Leontine, or the Court of Louis the Fifteenth (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ...pains, and sufferings, and been sent about in every direction to open boxes, desks, drawers, and portfolios innumerable in order to find verses, charades, and caricatures which she affirmed to have brought to the country to amuse her, but which she had probably left at Versailles, they at length contrived to make their escape, all except the Comte de Coigny, who, a willing prisoner, volunteered to read to the Duchess while she drank her chocolate. As she was in the country and with no other adorer at hand, the beautiful and selfish lady condescended to permit him to remain, and quietly sunk to sleep ere he had finished three stanzas of the poem he had begun. Of this fact, however, he was totally unconscious, for, having been desired to read, he recollected the advice of Richelieu, never to say or do any thing that was contrary to the sayings or doings of the person he wished to please, and so he read on and on without raising his eyes, and would doubtless have continued to do so until nightfall, had he not at length been startled by an exclamation from the Duchess, who had just awakened and found by her watch that it was almost dinner time. Good Heavens! what shall I do--I shall never be dressed, she exclaimed. I shall keep every one waiting--luckily we are not at Versailles. Here, Monsieur de Coigny, do ring that bell, and give me my looking glass, and open the window, and close the curtain.--No, that is too much--how do you expect me to see how I put on my rouge. I should come down with one cheek redder than the other, as Madame de Boufflers did the other day--fancy Maurepas telling her of it, and her answer, I know it, she said, it blushes for your impertinence. I never should have had courage to say it, and ...