按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
elf appears to have planted in our bosoms a kind of instinct； which warns us from it； and a prejudice against all those who so degrade themselves。 It is different with men； they can confer rank and elevation on the beloved object。 A woman should always have reason to look up to and feel proud of the man to whom she consigns her heart； this species of vanity is mixed with the noblest love； and the woman who can overlook it； acts from passion of the lowest； basest kind。 How easy is it to reason！ Alas！ Why have I not always acted as well as I speak。
I was thus again a second time enthralled by Noel； and much more so； too； than I will now tell you。 My faithful Henriette； whose devoted attachment for me kept her ever watchful of my safety and reputation； was thunderstruck at perceiving what I vainly strove to conceal from her； and； as she has since told me； was long in deciding whether to speak to me of the affair； when an unexpected incident arose； which determined her； at every risk of my displeasure； to use her endeavors to put an end to so disgraceful a connexion； which must infallibly have ended in my disgrace。
One night； or rather midnight； all was at rest in the castle； and I was sleeping peacefully in the arms of Noel； when all at once I was awakened by the sudden opening of an outer door； which announced to me the approach of the king； who had merely one more door to open ere he would be in my apartment。 Noel； terrified； leaped quickly out of bed； and ran to seek refuge in a small chamber adjoining where Henriette slept。 Happily she was yet awake； and； by the light of a night…lamp or recognized Noel； who； with clasped hands； conjured her to take pity upon him。 Henriette saw the danger； and putting out her hand； seized him； and drawing him rapidly towards her； made him lie down beside her。 Noel； struck with her goodness； was preparing to offer her the same marks of his gratitude he had shown me of his respect； but repulsing him； she said in a low voice； 〃Wretch； think not it is on your account I thus expose my reputation； 'tis to save that of my beloved mistress； either conduct yourself with silent respect or you are lost。〃 At this threat Noel 's courage melted away and he lay still as a frightened child。 〃Listen；〃 said Henriette； 〃if you do not quit this place to…morrow at break of day； without seeking to see madame again； I will denounce you to the king； who will inflict upon you the most dreadful punishment。〃
Whilst these things were passing in the chamber of Henriette； I did not feel perfectly at ease on my side； and many were the wise reflections I made upon my folly； as well as the promises I gave never again to expose myself to such imminent danger。 Nor did my terrors abate till after the king had quitted me。 At the sound of my bell Henriette hastened to my bed…side。
〃My good Henriette；〃 said I to her； trembling from head to foot； 〃what a night of anxiety have I passed； I must indeed confess〃
〃Fear not； my beloved mistress；〃 replied she； 〃I will watch over your safety； and trust to be enabled fully to provide for it。〃
I durst not then ask for any further explanation of her words； for such was the ascendancy her good and steady conduct had given her over me； that she would certainly have blamed me for my glaring imprudence。 I pressed her hand in mute thankfulness； she comprehended my silence and left me to myself。
At the end of some days； seeing nothing of Noel； I ventured to question her as to his fate： she then related to me all you have been told； and added； that the day following this shameful and unfortunate night she had lost no time in apprizing the comte Jean of all that had occurred； who had quickly despatched Noel out of the kingdom； furnishing him with a purse of ten thousand livres to defray his travelling expenses。 Such was the fortunate termination of this disgraceful affair； and now； having completed my painful confession； I will change the subject to others doubtless more calculated to interest you than the recital of such lapses。
CHAPTER XXV
Madame du Barry succeeds in alienating Louis XV from the due de ChoiseulLetter from madame de GrammontLouis XVThe chancellor and the countessLouis XV and the abbe de la VilleThe marechale de Mirepoix and madame du Barry
Matters now assumed an air of importance。 My struggle with the des Choiseuls had become a deadly war； which could only be terminated either by his downfall or my dismissal from court； this latter measure was not very probable； an old man is not easily detached from a woman whom he loves； and each day only added to my ascendancy over the mind of the king。 It is true； that the same force of habit which enchained Louis XV to me bound him likewise to M。 de Choiseul。 The idea of change terrified him； and so great was his dread of fresh faces； that he would have preferred dying with his old minister； to creating a younger one who might witness his end。 Happily the duke himself brought on the crisis of his fate； his power was cramped on all sides； yet； resolved not to lay it down till the last extremity； he sought to stay his failing credit with the rising influence of the dauphiness。 His enemies were not slow in pointing out to the king his minister's frequent visits and great assiduities to a foreign princess； and enlarged upon the fatal effects this new alliance might produce to the monarchy。
Meanwhile the chancellor； threatened by the parliaments； saw only one way of averting the storm which was about to burst on his head。 This was to introduce into the cabinet persons entirely devoted to himself； but to accomplish his purpose； it was necessary to exclude the duc de Choiseul and his party。 M。 de Maupeou came to me in December； and after having gently scolded me for what he termed my carelessness； he showed me a letter from the duchesse de Grammont； which； he said； would wonderfully aid our plans。 This letter was written to one of the presidents of the parliament of Toulous； M。 de 。 I cannot give you his name； for； although I have preserved the original of the letter； I have mislaid the envelope on which the address was written。 I here give you a copy of this curious and important production：
〃MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT； I promised to give you the exact details of all that passed in this gay metropolis； and 'tis with much pleasure I sit down to fulfill my engagement。 Things go on much as usual； or； perhaps； I should be speaking more correctly； were I to say they are rapidly progressing from bad to worse。 We have no longer a king in France； all power is lodged in the hands of one sprung from the most infamous origin； who； in conjunction with others as intriguing as herself； seeks only to ruin the kingdom； and to degrade it in the eyes of other nations。
〃The noble firmness of sovereign courts is odious to people of this class； thus you may imagine the detestation in which they regard the candid and loyal conduct of the duke。 I n the hopes of procuring the dismissal of my brother； they have chosen for his successor wretch loaded with crimes； a coward； an extortioner； a murdererthe duc d'Aiguillon。 As for you gentlemen； who now constitute our parliament； your places will soon be filled by a magistracy drawn from the dregs of society； a troop of slaves； deaf and blind； except as he who pays them best will have them exercise those powers。
〃This is no time for indolent repose； we must at once courageously and unanimously defeat the guilty schemes of our enemies。 So long as my brother retains his present post he will support you with his best interest； but； should he be dismissed； your business will soon be finished。
〃I beg my best remembrances； first； to your excellent lady； and after her； to madame B。 and madame L。； not forgetting the marquise de Chalret； whose wit is truly Attic； nor the marquise de Ps； who conceals beneath the graceful exterior of a Languedocian the soul of one of Corneille's Roman matrons。 For yourself rely upon my warmest friendship and endeavours to serve you。 My brother is most anxious to know you； after the flattering manner in which I have mentioned you to him。 When will you gratify us both by visiting Paris？
〃Ever yours；〃
Nothing could have arrived more for our purpose than this letter。 I was still engaged in its perusal when the king was announced； I wished to hurry it back into the hands of M。 de Maupeou； but he； more crafty than I； requested I would keep it。
〃It is fitting；〃 said he； 〃that it should be seen by the right person。〃
Louis XV； astonished at the strange scene； inquired what it meant。
〃A most shameful piece of scandal； sire；〃 replied I。
〃An infamous epistle；〃 added the chancellor； 〃which one of my friends managed to abstract from the post…office； and forwarded to me： I brought it to madame la comtesse； that she might admire the determined malice of our enemies。〃
〃You excite my curiosity；〃 cried Louis XV。 〃Madame； have the kindness to allow me to see this paper。〃
〃Indeed； sire；〃 exclaimed I； 〃I know not whether I ought to obey your majesty； so entirely has the writer of the letter forgotten the respect duc to your sacred person。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the king； 〃I do not fear that； I am but too well used to the offenc