1809. ] 
elegant ; and that Lord Mareschal should 
settle the rest. This plan was followed. 
This Lord, who generally accompanied 
Frederic in his walks, in passing by one 
of the alleys, ashort distance from the 
Marchioness, saluted her, as a lady of 
his acquaintance, with much respect. 
This salute gave occasion to the King to 
inguire who the lady was? My Lord 
Mareschal answered, in a careless, neg- 
ligent, way, that she was the Marchioness 
D’Argens. “ What!” rephed the King, 
in a severe tone, “ is the Marquis mar- 
ried?” * Yes, Sire.”"—'* How long?” 
“ Some years, iny Liege.”—* En! what? 
without acquainting mer” It was dur- 
ing the war, and be would not venture to 
trouble you on such a trifling matter.”— 
* And whom did he marry?” Mademoi- 
selle Cochois !” “ ’Tis a folly I shall net 
suffer.” 
The King after some time grew calm, 
but the Marquis was a considerable time 
without seeing him; and, even after- 
wards, when their intimacy was resumed 
as betore, Frederic never spoke to bun 
of his wife. 
Not but that the King knew weli that 
he lived with Mademoiselle Cacheis. 
The Marquis had taken her with him in 
the journey he made to France in 1747 ; 
and it appears by his correspondence, 
that he frequenuy mentioned her to the 
King, who was afraid she would not re- 
turn in time to perform in the opera at 
Berlin, as he wished her, _ 
D’Argens possessed that lively wit, 
and the vivacity so natural to his coun- 
trymen, the Provencals, which always 
raised a laugh: he often uttered 
his jests in such a stile of nuiveté, as 
affurded the King ample matter; for he 
was fond of relating the adventures 
of his youth, and the anecdotes of his 
lite, with which he instructed Europe, 
though he «id not edify it, in the Me- 
moirs of which he wrote, 
He had frequently some ttle whims, 
which, added to the assiduity which de- 
tained him near Badamoiselle Cochois, 
made him absent himself from the King, 
who wished to sce the men of gemus at 
his supper table, as exact, and with the 
same regularity, as the Secretaries of 
the different departments came to their 
othces in the morning, 
Having once asked the Marquis, why 
he bad not seen him tor some days, he 
excused himself by saying, he had been 
unwell. The King knew to the contrary, 
and resolyed to be revenged of him. 
JZemor of ihe late 
were really ill. 
the King’s. 
Marquis LP Argens. jag 
Madamoiselle Cochois had made a pre- 
sent to the Marquis of a very fine mora- 
ing loose dressing-gown, or wrapper—this 
was before their marriaze. Delighted 
with this present, be put if on imimedi- 
ately, and found it so much to his taste, 
that be did not put it off the whole even 
ing. The King, however, sent.to let bun 
know he expected him to supper. The 
sanie answer was returned, that he was 
ill, 
The Monarch, in order to disturb the 
felicity of the Marquis’s little party, took 
itinio his head to send him word, that 
having heard of his iil state-of bealsh, 
fearful of the fatal consequences ef so 
dangerous a disorder as that with which be 
was attacked, and anxious he should die 
like a good Christian, he had commanded 
two catholic priests to administer the sa- 
crament of extreme unction to bim, and 
that they would visit him that very even- 
lng to fulfil this pious duty.-The Mar- 
quis knew not what to think of ibis doti- 
imation. He well knew the Aing was 
capable of giving sunilar orders to the 
catholic priests, but he doubted much 
whether he would dare te be guilty of 
such a scandal within the walls of his 
own palace. The most essential thing 
for hin was, to make it appearas if he 
He, theretore, wrapped 
up kis head, and counterfeited the ape 
pearance of a man guite unwell. 
The King coyered himsejf with a sure 
plice and a stole, put two or.three per- 
sons who were in his confidence, into 
black cloaks, and the whole party de- 
scended in a solemn procession, asif they 
were bearing extreme unction to the 
Marquis, whose apartments were below 
The person who went first 
carried a small bell, which was heard iy 
all the apartments, as sson as they wat 
upon the staircase. No one had any 
doubt, but that it was the sacramens 
going to a person dangerously ill. La 
Pierre, the Marquis’s servant, went to 
see the procession, and sonn saw what it 
was. in order not to. be found out, and” 
consequently pass tora liar, the pretend~ 
ed sick man hastened to get inio. bed 
withont undressing, or even faking off his 
fine dressing-gown with gold flowers. 
‘Phe procession immediately after entered 
the chamber ina slow and solemn man- 
ner, and ranged themselves in order be- 
fore the bed. The King, who closed 
the procession, placed himeifin theanide. 
die of the circle ; aud addressed. the Mar- 
quis, telling hum, that the church, al- 
ways, 
