this story at Quesnay’s, and added, that the man of genius above mentioned was D’Alembert, and that the King had permitted him to accept the pension.  He added, that his sister had suggested to the King that he had better give D’Alembert a pension of twice the value, and forbid him to take the King of Prussia’s.  This advice he would not take, because he looked upon D’Alembert as an infidel.  M. de Marigny took a copy of the letter, which he lent me.

A certain nobleman, at one time, affected to cast tender glances on Madame Adelaide.  She was wholly unconscious of it; but, as there are Arguses at Court, the King was, of course, told of it, and, indeed, he thought he had perceived it himself.  I know that he came into Madame de Pompadour’s room one day, in a great passion, and said, “Would you believe that there is a man in my Court insolent enough to dare to raise his eyes to one of my daughters?” Madame had never seen him so exasperated, and this illustrious nobleman was advised to feign a necessity for visiting his estates.  He remained there two months.  Madame told me, long after, that she thought that there were no tortures to which the King would not have condemned any man who had seduced one of his daughters.  Madame Adelaide, at the time in question, was a charming person, and united infinite grace, and much talent, to a most agreeable face.

A courier brought Madame de Pompadour a letter, on reading which she burst into tears.  It contained the intelligence of the battle of Rosbach, which M. de Soubise sent her, with all the details.  I heard her say to the Marechal de Belle-Isle, wiping her eyes, “M. de Soubise is inconsolable; he does not try to excuse his conduct, he sees nothing but the disastrous fortune which pursues him.”—­“M. de Soubise must, however, have many things to urge in his own behalf,” said M. de Belle-Isle, “and so I told the King.”—­“It is very noble in you, Marshal, not to suffer an unfortunate man to be overwhelmed; the public are furious against him, and what has he done to deserve it?”—­“There is not a more honourable nor a kinder man in the world.  I only fulfil my duty in doing justice to the truth, and to a man for whom I have the most profound esteem.  The King will explain to you, Madame, how M. de Soubise was forced to give battle by the Prince of Sage-Hildbourgshausen, whose troops fled first, and carried along the French troops.”  Madame would have embraced the old Marshal if she had dared, she was so delighted with him.

M. de Soubise, having gained a battle, was made Marshal of France:  Madame was enchanted with her friend’s success.  But, either it was unimportant, or the public were offended at his promotion; nobody talked of it but Madame’s friends.  This unpopularity was concealed from her, and she said to Colin, her steward, at her toilet, “Are you not delighted at the victory M. de Soubise has gained?  What does the public say of it?  He has taken his revenge well.”  Colin was embarrassed, and knew not what to answer.  As she pressed him further, he replied that he had been ill, and had seen nobody for a week.