The _Mariage de Figgaro_ bore a sub-title, _la Folle Journee_.

"There is something madder than my piece," said Beaumarchais, "and that is its success." Figaro ridiculed everything with a dangerously pungent vigor; the days were coming when the pleasantry was to change into insults.

Already public opinion was becoming hostile to the queen: she was accused of having remained devoted to the interests of her German family; the people were beginning to call her the Austrian.

During the American war, M.de Vergennes had managed to prevail upon the king to remain neutral in the difficulties that arose in 1778 between Austria and Prussia on the subject of the succession to the elector palatine; the young queen had not wanted or had not been able to influence the behavior of France, as her mother had conjured her to do.

"My dear lady-- daughter," wrote Maria Theresa, "Mercy is charged to inform you of my cruel position, as sovereign and as mother.