"
"What say the despatches touching the negotiations going on for
peace?" asked Philibert, who knew how true were the Governor's
vaticinations.
"They speak favorably of peace, and I think, correctly, Philibert;
and you know the King's armies and the King's mistresses cannot all
be maintained at the same time--women or war, one or other must give
way, and one need not doubt which it will be, when the women rule
Court and camp in France at the same time!"
"To think that a woman picked out of the gutters of Paris should
rule France and answer your despatches!" said Philibert, angrily;
"it is enough to drive honorable Frenchmen mad. But what says the
Marquise de Pompadour?"
"She is especially severe upon my opposing the fiscal measures and
commercial policy, as she calls it, of her friend the Intendant!
She approves of his grant of a monopoly of trade to the Grand
Company, and disputes my right, as Governor, to interfere with the
Intendant in the finances of the Colony."
Philibert felt deeply this wound to the honor and dignity of his
chief.
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