memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第2节
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！
CHAPTER XXXI
Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer Louis XV and madame de RumasM。 de Rumas and the comtesse du BarryAn intrigueA present upon the occasionThe duc de Richelieu in disgrace100；000 livres
CHAPTER XXXII
A prefatory remarkMadame BrillantThe marechale de Luxembourg's catDespair of the marechaleThe ambassador； Beaumarchais； and the duc de Chaulnesthe comte d'ArandaLouis XV and his relicsThe abbe de BeauvaisHis sermonsHe is appointed bishop
CHAPTER XXXIII
M。 Dn and madame de BlessacAnecdoteThe rendezvous and the BallThe wife of GaubertThey wish to give her to the king IntriguesTheir resultsLetter from the duc de la Vrilliere to the countessReply…Reconciliation
CHAPTER XXXIV
Conversation with the kingMarriage of the comte d'Artois IntriguesThe place of lady of honorThe marechale de Mirepoix The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame du BarryThe comtesse de Forcalquier and madame Boncault
CHAPTER XXXV
Marriage of madame BoncaultThe comte de Bourbon Busset Marriage of comte d'HargicourtDisgrace of the comte de BroglieHe is replaced by M。 LemoineThe king complains of ennuiConversations on the subjectEntry into Paris
CHAPTER XXXVI
Visit from a strangerMadame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical monkContinuation of this historyDeliverance of a state prisonerA meeting with the stranger
CHAPTER XXXVII
A conspiracyA scheme for poisoning madame du BarryThe four bottlesLetter to the duc d'AiguillonAdvice of the ministers Opinion of the physiciansThe chancellor and lieutenant of policeResolution of the council
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Conclusion of this affairA letter from the Her ExaminationArrest of Cabert the SwissHe dies in the Bastille of poisonMadame Lorimer is arrested and poisoned…The innocence of the Jesuits acknowledgedMadame de Mirepoix and the 100；000 francsForgetfulness on the part of the lieutenant of policeA visit from comte JeanMadame de Mirepoix
CHAPTER XXXIX
My alarmsAn of the Comte Jean endeavours to direct the king's ideasA supper at Trianon Table talkThe king is seized with illnessHis conversation with meThe joiner's daughter and the small…poxMy despair Conduct of La Martiniere the surgeon
CHAPTER XL。
La Martiniere causes the king to be removed to VersaillesThe young prophet appears again to madame du BarryPrediction respecting cardinal de RichelieuThe joiner's daughter requests to see madame du BarryMadame de Mirepoix and the 50；000 francsA in the salon of madame du Barry
CHAPTER XLI
Interview with the joiner's daughterConsultation of the physicians respecting the kingThe small…pox declares itselfthe comte de MuyThe princessesExtreme sensibility of madame de MirepoixThe king is kept in ignorance of his real conditionThe archbishop of Paris visits Versailles
CHAPTER XLII
First proceedings of the councilThe dauphin receives the prelates with great coolnessSituation of the archbishop of Paris Richelieu evades the project for confessing the kingThe friends of madame du Barry come forwardThe English physicianThe abbe TerrayInterview with the prince de SoubiseThe prince and the courtiersLa Martiniere informs the king of France the true nature of his complaintConsequences of this disclosure
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 fragmentComte Jean
CHAPTER XLIV
The duc d'Aiguillon brings an order for the immediate departure of madame du BarryThe king's remarks recapitulatedThe countess holds a privy councilLetter to madame de Mirepoix and the ducs de Cosse and d'AiguillonNight of departureRuelVisit from madame de Forcalquier
CHAPTER XLV
The duc d'Aiguillon's first letterThe marechale de Mirepoix A second letter from the duc d'AiguillonNumerous visitors
CHAPTER XLVI
A third letter from the dukeThe king receives extreme unction Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphinM。 de MachaultA promenade with the duc de CosseKind attention from the prince des Deux PoutsA fourth letter from the duc d'AiguillonComte Jean bids me farewellM。 d'Aiguillon's fifth letter； containing an account of the death of Louis XVThe duc de la VrilliereThe Letter to the queenDeparture for the abbey of
Special Introduction by Robert Arnot
Up to the time of the Du Barry the court of France had been the stage where the whole political and human drama of that country was enacted。 Under Louis XV the drama had been transformed into paradesparades which were of as much importance to the people as to those who took part in them。 The spectators； hitherto silent； now began to hiss and be moved。 The scene of the comedy was changed； and the play was continued among the spectators。 The old theatre became an ante…chamber or a dressing…room； and was no longer important except in connection with the Cardinal de Bernis and the Duc de Richelieu； or Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry。
The monarchy had still a step to take towards its downfall。 It had already created the （Louis XV's seraglio）； but had not yet descended to the Parisian house of prostitution。 It made this descent leaning on the arm of Madame du Barry。 Madame du Barry was a moral sister to Manon Lescaut； but instead of taking herself off to Louisiana to repent； she plunged into the golden whirlpool at Versailles as a finish to her career。 Could the coaches of a King mean more than the ordinary carriage of an abandoned girl？
Jeanne Vaubernierknown in the bagnios by the name of Mademoiselle Langewas born at Vaucouleurs； as was Jeanne d'Arc。 Better still； this later Jeanne said openly at Versaillesdared she say otherwise？ that she was descended in a straight line from the illustrious； the venerated； the august； sacred； national maid； Jeanne。* 〃Why did Du Barry come to Paris？'〃 says Leon Gozlan in that account of the Chateau de Lucienne which makes a brilliant and learned chapter in the history of France。 〃Does one ever know precisely why things are done？ She obeyed the magnet which attracts to Paris all who in themselves have a title to glory； to celebrity； or to misfortune。 Du Barry had a pretty； provincial face； bright and charming； a face astonished at everything； hair soft and ash…colored； blue eyes； veiled and half open； and a skin fair with rose tints。 She was a child of destiny。 Who could have said； when she crossed the great town in her basket cart； which rolled lazily along on its massive； creaking wheels； that some day she would have equipages more beautiful than any of those which covered her with mud in passing； and on her arms more laces and diamonds than any of these ladies attended by footmen in liveries？〃
*A claim which blithely ignored the fact that Jeanne d'Arc had no children。Gutenberg editor
When Jeanne left the provinces to come to Paris； she found her native country。 She was granted the freedom of the city； and expanded in her joy like a delicate plant transplanted into a hothouse。 She found herself at home for the first time； and felt that she could rule as a despot over all frequenters of the streets。 She learned fashion and love at one and the same time。 Gourdan had a hat made for her； and； as a reward； initiated her into the customs。 But she was called to other destinies。
One day； when she was walking in the Tuileries； a lunaticand lunatics have second sightasked her favor when she should become queen。 Du Barry said to herself： 〃This man is mad。〃 But then she thought of the Pompadour； blushedit was the only time and turned her eyes towards Versailles。
But Versailles was an unhoped…for shore to such a girl as this； a girl known to all Paris。 Would the King care to be the lover of one who had ruled all his courtesans？ Who could say？ The King often wearied of what he had。 Had not a poet already been found who compared her to Venus：
O Jeanne； thy beauty seduces And charms the whole world； In vain does the duchess redden And the princess growl； They know that Venus rides proudly The foam of the wave。
The poet； while not Voltaire； was no less a man than Bouffiers。
While the King was seeking a mistressa nocturnal reverse of Diogenes； fleeing from the lanterns of the wisehe found Jeanne Vaubernier。 He thought he could love her for one evening。 〃Not enough；〃 said she； 〃you must love me until broad daylight。〃 So he loved her for a whole day。 What should one eat in order to be loved by royalty？ Was it necessary to have a coat of arms？ She had them in number； because she had been loved by all the great names in the book of heraldry。 And so she begged the Viscount Jean du Barry to give her the title of viscountess。 〃Better still；〃 exclaimed Jean； 〃I will give you the title of countess。 My brother will marry you； he is a male scamp； and you are the female。 What a beautiful marriage！〃
So they were united。 The newly made countess was solemnly presented at court by a countess of an ancient date； namely； the Countess de Bearn。 King Voltaire protested； in a satire entitled 〃〃 （topsy…turvy）； afterwards denying it。 The duc de Choiseul protes
