardinal de Polignac very jealous.  He followed them masked to a ball; but upon seeing the Duchess and the Count tete-a-tete, he could not contain his anger this betrayed him; and when the people learned that a Cardinal had been seen at a masked ball it caused them great diversion.

Her being arrested threw Madame du Maine into such a transport of rage that she was near choking, and only recovered herself by slow degrees.