Speaking of the King of Prussia, he said, “That is a madman, who will risk all to gain all, and may, perhaps, win the game, though he has neither religion, morals, nor principles.  He wants to make a noise in the world, and he will succeed.  Julian, the Apostate, did the same.”—­“I never saw the King so animated before,” observed Madame, when he was gone out; “and really the comparison with Julian, the Apostate, is not amiss, considering the irreligion of the King of Prussia.  If he gets out of his perplexities, surrounded as he is by his enemies, he will be one of the greatest men in history.”

M. de Bernis remarked, “Madame is correct in her judgment, for she has no reason to pronounce his praises; nor have I, though I agree with what she says.”  Madame de Pompadour never enjoyed so much influence as at the time when M. de Choiseul became one of the Ministry.  From the time of the Abbe de Bernis she had afforded him her constant support, and he had been employed in foreign affairs, of which he was said to know but little.  Madame made the Treaty of Sienna, though the first idea of it was certainly furnished her by the Abbe.  I have been informed by several persons that the King often talked to Madame upon this subject; for my own part, I never heard any conversation relative to it, except the high praises bestowed by her on the Empress and the Prince de Kaunitz, whom she had known a good deal of.  She said that he had a clear head, the head of a statesman.  One day, when she was talking in this strain, some one tried to cast ridicule upon the Prince on account of the style in which he wore his hair, and the four valets de chambre, who made the hair-powder fly in all directions, while Kaunitz ran about that he might only catch the superfine part of it.  “Aye,” said Madame, “just as Alcibiades cut off his dog’s tail in order to give the Athenians something to talk about, and to turn their attention from those things he wished to conceal.”

Never was the public mind so inflamed against Madame de Pompadour as when news arrived of the battle of Rosbach.  Every day she received anonymous letters, full of the grossest abuse; atrocious verses, threats of poison and assassination.  She continued long a prey to the most acute sorrow, and could get no sleep but from opiates.  All this discontent was excited by her protecting the Prince of Soubise; and the Lieutenant of Police had great difficulty in allaying the ferment of the people.  The King affirmed that it was not his fault.  M. du Verney was the confidant of Madame in everything relating to war; a subject which he well understood, though not a military man by, profession.  The old Marechal de Noailles called him, in derision, the General of the flour, but Marechal Saxe, one day, told Madame that Du Verney knew more of military matters than the old Marshal.  Du Verney once paid a visit to Madame de Pompadour, and found her in company with the King, the Minister