butitwaseasytoperceivethattothefearofdeathwasaddeda
　　dreadofhiswell-beinginanotherworld。
　　MadameAdelaidethen
　　readtheletterwithalowvoice，whiletheattendantsretired
　　toarespectfuldistance。
　　Alleyesweredirectedtothe
　　countenanceoftheking，inordertoreadtherethenatureofits
　　contents；butalreadyhadtheravagesofhisfataldiseaserobbed
　　hisfeaturesofeveryexpression，savethatofpainandsuffering。
　　Theprincessesnowtooktheirstationsbesidetheirparent，and
　　establishedthemselvesasnurses，anofficewhich，Icanwith
　　truthaffirm，theycontinuedtofilluntothelastwithallthe
　　devotionofthepurestfilialpiety。
　　OnthissamedayLouisXVcausedmetobesentfor。
　　Iranto
　　hisbedsidetremblingwithalarm。
　　Thevariouspersonsengagedin
　　hisapartmentretiredwhentheysawme，andwewereleftalone。
　　“Mybelovedfriend，“saidtheking，’Ihavethesmall-pox；Iam
　　stillveryill。“
　　“Nay，sire，“interruptedI，“youmustnotfancythingsworsethan
　　theyare；youwilldowell，dependuponit，andweshallyetpass
　　manyhappydaystogether。“
　　“Doyouindeedthinkso？“
　　returnedLouisXV。
　　“Mayheavengrant
　　yourprophecybeacorrectone。
　　ButseethestateinwhichInow
　　am；givemeyourhand。“
　　Hetookmyhandandmademefeelthepustuleswithwhichhis
　　burningcheekswerecovered。
　　Iknownotwhateffectthistouch
　　ofmyhandmighthaveproduced，butthekinginhisturnpatted
　　myface，pushedbackthecurlswhichhungnegligentlyovermy
　　brow；then，incliningmetowardshim，drewmyheaduponhis
　　pillow。
　　IsubmittedtothiswhimwithallthecourageIcould
　　assume；Ievenwentsofarastobeuponthepointofbestowing
　　agentlekissuponhisforehead。
　　But，stoppingme，witha
　　mournfulair，hesaid，“No，mylovelycountess；Iamnolonger
　　myself，buthereisaminiaturewhichhasnotundergonethesame
　　changeasitsunfortunatemaster。“
　　Itooktheminiature，whichIplacedwithrespectfultenderness
　　inmybosom，norhaveIeverpartedwithitsince。
　　Thisscenelastedforsomeminutes，afterwhichIwasretiring，
　　butthekingcalledmeback，seizedmyhand，whichhetenderly
　　kissed，andthenwhisperedanaffectionate“Adieu。“
　　Thesewere
　　thelastwordsIeverheardfromhislips。
　　Uponre-enteringmyapartmentsIfoundmadamedeMirepoixawaiting
　　me，towhomIrelatedallthathadtakenplace，expressing，atthe
　　sametime，myearnesthopeofbeingagainsummoned，erelong，to
　　thepresenceofmyfriendandbenefactor。
　　“Donotdeceiveyourself，mydear，“saidshe；“dependuponit
　　youhavehadyourlastinterview；youshouldhaveemployedit
　　moreprofitably。
　　Hisportrait！
　　why，ifImistakenot，youhave
　　already。
　　Whydidyounotcarryaboutwithyousomedeed
　　ofsettlementreadyforsignature？
　　hewouldhavedeniedyou
　　nothingatsuchamoment，whenyoumayrestassuredheknew
　　himselftobetakinghislastfarewell。“
　　“Isitpossible？“
　　exclaimedI。
　　“Andcanyoureallysupposethe
　　kingbelievedhespoketomeforthelasttime？“
　　“Ihavenottheslightestdoubtofit；Ihaveknownhimformany
　　aday。
　　HeremembersthesceneofMetz，andlooksuponyouas
　　formingthesecondeditionofthepoorduchessedeChateauroux，
　　who，bytheby，wasnotequaltoyouinanyrespect。“
　　Iburstintoafitoftears，butnotofregretforhavingallowed
　　mylateinterviewwiththekingtopassinsounprofitablea
　　manner。
　　However，themarechale，misconceivingthecauseofthis
　　burstofgrief，exclaimed，“Come，come；itistoolatenow，and
　　allyoursorrowcannotrecallthelasthalf-hour。
　　But，
　　mademoiselleduBarry，“continuedshe，“Iadviseyoutocommence
　　yourpackingupatonce，thatwhenthegrandmovecomesyoumay
　　notinyourhurry，leaveanythingbehindyou。“
　　Theseremarksincreasedmyaffliction，butthemarechalehadno
　　intentionofwoundingmyfeelings，andworldly-mindedasshewas，
　　consideredallthatcouldbesavedoutofthewreckastheonly
　　subjectworthyattention。
　　Meanwhile，comteJean，withagloomy
　　anddespondingair，continuedsilentlywithfoldedarmstopace
　　theroom，tillallatonce，asifsuddenlystruckbythearguments
　　ofmadamedeMirepoix，heexclaimed，
　　“Themarechaleisright“；andabruptlyquittedtheapartment，as
　　iftocommencehisownpreparations。
　　EremadamedeMirepoixhadleftmeandsheremainedtillalate
　　hour，theducsd’AiguillonanddeCossearrived，who，although
　　lessexperiencedintheirknowledgeoftheking’scharacter，were
　　yetfullyofheropinionrespectingmylastvisittohim。
　　Scarcelyhadthesevisitorswithdrawn，thanIwasapprizedthat
　　thechancellorofFrancedesiredtoseeme。
　　Hewasadmitted，
　　andthefirstglanceofthecountenanceofM。deMaupeouconvinced
　　methatourdayofpowerwasrapidlyclosing。
　　“Yourservant，cousin，“saidhe，seatinghimselfwithoutthe
　　smallestceremony；“atwhatpageofourhistoryhavewearrived？“
　　“Bytheunusualfreedomandeffronteryofyourmanner，“answered
　　I，“Ishouldsurmisethatwehavereachedtheword。“
　　“Oh，“repliedthechancellor，“Icraveyourpardonforhaving
　　omittedmybestbow；but，mygoodcousin，mypresentvisitisa
　　friendlyone，toadviseyoutoburnyourpaperswithaslittle
　　delayaspossible。“
　　“Thankyouforyourconsideratecounsel，“saidI，coolly，“butI
　　havenopaperstodestroy。
　　Ihaveneithermixedwithanystate
　　intrigue，norreceivedapensionfromtheEnglishgovernment。
　　Nothingwillbefoundinmydrawersbutsomeunanswered
　　billets-doux。“
　　“ThenasIcandonothingforyou，mygoodcousin，obligemeby
　　givingthispapertotheducd’Aiguillon。“
　　“Whatisit？“
　　inquiredI，withmuchcuriosity。
　　“Haveyouforgottenourmutualengagementtosupporteachother，
　　andnottoquittheministryuntiltheotherretiredalso？
　　Ihave
　　latelybeencompelledfromperceivinghowdeeplythedukewas
　　manoeuveringagainstmetosendhimacopyofthisagreement。
　　UnderothercircumstancesImighthaveavailedmyselfofthis
　　writing，butnowitmattersnot；theblowwhichdismissesme
　　proceedsfromotherhandsthanhis，andIamwillingtoleave
　　himtheconsolationofremaininginpowerafewdaysaftermyself。
　　Givehim，then，thisuselessdocument；andnow，farewell，my
　　prettycousin，letustakealastembrace。“
　　Uponwhichthechancellor，presuminguntilthelastuponour
　　imaginaryrelationship，kissedmycheek，andhavingputintomy
　　handsthepaperinquestion，retiredwithaprofoundbow。
　　Thisironicalleavetakingleftmestupefiedwithastonishment，
　　andwellIpresagedmycomingdisgracefromtheabsurdmummery
　　thechancellorhadthoughtfittoplayoff。
　　ComteJean，whohadseenM。deMaupeouquitthehouse，entered
　　myapartmenttoinquirethereasonofhisvisit。
　　Silentand
　　dejected，Iallowedmybrother-in-lawtotakeupthepaper，
　　whichhereadwithoutanyceremony。
　　“Whatisthemeaningofthis
　　scrawl？“
　　criedcomteJean，withoneofhisusualoaths；“uponmy
　　wordourcousinisafinefellow，“continuedhe，crushingthe
　　paperbetweenhisfingers。
　　“I’llengagethathestillhopesto
　　keephisplace；however，onethingconsolesme，andthatis，that
　　bothheandhisparliamentwillsoonbesenttotherightabout。“
　　OurconversationwasinterruptedbytheentranceofChamilly，who
　　cametoacquaintmethatthekingwassleeping，anddidnotwish
　　tobeagaindisturbedthatnight。
　　Rememberingmyusual
　　omnipotenceinthechateau，Iwasabout，likeatrueidiot，to
　　provetoChamillythattheking’sinterdictdidnotextendtome，
　　whenIwasstoppedinmypurposebytheappearanceoftheduc
　　d’Aiguillon；andasitwasnownearlyeleveno’clockatnight，I
　　couldscarcelydoubthisbeingthebearerofsome
　　extraordinarymessage。
　　Theducd’Aiguillonbringsanorderfortheimmediatedeparture
　　ofmadameduBarry——Theking’sremarksrecapitulated——Thecountess
　　holdsaprivycouncil——LettertomadamedeMirepoixandtheducs
　　deCosseandd’Aiguillon——Nightofdeparture——Ruel——Visitfrom
　　madamedeForcalquier
　　IsaidIdidnotexpecttheducd’Aiguillon；andthegriefwhich
　　wasspreadoverhisfeatures，andthelargetearswhichstoodin
　　hiseyes，persuadedmebuttooplainlythatallhopewasatanend。
　　“Isthekingdead？“
　　criedI，inastifledvoice。
　　“No，madam，“repliedhe，“LouisXVstilllives，norisitbyany
　　meanscertainthatthemisfortuneyouapprehendisinstoreforus。“
　　“Hesendsmefromhim，then，“exclaimedI，withaconvulsivecry，
　　“andmyenemieshavetriumphed。“
　　“Hismajestyisbutofhumannature，madam，“repliedtheduke；
　　“hefeelshimselfdangerouslyill，dreadsthefuture，andbelieves
　　thatheoweshispeopleasortofreparationforpasterrors。“
　　“How，mylordduke，“interruptedI，“thisgravelanguageinyour
　　lips——butnomatter。
　　Informmeonlyatwhosedesireyoustate
　　thesemelancholyfacts；speak，Iampreparedforyourmission，
　　beitwhatitmay。“
　　“Youshallheareverything，madam，“repliedtheduke，leadingme
　　toanarm-chair。
　　Iseatedmyself；mysisters-in-law，myniece，
　　andcomteJeanstoodaroundme，eagerlywaitingtheduke’s
　　communication。
　　“Afewhoursafteryouhadbeenremovedfromhis
　　chamber，thekinginquiredoftheprincessAdelaidewhetherit
　　weregenerallyknownatParisthathehadthesmall-pox。