Before this breach between them Fragonard had painted several portraits of the Guimard. However, the work for the lady was to have far-reaching results little dreamed of. For the completion of the room, Fragonard procured the commission for David, then twenty-five; and David never forgot the service rendered. He was to repay it tenfold when black days threatened; and with rare courage, when even the courage of gratitude was a deadly dangerous commodity. However, this was not as yet; the sun shone in the skies; and all was gaiety and laughter still. The "Chiffre d'Amour," the picture of a pretty girl who cuts her lover's monogram in the bark of a tree's trunk, the shadowed tree and figure telling darkly against the glamorous half light beyond, was one of Fragonard's happiest inspirations of these years, as any one may see who steps into the Wallace galleries. Here also may be seen to-day the exquisite "Fair-haired Boy." The boldly painted "L'Heure de Berger" was wet upon the canvas about this year, though its boldness of handling foretells his later manner, whilst the spirit of Boucher is over all. Four years after the death of the Pompadour the patient neglected queen, amiable dull Marie Leczinska, followed her supplanter to the grave. The king's grief and contrition and his solemn vows to mend his ways came somewhat over-late; they lasted little longer than the drying of his floods of tears over the body of his dead consort. On the Eve of Candlemas, the first day of February 1769, at a convivial party in Paris that was not wholly without political significance, a Jesuit priest raised his glass _To the Presentation!_ adding after the toast--"To that which has taken place to-day, or will take place to-morrow, the presentation of the new Esther, who is to replace Haman and release the Jewish nation from oppression!" He spoke figuratively--it was safer so. But 'twas understood. Indeed, the pretty sentiment was well received by the old aristocrats and young bloods about the table; and they drank a bumper to the pretty Madame du Barry. For the Jesuits had no love for the king's minister Choiseul--and the madcap girl was but the lure whereby the king was to be drawn from his great minister. So religion rallied about the frail beauty, and hid behind her extravagant skirts--one of which cost close on £2000--and, with the old nobility, drank damnation to the king's minister and To the devil with the new thought and with parliaments. Long live the king and the divine right of kings! Our worthy priest seems to have had the ear of destiny, though he dated his certainty near upon a couple of months too soon.