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as been left at Trianon； has called incessantly for you the whole of this day； she asserts that she has matters of importance to communicate to you。〃
Whatever surprise I experienced at this intelligence； it was impossible it could be otherwise than true； for was it likely that； at a time like the present； comte Jean would attempt to impose such a tale upon me。
〃What would you have me do？〃 asked I of my brother…in…law。
〃Hark ye； sister；〃 replied he； 〃we are both of us in a very critical situation just now； and should spare no endeavour to extricate ourselves from it。 Very possibly this girl may be in possession of facts more important than you at present conceive possible； the earnestness with which she perseveres in her desire of seeing you； and her repeated prayers to those around her to beg your attendance； proves that it is something more than the mere whim of a sick person； and in your place； I should not hesitate to comply with her wishes。〃
〃And how could we do so？ 〃said I。
〃To…night；〃 returned he； 〃when all your guests have retired； and Versailles is in a manner deserted； I will fetch you； we have keys which open the various gates in the park； and walking through which； and the gardens； we can reach Trianon unobserved。 No person will be aware of our excursion； and we shall return with the same caution with which we went。 We will； after our visit； cause our clothes to be burnt； take a bath； and use every possible precaution to purify ourselves from all chance of infection。 When that is done you may venture into the apartment of his majesty； even if that malady which at present hangs over him should turn out to be the small…pox。〃
I thought but little of the consequences of our scheme； or of the personal danger I incurred； and I promised my brother…in…law that I would hold myself in readiness to accompany him。 We then conversed together upon the state of the king； and； what you will have some difficulty in crediting； not one word escaped either of us relative to our future plans or prospects； still it was the point to which the thoughts of comte Jean must naturally have turned。
We were interrupted in our 《 tete…a…tete 》 by the arrival of the marechale； whose exactitude I could not but admire。 Comte Jean； having hastily paid his compliments； left us together。
〃Well； my dear countess；〃 said she； taking my hand with a friendly pressure； 〃and how goes on the dear invalid？〃
〃Better； I hope；〃 replied I； 〃and indeed； this illness； at first so alarming to me； seems rather calculated to allay my former fears and anxieties by affording the king calm and impartial reflection； the result of it is that my dreaded rival of the is dismissed。〃
〃I am delighted to hear this；〃 replied madame de Mirepoix； 〃but； my dear soul； let me caution you against too implicitly trusting these deceitful appearances； to…morrow may destroy these flattering hopes； and the next day〃
〃Indeed！〃 cried I； interrupting her； 〃the physicians answer for his recovery。〃
〃And suppose they should chance to be mistaken；〃 returned my cautious friend； 〃what then？ But； my dear countess； my regard or you compels me to speak out； and to warn you of reposing in tranquillity when you ought to be acting。 Do not deceive yourself； leave nothing to chance； and if you have any favour to ask of the king； lose no time in so doing while yet you have the opportunity。〃
〃And what favour would you advise me to ask？〃 said I
〃You do not understand me； then？〃 exclaimed the marechale； 〃I say that it is imperatively necessary for you to accept whatever the king may feel disposed to offer you as a future provision； and as affording you the means of passing the remainder of your days in ease and tranquillity。 What would become of you in case of the worst？ Your numerous creditors would besiege you with a rapacity； still further excited by the support they would receive from court。 You look at me with surprise because I speak the language of truth； be a reasonable creature I implore of you once in your life； and do not thus sacrifice the interests of your life to a romantic disregard of self。〃
I could not feel offended with the marechale for addressing me thus； but I could not help fancying the moment was ill chosen； and unable to frame an answer to my mind； I remained silent。 Mistaken as to the cause of my taciturnity； she continued；
〃Come； I am well pleased to see you thus reflecting upon what I have said； but lose no time； strike the iron while it is hot。 Do as I have recommended either to…night or early to…morrow； possibly； after that time it may be too late。 May I venture also to remind you of your friends； my dear countess。 I am in great trouble just now； and I trust you will not refuse to obtain for me； from his majesty； a favour of which I stand in the utmost need50；000 francs would come very seasonably； I have lost that sum at cards； and must pay it； but how I know not。〃
〃Let not that distress you；〃 said I； 〃for I can relieve you of that difficulty until the king's convalescence enables him to undertake the pleasing office of assisting your wishes。 M。 de Laborde has orders to honour all my drafts upon him； I will
therefore draw for the sum you require。〃 So saying； I hastily scrawled upon a little tumbled piece of paper those magic words； which had power to unlock the strong coffers of a court banker。 The marechale embraced me several times with the utmost vivacity。
〃You are my guardian angel；〃 cried she； 〃you save me from despair。 But； tell me； my generous friend； do you think M。 de Laborde will make any difficulty？〃
〃Why；〃 said I； 〃should you suppose it possible he will do so？〃
〃Oh； merely on account of present circumstances。〃
〃What circumstances？〃
〃The illnessno； I mean the indisposition of his majesty。〃
〃He is an excellent man；〃 said I； 〃and I doubt not but he will act nobly and honourably。〃
〃If we could but procure his majesty's signature〃
〃But that is quite impossible to…night。〃
〃I know it is； and； therefore； I will tell you what I think of doing。 Perhaps； if I were to set out for Paris immediately； I might be able to present this cheque before Laborde is acquainted with our misfortune。 It is not late； so farewell； my dearest countess。 I shall return to…morrow before you are up； but do not forget what I have said to you； and remember； that under any circumstances； the king should secure you a safe and ample independence。 If his death finds you well provided for； you will still have a court； friends； relatives； partisans； in a word； the means of gratifying every inclination。 Be guided by me； and follow my advice。〃
And after this lesson of practical morality； the marechale quitted me to hurry to Paris； and I； wearied and heartsick； flew to my crowded salons as a remedy against the gloomy ideas her conversation had given rise to。
On this evening my guests were more numerous and brilliant than usual； for no person entertaining the least suspicion of the king's danger； all vied with each other in evincing； by their presence； the desire they felt of expressing their regard for me。 My friends； acquaintances； people whom I scarcely knew at all； were collected together in my drawing…rooms； this large assemblage of joyous and cheerful faces； drove away for a moment all the gloom which had bung over me。 I even forgot the morning's visitor； and if the health of the king were at all alluded to； it was only 。 It seemed a generally understood thing not to believe him seriously ill； in fact； to deny all possibility of such a thing being the case。 Thus all went on as usual； scandal； slander； epigrams；