Part 38 (1/2)

Your position of superintendent with the Queen has been from the very first almost a sinecure Give up to Madanity which is of no use to you, for which you will be paid now its full value; which, later, is likely to cause you a sensible disappointment; for that is always sold at a loss which al to you, Madame la Marquise, has not yet deflowered, nor recalled in the least degree, those graces and attractions which were lavished on you Retire with the honours of war

Annoyance, vexation, irritation, do not make your veins floith milk and honey; you would lose upon the field of battle all those treasures which it is in your power to save

Adieu, h anonymous, is none the less benevolent I desire your peace and your happiness

CHAPTER XXIII

Madaes--The Mint of the D'Aubigne Fa Life--Ninon's Secret for Beauty--The King Would Re or Become So--Good-will of Madame de Maintenon

This letter was not, in ar hand For a moment I suspected Madah by the way, but her interest in it was easy to discover, since the writer dared to try to induce ive up to her, my superintendence I coes She said to me: ”We must see her,--her face expresses her e; we shall easily extract her secret, and em”

Ibrahim, faithful to his old friendshi+p for me, had recently sent lio, under the pretence of politeness and as a re her to come and sacrifice half an hour to , she came to my apartments, when she accepted some perfumes, and found all these stuffs divine My sister, Madaes, said to her:

”Madaratulate you on that boundless confidence and friendshi+p that our Queen accords you

assuredly, no one deservesof preference; it appears that the princess is developing, and that, at last, she is taking a liking for choice conversation and for wit”

”Mada, ”her Majesty does not prefer oodness to accord to me a little confidence; and since she finds in ue, of which she wishes to reue witheither in the pronunciation or the grammar, as she desires to be corrected herself when she coainst our French”

”You were born,” added Madas It is true that few governesses or tutors are as aht to the heart; and what others teach rudely orSince the Queen loves your French and your Spanish, everything has been said; you are indispensable to her Things being so, I dare to propose to you, Madame, a third occupation, which will suit you better than anything else in the world, and which will complete the happiness of her Majesty

”Here is Madarandeur, after having recognised its eo and enjoy her House of Saint Joseph, and wishes to get rid of her superintendence forthwith, at any cost”

”What!” said Madame de Maintenon Then tofirst assured yourself whether it be pleasing to the King? It appears toon this occasion with the caution hich you are generally credited”

”What need has she of so many preliminary cautions,” added the Marquise, ”if it is to you that she desires to sell it? Her choice guarantees the consent of the princess; your na easy”

”I reason quite otherwise, Madaoverness of the princes; ”the Queento find out first her intention and wishes”

”Mada has been sufficiently considered, and even approved of You will be the purchaser; you desire to buy, it is to you that one desires to sell”

Madaht the Marquise to believe that she had neither the desire nor the money for that object

”Money,” answered my sister, ”will cause you no trouble on this occasion

Money has been coined in pour fane, father of Madame de Maintenon, in his wild youth, was said to have taken refuge in a den of comers--Ed Note]

Madame de Maintenon, profoundly ht, madame, that I had come to see Madalio, and not to receive insults All your teasing affectsIt has been made clear to me now that I must put up with this loss; but, whatever be your injustice towards me, I will not depart from my customs or from my element The superintendence of the Queen's Council is for sale, or it is not; either way, it is all the same to me

I have never made any claim to this office, and I never shall”