Talleyrand & Gouverneur Morris
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“Your character is such that you undo
Unhappiness much faster than can fate
Create its sadnesses,” said Monstesquiou
To Adelaïde, who had the lovely trait
Of being charming Countess de Flahaut—
Which meant that she could do much more than string
Along two men at once, would make them grow
To like each other. She could sing and sing
In a duet but much preferred to make
Up trios or quartets . . . in her salon
At least. What’s not clear is if she could take
Concurrent crippled men to her chiffon
Boudoir, her sex salon (besides of course
The Count). True scandal would have been divorce.