de C——­ supped with the King, and sat near M. de St. Florentin.  He talked to him of his relation’s adventure, and asked him if he had made any inquiries concerning the lady.  M. de St. Florentin coldly answered, ‘No!’ and M. de C——­ remarked, on asking him some further questions, that he kept his eyes firmed on his plate, looking embarrassed, and answered in monosyllables.  He asked him the reason of this, upon which M. de Florentin told him that it was extremely distressing to him to see him under such a mistake.  ’How can you know that, supposing it to be the fact?’ said M. de ------, ’Nothing is more easy to prove,’ replied M. de St. Florentin.  ’You may imagine that, as soon as I was informed of the Marquis de ------’s adventure, I set on foot inquiries, the result of which was, that, on the night when this affair was said to have taken place, a party of the watch was set in ambuscade in this very street, for the purpose of catching a thief who was coming out of the gaming house; that this party was there four hours, and heard not the slightest noise.’  M. de C was greatly incensed at this recital, which M. de St. Florentin ought, indeed, to have communicated to the King.  He has ordered, or will order, his relation to retire to his province.

“After this, you will judge, my dear, whether you were very likely to be graciously received when you went open-mouthed with your compliment to the Marquise.  This adventure,” continued she, “reminded the King of one which occurred about fifteen years ago.  The Comte d’E——­, who was what is called ‘enfant d’honneur’ to the Dauphin, and about fourteen years of age, came into the Dauphin’s apartments, one evening, with his bag-wig snatched off, and his ruffles torn, and said that, having walked rather late near the piece of water des Suisses, he had been attacked by two robbers; that he had refused to give them anything, drawn his sword, and put himself in an attitude of defence; that one of the robbers was armed with a sword, the other with a large stick, from which he had received several blows, but that he had wounded one in the arm, and that, hearing a noise at that moment, they had fled.  But unluckily for the little Count, it was known that people were on the spot at the precise time he mentioned, and had heard nothing.  The Count was pardoned, on account of his youth.  The Dauphin made him confess the truth, and it was looked upon as a childish freak to set people talking about him.”

The King disliked the King of Prussia because he knew that the latter was in the habit of jesting upon his mistress, and the kind of life he led.  It was Frederick’s fault, as I have heard it said, that the King was not his most steadfast ally and friend, as much as sovereigns can be towards each other; but the jestings of Frederick had stung him, and made him conclude the treaty of Versailles.  One day, he entered Madame’s apartment with a paper in his hand, and said, “The King of Prussia is certainly a great man; he loves men of talent, and, like Louis XIV., he wishes to make Europe ring with his favours towards foreign savans.  There is a letter from him, addressed to Milord Marshal,