theaidofthegrandalmoner，Ihadtriumphedoverthewishesof
　　thearchbishopofParis，andthoseoftheconfessor。
　　Theprinces
　　andprincessesawaitedtheevent；allwascalmcomposure；when，
　　allatonce，thebarriersIhadbeensocarefullyerectingwere
　　crushedbeneathmyfeet，atonesuddenandunexpectedblow。
　　Thekingwasbynomeanseasyinhisownmindwithregardtohis
　　illness。
　　Themanymessagesthatwerecontinuallywhisperedaround
　　him，theremediesadministered，and，aboveall，theabsenceofhis
　　grandsons，allconvincedhimthatsomethingofaveryunusualand
　　alarmingnaturewasprogressing。
　　Hisownfeelingsmight，
　　likewise，wellassurehimthathewasattackedbyanillnessofno
　　ordinarynature。
　　Torturedbeyondfurtherbearingbythesuggestions
　　ofhisfancy，LouisXVatlengthresolvedtoascertainthetruth，
　　and，withthisintent，closelyquestionedBordeuandLemonnier，
　　whodidtheirbesttodeceivehim。
　　Still，dissatisfiedwiththeir
　　evasivereplies，hewatchedanopportunity，whentheywereboth
　　absent，todesireLaMartinierewouldatonceexplainthetrue
　　maladywithwhichhewasthensuffering。
　　LaMartinierepuzzled
　　andconfused，couldonlyexclaim，
　　“Ientreatofyou，sire，nottofatigueyourselfwithconversation；
　　rememberhowstronglyyouhavebeenforbiddenallexertion。“
　　“Iamnochild，LaMartiniere，“criedLouisXV，hischeeksglowing
　　withincreasedfire；“andIinsistuponbeingmadeacquaintedwith
　　theprecisenatureofmypresentillness。
　　Youhavealwaysserved
　　meloyallyandfaithfully，andfromyouIexpecttoreceivethat
　　candidstatementeveryoneaboutmeseemsbentuponconcealing。“
　　“Endeavourtogetsomesleep，sire，“rejoinedLaMartiniere，“and
　　donotexhaustyourselfbyspeakingatpresent。“
　　“LaMartiniere，youirritatemebeyondallendurance。
　　Ifyou
　　loveme，speakout，Iconjureyou，andtellme，frankly，thename
　　ofmycomplaint。“
　　“Doyouinsistuponit，sire？“
　　“Ido，myfriend，Ido。“
　　“Then，sire，youhavethesmall-pox；butbenotalarmed，itisa
　　diseaseasfrequentlycuredasmanyothers。“
　　“Thesmall-pox！“
　　exclaimedtheking，inavoiceofhorror；“have
　　Iindeedthatfataldisease？
　　anddoyoutalkofcuringit？“
　　“Doubtless，sire；manydieofitaswellasotherdisorders，but
　　wearesanguineinourhopesandexpectationsofsaving
　　yourmajesty。“
　　Thekingmadenoreply，but，turnedheavilyinhisbedandthrew
　　thecoverletoverhisface。
　　Asilenceensued，whichlasteduntil
　　thereturnofthephysicians，when，findingtheymadenoallusion
　　tohiscondition，thekingaddressedtheminacooland
　　offendedtone。
　　“Why，“saidhe，“haveyouconcealedfrommethefactofmyhaving
　　thesmall-pox？“
　　Thisabruptinquirypetrifiedthemwith
　　astonishment，andunabletoframeaproperreply，theystood
　　speechlesswithalarmandapprehension。
　　“Yes，“resumedtheking，
　　“butforLaMartiniere，Ishouldhavediedinignoranceofmy
　　danger。
　　IknownowthestateinwhichIam，andbeforelongI
　　shallbegatheredtomyforefathers。“
　　Allaroundhimstrovetocombatthisidea，andexertedtheirutmost
　　endeavourstopersuadetheroyalpatientthathisdisorderhad
　　assumedthemostfavourableshape，andthatnotashadowof
　　dangerwasperceptible，butinvain；fortheblowhadfallen，and
　　thehaplessking，struckwithafatalpresentimentofcomingill，
　　turnedadeafeartoalltheycouldadvance。
　　Bordeu，deeplyconcernedforwhathadtranspired，hastenedto
　　announcetotheducdeRichelieutheturnwhichhadtakenplace
　　inthefaceofaffairs。
　　Nothingcouldexceedtheragewithwhich
　　thenewswasreceived。
　　Thedukehurriedtotheking’sbedside。
　　“Isit，indeed，true，sire，“inquiredhe，“thatyourmajestydoubts
　　ofyourperfectrestorationtohealth？
　　MayIpresumetoinquire
　　whetheranycircumstancehasoccurredtodiminishyourconfidence
　　inyourmedicalattendants？“
　　“DucdeRichelieu，“repliedtheking，lookingasthoughhewould
　　searchintohisverysoul，“Ihavethesmall-pox。
　　“
　　“Well，“returnedtheduke，“and，asIunderstand，ofamost
　　favourablesort；perhaps，itmighthavebeenbetterthatLa
　　Martinierehadsaidnothingaboutit。
　　However，itisamalady
　　asreadilysubduedbyartasanyother；youmustnotallowyourself
　　tofeelanyuneasinessrespectingit，sciencehasnowsomuch
　　improvedinthetreatmentofthismalady。“
　　“Idoubtnotitsabilitytocureothers，butme！
　　Indeed，ducde
　　Richelieu，Iwouldmuchratherfacemyoldparliamentthanthis
　　inveteratedisease。“
　　“Yourmajesty’sbeingabletojestisagoodsign。“
　　Atthismoment，ignorantofallthathadtakenplace，Ientered
　　theroom；for，inthegeneralconfusion，nopersonhadinformed
　　meofit。
　　ThemomentLouisXVperceivedme，heexclaimedina
　　hollowtone，
　　“Dearestcountess，Ihavethesmall-pox。“
　　Atthesewordsacryofterrorescapedme。
　　“Surely，sire，“exclaimedI，“thisissomewanderingofyour
　　imagination，andyourmedicalattendantsareverywrongtopermit
　　youtoindulgeitforaminute。“
　　“Peace！“
　　returnedLouisXV；“youknownotwhatyousay。
　　I
　　havethesmall-pox，Irepeat；and，thankstoLa
　　Martiniere，I
　　nowknowmyrealstate。“
　　Inowperceivedwhosehandhaddealttheblow，andseeingat
　　oncealltheconsequencesofthedisclosure，exclaimedinmy
　　anger，turningtowardsLaMartiniere，
　　“Youhaveachievedanoblework，indeed，sir；youcouldnot
　　restrainyourselfwithintheboundsofprudence，andyouseethe
　　statetowhichyouhavereducedhismajesty。“
　　LaMartiniereknewnotwhattoreply；thekingundertookhisdefence。
　　“Blamehimnot，“saidhe；“butforhimIshouldhavequittedthis
　　worldlikeaheathen，withoutmakingmypeacewithanoffendedGod。“
　　AtthesewordsIfaintedinthearmsofdoctorBordeu，who，with
　　theaidofmyattendants，carriedmetomychamber，and，atlength，
　　succeededinrestoringme。
　　Myfamilycrowdedaroundme，and
　　soughttoaffordmethatconsolationtheywereinequalneed
　　ofthemselves。
　　SpiteoftheordersIhadgiventoadmitnoperson，theduc
　　d’Aiguillonwouldinsistuponseeingme。
　　Heexertedhisbest
　　endeavourstopersuademetoarmmyselfwithcourage，and，like
　　atrueandattachedfriend，appearedtolosesightofhisown
　　approachingfallfrompowerinhisardentdesiretoserveme。
　　Inthismournfuloccupationanhourpassedaway，andleftmy
　　dejectedcompanionssighingoverthepresent，and，anticipating
　　evenworseprospectsthanthosenowbeforethem。
　　Terroroftheking——Acomplication——Filialpietyofthe
　　princesses——
　　LastinterviewbetweenmadameduBarryandLouisXV——Conversation
　　withthemarechaledeMirepoix——ThechancellorMaupeou——Thefragment——
　　ComteJean
　　Perhapsnopersoneverentertainedsogreatadreadofdeathas
　　LouisXV，consequentlynoonerequiredtobemorecarefully
　　preparedforthealarmingintelligencesoabruptlycommunicated
　　byLa
　　Martiniere，andwhich，inamanner，appearedtosignthe
　　king’sdeath-warrant。
　　Toeverypersonwhoapproachedhimthedespairingmonarchcould
　　utteronlythefatalphrase，“Ihavethesmall-pox，“which，in
　　hislips，wastantamounttohisdeclaringhimselfadeadman。
　　Alas！
　　hadhismaladybeenconfinedtothesmall-pox，hemight
　　stillhavebeensparedtoourprayers；but，unhappily，a
　　complicationofevils，whichhadlongbeenlurkinginhisveins，
　　burstforthwithaviolencewhich，unitedtohiscruelcomplaint，
　　badedefiancetosurgicalormedicalskill。
　　Yet，spiteoftheterrorwithwhichtheaugustsufferer
　　contemplatedhisapproachingend，hedidnotlosesightofthe
　　interestsofthenationasvestedinthepersonofthedauphin，
　　whomhepositivelyprohibited，aswellashisothergrandsons，
　　fromenteringhischamberorevenvisitingthepartofthechateau
　　heoccupied。
　　Afterthisheseemedtodivesthimselfofall
　　furthercareforsublunarythings；nopaperswerebroughtforhis
　　inspection，nordidheevermoresignanyofficialdocument。
　　ThenextrequestmadebyLouisXVwasforhisdaughters，who
　　presentedthemselvesbathedintears，andvainlystrivingto
　　repressthatgriefwhichburstforth
　　inspiteofalltheir
　　endeavours。
　　Thekingrepliedtotheirsobs，bysaying，“My
　　children，Ihavethesmall-pox；butweepnot。
　　Thesegentlemen
　　[pointingtowardsthephysicians]assuremetheycancureme。“
　　But，whileutteringthischeerfulsentence，hiseyecaughtthe
　　sternandironcountenanceofLaMartiniere，whoselookofcool
　　disbeliefseemedtodenythepossibilityofsuchanevent。
　　Withaviewtodivertherfatherfromthegloomwhichallat
　　oncecameoverhisfeatures，theprincessAdelaideinformedhim
　　thatshehadaletteraddressedtohimbyhersister，madameLouise。
　　“Letmehearit，“criedtheking；“itis，nodoubt，someheavenly
　　missionwithwhichsheischarged。
　　Butwhoknows？“
　　Hestopped，