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 Ineither 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.