memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第86节
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nically directing my eyes towards the iron gate leading to the garden； a sudden paleness overspread my countenance； and a cry of terror escaped me； for； leaning against the gate in question； I perceived that singular being； who； after having foretold my elevation； had engaged to present himself before me； when a sudden reverse was about to overtake me。 This unexpected fulfilment of his promise threw me into the most cruel agitation； and I could not refrain from explaining the cause of my alarm to those who were with me。 No sooner had I made myself understood than Comte Jean stopped the carriage； and jumped out with the intention of questioning this mysterious visitor。 We waited with extreme impatience the return of my brother… in…law； but he came back alone； nor had he been able to discover the least trace of the object of his search。 In vain had he employed the two footmen from behind the carriage to examine the different avenues by which he might have retired。 Nothing could be heard of him； and I remained； more than ever； convinced that the entire fulfilment of the prophecy was at hand； and that the fatal hour would shortly strike； which would witness my fall from all my pomp and greatness。 We continued our route slowly and silently； the marechale accompanied me to the door of my apartment； where I bade her adieu； spite of her wish to remain with me； but even her society was now fatiguing to me； and I longed to be alone with merely my own family。
My two sisters…in…law； the wife of comte d'Hargicourt and that of my nephew； were speedily assembled to talk over with me the events of the last twelve hours。 I threw myself upon my bed in a state of mental and bodily fatigue； impossible to describe。 I strove in vain to collect my ideas； and arm myself for what I well saw was approaching； and the exact appearance of the singular predicter of my destiny prepared me for the rapid accomplishing of all that had been promised。
Louis XV； during this fatal illness； was placed under the care of Bordeu and Lemonnier。 No particularly alarming symptoms appeared during that day； and we remained in a state of suspense more difficult to bear than even the most dreadful certainty。 As soon as the king felt himself sufficiently recovered from the fatigues of his removal he requested to see me。 After bestowing on me the most gratifying marks of the sincerest attachment； he said；
〃I am well punished； my dear countess； for my inconstancy towards you； but forgive me。 I pray and believe that； however my fancy may wander； my heart is all your own。〃
〃Is that quite true？〃 said I； smiling。 〃Have you not some reservations？ Does not a noble female in the come in for a share as well as the baroness de Newk？〃
The king pressed my hand； and replied；
〃You must not believe all those idle tales； I met the baroness by chance； and； for a time； I thought her pretty。 As for the other； if she renders you in any way uneasy； let her be married at once； and sent where we need never see her again。〃
'This is； indeed； the language of sincerity；〃 cried I； and from this moment I shall have the fullest confidence in you。〃
The conversation was carried on for a long while in this strain。 The physicians had made so light of the complaint； that the king believed his illness to be merely of a temporary nature； and his gaiety and good spirits returned almost to their natural height。 He inquired after madame de Mirepoix； and whether my sisters… in…law were uneasy respecting his state of health。 You may imagine that my reply was worded with all the caution necessary to keep him in profound ignorance as to his real condition。 When I returned to my apartment I found Bordeu there； who appeared quite at a loss what to say respecting the king's malady； the symptoms still remained too uncertain to warrant any person in calling it the small…pox。
〃And should it prove that horrible complaint？〃 inquired I。
〃There would； in that case； be considerable danger；〃 replied Bordeu； not without extreme embarrassment。。
〃Perhaps even to the extinction of all hope？〃 asked I。
〃God alone can tell；〃 returned Bordeu。
〃I understand；〃 interrupted I； quickly； 〃and； spite of the mystery with which you would fain conceal the extent of his majesty's danger； I know； and venture to assert； that you consider him already as dead。〃
〃Have a care； madam；〃 exclaimed Bordeu； 〃how you admit such an idea； and still more of proclaiming it。 I pledge you my word that I do not consider the king is in danger； I have seen many cures equally extraordinary with his。〃
I shook my head in token of disbelief。 I had uttered what I firmly supposed the truth； and the sight of my evil genius in the person of the prophet who had awaited my return to Versailles； turned the encouraging words of Bordeu into a cold； heavy chill； which struck to my heart。 Bordeu quitted me to resume his attendance upon the king。 After him came the duc d'Aiguillon； whose features bore the visible marks of care and disquiet。 He met me with the utmost tenderness and concern； asked 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
