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the household was astir。  The countess was carried to bed; the most

intense alarm prevailed; but no bad consequences followed this

accident; which produced only a further succession of visits from the

neighbouring gentry。  This happened about the end of the seventh

month。



At length the moment of accouchement came。  Everything had long

before been arranged for the delivery; and nothing remained to be

done。  The marquis had employed all this time in strengthening Madame

de Bouille against her scruples。  He often saw Louise Goillard in

private; and gave her his instructions; but he perceived that the

corruption of Baulieu; the house steward; was an essential factor。

Baulieu was already half gained over by the interviews of the year

preceding; a large sum of ready money and many promises did the rest。

This wretch was not ashamed to join a plot against a master to whom

he owed everything。  The marchioness for her part; and always under

the instigation of M。 de Saint…Maixent; secured matters all round by

bringing into the abominable plot the Quinet girls; her maids; so

that there was nothing but treason and conspiracy against this worthy

family among their upper servants; usually styled confidential。

Thus; having prepared matters; the conspirators awaited the event。



On the 16th of August 16¢1 the Countess de Saint…Geran was overtaken

by the pangs of labour in the chapel of the chateau; where she was

hearing mass。  They carried her to her room before mass was over; her

women ran around her; and the countess dowager with her own hands

arranged on her head a cap of the pattern worn by ladies about to be

confineda cap which is not usually removed till some time later。



The pains recurred with terrible intensity。  The count wept at his

wife's cries。  Many persons were present。  The dowager's two

daughters by her second marriage; one of whom; then sixteen years of

age; afterwards married the Duke de Ventadour and was a party to the

lawsuit; wished to be present at this accouchement; which was to

perpetuate by a new scion an illustrious race near extinction。  There

were also Dame Saligny; sister of the late Marshal Saint…Geran; the

Marquis de Saint…Maixent; and the Marchioness de Bouille。



Everything seemed to favour the projects of these last two persons;

who took an interest in the event of a very different character from

that generally felt。  As the pains produced no result; and the

accouchement was of the most difficult nature; while the countess was

near the last extremity; expresses were sent to all the neighbouring

parishes to offer prayers for the mother and the child; the Holy

Sacrament was elevated in the churches at Moulins。



The midwife attended to everything herself。  She maintained that the

countess would be more comfortable if her slightest desires were

instantly complied with。  The countess herself never spoke a word;

only interrupting the gloomy silence by heart…rending cries。  A11 at

once; Madame de Boulle; who affected to be bustling about; pointed

out that the presence of so many persons was what hindered the

countess's accouchement; and; assuming an air of authority justified

by fictitious tenderness; said that everyone must retire; leaving the

patient in the hands of the persons who were absolutely necessary to

her; and that; to remove any possible objections; the countess

dowager her mother must set the example。  The opportunity was made

use of to remove the count from this harrowing spectacle; and

everyone followed the countess dowager。  Even the countess's own

maids were not allowed to remain; being sent on errands which kept

them out of the way。  This further reason was given; that the eldest

being scarcely fifteen; they were too young to be present on such an

occasion。  The only persons remaining by the bedside were the

Marchioness de Bouille; the midwife; and the two Quinet girls; the

countess was thus in the hands of her most cruel enemies。



It was seven o'clock in the evening; the labours continued; the elder

Quinet girl held the patient by the hand to soothe her。  The count

and the dowager sent incessantly to know the news。  They were told

that everything was going on well; and that shortly their wishes

would be accomplished; but none of the servants were allowed to enter

the room。



Three hours later; the midwife declared that the countess could not

hold out any longer unless she got some rest。  She made her swallow a

liquor which was introduced into her mouth by spoonfuls。  The

countess fell into so deep a sleep that she seemed to be dead。  The

younger Quinet girl thought for a moment that they had killed her;

and wept in a corner of the room; till Madame de Bouille reassured

her。



During this frightful night a shadowy figure prowled in the

corridors; silently patrolled the rooms; and came now and then to the

door of the bedroom; where he conferred in a low tone with the

midwife and the Marchioness de Bouille。  This was the Marquis de

Saint…Maixent; who gave his orders; encouraged his people; watched

over every point of his plot; himself a prey to the agonies of

nervousness which accompany the preparations for a great crime。



The dowager countess; owing to her great age; had been compelled to

take some rest。  The count sat up; worn out with fatigue; in a

downstairs room hard by that in which they were compassing the ruin

of all most dear to him in the world。



The countess; in her profound lethargy; gave birth; without being

aware of it; to a boy; who thus fell on his entry into the world into

the hands of his enemies; his mother powerless to defend him by her

cries and tears。  The door was half opened; and a man who was waiting

outside brought in; this was the major…domo Baulieu。



The midwife; pretending to afford the first necessary cares to the

child; had taken it into a corner。  Baulieu watched her movements;

and springing upon her; pinioned her arms。  The wretched woman dug

her nails into the child's head。  He snatched it from her; but the

poor infant for long bore the marks of her claws。



Possibly the Marchioness de Bouille could not nerve herself to the

commission of so great a crime; but it seems more probable that the

steward prevented the destruction of the child under the orders of

M。 de Saint…Maixent。  The theory is that the marquis; mistrustful of

the promise made him by Madame de Bouille to marry him after the

death of her husband; desired to keep the child to oblige her to keep

her word; under threats of getting him acknowledged; if she proved

faithless to him。  No other adequate reason can be conjectured to

determine a man of his character to take such great care of his

victim。



Baulieu swaddled the child immediately; put it in a basket; hid it

under his cloak; and went with his prey to find the marquis; they

conferred together for some time; after which the house steward

passed by a postern gate into the moat; thence to a terrace by which

he reached a bridge leading into the park。  This park had twelve

gates; and he had the keys of all。  He mounted a blood horse which he

had left waiting behind a wall; and started off at full gallop。  The

same day he passed through the village of Escherolles; a league

distant from Saint…Geran; where he stopped at the house of a nurse;

wife of a glove…maker named Claude。  This peasant woman gave her

breast to the child; but the steward; not daring to stay in a village

so near Saint…Geran; crossed the river Allier at the port de la

Chaise; and calling at the house of a man named Boucaud; the good

wife suckled the child for the second time; he then continued his

journey in the direction of Auvergne。



The heat was excessive; his horse was done up; the child seemed

uneasy。  A carrier's cart passed him going to Riom; it was owned by a

certain Paul Boithion of the town of Aigueperce; a common carrier on

the road。  Baulieu went alongside to put the child in the cart; which

he entered himself; carrying the infant on his knees。  The horse

followed; fastened by the bridle to the back of the cart。



In the conversation which he held with this man; Baulieu said that he

should not take so much care of the child did it not belong to the

most noble house in the Bourbonnais。  They reached the village of Che

at midday。  The mistress of the house where he put up; who was

nursing an infant; consented to give some of her milk to the child。

The poor creature was covered with blood; she warmed some water;

stripped off its swaddling linen; washed it from head to foot; and

swathed it up again more neatly。



The carrier then took them to Riom。  When they got there; Baulieu got

rid of him by giving a false meeting…place for their departure; left

in the direction of the abbey of Lavoine; and reached the village of

Descoutoux; in the mountains; between Lavoine and Thiers。  The

Marchioness de Bouille had a chateau there where she occasionally

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