"My good sister, what I have said respecting this perfection of loveliness is no fiction, neither have I at all exaggerated either her perfections or her beauty, and I trust by her aid we shall obliterate from the king"s mind every recollection of the syren of the Parc-aux-Cerfs."
"Heaven grant it," exclaimed I.
"My dear sister," replied comte Jean, "heaven has nothing to do with such things."
Alas! he was mistaken, and Providence only employed the present occasion as a means of causing us to be precipitated into the very abyss of ruin we had dug for others. On the following morning, Chamilly came to me to inquire whether it was my pleasure that the present scheme should be carried into execution.
"Yes, yes," answered I eagerly, "by all means, the more we direct the inclinations of the king for the present, the better for him and for us likewise."
Armed with my consent, Chamilly dispatched to the unhappy girl that madame, whose skill in such delicate commissions had never been known to fail. Not that in the present instance any great bribes were requisite, but it was necessary to employ some agent whose specious reasoning and oily tongue should have power to vanquish the virtuous reluctance of the victim herself, as well as to obtain a promise of strict silence from her family. They were soon induced to listen to their artful temptress; and the daughter, dazzled by the glittering prospect held out to her, was induced to accompany madame back to Trianon, where the king was to sup, in company with the ducs d"Aiguillon and de Richelieu, the prince de Soubise, the ducs de Cosse, de Duras, and de Noailles, mesdames de Mirepoix, de Forcalquier, de Flaracourt, and myself; my brother-in-law and Chon were also of the party, although not among the number of those who sat down to supper. Their presence was merely to keep up my spirits, and with a view to divert me from dwelling on the presumed infidelity of the king.
We had promised ourselves a most delightful evening, and had all come with the expectation of finding considerable amus.e.m.e.nt in watching the countenances and conduct of those who were not aware of the real state of the game, whilst such as were admitted into my entire confidence, were sanguine in their hopes and expectations of employing the simple beauty of the maiden of Versailles to crush the aspiring views of my haughty rival of the Parc-aux-Cerfs. This was, indeed, the point at which I aimed, and my further intention was to request the king to portion off mademoiselle Julie, so that she might be ever removed from again crossing my path.
Meanwhile, by way of pa.s.sing the tedious hours, I went to satisfy my curiosity respecting those charms of which comte Jean had spoken so highly. I found the object of so many conjectures possessed of an uncommon share of beauty, set off, on the present occasion, by every aid that a splendid and elaborate toilette could impart; her features were perfect, her form tall and symmetrical, her hair was in the richest style of luxuriance; but by way of drawback to so many advantages, both her hands and feet were large and coa.r.s.e. I had expected to have found her timid, yet exulting, but she seemed languid and dejected even to indisposition. I attributed the la.s.situde and heaviness which hung over her to some natural regrets for sacrificing some youthful pa.s.sion at the shrine of ambition; but I was far from guessing the truth. Had I but suspected the real cause! but I contented myself with a silent question to her on the subject, but pa.s.sed on to the saloon, where the guests were already a.s.sembled. The evening pa.s.sed away most delightfully; the marechale de Mirepoix excelled herself in keeping up a continual flow of lively conversation. Never had messieurs de Cosse and de Richelieu appeared to equal advantage. The king laughed heartily at the many humorous tales told, and his gaiety was the more excited, from his believing that I was in utter ignorance of his infidelity. The champagne was pa.s.sed freely round the table, till all was one burst of hilarious mirth. A thousand different topics were started, and dismissed only to give way to fresh subjects more piquant than the preceding.
The king, in a fit of good humour, began to relate his adventures with madame de Grammont; but here you must pardon me, my friend, for so entirely did his majesty give the reins to his inclination for a plain style of language, that, although excess of prudery formed no part of the character of any of the ladies a.s.sembled, we were compelled to sit with our eyes fixed upon our plate or gla.s.s, not daring to meet the glance of those near us. I have little doubt but that Louis XV indulged himself to this extent by a kind of mental vow to settle the affair with his confessor at the earliest opportunity.
We were still at table when the clock struck two hours past midnight.
"Bless me! so late?" inquired the king.
"Indeed, sire," replied the marechale de Mirepoix, "your agreeable society drives all recollection of time away."
"Then "tis but fit I should furnish you all with memory enough to recollect what is necessary for your own health. Come, my friends, morning will soon call us to our different cares, so away to your pillows."
So saying, the king bade us a friendly farewell, and retired with the ducs de Duras and de Noailles. We remained after his majesty, and retiring into the great saloon, threw ourselves without any ceremony upon the different couches and ottomans.
"For my own part," said the prince de Soubise, "I shall not think of separating from so agreeable a party till daylight warns me hence."
"The first beams of morn will soon shine through these windows," replied M. d"Aiguillon.
"We can already perceive the brightest rays of Aurora reflected in the sparkling eyes around us," exclaimed M. de Cosse.
"A truce with your gallantry, gentlemen," replied madame de Mirepoix, "at my age I can only believe myself capable of reflecting the last rays of the setting sun."
"Hush!" interrupted madame de Forcalquier, "you forget we are at Versailles, where age is never thought of, but where, like our gracious sovereign, all are young."
"Come, ladies," said madame de Flaracourt, "let us retire; I for one, plead guilty of being in need of repose."
"No, no!" replied the duc de Richelieu, "let us employ the remaining hours in pleasing and social converse," and with a tremulous voice he began that charming trio in "Selina and Azor," "Veillons mes soeurs." We joined chorus with him, and the echoes of the palace of Louis XV resounded with the mirthful strain. This burst of noisy mirth did not last long, and we relapsed into increased taciturnity, spite of our endeavours to keep up a general conversation. We were all fatigued, though none but madame de Flaracourt would confess the fact. Tired nature called loudly for repose, and we were each compelled to seek it in the different apartments a.s.signed us. The duc d"Aiguillon alone was compelled, by the duties of his office, to return to Versailles.
Upon entering my chamber I found my brother-in-law there, in the most violent fit of ill humour, that the king (who was in fact ignorant of his being at Trianon) had not invited him to supper. As I have before told you, comte Jean was no favourite with his majesty, and as I had displayed no wish for his company, Louis XV had gladly profited by my indifference to omit him upon the present occasion. I endeavoured to justify the king, without succeeding, however, in appeasing comte Jean, who very unceremoniously consigned us all to the care and company of a certain old gentleman, whose territory is supposed to lie beneath "the round globe which we inhabit." "I have to thank you," replied I, "for a very flattering mode of saying "good night.""
"Perhaps," answered comte Jean roughly, "you would prefer-"
"Nothing from your lips if you please, my polite brother," cried I, interrupting him, "nothing you will say in your present humour can be at all to my taste."
Chon interfered between us, and effected a reconciliation, which I was the more willing to listen to, that I might enjoy that sleep my weary eye-lids craved for. Scarcely was my head on my pillow, than I fell into a profound sleep: could I but have antic.i.p.ated to what I should awake! It was eleven o"clock on the following morning when an immense noise of some person entering my chamber, aroused me from the sweet slumbers I was still buried in. Vexed at the disturbance, I inquired, in a peevish tone, "Who is there?"
"Tis I, my sister," replied Chon, "M. de Chamilly is here, anxious to speak with you upon a matter of great importance."
Chamilly, who was close behind mademoiselle du Barry, begged to be admitted.
"What is the matter, Chamilly?" cried I, "and what do you want? Is mademoiselle Julie to set off into the country immediately?"
"Alas! madam," replied Chamilly, "his majesty is extremely ill."
These words completely roused me, and raising myself on my arm, I eagerly repeated, "Ill! of what does he complain?"
"Of general and universal pain and suffering," replied Chamilly.
"And the female who was here last night, how is she?"
"Nearly as bad, madam; she arose this morning complaining of illness and languor, which increased so rapidly, that she was compelled to be carried to one of the nearest beds, where she now is."
All this tormented me to the greatest degree, and I dismissed Chamilly for the purpose of rising, although I had no distinct idea of what it would be most desirable to say or do. My sister-in-law, with more self-possession, suggested the propriety of summoning Bordeu, my physician; a proposal which I at once concurred in, more especially when she informed me, that La Martiniere was already sent for, and hourly expected.
"I trust," said I, "that Bouvart knows nothing of this, for I neither approve of him as a man or a doctor."
The fact was, I should have trembled for my own power, had both Bouvart and La Martiniere got the king into their hands. With La Martiniere I knew very well I was no favourite; yet it was impossible to prevent his attendance; the king would never have fancied a prescription in which he did not concur.
Meanwhile I proceeded with my toilette as rapidly as possible, that I might, by visiting the king, satisfy myself of the nature of his malady. Ere I had finished dressing, my brother-in-law, who had likewise been aroused by the mention of his majesty"s illness, entered my chamber with a gloomy look; he already saw the greatness of the danger which threatened us, he had entirely forgotten our quarrel of the preceding evening, but his temper was by no means improved by the present state of things. We had no need of explaining ourselves by words, and he continued walking up and down the room with, his arms folded and his eyes fixed on the floor, till we were joined by the marechale de Mirepoix and the comtesse de Forcalquier. Madame de Flaracourt had taken her departure at an early hour, either ignorant of what had occurred or with the intention of being prepared for whatever might happen.
As yet, it was but little in the power of any person to predict the coming blow. "The king is ill," said each of us as we met. "The king is ill," was the morning salutation of the ducs de Richelieu, de Noailles, de Duras, and de Cosse. The prince de Soubise had followed the example of madame de Flaracourt, and had quitted Trianon; it seemed as though the hour for defection were already arrived. A summons now arrived from his majesty who wished to see me. I lost not a moment in repairing to his apartment, where I found him in bed, apparently in much pain and uneasiness. He received me tenderly, took my hands in his, and kissed them; then exclaimed, "I feel more indisposed than I can describe, a weight seems pressing on my chest, and universal languor appears to chain my faculties both of body and mind. I should like to see La Martiniere."
"And would you not likewise wish to have the advice of Bordeu?"
""Yes," said he, "let both come, they are both clever men, and I have full confidence in their skill. But do you imagine that my present illness will be of a serious nature?"
"By no means, sire," returned I, "merely temporary, I trust and believe."
"Perhaps I took more wine than agreed with me last evening; but where is the marechale?"
"In my chamber with madame de Forcalquier."
"And the prince de Soubise?"
"He has taken flight," replied I, laughing.
"I suppose so," returned Louis XV, "he could not bear a long absence from Paris; company he must have."
"In that respect he resembles you, sire, for you generally consider company as a necessary good."
He smiled, and then closing his eyes remained for some minutes silent and motionless, after a while he said,
"My head is very heavy, so farewell, my sweet friend, I will endeavour to get some sleep."
"Sleep, sire!" said I, "and may it prove as healthful and refreshing as I pray it may."