Volume II Part 17 (2/2)
That beauty's name was Saint Hilaire; and under that naland, where she followed a rich lord the year after At first, vexed because I had not remarked her before, she was proud and disdainful; but I soon proved to her that it was fortunate that my first or second choice had not fallen on her, as she would now reh, and shewed herself very agreeable
That girl had wit, education and talent-everything, in fact, that is needful to succeed in the profession she had adopted During the supper Patu toldher at the veryhe inforht The Saint Hilaire was highly pleased with me, and she boasted of it before her co several visits to the Hotel du Roule, and all for her; she was very proud of my constancy
Those visits very naturally cooled er froh musician, and very witty, contrived to captivate her affections three weeks after my quarrel with her The handsome felloas a man only in appearance, inflamed her with curiosity if not with love, and caused a rupture with the prince, who caught her in the very act But Coraline ed to coax him back, and, a short time after, a reconciliation took place between theood one, that a babe was the consequence of it; a girl, whoave a dowry After the death of his father, the Duke of Valentinois, the prince left her altogether and nole, from Genoa Coraline became the mistress of Count de la Marche, now Prince de Conti Coraline is now dead, as well as a son whom she had by the count, and whom his father named Count de Monreal
Madame la Dauphine was delivered of a princess, who received the title of Madaust the Royal Academy had an exhibition at the Louvre, and as there was not a single battle piece I conceived the idea of su reat talent in that particular style Passorelli, the only painter of battles known in France, was dead, and I thought that Francois ht succeed and make a fortune I therefore wrote to M Grimani and to my brother; I persuaded the of the following year
Louis XV, as passionately fond of hunting, was in the habit of spending six weeks every year at the Chateau of Fontainebleau He always returned to Versailles towards the middle of November That trip cost him, or rather cost France, five millions of francs He always took with hin ambassadors and of his numerous court He was followed by the French and the Italian comedians, and by the actors and actresses of the opera
During those six weeks Fontainebleau was more brilliant than Versailles; nevertheless, the artists attached to the theatres were so numerous that the Opera, the French and Italian Comedies, remained open in Paris
Baletti's father, who had recovered his health, was to go to Fontainebleau with Silvia and all his faing in a house hired by them
It was a splendid opportunity; they were my friends, and I accepted, for I could not have n ministers I presented myself to M de Morosini, now Procurator at St Mark's, and then ambassador froht of the opera he gave me permission to accompany him; the music was by Lulli I had a seat in the pit precisely under the private box of Mada the first scene the celebrated Le Maur gave a screaonethat any one could possibly find fault with it But a knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost, as near the Marquise de Pompadour, dryly asked me what country I came from I answered, in the same tone,
”Frohed heartily at the recitative in your operas”
”I believe you, sir, and I feel certain that no one ever thought of objecting to your laughing”
My answer, rather a sharp one, h, and she asked me whether I truly came from down there
”What do you mean by down there?”
”I mean Venice”
”Venice, madam, is not down there, but up there”
That ansas found ular than the first, and everybody in the box held a consultation in order to ascertain whether Venice was down or up Most likely they thought I was right, for I was left alone
Nevertheless, I listened to the opera without laughing; but as I had a very bad cold I blew ain to me, remarked that very likely the s of entleman, as unknown to me was the Marechal de Richelieu I told him he was mistaken, for my ere well 'calfoutrees' Everyone in the box burst into a loud laugh, and I felt ht to have said 'calfeutrees' But these 'eus' and 'ous' cause dire ners
Half an hour afterwards M de Richelieu asked me which of the two actresses pleased me most by her beauty
”That one, sir”
”But she has ugly legs”
”They are not seen, sir; besides, whenever I examine the beauty of a woman, 'la premiere chose que j'ecarte, ce sont les jambes'”
That word said quite by chance, and the doubleof which I did not understand, e of me, and everybody in the box of Madame de Pompadour was curious to know me The marshal learned who I was from M de Morosini, who told me that the duke would be happy to receive me My 'jeu de mots' becaracious welcon ministers, the one to whom I attached myself most was Lord Keith, Marshal of Scotland and a of Prussia I shall have occasion to speak of him
The day after my arrival in Fontainebleau I went alone to the court, and I saw Louis XV, the handsoo to the chapel with the royal family and all the ladies of the court, who surprised liness as much as the ladies of the court of Turin had astonished ly ones I found out a regular beauty I enquired who she was
”She is,” answered one of hbours, ”Madame de Brionne, more remarkable by her virtue even than by her beauty Not only is there no scandalous story told about her, but she has never given any opportunity to scandal- any adventure of which she was the heroine”