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er when they arrived； they saluted me with great gentleness and affability。 When the king saw them； he inquired what had brought them thither at so unusual an hour。
〃We are come to see you； my dearest father；〃 replied madame Adelaide； 〃we have heard of your indisposition； and trifling as it is said to be； we could not rest without satisfying our anxious wish to know how you found yourself。〃
The other sisters expressed themselves in similar terms。
〃It is all very well； my children；〃 said Louis XV； with a pleasing smile； 〃and you are all three very excellent girls； but I would rather you should keep away from this close room； it can do you no good； and I promise to let you know if I find myself getting any worse。〃
After a slight resistance the princesses feigned an obedience to his will； but； in reality； they merely retired into an adjoining chamber； concealed from the sight of their parent； where they remained； until the moment when they undertook the charge of the patient。 Their heroic devotion was the admiration of all France and Europe。
Much as their presence constrained me； I still kept my place beside the sick…bed of his majesty； who would not suffer me to leave him for a minute。
At an early hour the marechale de Mirepoix returned； according to her promise。 I met her in the corridor as I was passing along on my way to the king's apartment； her face was full of cheerful smiles。
〃How greatly am I obliged to you for your prompt succour；〃 said she； without even inquiring after my health or that of the king。 〃Do you know； I was but just in time； ten minutes later； and I should have been refused payment for your cheque。 M。 de Laborde； who was so devotedly your friend only yesterday； counted out to me the glittering coin I was so anxious to obtain。 He even accompanied me to my carriage； when behold； just at the moment； when； with his hat in his hand； he was most gallantly bowing； and wishing me a pleasant journey； a courier arrived from Versailles bringing him the news of the king's illness。 He looked so overwhelmed with consternation and alarm； that I could not prevent myself from bursting into a hearty fit of laughter； nor has my gaiety forsaken me up to the present moment。〃
〃You are very fortunate；〃 said I； 〃to be enabled thus to preserve your good spirits。〃
〃My dear creature； I would fain cheat time of some of his claims upon me。 But now I think of it； what is the matter since I was here？ Is the king worse； and what is this I hear whispered abroad of the small…pox？〃
〃Alas； madam；〃 answered I； much hurt at the insensibility she displayed； 〃we run but too great danger of losing our friend and benefactor for ever。〃
〃Dear me； how very shocking！ But what has he settled on you？ What have you asked him for？〃
〃Nothing！〃 replied I； coolly。
〃Nothing！ very admirable； indeed； but； my good soul； these fine sentiments sometimes leave people to eat the bread of charity。 So； then； you have not followed my advice。 Once more； I repeat； lose not the present opportunity； and； in your place； I would set about securing my own interest without one instant's delay。〃
〃That I could not do； madam；〃 said I； 〃it is wholly foreign to my nature to take advantage of the weakness of a dying man。〃
〃Dying man！〃 repeated the marechale incredulously； 〃come； come；
he is not dead yet； and whilst there is life there is hope； and I suppose you have carried your ideas of disinterestedness so far as to omit mentioning your friends； likewise。 You will never have any worldly sense； I believe。 My dear soul；〃 said she； stooping down and whispering in my ear； 〃you are surrounded by a set of selfish wretches； who care nothing for you unless you can f forward their interests。〃
〃I see it； I know it；〃 exclaimed I impatiently； 〃but though I beg my bread； I will not importune the king。〃
〃As you please；〃 cried madame de Mirepoix； 〃pray do not let me disturb your intentions。 Silly woman that you are； leave others to act the sublime and grand； your part should be that of a reasonable creature。 Look at myself； suppose I had not seized the ball at the bound。〃
〃You were born at Versailles；〃 answered I； smiling in spite of myself。
〃True； and I confess that with me the greatest of all sense is common sense； which produces that instinctive feeling of self…preservation implanted even in animals。 But is the king indeed so very ill？〃
〃He is； indeed； dangerously ill。〃
〃I am very sorry；〃 answered she； 〃his majesty and myself were such old friends and companions； but things will now be very different； and we shall soon see the court filled with new faces； whilst you and I； my poor countess； may hide our diminished heads。 A set of hungry wretches will drive us away from the princely banquet at which we have so long regaled； and scarcely will their eagerness leave us a few scattered crumbshow dreadful！ Yes； I repeat that for many reasons； we shall have just cause for regretting the late king。〃
〃The king！〃 exclaimed I。 〃His majesty is not yet dead； madame la marechale。〃
〃I know that； but he will die； and by speaking of the event as if it had already taken place； we prepare our minds to meet the blow with greater resignation when it does fall。 I am much concerned； I can assure you； but let us quit the close confined air of this corridor； and go where we may breathe a purer atmosphere。〃
She took me by the arm with a greater familiarity than she had ever before assumed； and led the way to my chamber； where I found the duc de la Vrilliere awaiting me； to request I would return to the king； who had asked for me more than once。 This consummate hypocrite seized the present opportunity of renewing his assurances of an unalterable attachment to me； vowing an eternal friendship。 I was weak enough to believe him； and when I gave him my hand in token of reconciliation； I espied the marechale standing behind him； making signals to me to distrust his professions。
I know not the reason of this conduct on the part of the duc de l a Vrilliere； but I can only suppose it originated in his considering the king in less danger than he was said to be； however； I suffered him to lead me to the chamber of the invalid。 When Louis XV saw me return； he inquired why I had quitted him？ I replied； because I was fearful of wearying him； upon which he assured me； that he only felt easy and comfortable so long as I was with him。
〃But； perhaps； there is some contagion in my present complaint？〃 exclaimed he； as though labouring under some painful idea。
〃Certainly not；〃 replied I； 〃it is but a temporary eruption of the skin； which will； no doubt； carry off the fever you have suffered with。〃
〃I feared it was of a more dangerous nature；〃 answered the king。
〃You torment yourself needlessly； sire；〃 said I； 〃why should you thus create phantoms for your own annoyance and alarm？ Tranquillize yourself； and leave the task of curing you to us。〃
I easily penetrated the real import of his words； he evidently suspected the truth； and was filled with the most cruel dread of having his suspicions confirmed。 During the whole of this day he continued in the same state of uncertainty； the strictest watch was set around him that no imprudent confession should reveal to him the real nature of his situation。 I continued sitting beside him in a state of great constraint； from the knowledge of my being closely observed by the princesses； of whose vicinity we durst not inform him； in the fear of exciting his fears still more。
The courier； who had been despatched to madame Louise； returned； bringing a letter from that princess to her sisters； under cover to madame Adelaide； in which she implored of them not to suffer any consideration to prevent their immediately acquainting their father with the dangerous condition he was in。 The duty； she added； was imperative； and the greatest calamity that could befall them； would be to see this dearly loved parent expire in a state of sinful indifference as to his spiritual welfare。
The august recluse； detached from all sublunary considerations； saw nothing but the glorious hereafter； where she would fain join company with all her beloved friends and connexions of this world。
The archbishop of Paris； M。 de Beaumont； a prelate highly esteemed for his many excellent private qualities； but who had frequently embarrassed the king by his pertinacity； did not forget him on this occasion； for no sooner did the account of his majesty's illness reach him； than； although suffering with a most painful complaint； he hastened to Versailles； where his presence embarrassed every one； particularly the grand almoner； who； a better courtier than priest； was excessively careful never to give offence to any person； even though the king's salvation depended upon it； he； therefore； kept his apartment； giving it out that he was indisposed； and even took to his bed； the better to avoid any disagreeable or inconvenient request。 The sight of the archbishop of Paris was far from being agreeable to him。 This prelate went first in search of the princesses who were not to be seen on account of their being with their father。 A message was despatched to them； and mesdames Adelaide and Sophie； after having a long conf