按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I await your reply with the most lively impatience； and have the honor to remain； etc。； etc。〃
This note puzzled me excessively； however I gave orders for the immediate introduction of M。 de Mandeville； whose appearance was even more prepossessing than his note； he looked and spoke like an honorable man endowed with that sensibility so precious and so rare； he put into my hands the petition； whilst he explained to me the particulars relative to it； and I instantly wrote to the chancellor the following note； of which a thousand copies were taken in the course of the day。 Altho' it has been many times in print； I shall offer no apologies for again submitting it to your perusal。
〃MONSIEUR LE CHANCELLOR；I do not profess to understand your laws； but they seem to me as unjust as barbarous。 They are contrary to both reason and humanity； if they put to death an unfortunate female for giving birth to a still…born child without having previously disclosed her situation to any one； and yet； according to the memorial annexed to this； the petitioner is so circumstanced。 Here is an unhappy girl about to pay with the forfeit of her life for her ignorance of such a law； or because the modesty and even shame attendant upon her disgraced condition prevented her conforming to it。 I appeal to your sense of justice； the wretched girl； concerning whom I write； is a fit object for the exercise of your lenity； and I venture to assure myself that you will at least effect the commutation of her punishment。 Your own kind feelings will dictate all I would ask further for her。
〃I am； etc。； etc。〃
I felt very certain that； from the manner in which I had expressed myself； the consent of M。 de Maupeou was quite certain； I therefore said to my visitor； the handsome musketeer；
〃And now； sir； the noble work of charity； in which you have associated me must be completed： go yourself and see the chancellor； tell him you come from me； and do not quit him till you obtain the reply I have solicited。〃
M。 de Mandeville loaded me with thanks and praises which I did not really merit； because in the present instance I acted as much from the wish to gratify my own feelings as his。 My name and my letter were talismans before which all doors flew open； and he reached； without difficulty； the presence of the chief administrator of justice； who； having read the memorial and the note I had affixed to it； said； 〃That is sufficient； sir； have the goodness to assure madame la comtesse du Barry； my cousin； that the reprieve she desires is already granted； and as my fair relation appears to fear trusting implicitly to my personal friendship and humanity； I will set her mind at rest by putting you in possession of the legal forms requisite for the prisoner。〃
He immediately issued the necessary orders for suspending the execution of the sentence； which M。 de Mandeville lost no time in communicating to the poor girl； who； a very few days afterwards； received a full pardon； and was thus； in a manner； snatched from an unmerited and ignominious death。 The musketeer requested permission to present my to my notice。 She really was a very pretty girl； her feelings overpowered her； and she fainted in her attempt to throw herself at my feet； I soon revived her by the aid of those restoratives which my staring people stupidly did not try to offer； and then to send her away perfectly happy and cheerful； I slipped into the pocket of her apron a of fifty louis which the king had given me for her use。 And here I must remark； that this prince； avaricious as he naturally was； was yet always ready to perform a good action； and； indeed； in this respect； he possessed many excellent qualities to which no one has ever yet done justice。 When I next saw the chancellor〃Do you know； my fair cousin；〃 said he； 〃that if I wished to set you and the parliament quarreling together I need only just whisper in what manner you treat our laws？〃
〃Your laws；〃 exclaimed I； 〃are barbarous edicts； made rather for tigers than for men。 Your punishments are atrocious； nor do I see their application to correct a single malefactor； particularly in the case of this young girl it is abominable； and if the king would listen to me such savage edicts should not long remain unrepealed。〃
〃That may do very well；〃 replied M。 de Maupeou； 〃some time hence； but not just now； ere our penal code can be revised we must have magistrates more supple than those who now dispute our slightest innovation； and if； by the grace of God； we can manage to make a clear house of them； why we may confidently anticipate the noblest results。〃
By these and similar insinuations the chancellor bespoke that aid and assistance which I afterwards so largely rendered him when he commenced the ruin of parliaments。
Upon another occasion my credit and influence were employed with equal success。 The objects of my present exertions were the comte and comtesse de Louerne。 Both husband and wife were deeply loaded with debts； a thing common enough with the nobility of the time； these debts they never paid； another thing by no means unusual； their creditors； whose flinty hearts were but little moved by the considerations of their rank and high blood； sent officers to enforce payment； when the Louernes opposed them with positive force and violence； and the laws； thus outraged； condemned them to suffer death。 In vain did persons of the highest rank in the kingdom intercede in their behalf； imploring of the chancellor to interpose with the king； altho' deaf to every other entreaty he instantly granted a reprieve at my solicitation； declaring I was the only person who could have effected so much in behalf of the distressed culprits； as well as being the only source thro' which the king's mercy could be obtained。
Immediately upon this notification； I was waited upon by the comtesse de Moyau； their daughter； and the baronne d'Heldorf； their daughter…in…law； both these ladies came to me in the deepest sorrow； and I mingled my sighs and tears with those they so plentifully shed； but this was rendering poor service； and if I desired to aid their cause it was requisite I should speak to the king； who was little disposed to show any indulgence in such cases； and was never known to pass over any attempts on the part of the nobility to resist the laws； he looked with horror on every prospect of the return of those times which he hoped and believed were passed and gone never to return。 I well knew his sentiments on the subject； and yet； trusting to my great influence over his mind； I did not despair of success； besides Chon； my sister…in…law； was constantly reminding me that people of a certain rank should support one another； and that now was the time or never。 I therefore resolved upon befriending the daughters of comte de Louerne to the utmost of my power； and for that purpose I placed them both in a corner of the drawing…room so as to catch the king's eye as he entered； he observed them； and inquired who those two ladies were。 〃Sire；〃 replied I； 〃they are the heart…broken daughters of the comte and comtesse de Louerne； who implore clemency of your majesty to save the lives of the authors of their being。〃
〃Ah！〃 retur