One day, for instance, she asked him whether it was true that the king of Prussia was expected in Paris.

Louis XV.

having answered that it was an idle rumour, "I am very sorry," she said, "for I am longing to see a king." My brother had completed several pictures and having decided on presenting one to M.de Marigny, we repaired one morning to the apartment of that nobleman, who lived in the Louvre, where all the artists were in the habit of paying their court to him.

We were shewn into a hall adjoining his private apartment, and having arrived early we waited for M.de Marigny.

My brother's picture was exposed there; it was a battle piece in the style of Bourguignon.
The first person who passed through the room stopped before the picture, examined it attentively, and moved on, evidently thinking that it was a poor painting; a moment afterwards two more persons came in, looked at the picture, smiled, and said, "That's the work of a beginner." I glanced at my brother, who was seated near me; he was in a fever.