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〃Come; ladies;〃 said madame de Flaracourt; 〃let us retire; I for one; plead guilty of being in need of repose。〃
〃No; no!〃 replied the duc de Richelieu; 〃let us employ the remaining hours in pleasing and social converse;〃 and with a tremulous voice he began that charming trio in 〃Selina and Azor;〃 〃。〃 We joined chorus with him; and the echoes of the palace of Louis XV resounded with the mirthful strain。 This burst of noisy mirth did not last long; and we relapsed into increased taciturnity; spite of our endeavours to keep up a general conversation。 We were all fatigued; though none but madame de Flaracourt would confess the fact。 Tired nature called loudly for repose; and we were each compelled to seek it in the different apartments assigned us。 The duc d'Aiguillon alone was compelled; by the duties of his office; to return to Versailles。
Upon entering my chamber I found my brother…in…law there; in the most violent fit of ill humour; that the king (who was in fact ignorant of his being at Trianon) had not invited him to supper。 As I have before told you; comte Jean was no favourite with his majesty; and as I had displayed no wish for his company; Louis XV had gladly profited by my indifference to omit him upon the
present occasion。 I endeavoured to justify the king; without succeeding; however; in appeasing comte Jean; who very unceremoniously consigned us all to the care and company of a certain old gentleman; whose territory is supposed to lie beneath 〃the round globe which we inhabit。〃
〃I have to thank you;〃 replied I; 〃for a very flattering mode of saying 'good night。'〃
〃Perhaps;〃 answered comte Jean roughly; 〃you would prefer〃
〃Nothing from your lips if you please; my polite brother;〃 cried I; interrupting him; 〃nothing you will say in your present humour can be at all to my taste。〃
Chon interfered between us; and effected a reconciliation; which I was the more willing to listen to; that I might enjoy that sleep my weary eye…lids craved for。 Scarcely was my head on my pillow; than I fell into a profound sleep: could I but have anticipated to what I should awake! It was eleven o'clock on the following morning when an immense noise of some person entering my chamber; aroused me from the sweet slumbers I was still buried in。 Vexed at the disturbance; I inquired; in a peevish tone; 〃Who is there?〃
〃Tis I; my sister;〃 replied Chon; 〃M。 de Chamilly is here; anxious to speak with you upon a matter of great importance。〃
Chamilly; who was close behind mademoiselle du Barry; begged to be admitted。
〃What is the matter; Chamilly? 〃cried I; 〃and what do you want? Is mademoiselle Julie to set off into the country immediately?〃
〃Alas! madam;〃 replied Chamilly; 〃his majesty is extremely ill。〃
These words completely roused me; and raising myself on my arm; I eagerly repeated; 〃Ill! of what does he complain?〃
〃Of general and universal pain and suffering;〃 replied Chamilly。
〃And the female who was here last night; how is she?〃
〃Nearly as bad; madam; she arose this morning complaining of illness and languor; which increased so rapidly; that she was compelled to be carried to one of the nearest beds; where she now is。〃
All this tormented me to the greatest degree; and I dismissed Chamilly for the purpose of rising; although I had no distinct idea of what it would be most desirable to say or do。 My sister…in…law; with more self…possession; suggested the propriety of summoning Bordeu; my physician; a proposal which I at once concurred in; more especially when she informed me; that La Martiniere was already sent for; and hourly expected。
〃1 trust;〃 said I; 〃that Bouvart knows nothing of this; for I neither approve of him as a man or a doctor。〃
The fact was; I should have trembled for my own power; had both Bouvart and La Martiniere got the king into their hands。 With La Martiniere I knew very well I was no favourite; yet it was impossible to prevent his attendance; the king would never have fancied a prescription in which he did not concur。
Meanwhile I proceeded with my toilette as rapidly as possible; that I might; by visiting the king; satisfy myself of the nature of his malady。 Ere I had finished dressing; my brother…in…law; who had likewise been aroused by the mention of his majesty's illness; entered my chamber with a gloomy look; he already saw the greatness of the danger which threatened us; he had entirely forgotten our quarrel of the preceding evening; but his temper was by no means improved by the present state of things。 We had no need of explaining ourselves by words; and he continued walking up and down the room with; his arms folded and his eyes fixed on the floor; till we were joined by the marechale de Mirepoix and the comtesse de Forcalquier。 Madame de Flaracourt had taken her departure at an early hour; either ignorant of what had occurred or with the intention of being prepared for whatever might happen。
As yet; it was but little in the power of any person to predict the coming blow。 〃The king is ill;〃 said each of us as we met。 〃The king is ill;〃 was the morning salutation of the ducs de Richelieu; de Noailles; de Duras; and de Cosse。 The prince de Soubise had followed the example of madame de Flaracourt; and had quitted Trianon; it seemed as though the hour for defection were already arrived。 A summons now arrived from his majesty who wished to see me。 I lost not a moment in repairing to his apartment; where I found him in bed; apparently in much pain and uneasiness。 He received me tenderly; took my hands in his; and kissed them; then exclaimed;
〃I feel more indisposed than I can describe; a weight seems pressing on my chest; and universal languor appears to chain my faculties both of body and mind。 I should like to see La Martiniere。〃
〃And would you not likewise wish to have the advice of Bordeu?〃
〃'Yes;〃 said he; 〃let both come; they are both clever men; and I have full confidence in their skill。 But do you imagine that my present illness will be of a serious nature?〃
〃By no means; sire;〃 returned I; 〃merely temporary; I trust and believe。〃
〃Perhaps I took more wine than agreed with me last evening; but where is the marechale?〃
〃In my chamber with madame de Forcalquier。〃
〃And the prince de Soubise?〃
〃He has taken flight;〃 replied I; laughing。
〃I suppose so;〃 returned Louis XV; 〃he could not bear a long absence from Paris; company he must have。〃
〃In that respect he resembles you; sire; for you generally consider company as a necessary good。〃
He smiled; and then closing his eyes remained for some minutes silent and motionless; after a while he said;
〃My head is very heavy; so farewell; my sweet friend; I will endeavour to get some sleep。〃
〃Sleep; sire!〃 said I; 〃and may it prove as healthful and refreshing as I pray it may。〃
So saying; I glided out of the room and returned to my friends; I found madame de Mirepoix and the duc de Cosse waiting for me in the anteroom。
〃How is the king?〃 inquired they both in a breath。
〃Better than I expected;〃 I replied; 〃but he is desirous of sleeping。〃
〃So much the worse;〃 observed the duc de Cosse; 〃I should have thought better