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e name of my complaint。〃
〃Do you insist upon it； sire？〃
〃I do； my friend； I do。〃
〃Then； sire； you have the small…pox； but be not alarmed； it is a disease as frequently cured as many others。〃
〃The small…pox！〃 exclaimed the king； in a voice of horror； 〃have I indeed that fatal disease？ and do you talk of curing it？〃
〃Doubtless； sire； many die of it as well as other disorders； but we are sanguine in our hopes and expectations of saving your majesty。〃
The king made no reply； but； turned heavily in his bed and threw the coverlet over his face。 A silence ensued； which lasted until the return of the physicians； when； finding they made no allusion to his condition； the king addressed them in a cool and offended tone。
〃Why；〃 said he； 〃have you concealed from me the fact of my having the small…pox？〃 This abrupt inquiry petrified them with astonishment； and unable to frame a proper reply； they stood speechless with alarm and apprehension。 〃Yes；〃 resumed the king； 〃but for La Martiniere； I should have died in ignorance of my danger。 I know now the state in which I am； and before long I shall be gathered to my forefathers。〃
All around him strove to combat this idea； and exerted their utmost endeavours to persuade the royal patient that his disorder had assumed the most favourable shape； and that not a shadow of danger was perceptible； but in vain； for the blow had fallen； and the hapless king； struck with a fatal presentiment of coming ill； turned a deaf ear to all they could advance。
Bordeu； deeply concerned for what had transpired； hastened to announce to the duc de Richelieu the turn which had taken place in the face of affairs。 Nothing could exceed the rage with which the news was received。 The duke hurried to the king's bedside。
〃Is it； indeed； true； sire；〃 inquired he； 〃that your majesty doubts of your perfect restoration to health？ May I presume to inquire whether any circumstance has occurred to diminish your confidence in your medical attendants？〃
〃Duc de Richelieu；〃 replied the king； looking as though he would search into his very soul； 〃I have the small…pox。 〃
〃Well；〃 returned the duke； 〃and； as I understand； of a most favourable sort； perhaps； it might have been better that La Martiniere had said nothing about it。 However； it is a malady as readily subdued by art as any other； you must not allow yourself to feel any uneasiness respecting it； science has now so much improved in the treatment of this malady。〃
〃I doubt not its ability to cure others； but me！ Indeed； duc de Richelieu； I would much rather face my old parliament than this inveterate disease。〃
〃Your majesty's being able to jest is a good sign。〃
At this moment； ignorant of all that had taken place； I entered the room； for； in the general confusion； no person had informed me of it。 The moment Louis XV perceived me； he exclaimed in a
hollow tone；
〃Dearest countess； I have the small…pox。〃
At these words a cry of terror escaped me。
〃Surely； sire；〃 exclaimed I； 〃this is some wandering of your imagination； and your medical attendants are very wrong to permit you to indulge it for a minute。〃
〃Peace！〃 returned Louis XV ； 〃you know not what you say。 I have the small…pox； I repeat； and； thanks to La Martiniere； I now know my real state。〃
I now perceived whose hand had dealt the blow； and seeing at once all the consequences of the disclosure； exclaimed in my anger； turning towards La Martiniere；
〃You have achieved a noble work； indeed； sir； you could not restrain yourself within the bounds of prudence； and you see the state to which you have reduced his majesty。〃
La Martiniere knew not what to reply； the king undertook his defence。
〃Blame him not；〃 said he； 〃but for him I should have quitted this world like a heathen； without making my peace with an offended God。〃
At these words I fainted in the arms of doctor Bordeu； who； with the aid of my attendants； carried me to my chamber； and； at length； succeeded in restoring me。 My family crowded around me； and sought to afford me that consolation they were in equal need of themselves。
Spite of the orders I had given to admit no person； the duc d'Aiguillon would insist upon seeing me。 He exerted his best endeavours to persuade me to arm myself with courage； and； like a true and attached friend； appeared to lose sight of his own approaching fall from power in his ardent desire to serve me。
In this mournful occupation an hour passed away； and left my dejected companions sighing over the present； and； anticipating even worse prospects than those now before them。
CHAPTER XLIII
Terror of the kingA complicationFilial piety of the princesses Last interview between madame du Barry and Louis XVConversation with the marechale de MirepoixThe chancellor MaupeouThe fragment Comte Jean
Perhaps no person ever entertained so great a dread of death as Louis XV； consequently no one required to be more carefully prepared for the alarming intelligence so abruptly communicated by La Martiniere； and which； in a manner； appeared to sign the king's death…warrant。
To every person who approached him the despairing monarch could utter only the fatal phrase； 〃I have the small…pox；〃 which； in his lips； was tantamount to his declaring himself a dead man。 Alas！ had his malady been confined to the small…pox； he might still have been spared to our prayers； but； unhappily； a complication of evils； which had long been lurking in his veins； burst forth with a violence which； united to his cruel complaint； bade defiance to surgical or medical skill。
Yet； spite of the terror with which the august sufferer contemplated his approaching end； he did not lose sight of the interests of the nation as vested in the person of the dauphin； whom he positively prohibited； as well as his other grandsons； from entering his chamber or even visiting the part of the chateau he occupied。 After this he seemed to divest himself of all further care for sublunary things； no papers were brought for his inspection； nor did he ever more sign any official document。
The next request made by Louis XV was for his daughters； who presented themselves bathed in tears； and vainly striving to repress that grief which burst forth in spite of all their endeavours。 The king replied to their sobs； by saying； 〃My children； I have the small…pox； but weep not。 These gentlemen ＇pointing towards the physicians＇ assure me they can cure me。〃 But； while uttering this cheerful sentence； his eye caught the stern and iron countenance of La Martiniere； whose look of cool disbelief seemed to deny the possibility of such an event。
With a view to divert her father from the gloom which all at once came over his features； the princess Adelaide informed him that she had a letter addressed to him by her sister； madame Louise。
〃Let me hear it；〃 cried the king； 〃it is； no doubt； some heavenly mission with which she is charged。 But who knows？〃 He stopped； but it was easy to perceive that to the fear of death was added a dread of his well…being in another world。 Madame Adelaide then read the letter with a low voice； while the attendants retired to a respectful distance。 All eyes were directed to th