The duc d"Aiguillon"s first letter-The marechale de Mirepoix-A second letter from the duc d"Aiguillon-Numerous 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 him-Lemonnier 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 a.s.sertion 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 a.s.sure 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 pa.s.sed 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 entree to the pet.i.ts appartements? 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 pa.s.sing to her most prevailing idea, this excellent friend proceeded to inquire what the king had bestowed on me as a parting present, "for," said she, "he would not certainly permit you to leave Versailles empty-handed."
"It is a point," replied I, "that neither his majesty nor myself once thought of."
"Then such an omission proves him a vile egotist, and you a prodigious simpleton," answered she; "and were I in your place, I would commission the duc d"Aiguillon to make a direct demand of a future provision for you; you really should see about this, and secure to yourself a n.o.ble establishment for yourself and your friends, who ought not to suffer for your overstrained delicacy. Look at the duc de Choiseul, who has kept a regular court at Chanteloup, and never wanted for a train of courtiers at it."
After this lesson of worldly wisdom, the excellent marechale gave me a friendly kiss, returned to her carriage, and I saw her no more during my stay at Ruel.
The evening brought with it a second letter from the duc d"Aiguillon, it was as follows:-
"MADAM,-I hasten to acquaint you with the pleasing information of his majesty being considerably better; his strength appears to have returned, he himself, in the consciousness of improving health, expressed aloud his regret for having been so hasty in advising your removal from him. He has continually repeated, "How weak and selfish of me thus to afflict my dearest countess! would you not advise me, my friend, to request her immediate return?" Of course, my reply was in the affirmative. His majesty then put the same question to the duc de Richelieu, who answered, that in his opinion it was the best plan he could decide upon. The bulletin signed by the different physicians accompanies this: it leaves me nothing to add but to recommend your bearing with patience this temporary absence from court, to which you will ere long return, more idolized, more sought after, than ever. The duc de la Vrilliere and the abbe Terray present the a.s.surance of their unbounded respect and devotion, etc., etc."
The d.u.c.h.ess, my sister-in-law, and niece shared in joy at such gratifying intelligence, and the ensuing day brought a concourse of visitors to Ruel; indeed, any one might have supposed that fresh swarms of flatterers and courtiers had been created only to swell my numbers of humble and obsequious adorers. I bestowed on each unmeaning guest a smiling welcome, for indeed, my heart was too light and I felt too happy to be enabled to frown even upon those who, when the storm appeared near, had basely deserted me.
It was amusing enough to see with what zeal any person, whom I had previously recommended was a.s.sisted by the various ministers in the pursuit of their object; the pet.i.t saint found himself all at once at leisure to pay his respects to me. He confirmed all the kind messages sent me by the king through the duc d"Aiguillon. Madame de Mirepoix, who had visited me the preceding evening, reserved her next call for the following day, but a few hours effected a cruel change in my fortune.
CHAPTER XLVI
A third letter from the duke-The king receives extreme unction-Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphin-M. de Machault-A promenade with the duc de Cosse-Kind attention from the prince des Deux Ponts-A fourth letter from the duc d"Aiguillon-Comte Jean bids me farewell-M. d"Aiguillon"s fifth letter, containing an account of the death of Louis XV-The duc de la Vrilliere-The lettre de cachet-Letter to the queen-Departure for the abbey of Pont aux Dames
The account received in the evening from the duc d"Aiguillon I shall not transcribe, as it was merely a repet.i.tion of the good tidings of the morning. The day following still brought a continuation of favorable accounts, but the next letter was in these words:-
"MADAM, AND MOST HONORED FRIEND,-Arm yourself with courage; the king is extremely ill, and I ought not to conceal from you that serious apprehensions are entertained for his life; he has pa.s.sed a wretched night, His daughters, who never quitted his bedside, whispered to him that the archbishop of Paris and his grand almoner were in the anteroom if he desired to see them. The king did not seem to hear their words, but about three o"clock in the morning he called the duc de Duras, whom he bade inquire whether M. Mandoux were in the chateau; and, if so, to apprize him he wished to speak with him.
"At these words the princesses and all who heard them burst into a fit of weeping, which was only interrupted by the arrival of the confessor, who, approaching the bedside of the penitent, held a conference with him of nearly a quarter of an hour: this being concluded, the king, in a low and firm voice, inquired for his almoner. The latter soon presented himself, anxious to discharge the duties of his sacred office. His majesty kept continually repeating to his afflicted children, "My daughters, why should what I am now about to do agitate or alarm you? You are well aware, that having the small-pox, the etiquette established in my family compels me to receive the last solemn rites of the church, and I but acquit myself of an obligation in submitting to it."
"The tone in which the king spoke convinced his attendants that he rather strove to re-a.s.sure himself than his children, by the persuasion that the receiving extreme unction was not so much the consequence of his own dangerous state as a mere act of obedience to an established custom. It was then decided that the sacred ceremony should take place at seven o"clock in the morning; and here arose some little embarra.s.sment; the ecclesiastics insisting upon the necessity of the king"s making some striking and open atonement for what they were pleased to term the scandal of his private life.
"The king"s chamber now presented a picture at once solemn and gloomy. Grouped together on one side the bed might be seen the different n.o.blemen in attendance upon his majesty; a little removed stood the clergy, concealed from the invalid by the closely-drawn curtains; in the midst of these contending parties were the princesses going from one to the other, vainly seeking by mild and gentle mediation to produce a satisfactory arrangement. It was at length understood, that, on account of the extreme weakness of the invalid, the grand almoner should p.r.o.nounce in his name a kind of honorable apology for past offences.
"You can scarcely imagine, madam, the universal consternation spread throughout the chateau by the information that the king was about to receive the last rites of his church. The terror and alarm became overpowering for a while, but subsiding into a more religious feeling crowds of persons followed with solemn reverence the holy procession as it pa.s.sed along, bearing the holy sacrament to the expiring monarch. At the moment when it was administered the grand almoner, turning towards all present, p.r.o.nounced the following words in the king"s name:-
""Gentlemen, the weakness of his majesty preventing him from expressing himself, he has commanded me to inform you, that although he is responsible to G.o.d alone for his conduct, he yet regrets having caused any scandal to his people by the irregularities of his life, that he sincerely repents of his sins, and, should Providence restore him, purposes living henceforward in all the virtue and morality of his youth, in the defence and maintenance of religion, in preserving a true faith, and in watching over the best interests of his people."
"Yours, madam, etc., etc."
I learned also, through another channel, that (according to custom) forty hours" prayer had been enjoined in every church in France to implore the mercy of heaven for the king. I heard too that the shrine of Saint Genevieve had been displayed for the veneration of true believers.
I pa.s.sed a miserable night, dreaming of graves, winding-sheets, and funeral-torches, from which I only awoke to receive the morning"s despatches. Alas! the news but confirmed the distressing state of the king. The very solitude in which I was left at Ruel might alone have served to convince me of my misfortune; for, with the exception of the duc de Cosse, no person came near us. M. de Cosse invited me to walk with him in the garden; I accepted the arm of this n.o.ble friend, and we directed our steps towards the wood. When we were there secure from interruption, the duke inquired what were my plans for the future?
"How can I tell you," answered I; "what is henceforward to be my fate is better known to our future queen than to myself."
"That is precisely what I dread," replied M. de Cosse. "Unfortunately you have deeply offended the queen elect, who has irritated her husband"s mind against you; and then the Choiseul faction will, in all probability, come into power."
"I see all this," returned I, "and am prepared for whatever may happen."
"I admire your calmness in a moment like the present," cried the duke; "but have a care. Perhaps the best thing would be to remove you beyond the reach of the first shock of court displeasure. In your place I would request pa.s.sports from the duc d"Aiguillon and travel into England."
"Oh, speak not of such a thing, I conjure you," interrupted I; "I have a horror of such journeys, and would much rather trust to the generosity of the dauphiness. She is about to become a great queen, while I shall be a creature so humiliated and abased, that the very difference between our situations will be a sufficient vengeance in her eyes."
We returned to the house, and had scarcely entered, when M. de Palchelbel, plenipotentiary to the prince des Deux Ponts, was announced.
"M. de Palchelbel," cried I, extending my hand, "what good wind brings you here?"
"I have been honoured by the commands of the prince, my master, madam," replied he, "to bring you the a.s.surances of his unalterable friendship; and to say further, that whenever you feel dissatisfied with your residence in France, you will find at Deux Ponts an asylum, which the most earnest endeavors of the prince, my gracious patron, will strive to render agreeable to you."
I was much affected by this mark of generous regard on the part of prince Charles Auguste; and, turning quickly towards the duke, I exclaimed,
"What think you of all this? Will you henceforward believe those self-dubbed philosophers, who a.s.sert that friendship is unknown to royalty? You have here a proof of the contrary. For my own part, M. de Palchelbel," continued I, turning towards the minister, "I am much gratified by your message, and entreat of you to thank his royal highness most sincerely for me. I will write to him myself on the subject, but beg of you to repeat that, kind as are his offers, I cannot accept of them; but shall certainly remain in France until the new sovereign commands or permits me to quit it."
I afterwards repeated to the minister of Deux Ponts what I had previously stated in the garden to M. de Cosse, and had the satisfaction of hearing madam d"Aiguillon approve of my sentiments.
When I retired to my apartment I was followed by my niece.
"How happy are you, dear aunt," said she, "to preserve such friends in your present troubles."
"I owe them," replied I, "to my simplicity and candor."
"Will you not retire to Germany?"
"Certainly not," answered I.
"Yet it would be better to allow the first burst of displeasure on the part of the dauphiness to pa.s.s over."
"Who gave you this counsel, my dear niece? I am quite sure it does not originate in yourself."
"I had promised not to tell," answered she; "but if you insist upon it, I must confess, that I was persuaded by the prince de Conde and M. de Soubise to urge you to follow it."
"Do they then wish for my absence?" inquired I, angrily.