memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第95节

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ument；　and　now；　farewell；　my　pretty　cousin；　let　us　take　a　last　embrace。〃

Upon　which　the　chancellor；　presuming　until　the　last　upon　our　imaginary　relationship；　kissed　my　cheek；　and　having　put　into　my　hands　the　paper　in　question；　retired　with　a　profound　bow。

This　ironical　leave　taking　left　me　stupefied　with　astonishment；　and　well　I　presaged　my　coming　disgrace　from　the　absurd　mummery　the　chancellor　had　thought　fit　to　play　off。

Comte　Jean；　who　had　seen　M。　de　Maupeou　quit　the　house；　entered　my　apartment　to　inquire　the　reason　of　his　visit。　　Silent　and　dejected；　I　allowed　my　brother…in…law　to　take　up　the　paper；　which　he　read　without　any　ceremony。　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this　scrawl？〃　　cried　comte　Jean；　with　one　of　his　usual　oaths；　〃upon　my　word　our　cousin　is　a　fine　fellow；〃　continued　he；　crushing　the　paper　between　his　fingers。　　〃I'll　engage　that　he　still　hopes　to　keep　his　place；　however；　one　thing　consoles　me；　and　that　is；　that　both　he　and　his　parliament　will　soon　be　sent　to　the　right　about。〃

Our　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Chamilly；　who　came　to　acquaint　me　that　the　king　was　sleeping；　and　did　not　wish　to　be　again　disturbed　that　night。　　Remembering　my　usual　omnipotence　in　the　chateau；　I　was　about；　like　a　true　idiot；　to　prove　to　Chamilly　that　the　king's　interdict　did　not　extend　to　me；　when　I　was　stopped　in　my　purpose　by　the　appearance　of　the　duc　d'Aiguillon；　and　as　it　was　now　nearly　eleven　o'clock　at　night；　I　could　scarcely　doubt　his　being　the　bearer　of　some　extraordinary　message。



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

I　said　I　did　not　expect　the　duc　d'Aiguillon；　and　the　grief　which　was　spread　over　his　features；　and　the　large　tears　which　stood　in　his　eyes；　persuaded　me　but　too　plainly　that　all　hope　was　at　an　end。

〃Is　the　king　dead？〃　　cried　I；　in　a　stifled　voice。

〃No；　madam；〃　replied　he；　〃Louis　XV　still　lives；　nor　is　it　by　any　means　certain　that　the　misfortune　you　apprehend　is　in　store　for　us。〃

〃He　sends　me　from　him；　then；〃　exclaimed　I；　with　a　convulsive　cry；　〃and　my　enemies　have　triumphed。〃

〃His　majesty　is　but　of　human　nature；　madam；〃　replied　the　duke；　〃he　feels　himself　dangerously　ill；　dreads　the　future；　and　believes　that　he　owes　his　people　a　sort　of　reparation　for　past　errors。〃

〃How；　my　lord　duke；〃　interrupted　I；　〃this　grave　language　in　your　lipsbut　no　matter。　　Inform　me　only　at　whose　desire　you　state　these　melancholy　facts；　speak；　I　am　prepared　for　your　mission；　be　it　what　it　may。〃

〃You　shall　hear　everything；　madam；〃　replied　the　duke；　leading　me　to　an　arm…chair。　　I　seated　myself；　my　sisters…　in…law；　my　niece；　and　comte　Jean　stood　around　me；　eagerly　waiting　the　duke's　communication。　　〃A　few　hours　after　you　had　been　removed　from　his　chamber；　the　king　inquired　of　the　princess　Adelaide　whether　it　were　generally　known　at　Paris　that　he　had　the　small…pox。　　The　princess　replied　in　the　affirmative；　adding：

〃'The　archbishop　of　Paris　was　here　twice　during　yesterday　to　inquire　after　you。'

〃'Yet　I　belong　more　properly　to　the　diocese　of　Chartres；'　returned　the　king；　'and　surely　M。　de　Fleury　would　not　interest　himself　less　about　me　than　M。　de　Beaumont。'

〃'They　are　both　truly　anxious　about　you；　my　dearest　father；　and　if　you　would　only　see　them'

〃'No；　no；'　answered　Louis　XV；　'they　must　not　be　taken　from　the　duties　of　their　respective　dioceses；　besides；　in　case　of　need；　I　have　my　grand　almoner。'

〃Madame　Adelaide　did　not　venture　to　urge　the　matter　further　just　then；　and；　after　a　short　interval　of　silence；　a　message　was　brought　from　you；　inquiring　whether　you　could　see　the　king；　to　　which　he　himself　replied；　that　he　felt　inclined　to　sleep；　and　would　rather　not　see　any　person　that　night。　　I　was　in　the　chamber；　and　he　very　shortly　called　me　to　him；　and　said：

〃'Duc　d'Aiguillon；　I　have　the　small…pox；　and　you　are　aware　that　there　is　a　sort　of　etiquette　in　my　family　which　enjoins　my　immediately　discharging　my　duties　as　a　Christian。'

〃'Yes；　sire；　if　the　malady　wore　a　serious　aspect；　but　in　your　case'

〃'May　God　grant；'　replied　he；　'that　my　disorder　be　not　dangerous；　however；　it　may　become　so；　if　it　is　as　yet　harmless；　and　I　would　fain　die　as　a　believer　rather　than　an　infidel。　　I　have　been　a　great　sinner；　doubtless；　but　I　have　ever　observed　Lent　with　a　most　scrupulous　exactitude。　　I　have　caused　more　than　a　hundred　thousand　masses　to　be　said　for　the　repose　of　unhappy　souls；　I　have　respected　the　clergy；　and　punished　the　authors　of　all　impious　works；　so　that　I　flatter　myself　I　have　not　been　a　very　bad　Christian。'

〃I　listened　to　his　discourse　with　a　heavy　heart；　yet　I　still　strove　to　reassure　the　king　respecting　his　health；　of　which；　I　assured　him；　there　was　not　the　slightest　doubt。

〃'There　is　one　sacrifice；'　said　the　king；　in　a　low　and　hurried　tone；　'that　my　daughter　Louise；　her　sisters；　and　the　clergy；　will　not　be　long　in　exacting　from　me　in　the　name　of　etiquette。　　I　recollect　the　scene　of　Metz；　and　it　would　be　highly　disagreeable　to　me　to　have　it　repeated　at　Versailles；　let　us；　therefore；　take　our　precautions　in　time　to　prevent　it。　　Tell　the　duchesse　d'Aiguillon　that　she　will　oblige　me　by　taking　the　comtesse　du　Barry　to　pass　two　or　three　days　with　her　at　Ruel。'

〃'How；　sire！'　exclaimed　I；　'send　your　dearest　friend　from　you　at　a　time　when　you　most　require　her　cares？'

〃'I　do　not　send　her　away；'　answered　the　king；　with　mournful　tenderness；　'I　but　yield　to　present　necessity；　let　her　submit　as　she　values　my　happiness；　and　say　to　her；　that　I　hope　and　believe　her　absence　will　be　very　short。'〃

The　duke　here　ceased　his　recital；　which　fully　confirmed　all　my　previous　anticipations。　　My　female　relatives　sobbed　aloud；　while　comte　Jean；　compressing　his　lips；　endeavoured　to　assume　that　firmness　he　did　not　really　possess。　　By　a　violent　effort　I　forced　myself　to　assume　a　sort　of　resignation。

〃Am　I　required　to　depart　immediately？〃　　inquired　I。

〃No；〃　said　the　duke；　〃to　leave　the　chateau　in　the　middle　of　the　night　would　be　to　assume　the　air　of　a　flight；　we　had　better　await　the　coming　day；　it　will；　besides；　afford　time　to　apprize　the　duchess。　　〃

While　the　duc　d'Aiguillon　was　thus　gone　to　arrange　for　my　departure；　I　requested　to　be　left　alone。　　My　heart　was　oppressed；　and　I　felt　the　need　of　venting　my　grief　upon　some　friendly　bosom。　　After　a　few　moments；　spent　in　collecting　my　thoughts；　I　addressed　two　letters；　one　to　the　　marechale　de　Mirepoix；　and　the　other　to　the　duc　de　Cosse；　to　the　former　I　wrote　on　account　of　my　retirement　to　Ruel；　bewailed　the　sad　turn　my　prospects　had　assumed；　expressed　my　deep　concern　for　the　severe　illness　of　my　excellent　friend　and　benefactor；　begging　of　her　to　defend　my　character　from　all　unjust　attacks；　and　to　allow　me　to　be　blamed　for　no　faults　but　such　as　I　had　really　been　guilty　of。　　I　concluded　with　these　words；　〃I　set　out　at　seven　o'clock　to…morrow　morning；　the　duchesse　d'Aiguillon　will　conduct　me　to　Ruel；　where　I　shall　remain　until　I　am　ordered　elsewhere。〃

To　the　duke　I　merely　sent　a　short　account　of　my　present　prospects；　hour　of　departure；　etc。　　And；　my　feelings　somewhat　relieved　by　the　penning　of　these　epistles；　I　threw　myself　upon　a　couch　to　await　the　morning。　　Upon　awaking；　I　received　the　following　note　from　the　duchesse　d'Aiguillon：

〃MADAME　LA　COMTESSE；I　owe　his　majesty　many　thanks　for　the　pleasing；　yet　mournful；　task　he　has　allotted　me。　　Your　kindness　to　my　family；　independently　of　my　private　regard　for　you；　gives　you　the　surest　claim　of　my　best　services　during　this　afflicting　period。　　Let　me　beseech　of　you　not　to　despair；　but　cheerfully　anticipate　brighter　days。

〃I　will　call　for　you　at　seven　o'clock；　and　if　you　approve　of　it；　we　will　use　my　carriage。　　Ruel　is　entirely　at　your　disposal　and　that　of　your　family。〃


This　note　was　truly　characteristic　of　its　amiable　writer；　who　at　court　passed　for　a　cold…hearted；　frigid　being；　whilst；　in　reality；　the　warm　feelings　of　her　excellent　heart　were　reserved　for　her　chosen　friends。

I　have　never　admired　those　general　lovers　who　profess　to　love　every　one；　nor　do　I　feel　quite　sure　it　is　a　very　strong　recommendation　to　say　a　person　is　beloved　by　all　who　know　her。　Read；　now；　a　striking　contrast　to　the　short　but　sympathizing　billet　of　madame　d'Aiguillon；　in　the　following　heartless　letter　f　from　the　marechale　de　Mirepoix；　which　was　put　into　my　hands　as　I　was　ascending　the　carriage。

〃MY　LOVELY　COUNTESS；I　am　all　astonishment！　　Can　it　be　possible　that　you　are　to　quit　Versailles？　You　are　right　in　saying　you　have　been　the　friend　of　every　one；　and　those　who　could　speak　ill　of　you　are　to　be　pitied　for　not　having　had　better　opportunities　of　understanding　your　real　character。　But　fear　not；　the　dauphiness　is　virtue　personified；　and　the　dauphin　equally　perfect。　　Every　thing　promises　a　peaceful　and　indulgent　reign；　should　we　have　the　misfortune　to　lose　his　present　majesty。　Still　there　will　always　be　a　great　void　left　at　Versailles；　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　I　have　passed　so　much　of　my　time　with　you；　that　I　cannot　imagine　what　I　shall　do　with　my　evenings；　it　will　cost