From that time, my cousin let me alone; nay, she even applied to me to get a company of horse for her husband, who was very loath to come and thank me.  His wife wished him to thank Madame de Pompadour; but the fear he had lest she should tell him, that it was in consideration of his relationship to her waiting-woman that he commanded fifty horse, prevented him.  It was, however, a most surprising thing that a man belonging to the house of Chimay should be in the service of any lady whatever; and, the commander of Alsace returned from Malta on purpose to get him out of Madame de Pompadour’s household.  He got him a pension of a hundred louis from his family, and the Marquise gave him a company of horse.  The Chevalier d’Henin had been page to the Marechal de Luxembourg, and one can hardly imagine how he could have put his relation in such a situation; for, generally speaking, all great houses keep up the consequence of their members.  M. de Machault, the Keeper of the Seals, had, at the same time, as equerry, a Knight of St. Louis, and a man of family—­the Chevalier de Peribuse—­who carried his portfolio, and walked by the side of the chair.

Whether it was from ambition, or from tenderness, Madame de Pompadour had a regard for her daughter,—­[The daughter of Madame de Pompadour and her husband, M. d’Atioles.  She was called Alexandrine.]—­which seemed to proceed from the bottom of her heart.  She was brought up like a Princess, and, like persons of that rank, was called by her Christian name alone.  The first persons at Court had an eye to this alliance, but her mother had, perhaps, a better project.  The King had a son by Madame de Vintimille, who resembled him in face, gesture, and manners.  He was called the Comte du -----.  Madame de Pompadour had him brought:  to Bellevue.  Colin, her steward, was employed to find means to persuade his tutor to bring him thither.  They took some refreshment at the house of the Swiss, and the Marquise, in the course of her walk, appeared to meet them by accident.  She asked the name of the child, and admired his beauty.  Her daughter came up at the same moment, and Madame de Pompadour led them into a part of the garden where she knew the King would come.  He did come, and asked the child’s name.  He was told, and looked embarrassed when Madame, pointing to them, said they would be a beautiful couple.  The King played with the girl, without appearing to take any notice of the boy, who, while he was eating some figs and cakes which were brought, his attitudes and gestures were so like those of the King, that Madame de Pompadour was in the utmost astonishment.  “Ah!” said she, “Sire, look at --------.” --“At what?” said he.  “Nothing,” replied Madame, “except that one would think one saw his father.”