memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第89节
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y girl arrived。 The warmth and eagerness of manner with which he addressed me directly he perceived my presence； might have proved to all around that I was not the hateful creature I had been described。 This well…timed interruption restored me to the use of my faculties； and repulsing the well…meant attentions of my medical friend； I exclaimed； 〃Do not heed me； I conjure you； I am only temporarily indisposed。 But hasten to that poor girl whose dangererous state requires all your care。〃
My brother…in…law； recovering himself by a strong effort； profited by the present opportunity to remove me into another apartment； the pure air of which contributed to cool my fevered brain； but my trembling limbs refused to support me； and it was necessary
to apply strong restoratives ere I was sufficiently recovered to quit the fatal spot。 At Trianon； as well as at Versailles； I was considered absolute mistress； those of the royal household； who were aware of my being at the former； earnestly solicited me to retire to the chamber I had occupied on the preceding night； but to this arrangement the comte and myself were equally opposed。 A sedan chair was therefore procured； in which I was rapidly transported back to Versailles。
You may easily conceive in what a state I arrived there。 My good Henriette was greatly alarmed； and immediately summoned Bordeu； who； not venturing to bleed me； contented himself with administering some cordials which revived me in some degree。 But the events of the last few hours seemed indelibly fixed in my mind； and I heard； almost with indifference； the bulletin issued respecting the state of the king's health during the fatal night which had just passed。 One object alone engrossed my thoughts； …eyes seemed still to behold the miserable girl stretched on her dying bed； whose ravings of despair and threatening words yet rung in my ears； and produced a fresh chill of horror； as with painful tenacity my mind dwelt upon them to the utter exclusion of every other consideration。 The unfortunate creature expired on the third day； a victim to the rapid progress of the most virulent species of small…pox。 She died more calmly and resigned than I had seen her。 For my own part； I freely pardoned her injustice towards myself； and sincerely forgive the priest if he （as I have been told） excited her bitterness against me。
The severe shock I had experienced might have terminated fatally for me； had not my thoughts been compelled to rouse themselves for the contemplation of the alarming prospect before me。 It was more than four o'clock in the morning when I returned to the chateau； and at nine I rose again without having obtained the least repose。 The king had inquired for me several times。 I instantly went to him； and my languid frame； pale countenance and heavy eyes； all which he took as the consequences of my concern for his indisposition； appeared greatly to affect him； and he sought to comfort me by the assurance of his being considerably better。 This was far from being true； but he was far from suspecting the nature of the malady to which his frame was about to become a prey。 The physicians had now pronounced with certainty on the subject； nor was it possible to make any mystery of it with me； who had seen Anne on her sick…bed。
In common with all who knew the real nature of the complaint； I sought to conceal it from the king； and in this deception the physicians themselves concurred。 In the course of the morning a consultation took place； when called upon for their opinion； each of them endeavoured to evade a direct answer； disguising the name of his majesty's disease under the appellation of a cutaneous eruption； chicken…pox； etc。； etc。； none daring to give it its true denomination。 Bordeu and Lemonnier pursued this cautious plan； but La Martiniere； who had first of all pronounced his decision on the subject； impatient of so much circumlocution on the part of those around him； could no longer repress his indignation。
〃How is this； gentlemen！〃 exclaimed he； 〃is science at a standstill with you？ Surely； you cannot be in any doubt on the subject of the king's illness。 His majesty has the small…pox； with a complication of other diseases equally dangerous； and I look upon him as a dead man。〃
〃Monsieur de la Martiniere；〃 cried the duc de Duras； who； in quality of his office of first gentleman of the bed…chamber； was present at this conference； 〃allow me to remind you that you are expressing yourself very imprudently。〃
〃Duc de Duras；〃 replied the abrupt La Martiniere； 〃my business is not to flatter the king； but to tell him the truth with regard to his health。 None of the medical gentlemen present can deny the truth of what I have asserted； they are all of my opinion； although I alone have the courage to act with that candour which my sense of honour dictates。〃
The unbroken silence preserved by those who heard this address； clearly proved the truth of all La Martiniere advanced。 The duc de Duras was but too fully convinced of the justice of his opinion。
〃The king is then past all hope；〃 repeated he； 〃and what remains to be done？〃
〃To watch over him； and administer every aid and relief which art suggests；〃 was the brief reply of La Martiniere。
The different physicians； when separately questioned； hesitated no longer to express their concurrence in the opinion that his majesty's case was entirely hopeless； unless； indeed； some crisis； which human foresight could not anticipate； should arise in his favour。
This opinion changed the moral face of the chateau。 The duc de Duras； who had not previously suspected even the existence of danger； began to feel how weighty a burthen reposed on his shoulders； he recommended to the medical attendants the utmost caution and silence； pointing out； at the same time； all the ill consequences which might arise； were any imprudent or sudden explanation of his real malady made to the august sufferer。 Unable to attend to everything himself； and not inclined to depend upon his son； whose natural propensity he was fully aware of； he recalled to his recollection that the comte de Muy； the sincere and attached friend of the dauphin； son to Louis XV； was then in Versailles。 He immediately sought him out in the apartments he occupied in the chateau； and communicated to him the result of the consultation respecting the king's illness。
The comte de Muy was one of those rare characters reserved by Providence for the happiness of a state； when kings are wise enough to employ them。 He thought not of personal interest or advantage； but dictated to the duke the precise line of conduct he himself would have pursued under similar circumstances。
〃The first thing to be done；〃 said he； 〃is to remember that the king is a Christian； and to conform in every respect to the customs of his predecessors。 You are aware； my lord duke； that directly any member of the royal family is attacked by the small…pox； he ought immediately to receive extreme unction； you will； therefore； make the necessary arrangements； and apprize those whose duty it becomes to administer it。〃
〃This is； indeed； an unpleasant commission；〃 replied the duke； 〃to administer extreme unction to his majesty； is to announce to him cruelly and abruptly that his last hour has arrived； and to bid him prepare for death。〃
〃The duty is nevertheless imperative；〃 answered the comte de Muy； 〃and you incur no slight responsibility by neglecting it。〃
The consequence of this conversation was； that the duke sent off two couriers immediately； one to madame Louise； and the other to the archbishop of Paris。 He also apprized the ministers of the result of the consultation which had taken place； whilst the comte de Muy took upon himself the painful office of acquainting the dauphin with the dangerous state of his grandfather。 This young prince； whose first impulses were always amiable； immediately burst into tears； the dauphiness endeavoured to console him。 But from that moment her royal highness appeared to show by her lofty and dignified bearing； her consciousness of the fresh importance she had necessarily acquired in the eyes of the nation。 Meanwhile； the dauphin hastened to the sick room of his beloved relative； anxious to bestow upon him the cares and attentions of a son； but in the anteroom his progress was stopped by the duc de la Vrilliere； who informed him； that the interests of the throne would not permit his royal highness to endanger his life by inhaling the contagious atmosphere of a room loaded with the venom of the small…pox。 He adjured him； in the name of the king and his country； not to risk such fearful chances。 The lords in attendance； who did not partake the heroism the young prince； added their entreaties to those of ； and succeeded； at length； in prevailing upon him to return to his apartments； to the great joy of Marie Antoinette； who could not endure the prospect of being separated from her husband at so important a juncture。
No sooner had the princesses learned the danger of their august parent； than without an instant's hesitation they hurried to him。 I was in his chamber when they arrived； they saluted me with great gentleness and affability。 When the king saw them；
