FRIGHTFUL COBRUPTIOST. 293

not from respect for the sex and dignity of the person. The con-
siderable part I played in bringing about Madame la Duchesse
de Berry's marriage, and the place that Madame de Saint-Simon,
in spite of herself and of me, occupied in connection with her,
would be for me reasons more than enough for silence, if I did
not feel that silence would throw obscurity over all the sequel
of this history. It is then to the truth that I sacrifice my self-
love, and with the same truthfulness I will say that if I had
known or merely suspected, that the Princesse was so bad as
she showed herself directly after her marriage, and always more
and more since, she would never have become Duchesse de
Berry.

I have already told how she annoyed M. le Due de Berry by
ridiculing his devotion. In other ways she put his patience to
severe trials, and more than once was in danger of public ex-
posure. She partook of few meals in private, at which she did
not get so drunk as to lose consciousness, and to bring up all
she had taken on every side. The presence of M. le Due de
Berry, of M. le Due and Madame la Duchesse d'Orlfeans, of
ladies with whom she was not on familiar terms, in no way
restrained her. She complained even of M. le Due de Berry
for not doing as she did. She often treated her father with a
haughtiness which was terrifying on all accounts.

In her gallantries she was as unrestrained as in other things.
After having had several favourites, she fixed herself upon La
Haye, who from King's page hadjbecome private ^cuyer of M.
le Due de Berry. The oglings in the Salon of Marly were per-
ceived by everybody; nothing restrained them. At last, it
must be said, for this fact encloses all the rest, she wished La
Haye to run away with her from Versailles to the Low Coun-
tries, whilst M. le Due de Berry and the King were both living.
La Haye almost died with fright at this proposition, which she
herself made to him. His refusal made her furious. From
the most pressing entreaties she came to all the invectives that
rage could suggest, and that torrents of tears allowed her to
pronounce. La Haye had to suffer her attacks—now tender,
now furious; he was in the most mortal embarrassment. It