inquiredI，angrily。
　　“Onlyforyourownsake，dearestaunt。“
　　“Ithankthem；butmyresolutionisformedtocommitmyself
　　entirelytoProvidenceinthismelancholyaffair。“
　　Thedaypassedon；andwithfeverishimpatienceIwaitedthe
　　arrivalofthenextcourier:hecame，atlength，andconfirmed
　　myworstfears；thekingwasentirelygivenoverbyhisphysicians，
　　andhisdissolutionwashourlyexpected。
　　Thelettercontaining
　　thismournfultidingsconcludedthus:——
　　“IhavejustseencomteJean，heishereincognito。
　　Wehadentirelyforgottenthatpassportswouldbe
　　necessary；however，Ihavenowfurnishedhimwith
　　fourforEngland，Germany，Italy，andSwitzerland。
　　Thecountisfarfrompartakingofyoursenseof
　　security，andiswiselyanxiousasIthinkof
　　shieldinghimselffromthefirstburstofroyal
　　vengeance。
　　Theduchesshasinformedmeofyour
　　refusalofanasylumatDeuxPonts；and，whileI
　　admireyourcourage，permitmetoadd，thatyou
　　shouldratherhavelistenedtothedictatesof
　　prudencethanmagnanimityunderpresentcircumstances。“
　　Thefollowingmorning，atanearlyhour，comteJeanenteredmy
　　chamber，saying，
　　“Iunderstandthekingisdead；haveyouheardanythingofit？“
　　“Werethereportcorrect，“answeredI，“Ishouldhaveknownit
　　eretheintelligencereachedParis。“
　　“Well，livingordead，Iamadvisedtokeepoutoftheway；and
　　thisnightwillseemeonmyjourneyfromParis。
　　Willyou
　　accompanyme？“
　　“No，IrepliedI；“Ihaverefusedtravellingwithamuchmore
　　creditablecompanionthanyourself。“
　　“Thereyouarewrongthen；for，dependuponit，acloisterwill
　　beyourfate；atanyratemybusinesshereisatanend。
　　Thenew
　　monarchisyoung，andattachedtohiswife，andmydaughter-in-law
　　istoogreatasimpletontobeturnedtoanyaccountatcourt。“
　　Mybrother-in-lawthenrequestedIwouldfurnishhimwithmoney。
　　IgavehimwhatIhad，andplacedinhishandsdiamondstothe
　　valueof30，000francs。
　　Hewasveryanxioustoobtainallmy
　　jewels，underpretenceofconveyingthemsafelyoutofthekingdom，
　　butthisIwastoowisetoagreeto；hewouldhavestakedthematt
　　hefirstgaming-tablehemetwith。
　　Weseparatedwithoutmuch
　　emotiononeitherside。
　　HenexttookleaveofChonandhis
　　daughter-in-law。
　　theformerweptbitterly，forshewasamost
　　excellentandamiablegirl——butthelatter，whoknewbuttoomuch
　　ofthevillainyofherfather-in-law，couldscarcelyrepress
　　herjoyathisdeparture。
　　ComteJeanperceivedit；and，according
　　tohisbrutalcustom，indulgedinacoarsejestatherexpense；
　　foroneofhismaximswastoholdallwomeninsovereigncontempt
　　butsuchascouldbeusefultohim。
　　Formyownpart，hisabsence
　　gavemesomethinglikepleasure；hispresencewaswearisometome；
　　itwaslikethedregsofthecupwhichhadintoxicatedmysenses。
　　Duringthedayseveralfalsereportsarrivedofthedeathofthe
　　king；butatlength，abouthalfpastfouro’clockintheafternoon，
　　Ireceivedthefollowingletter:——
　　“MADAM，-YouhavelostyourbestfriendandIan
　　excellentmaster:atthreeclockthisdayhismajesty
　　breathedhislast。
　　Icanscarcelydescribetoyou
　　thehorrorsofhisdeath-bed。
　　Theprincesses
　　AdelaideandSophiebravedthefrightfulcontagion
　　tothelastandneverquittedhimtillthelast
　　sparkhadflown。
　　Alas！
　　withtheexceptionof
　　themselves，everyattendantopenlyexpressed
　　theirwearinessanddisgust。
　　“Forseveraldaysthephysicianshaveforbidden
　　thewindowstobeopened；andthosecondemnedto
　　inhalethepestilentialvaporoftheroomvainly
　　soughttocounteractthembyeverypowerful
　　fumigation。
　　Alas，madam，whatisakingwhenhe
　　cannolongergraspthesceptre？
　　Howgreata
　　levellerisdeath！
　　Theprelatesabandonedthesick
　　chamber，andleftasimplecureofthechapelto
　　taketheirplace；
　　thelordsinwaitingandother
　　officersshrunkfromthedutiesoftheiroffice，
　　andwiththeireyesfixedonatime-pieceeagerly
　　awaitedthehourwhichshouldfreethemfromit。
　　Theprincesses，whoperceivedthisimpatience，
　　durstmakenocomplaint，whiletheking，occasionally
　　recoveringhissenses，utteredbrokensentences，
　　expressiveofthereligiousterrorwhichhadseized
　　hismind。
　　Atlength，atafewminutespastthree
　　o’clock，Lemonnier，inhiscapacityoffirst
　　physician，said，afterlayinghishanduponthe
　　heartofthepatient，andplacingaglassbefore
　　hislips，’Thekingisdead。’Atthesewordsall
　　presentstrovewithindecenthastetoquitthe
　　chamber；notasinglesigh，notoneregretwas
　　heard。
　　Theprincesseswerecarriedinsensible
　　totheirapartments。
　　“Theextinctionofawhichhadbeen
　　placedinacertainwindow，announcedtheaccession
　　ofthedauphineretheducd’Aumonthadinformed
　　himofthedeceaseofhisaugustgrandsire。“
　　Thisletterwrungfrommesomebittertears，aswellfortheking，
　　whohadsolavishlybestowedhisaffectionsuponme，asfor
　　myself。
　　Whatwouldnowbemyfate？
　　Alas！
　　Iknewnot；allmy
　　brilliantprospectswereburiedinthecoffinofmylateprotector。
　　Theducd’AiguillonarrivedatRuelaboutmidnight；he，aswell
　　astheotherministerswhohadbeenaboutthelatemonarchduring
　　hislastillness，beingprohibitedbyetiquettefromfollowingthe
　　presentmonarchtoChoisy，whitherthewholeoftheroyalfamily
　　hadretiredforafewdays。
　　Hetoldusthattheducd’Aumont，
　　havingcommandedLaMartinieretoproceedwiththeembalmingof
　　theroyalcorpse，thatphysicianreplied，“Certainly，mylord，
　　itshallbedoneifyoucommandit，but，inthatcase，theduties
　　ofyourofficecompelyoutoreceivehismajesty’sbowelsina
　　goldendish；andIprotest，thatsuchisthestateofthebody，
　　thatofallwhomayassistattheoperation，notonewillsurvive
　　eightdays。
　　Itisforyourgracetodeterminewhatshallbedone。“
　　M。d’Aumontthoughtnomoreofembalminghislatemaster，but
　　gaveordersforthebodybeingimmediatelyplacedinaleaden
　　coffin，fromwhichherestillissuedfrightfuleffluvia。
　　UptothemomentofmyquittingRuelmadamedeMirepoixgaveme
　　notokenofrecollection:Iheardthatherselfandtheprincede
　　Beauvauwerereconciled，andforhersakeIrejoicedatit。
　　No
　　personcamenearusthewholeofthedaywiththeexceptionof
　　M。deCosse，andIsatinhourlyexpectationofsomeorderfrom
　　court。
　　Atlengthwedescriedatravellingcarriagewithsix
　　horses，proceedingatarapidpaceuptheavenue。
　　“Iknowthat
　　livery，“exclaimedI；“’tisthatofmyhumbleadorer，my
　　obsequiousslave，myfriendatcourt，theducdelaVrilliere，
　　commonlycalled。
　　Youseethatthegoodsoul
　　couldnotdelegatetoanotherthepleasingtaskofarrestingme；
　　butpermitmetoretiretomyapartment；itisfittingheshould
　　seekmethereifhehasanycommunicationtomaketome。“
　　The
　　duchess，approvedmyresolution；andtheducdela
　　Vrilliere
　　havingbeenintroducedintothesalon，afterthefirstcompliments，
　　requestedtoseeme，thathemightacquaintmewiththe
　　king’spleasure。
　　MademoiselleduBarryundertooktoinformmeoftheduke’sarrival。
　　“Youwerenotmistaken，dearsister，“saidshe；“theducdela
　　Vrilliereisthebeareroftheking’sordersrespectingyou:but
　　composeyourself，Ibeseechyou。“
　　“Fearnot，“saidI；“Iamascalmasyouwouldhaveme。
　　Tell
　　theviledissembler，Imeantheduke，Iawaithim“
　　M。Tartuffewasbutafaintcopyofashepresented
　　himselfbeforeme。
　　Hismannersstillretainedpartoftheirformer
　　servility，buttherewasalurkingsmileabouthim，whichproved
　　howwellhewaspleasedwiththeparthehadtoperform。
　　Heapproachedmewithlingeringstepsandanairofmysterious
　　importance，whileasortofsardonicgrincontradictedthesorrow
　　heendeavoredtoforceintohiscountenance。
　　Formyownpart，
　　Icausedthefolding-doorstobethrownopen，andadvancing
　　ceremoniously，stoodtoreceivetheordersoftheking。
　　Ibowed
　　stifflyandsilently；and，withsomethinglikeamalicious
　　satisfaction，Iwitnessedtheembarrassmentintowhichmycool
　　andcollectedmannerthrewhim。
　　“Madam，“saidheatlast，“Ihaveapainfuldutytoperform:ina
　　word，Iamthebearerofa。“
　　“Well，sir！
　　“saidI，tranquilly。
　　“Madam，ImustrequestyoutobelievehowgreatlyIregretthe
　　taskimposeduponme；butmydutyandobediencetotheking——“
　　“Wouldenableyoutostrangleyournearestrelative。
　　Allthatis
　　wellknown；but，inthenameofallthatisbase，cowardly，and
　　unmanly，couldnoonebutbefoundtoremindadistressed
　　andafflictedwomanthatshehaslostheronlyfriendandsupport？“
　　“Madam，Irepeat，obedience——necessity——“
　　“Enough，sir；Ipityyou。“
　　“Madam，yououtragethekinginmyperson。“
　　“No，sir；Irespectthekingtoohighlytobelievethattherecould
　　everbeanyrelationbetweenhimandonewhoistoocontemptible
　　toremindmethathewasbutafewdaysbackthemostcringing
　　ofmyservileslaves。“
　　，boilingwithrage，withanunsteadyhand，
　　unfoldedandread，inatremblingvoice，thefollowingwords:
　　“MADAMELACOMTESSEDuBarry，——Forreasons，
　　whichhavefortheirobjectthepreservationof
　　thetranquillityofmykingdom，andtheprevention
　　ofanystatesecretsconfidedtoyoubeing
　　promulgated，Isendthisorderforyourimmediate
　　removalto，accompaniedbyone
　　femaleattendantonly，andundertheescortofthe
　　exemptwhohasthenecessaryorders。
　　Thismeasure
　　isbynomeansintendedtobeeitherdisagreeable
　　oroflongduration。
　　IthereforeprayGodtohave
　　youinhisholykeeping，
　　“Signed
　　Louis。“
　　“That，madam，“continuedtheduke，“ishismajesty’spleasure，
　　andyouhavenothingtodobuttosubmit。“
　　“Youradvicewasnotasked，mylord，“returnedI；“Ihonorand
　　obeytheking’sslightestwish，butyourpresenceisnolonger
　　requisite；youwillthereforebepleasedtoridmeofit。“
　　Theduke，resuminghisairofmockhumility，bowedlow，and
　　departed。
　　WhenIwasalone，Imustconfessafewtearsescapedme，butI
　　soonwipedthemaway；myresolutionwastaken。
　　Theduchessed’Aiguillonandmyfemalefriendshastenedtoquestion
　　merelativetotheduke’svisit。
　　Ishowedthemthe，whichconfirmedthemisfortunetheyhadsuspected
　　fromseeingHamond，whowastobemyescort，waitinginthe
　　anteroomtoconductmetotheabbeyof，near
　　Meaux，theplaceofmyexile。
　　Theyallevincedtheutmostsorrow，
　　andbothChonandmynieceprotestedthatwiththeking’spermission，
　　theywouldwillinglyattendmeinmyseclusion。
　　Ifeltgrateful
　　forthismarkofattachment；thensendingfortheexempt，I
　　inquiredwhetherImightbeallowedsufficienttimetowritea
　　letter，andcauseafewnecessarypreparationstobemade？
　　“Madam，Irepliedhe，“myonlyordersaretoaccompanyyou
　　to，thehourofdepartureislefttoyourself。“
　　Ithenpennedafewhastylinestotheking，indicativeofmy
　　wishesforthehappinessandprosperityofhisreign，ofmyready
　　obediencetohiscommands，andofmyearnestwishesthatmy
　　sister-in-lawandniecemightbepermittedtovisitme。
　　This
　　letterIwaspromisedshouldbepunctuallydelivered。
　　Ihadnow
　　thepainfuldutytoperformofchoosingbetweenHenrietteand
　　Genevieve，asonlyoneattendantwasallowedmeat。
　　Henriettepleadedherclaimasmyservant，whilethe
　　excellentGenevievetimidlyurgedherearlyfriendship。
　　“Letchancedecideit，“criedI。
　　Theydrewlots，andGenevieve
　　wasselected。
　　WereachedPontauxDamesinthemiddleofthenight；itwasa
　　miserablelookingplace，whichtookitsdatefromthetimeof
　　SaintLouisorCharlemagneforoughtIknow。
　　Whatacontrast
　　metmyeyesbetweenthisruinousoldbuilding，itsbarewalls，
　　woodenseats，andgloomycasements，andthesplendorofVersailles
　　orChoisy；allmyfirmnessforsookme，Ithrewmyselfweeping
　　intothearmsofGenevieve。
　　Acourier-hadannouncedmyintendedarrival，andIfoundallthe
　　goodsistersimpatienttoseeme。
　　Whateagercuriositydidthe
　　piousnunsevincetobeholdoneofwhomtheyhadheardsomuch
　　evenintheirquietretreat，andhowmanyquestionshadItoreply
　　tofromthosewhohadthecouragetoaddressme。
　　Alas！
　　I，of
　　allthethrongassembled，wasthemostanxiousforquietandsolitude。
　　Iwaslodgedinthebestapartments，which，howevermagnificent
　　thegoodpeopleofmightconsiderthem，were
　　notonaparwiththegranariesofLucienne。
　　Butcomplaintwas
　　useless，andIcouldonlyresignmyselftowhatwasofferedme。
　　End