“You must do as the marquise de Pompadour did, and as the duc de Richelieu has advised. They spend a vast deal of money in this house, and I undertake to look over their accounts. Nominate me your prime minister, and I shall be the happiest of men. It is impossible but there must be something to be gleaned from his majesty.” “In truth, my dear brother-in-law, you would be in your element; money to handle and young girls to manage. What more could you covet? You will establish a gaming table at the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_, and never quit it again.” Comte Jean began to laugh, and then seriously advised me to follow the plain counsel of the duc de Richelieu. I decided on doing so. I sent for Madame. She came with all the dignity of an abbess of a regally founded convent. But in spite of her pretensions, I only saw in her the rival of Gourdan and Paris, and treated her as such; that is, with some contempt, for with that feeling her office inspired me. She told me all I have described to you, and many other things which have since escaped me. At that time there were only four _élèves_ in the house. When she had given me all the details I wished, I sent her away, desiring to be informed of all that passed in her establishment. CHAPTER XXX Fête given by the comtesse de Valentinois--The comtesse du Barry feigns an indisposition--Her dress--The duc de Cossé-- The comte and comtesse de Provence--Dramatic entertainment-- Favart and Voisenon--A few observations--A pension--The maréchale de Luxembourg--Adventure of M. de Bombelles--Copy of a letter addressed to him--Louis XV--M. de Maupeou and madame du Barry My present situation was not a little embarrassing; known and recognised as the mistress of the king, it but ill accorded with my feelings to be compelled to add to that title the superintendent of his pleasures; and I had not yet been sufficiently initiated into the intrigues of a court life to accept this strange charge without manifest dislike and hesitation. Nevertheless, whilst so many were contending for the honour of that which I condemned, I was compelled to stifle my feelings and resign myself to the bad as well as the good afforded by my present situation; at a future period I shall have occasion again to revert to the _Parc-aux-Cerfs_ during the period of my reign, but for the present I wish to change the subject by relating to you what befell me at a fête given me by madame de Valentinois, while she feigned to give it in the honour of madame de Provence.