Madame du Hausset says,-”The Count came to see Madame du Pompadour, who was very sick, and lay on the sofa. Madame despatched for me to see all those stunning things. The King paid him great attention, and so did Madame du Pompadour. He gave away an important quantity of these jewels to the ladies of the courtroom; and Madame du Pompadour was so charmed together with his generosity, that she gave him a richly-enamelled snuff-field, as a token of her regard; on the lid of which was beautifully painted a portrait of Socrates, or another Greek sage, to whom she compared him. On one other occasion, St. Germain confirmed Madame du Pompadour a small field, containing topazes, emeralds, and diamonds, value half 1,000,000 of livres. Suddenly there appeared half a dozen fellows, the accomplices of the swindler, dressed to characterize devils, with horns on their heads, claws to their fingers, and vomiting apparently pink and blue flame. There were no gossipping memoir-writers on the court of Hesse Cassel to chronicle his sayings and doings. The Prince of Hesse Cassel, whom he had identified years before, in Germany, wrote urgent letters to him, entreating him to stop Paris, and reside with him.
He appeared to her to be about fifty years of age, was of the middle measurement, and had advantageous expressive features. One day, at Madame du Pompadour’s apartments, the place the principal courtiers had been assembled, St. Germain made his look in diamond knee and shoe buckles, of so tremendous a water, that Madame stated, she did not think the King had any equal to them. He could not overcome his surprise; and mentioned M. de St. Germain have to be price millions; particularly if he possessed the key of making giant diamonds out of small ones. He confirmed her diamonds enough to furnish a king’s treasury. Many different stories are related of this strange impostor; but sufficient have been quoted to show his character and pretensions. So, yes, there are things that are being run by shadowy powers from behind the scenes, however there are so lots of those shadowy powers, and they’re so divided towards one another, they are all undermining each other.
The supporting cast can also be universally excellent, with Tim Meadows’ drug-pushing drummer being a fan-favourite, in addition to a number of famous actors and musicians turning up as various historical figures carefully associated with the era (in the event you need any more convincing of this movie’s brilliance: Paul Rudd and Jack Black flip up as John Lennon and Paul McCartney, respectively, and commerce insults earlier than getting in a fistfight). “These fools of Parisians,” stated he, to the Baron de Gleichen, “believe me to be greater than five hundred years previous; and, since they will have it so, I verify them of their idea. The Baron de Gleichen, in his “Memoirs,” relates, that the Count one day confirmed him so many diamonds, that he thought he saw earlier than him all the treasures of Aladdin’s lamp; and adds, that he had had nice experience in treasured stones, and was convinced that each one these possessed by the Count have been genuine. The Count begged me to accept it. The Count felt for one thing in a pocket-e book about twice as massive as a spectacle-case; and, at length, drew out two or three little paper packets, which he unfolded, and exhibited a excellent ruby.
The Count neither said that he might, or could not; however positively asserted, that he knew find out how to make pearls grow, and provides them the best water. He was the arch-quack of his age, the last of the great pretenders to the philosopher’s stone and the water of life, and during his temporary season of prosperity one of the crucial conspicuous characters of Europe. He usually wore diamond rings of nice value; and his watch and snuff-box have been ornamented with a profusion of treasured stones. The King, nonetheless, sent for the diamond again again, and said he would keep it as a curiosity. His Majesty then sent it to his jeweller, by M. de Gonrant, with out telling him of something that had handed. Upon one occasion, his grasp was telling a social gathering of ladies and gentlemen, at dinner, some conversation he had had in Palestine, with King Richard I. of England, whom he described as a really specific pal of his.