memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第96节

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d　so　much　of　my　time　with　you；　that　I　cannot　imagine　what　I　shall　do　with　my　evenings；　it　will　cost　me　much　of　my　age　to　alter　habits　and　customs　now　so　long　fixed　and　settled；　but　such　is　life；　nothing　certain；　nothing　stable。　　We　should　imitate　cats　in　our　attachments；　and　rather　identify　ourselves　with　the　house　than　the　possessor　of　it。　　I　trust　you　have　secured　an　ample　provision　for　the　future；　neglect　not　the　present；　to…morrow　may　come　in　vain　for　you。

〃Be　sure　you　let　me　know　the　spot　to　which　you　permanently　retire；　and　I　will　endeavour　to　see　you　as　frequently　as　my　engagements　will　admit　of。

Adieu；　。〃

Spite　of　the　bitterness　of　my　feelings；　this　letter　drew　a　smile　to　my　lips；　the　allusion　to　cats　which　had　escaped　the　marechale　exactly　applied　to　her　own　character；　of　which　I　had　been　warned　before　I　became　acquainted　with　her；　but　her　protestations　of　warm　and　unutterable　attachment　had　gained　my　confidence；　and　I　allowed　myself　to　be　guided　implicitly　by　her。

The　duchesse　d'Aiguillon　was　waiting　for　me　while　I　perused　the　above　letter；　at　length；　with　a　sigh；　I　prepared　to　quit　that　palace　of　delights　where　I　had　reigned　absolute　mistress。　　I　cast　a　mournful　look　around　me；　on　those　splendid　walks；　fountains　and　statues；　worthy　the　gardens　of　Armida；　but　where　there　reigned；　at　this　early　hour；　a　sort　of　gloomy　silence；　whilst；　in　that　chamber　where　love　had　well　nigh　deified　me　and　recognised　me　as　queen　of　France；　lay　extended　the　monarch　so　lately　my　protector　and　friend。

It　was　the　Wednesday　of　the　fifth　of　May　that　I　took　my　seat　in　the　carriage　of　the　duchesse　d'Aiguillon　accompanied　by　my　sister…in…law　and　the　vicomtesse　Adolphe；　who　would　not　forsake　me。　　Bischi　remained　with　madame　d'Hargicourt；　whose　duties　detained　her　with　the　comtesse　d'Artois。　　Her　husband　also　remained　at　Versailles；　while　comte　Jean　and　his　son　proceeded　to　Paris。　　I　will　not　attempt　to　describe　the　emotions　with　which　I　quitted　my　magnificent　suite　of　apartments；　and　traversed　the　halls　and　staircases　already　crowded　by　persons　anxiously　awaiting　the　first　intimation　of　the　king's　decease。　　I　was　wrapped　in　my　pelisse；　and　effectually　eluded　observation。　　It　has　been　said　that　I　left　Versailles　at　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　but　that　was　a　mere　invention　on　the　part　of　my　servants　to　baffle　the　curiosity　of　those　who　might　have　annoyed　me　by　their　presence。

We　pursued　our　way　in　mournful　reflection；　whilst　madame　d'Aiguillon；　with　her　wonted　goodness；　sought　by　every　means　to　distract　me　from　the　dejection　in　which　I　was　buried。　　Her　husband；　who　remained　with　the　king；　engaged　to　write　me　a　true　account　of　all　that　transpired　during　my　absence；　and　I　shall　very　shortly　present　you　with　a　specimen　of　the　fidelity　with　which　he　performed　his　promise。　　The　duchess　did　the　honours　of　Ruel。

〃Here；〃　said　she；　〃the　great　cardinal　Richelieu　loved　to　repose　himself　from　the　bustle　and　turmoil　of　a　court。〃

〃I　think；〃　answered　I；　〃it　would　have　been　less　a　favourite　with　his　eminence　had　it　been　selected　for　his　abode　on　the　eve　of　his　disgrace。〃

Immediately　upon　my　arrival　I　retired　to　bed；　for　fatigue　had　so　completely　overpowered　me　that　I　fell　into　a　heavy　slumber；　from　which　I　did　not　awake　till　the　following　day；　when　I　found　the　duchesse　d'Aiguillon；　my　sister…in…law；　Genevieve　Mathon；　and　Henriette；　seated　by　my　bed：　the　sight　of　them　was　cheering　and　gratifying　proof　of　my　not　being　as　yet　abandoned　by　all　the　world。

I　arose；　and　we　were　just　about　to　take　our　places　at　table；　when　madame　de　Forcalquier　arrived。　　I　must　confess　that　her　presence　was　an　agreeable　surprise　to　me；　I　was　far　from　reckoning　on　her　constancy　in　friendship；　and　her　present　conduct　proved　her　worthy　of　her　excellent　friend；　madame　Boncault；　whose　steady　attachment　I　had　so　frequently　heard　extolled。　　The　sight　of　her　imparted　fresh　courage　to　me；　and　I　even　resumed　my　usual　high　spirits；　and　in　the　sudden　turn　my　ideas　had　taken；　was　childish　enough　to　express　my　regrets　for　the　loss　of　my　downy　and　luxurious　bed　at　Versailles；　complaining　of　the　woful　difference　between　it　and　the　one　I　had　slept　on　at　Ruel。

The　duchesse　d'Aiguillon；　who　must　have　pitied　the　puerility　of　such　a　remark；　gently　endeavoured　to　reconcile　me　to　it　by　reminding　me　that　both　the　marquise　de　Pompadour　and　the　cardinal　de　Richelieu　had　reposed　upon　that　very　couch。

I　endeavoured　to　return　some　sportive　reply；　but　my　thoughts　had　flown　back　to　Versailles；　and　my　momentary　exhilaration　was　at　an　end。　　Tears　rose　to　my　eyes　and　choked　my　attempts　at　conversation；　I　therefore　begged　the　duchess　would　excuse　me；　and　retired　to　my　apartment　until　I　could　　compose　myself；　but　the　kind　and　attentive　friend　to　whose　hospitality　I　was　then　confided　needed　no　further　mention　of　my　hard　couch；　but　caused　the　best　bed　Ruel　contained　to　be　prepared　for　me　by　the　time　I　again　pressed　my　pillow。

This　same　evening　brought　M。　de　Cosse；　who　could　no　longer　repress　his　impatience　to　assure　me　of　his　entire　devotion。　　He　appeared　on　this　occasion；　if　possible；　more　tender　and　more　respectful　in　his　manner　of　evincing　it　than　ever。

We　supped　together　without　form　or　ceremony；　the　party　consisting　of　mesdames　d'Aiguillon；　de　Forcalquier；　and　myself；　mademoiselle　du　Barry；　and　the　vicomtesse　Adolphe；　the　prince　de　Soubise　and　the　duc　de　Cosse。　　But　the　meal　passed　off　in　sorrowful　silence；　each　of　us　seemed　to　abstain　from　conversation　as　though　the　slightest　remark　might　come　fraught　with　some　painful　allusion。　On　the　following　day　I　received　the　letter　from　the　duc　d'Aiguillon　which　you　will　find　in　the　following　chapter。



CHAPTER　XLV


The　duc　d'Aiguillon's　first　letterThe　marechale　de　Mirepoix　A　second　letter　from　the　duc　d'AiguillonNumerous　visitors

〃My　much　esteemed　friend；I　promised　you　upon　your　departure　to　inform　you　of　all　that　　transpired；　and　although　the　task　is　a　mournful　one；　I　will　do　my　best　to　acquit　myself　with　zeal　and　sincerity；　and　each　evening　I　will　write　you　an　exact　detail　of　all　that　has　occurred　during　the　day。　　The　king　remains　much　as　you　left　him；　and　you　must　know　that　already　his　medical　attendants　differ　in　their　opinion　respecting　himLemonnier　utterly　despairing　of　his　recovery；　while　Bordeu　is　most　sanguine　that　he　shall　be　enabled　to　restore　him　to　health。　　La　Martiniere　persists　in　his　assertion　that　the　attention　of　the　king　should　be　immediately　directed　to　his　spiritual　concerns。　The　archbishop　of　Paris　remains　until　called　for　in　the　ante…chamber；　and　the　princesses　never　leave　the　bedside　of　their　august　parent。

〃The　king　spoke　with　me　concerning　you　for　some　time　this　morning；　and　I　can　assure　you；　you　are　the　first　object　in　his　thoughts；　he　has　begged　of　me　never　to　forsake　you；　and　has　deigned　to　repose　in　me　the　enviable　post　of　your　future　protector。　'I　bequeath　my　beloved　friend　to　your　fidelity；'　added　the　suffering　prince。　　I　took　advantage　of　this　opportunity　to　remark　that　I　looked　upon　your　quitting　Versailles　as　too　precipitate　and　premature　a　step。　　'No；　no；'　replied　the　king；　〃I　have　acted　for　the　best；　I　have　once　been　deceived　as　to　my　condition；　and　I　would　willingly　prevent　being　again　taken　by　surprise。　　Tell　my　beloved　and　excellent　countess　how　truly　I　love　her'；　and　hearing　the　prince　de　Soubise　mention　his　design　of　supping　at　Ruel；　he　charged　him　to　embrace　you　for　him。

〃The　dauphin　still　remains　secluded　in　his　apartment；　but　I　know　that　he　keeps　up　a　regular　correspondence　with　madame　Victoire；　whose　letters；　after　being　immersed　in　vinegar；　are　carried　to　the　comte　de　Muy；　who　fumigates　them　previously　to　allowing　them　to　reach　the　hands　of　the　dauphin。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃I　am；　etc。；　etc。

〃VERSAILLES；　May　5；　1774；　nine　o'clock；　evening。〃


Upon　awaking　the　following　morning　I　again　received　news　of　the　king；　who　was　stated　to　have　passed　a　good　night；　and　even　La　Martiniere　seemed　inclined　to　hope。　　As　yet；　then；　there　were　no　safe　grounds　for　abandoning　me；　and　about　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　I　was　favoured　with　a　visit　from　madame　de　Mirepoix；　who；　running　up　to　me；　exclaimed　with　her　usual　vivacity；

〃Oh；　my　dear　creature；　how　I　longed　to　see　you！〃　　and　then　leading　me　into　another　chamber；　she　added；

〃Do　you　know　I　quite　missed　you？　　As　I　wrote　you；　my　time　hung　heavily　on　my　hands。　　What　in　the　world　will　become　of　me　if　I　am　compelled　to　resign　the　delightful　hours　granted　to　the　envied　few　who　are　permitted　the　《　entrée　》　to　the　？　For　you　see；　my　dear；　the　dauphiness　will　be　far　from　bestowing　that　honour　upon　me。　　I　am　too　old　to　form　one　of　her　coterie；　and　I　shall　be　laid　aside　like　the　rest　of　the　antiquities　of　the　chateau。　　By　the　way；〃　continued　the　voluble　marechale；　〃there　is　already　a　great　cabal　in　the　　chateau　respecting　the　formation　of　a　new　ministry；　in　which；　besides　desiring　lucrative　posts　for　themselves；　all　are　anxious　to　introduce　their　private　friends；　in　the　midst　of　so　many　absorbing　interests　you　appear　to　be　already　forgotten；　which；　by　the　way；　is　no　bad　thing　for　you。　Your　best　plan　is　to　remain　perfectly　tranquil。〃　　Then　rapidly　passing　to　her　most　prevailing　idea；　this　excellent