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sked of me the very smallest details of the disastrous events of the morning。 I concealed nothing from him; and he listened to my recital with the most lively interest; and the account of the apparition of the wonderful being who seemed destined to follow me throughout my career was not the least interesting part of our conversation。
〃There are;〃 said the duke; 〃many very extraordinary things in this life; reason questions them; philosophy laughs at them; and yet it is impossible to deny that there are various hidden causes; or sudden inspirations; which have the greatest effect upon our destiny。 As a proof; I will relate to you the following circumstance。 You are aware;〃 continued the duke; 〃that the cardinal de Richelieu; the author of our good fortune; spite of the superiority of his mind; believed in judicial astrology。 When his own immediate line became extinct by the unexpected death of his family and relatives; he wished to ascertain what would be the fate of those children belonging to his sister; whom he had adopted as the successors of his name; arms; and fortune。 The planets were consulted; and the answer received was; that two centuries from the day on which Providence had so highly elevated himself; the family; upon whom rested all his hopes of perpetuating his name; should fail entirely in its male descent。 You see that the duc de Fronsac has only one child; an infant not many days old。 I also have but one; and these two feeble branches seem but little calculated to falsify the prediction。 Judge; my dear countess; how great must be my paternal anxiety!〃
This relation on the part of the duc d'Aiguillon was but ill calculated to restore my drooping spirits; and although I had no reason for concluding that the astrologer had spoken prophetically to the grand cardinal; I was not the less inclined to believe; with increased confidence; the predictions uttered respecting myself by my inexplicable visitor of the morning。 My ever kind friend; the duchesse d'Aiguillon; was not long ere she too made her appearance; with the view; and in the hope of consoling me。 I could not resist her earnest endeavours to rouse me from my grief; and a grateful sense of her goodness obliged me to deck my features with at least the semblance of cheerfulness。 Every hour fresh accounts of the king's health were brought me; of a most encouraging nature; by these bulletins one might naturally suppose him rapidly recovering; and we all began to smile at our folly in having been so soon alarmed; in fact; my spirits rose in proportion as those about me appeared full of fresh confidence; and the mysterious visit of my evil genius gradually faded from my recollection。
In this manner the day passed away。 I visited the king from time to time; and he; although evidently much oppressed and indisposed; conversed with me without any painful effort。 His affection for me seemed to gain fresh strength as his bodily vigour declined; and the fervent attachment he expressed for me; at a time when self might reasonably have been expected to hold possession of his mind; filled me with regret at not being able more fully to return so much tenderness。 In the evening I wished to be alone; the marechale de Mirepoix had sent to request a private interview; and I awaited her arrival in my chamber; whilst an immense concourse of visitors filled my salons。 The king's danger was not yet sufficiently decided for the courtiers to abandon me; and the chances continued too strongly in my favour to warrant any one of them in withdrawing from me their usual attentions。 Comte Jean; however; presented himself before me; spite of the orders I had given to exclude every person but the marechale。
〃My dear sister;〃 cried he; as he entered; 〃Chamilly has just told me that he has received the royal command to have Julie married off without delay; now this is a piece of delicacy towards yourself on the part of the king for which you owe him many thanks。 But I have another communication to make you; of a less pleasing nature。 The unfortunate girl who has been left at Trianon; has called incessantly for you the whole of this day; she asserts that she has matters of importance to communicate to you。〃
Whatever surprise I experienced at this intelligence; it was impossible it could be otherwise than true; for was it likely that; at a time like the present; comte Jean would attempt to impose such a tale upon me。
〃What would you have me do?〃 asked I of my brother…in…law。
〃Hark ye; sister;〃 replied he; 〃we are both of us in a very critical situation just now; and should spare no endeavour to extricate ourselves from it。 Very possibly this girl may be in possession of facts more important than you at present conceive possible; the earnestness with which she perseveres in her desire of seeing you; and her repeated prayers to those around her to beg your attendance; proves that it is something more than the mere whim of a sick person; and in your place; I should not hesitate to comply with her wishes。〃
〃And how could we do so? 〃said I。
〃To…night;〃 returned he; 〃when all your guests have retired; and Versailles is in a manner deserted; I will fetch you; we have keys which open the various gates in the park; and walking through which; and the gardens; we can reach Trianon unobserved。 No person will be aware of our excursion; and we shall return with the same caution with which we went。 We will; after our visit; cause our clothes to be burnt; take a bath; and use every possible precaution to purify ourselves from all chance of infection。 When that is done you may venture into the apartment of his majesty; even if that malady which at present hangs over him should turn out to be the small…pox。〃
I thought but little of the consequences of our scheme; or of the personal danger I incurred; and I promised my brother…in…law that I would hold myself in readiness to accompany him。 We then conversed together upon the state of the king; and; what you will have some difficulty in crediting; not one word escaped either of us relative to our future plans or prospects; still it was the point to which the thoughts of comte Jean must naturally have turned。
We were interrupted in our 《 tete…a…tete 》 by the arrival of the marechale; whose exactitude I could not but admire。 Comte Jean; having hastily paid his compliments; left us together。
〃Well; my dear countess;〃 said she; taking my hand with a friendly pressure; 〃and how goes on the dear invalid?〃
〃Better; I hope;〃 replied I; 〃and indeed; this illness; at first so alarming to me; seems rather calculated to allay my former fears and anxieties by affording the king calm and impartial reflection; the result of it is that my dreaded rival of the is dismissed。〃
〃I am delighted to hear this;〃 replied madame de Mirepoix; 〃but; my dear soul; let me caution you against too implicitly trusting these deceitful appearances; to…morrow may destroy these flattering hopes; and the next day〃
〃Indeed!〃 cried I; interrupting her; 〃the physicians answer for his recovery。〃
〃And suppose they should chance to be mistaken;〃 returned my cautious friend; 〃what then? But; my dear countess; my regard