The princesses consent to the presentation of madame du Barry--Ingenious artifice employed by the king to offer a present to the duc de la Vauguyon--Madame du Barry’s letter respecting it--The duke’s reply--The king’s letter--The court in despair--Couplets concerning madame du Barry--Her presentation--A change in public opinion--An evening party at the house of the countess--Joy of her partizans--Conversation with the chancellor respecting the lady of the maréchal de Mirepoix CHAPTER XV The Comte de la Marche, a prince of the blood--Madame de Beauvoir, his mistress--Madame du Barry complains to the prince de Soubise of the princess de Guémenée--The king consoles the countess for this--The duc de Choiseul--The king speaks to him of madame du Barry--Voltaire writes to her--The opinions of Richelieu and the king concerning Voltaire CHAPTER XVI Unpublished letter of Voltaire to madame du Barry--Reply of the countess--The maréchale de Mirepoix--Her first interview with madame du Barry--Anecdote of the diamonds of madame de Mirepoix--The king pays for them--Singular gratitude of the maréchale--The portfolio, and an unpublished letter of the marquise de Pompadour CHAPTER XVII Conversation of the maréchale de Mirepoix with the comtesse du Barry on court friendship--Intrigues of madame de Bearn--Preconcerted meeting with madame de Flaracourt---Rage of madame de Bearn--Portrait and conversation of madame de Flaracourt with the comtesse du Barry--Insult from the princesse de Guémenée--Her banishment--Explanation of the king and the duc de Choiseul relative to madame du Barry--The comtesse d’Egmont CHAPTER XVIII Intrigue of the comtesse d’Egmont with a shopman--His unhappy fate--The comtesse du Barry protects him--Conduct of Louis XV upon the occasion--The young man quits France--Madame du Barry’s letter to the comtesse d’Egmont--Quarrel with the maréchal de Richelieu CHAPTER XIX Madame du Barry separates from madame de Bearn--Letters between these ladies--Portrait of madame de l’Hôpital--The ladder--The bell--Conversation with madame de Mirepoix--First visit to Chantilly--Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thither--The king’s Displeasure towards the princesses--The archbishop de Senlis CHAPTER XX Unpublished letter of Louis XV--Madame du Barry’s cousin, M. de Maupeou--The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young girl seduced by the arts of the curé of her village--She obtains pardon of the comte and comtesse de Louerne--The king presents her with Lucienne--A second meeting with the youthful prophet--His further predictions--He is sought for--His mysterious letter to the countess CHAPTER XXI Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon--The comtesse du Barry at Chantilly--Opinion of king and comte de la Marche respecting the “Iron Mask”--Madame du Barry visits madame de Lagarde CHAPTER XXII