50 chapters
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50 chapters
With a special introduction by Robert Arnot, M.A.
With a special introduction by Robert Arnot, M.A.
CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XII CHAPTER XIII CHAPTER XIV CHAPTER XV CHAPTER XVI CHAPTER XVII CHAPTER XVIII CHAPTER XIX CHAPTER XX CHAPTER XXI CHAPTER XXII CHAPTER XXIII CHAPTER XXIV CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXVI CHAPTER XXVII CHAPTER XXVIII CHAPTER XXIX CHAPTER XXX CHAPTER XXXI CHAPTER XXXII CHAPTER XXXIII CHAPTER XXXIV CHAPTER XXXV CHAPTER XXXVI CHAPTER XXXVII CHAPTER XXXVIII CHAPTER XXXIX CHAPTER XL CHAPTER XLI CHAPTER XLII CHAPTER XLIII CHAPTER XLIV CHAPTER XLV
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I
I
The duc de la Vauguyon and the comtesse du Barry—The marquis de Chauvelin and the comtesse—M. de Montbarrey and the comtesse— Intrigues—Lebel—Arrival of the du Barry family—The comte d'Hargicourt—The demoiselles du Barry—Marriage of the comtesse—The marquis de Bonrepos—Correspondences—The broken glass Journey to Choisy—The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV—The king of Denmark—The czar Peter—Frederick II—The abbé de la Chapelle—An experiment—New intrigues—Secret agents-The comtesse and Louis XV—Of t
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XXXIX
XXXIX
My alarms—An èlève of the Pare-aux-Cerfs —Comte Jean endeavours to direct the king's ideas—A supper at Trianon—Table talk—The king is seized with illness—His conversation with me—The joiner's daughter and the small-pox—My despair—Conduct of La Martinière the surgeon La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles—The young prophet appears again to madame du Barry—Prediction respecting cardinal de Richelieu—The joiner's daughter requests to see madame du Barry—Madame de Mirepoix and the
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SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT ARNOT
SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT ARNOT
Up to the time of the Du Barry the court of France had been the stage where the whole political and human drama of that country was enacted. Under Louis XV the drama had been transformed into parades—parades which were of as much importance to the people as to those who took part in them. The spectators, hitherto silent, now began to hiss and be moved. The scene of the comedy was changed, and the play was continued among the spectators. The old theatre became an ante-chamber or a dressing-room,
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
Letter from Lebel—Visit from Lebel—Nothing conclusive—Another visit from Lebel—Invitation to sup with the king—Instructions of the comte Jean to the comtesse One morning comte Jean entered my apartment, his face beaming with delight. "Read," said he, giving me a letter, "read, Jeannette: victory is ours. News from Morand. Lebel is coming to Paris, and will dine with us. Are we alone?" "No, there are two of your countrymen whom you invited yesterday." "I will write and put them off. Morand alone
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
A slight preface—Arrival at Versailles— "La toilette" —Portrait of the king—The duc de Richelieu—The marquis de Chauvelin—The duc de la Vauguyon-Supper with the king—The first night—The following day—The curiosity of comte Jean—Presents from the king—How disposed of The chances against our succeeding in our enterprise were at least a thousand to one. The sea upon which, trusting to the favorable influence of my leading star, we were about to venture, was filled with rocks and shoals which threat
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
The king's message—Letter from the countess—A second supper at Versailles—The duc d'Ayen—A short account of M. de Fleury—The duc de Duras—Conversation with the king—The next day—A visit from the duc de Richelieu—Visit from the duc de la Vauguyon—Visit from comte Jean—Visit from the king—A third supper—Favor Early the following day I received a message from the king, accompanied with a bouquet of flowers tied round with a string of diamonds. A short letter was annexed to this splendid gift, which
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
The duc d'Aiguillon—The duc de Fronsac—The duchesse de Grammont—The meeting—Sharp words on both sides—The duc de Choiseul—Mesdames d'Aiguillon—Letter from the duc d'Aiguillon—Reply of madame du Barry—Mademoiselle Guimard—The prince de Soubise—Explanation—The Rohans—Madame de Marsan—Court friendships The duc de Richelieu, who was in haste to go to Guienne, lost no time in presenting to me the duc d'Aiguillon. He was not young, but handsome and well made, with much amiability and great courage. A
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
The duc de la Vauguyon and the comtesse du Barry—The marquis de Chauvelin and the comtesse—M. de Montbarrey and the comtesse— Intrigues—Lebel—Arrival of the du Barry family—The comte d'Hargicourt—The demoiselles du Barry—Marriage of the comtesse—The marquis de Bonrepos—Correspondences—The broken glass The prince de Soubise was not the only person who wished to act in the capacity of mentor to me. M. the duc de la Vauguyon attempted also to be the guide of my youth. This nobleman was too much of
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Journey to Choisy—The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV—The king of Denmark—The czar Peter—Frederick II—The abbé de la Chapelle—An experiment—New intrigues—Secret agents-The comtesse and Louis XV—Of the presentation—Letter of the comtesse to the duc d'Aiguillon—Reply—Prince de Soubise Up to this period I had resided constantly at Versailles or Paris, according to the pleasure of the king, but had never followed his majesty in any of his journeys. He wished to pass some days at his delightful châtea
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
The comtesse and the duc d'Aiguillon—M. de Soubise—Louis XV and the duc d'Aiguillon—Letter from the comtesse to the king—Answer of the king-The " Nouvelles a la Main "—The comtesse and Louis XV—The supper—The court ladies mystified—The comtesse and M. de Sartines I was still triumphing at the skill which I had displayed in my conference with the prince de Soubise when the duc d'Aiguillon entered. "Good heaven," said he, kissing my hand very tenderly, "into what inquietude did you throw me by you
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
The sieur Ledoux—The lettre de cachet —The duc de la Vrillière— Madame de Langeac—M. de Maupeou—Louis XV—The comte Jean On that very evening, the king having come to me, I said to him, "Sire, I have made acquaintance with M. de Sartines." "What! has he been to make friends with you?" "Something like it: but he has appeared to me less culpable than I thought. He had only yielded to the solicitation of my personal enemy." "You cannot have one at my court, madame; the lieutenant of police would hav
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
The king of Denmark—The courtesans of Paris—The duc de Choiseul and the bishop of Orleans—Witty repartees of the king of Denmark—His visit to madame du Barry—"The court of king Petaud," a satire—Letter of the duc d'Aiguillon to Voltaire—The duchesse de Grammont mystified—Unpublished letter of Voltaire's From this moment, and in spite of all that comte Jean could say against it, a new counsellor was admitted to my confidence. He was the chancellor. The duc d'Aiguillon and he were on very good ter
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
When is the presentation to take place?—Conversation on this subject with the king—M. de Maupeou and M. de la Vauguyon—Conversation on the same subject with the king and the duc de Richelieu—M. de la Vrillière—M. Bertin—-Louis XV and the comtesse—The king's promise—The fire-works, an anecdote—The marquise de Castellane—M. de Maupeou at the duc de Choiseul's—The duchesse de Grammont In spite of the love of the duchesse de Grammont, the king of Denmark departed at last. Louis XV having resumed his
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
A word concerning the duchesse de Choiseul—The apartment of the Comte de Noailles—The Noailles—Intrigues for presentation—The comte de Bearn—M. Morand once more—Visit of the comtesse Bearn to the comtesse du Barry—Conversation—Interested complaisance The king and the comtesse du Barry—Dispute and reconciliation I showed the king this conversation, in which I had so shamefully vilified by the duchesse de Grammont. Louis XV was very much inclined to testify his disapprobation to this lady, but was
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
The comtesse de Bearn—The supper—Louis XV—Intrigues against my presentation—M. de Roquelaure—The scalded foot—The comtesse d'Aloigny—The duc d'Aiguillon and madame de Bearn—Anger of the king's daughters—Madame Adélaïde and the comtesse du Barry—Dissatisfaction of the king M. Morand was again put in requisition, and went from me to ask madame de Bearn to come and sup at my apartments. We were in committee—my sisters-in-law, myself, and comte Jean. The comtesse made some difficulties at first, und
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
Of the presentation—The king and the duc de Richelieu at comtesse du Barry's—M. de la Vauguyon—Conversation—Letter of the duke to the comtesse du Barry—Reply—The countess unites herself with the Jesuit party—Madame Louise—Madame Sophie—M. Bertin—Madame de Bercheny This fit of anger of madame Adélaïde had given additional courage to the cabal. It began to exclaim and plot against me with redoubled force; hoping thus to intimidate the king, and effectually bar my presentation; but it only tended t
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
The princesses consent to the presentation of madame du Barry— Ingenious artifice employed by the king to offer a present to the duc de la Vauguyon—Madame du Barry's letter respecting it—The duke's reply—The king's letter—The court in despair—Couplets concerning madame du Barry—Her presentation—A change in public opinion—An evening party at the house of the countess—Joy of her partizans—Conversation with the chancellor respecting the lady of the maréchal de Mirepoix The departure of the comtesse
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
The Comte de la Marche, a prince of the blood—Madame de Beauvoir, his mistress—Madame du Barry complains to the prince de Soubise of the princess de Guémenée—The king consoles the countess for this—The duc de Choiseul—The king speaks to him of madame du Barry—Voltaire writes to her—The opinions of Richelieu and the king concerning Voltaire Amongst those personages who came to compliment me on the evening of my presentation was M. the comte de la Marche, son of the prince du Conti, and consequent
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Unpublished letter of Voltaire to madame du Barry—Reply of the countess—The maréchale de Mirepoix—Her first interview with madame du Barry—Anecdote of the diamonds of madame de Mirepoix—The king pays for them—Singular gratitude of the maréchale—The portfolio, and an unpublished letter of the marquise de Pompadour By the way in which the king continued to speak to me of M. de Voltaire, I clearly saw how right the duke was in advising me to read the letter myself before I showed it to my august pr
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Conversation of the maréchale de Mirepoix with the comtesse du Barry on court friendship—Intrigues of madame de Bearn—Preconcerted meeting with madame de Flaracourt—-Rage of madame de Bearn—Portrait and conversation of madame de Flaracourt with the comtesse du Barry—Insult from the princesse de Guémenée—Her banishment—Explanation of the king and the duc de Choiseul relative to madame du Barry—The comtesse d'Egmont However giddy I was I did not partake in the excessive gaiety of madame de Mirepoi
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Intrigue of the comtesse d'Egmont with a shopman—His unhappy fate—The comtesse du Barry protects him—Conduct of Louis XV upon the occasion—The young man quits France—Madame du Barry's letter to the comtesse d'Egmont—Quarrel with the maréchal de Richelieu The comtesse d'Egmont was one day observed to quit her house attired with the most parsimonious simplicity; her head being covered by an enormously deep bonnet, which wholly concealed her countenance, and the rest of her person enveloped in a pe
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
Madame du Barry separates from madame de Bearn—Letters between these ladies—Portrait of madame de l'Hôpital—The ladder—The bell—Conversation with madame de Mirepoix—First visit to Chantilly— Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thither—The king's Displeasure towards the princesses—The archbishop de Senlis The spoiled child of fortune, I had now attained the height of my wishes. The king's passion augmented daily, and my empire became such as to defy the utmost endeavors of my enemies to
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
Unpublished letter of Louis XV—Madame du Barry's cousin, M. de Maupeou—The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young girl seduced by the arts of the curé of her village—She obtains pardon of the comte and comtesse de Louerne—The king presents her with Lucienne—A second meeting with the youthful prophet—His further predictions—He is sought for—His mysterious letter to the countess "How does my sweet friend contrive to bear our tedious separation? is she happy and amused? In that case I can say,
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CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon—The comtesse du Barry at Chantilly—Opinion of king and comte de la Marche respecting the "Iron Mask"—Madame du Barry visits madame de Lagarde My acquaintance with the singular being I was speaking of in the last chapter did not end here, as you will find in the sequel. I will now give you an account of an equally strange affair, in nearly the same words as Louis XV himself related it to me. Altho' strongly recommended by my sister-in-la
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CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
The chevalier de la Morlière—Portrait of the duc de Choiseul—The duc de Choiseul and the comtesse du Barry—No reconciliation effected—Madame du Barry and the duc d'Aiguillon—Madame du Barry and Louis XV About this period I received a piece of attention, any thing but gratifying if considered in a strictly honourable sense. The contemptible chevalier de la Morlière, who detested me, and subsequently pursued me with rage, presumed to dedicate to me some wretched collection of his compositions, and
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CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
Dorine—Mademoiselle Choin and the maréchal d'Uxelles—Zamor—M. de Maupeou's wig—Henriette—The duc de Villeroi and Sophie—Letter from the comtesse du Barry to the duc de Villeroi—His reply—The countess writes again—Madame du Barry and Sophie—Louis XV and the comtesse du Barry Among the number which composed my household were three beings who played conspicuous parts in my family, and who received the kindest caresses in honour of their mistress. These three favoured objects were Dorine, Zamor, and
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CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
The prince des Deux Ponts—Prince Max—The dauphin and Marie Antoinette—The comtesse du Barry and Bridget Rupert—The countess and Geneviève Mathon—Noël—Fresh amours—Nocturnal adventure—Conclusion of this intrigue All my friends were not treacherous as the duc de Villeroi; and I may gratefully assert I have possessed many true and sincere ones who have ever faithfully adhered to my fortunes. One in particular I shall mention here, that I may recommend him to your warmest esteem; for, although of hi
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CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
Madame du Barry succeeds in alienating Louis XV from the due de Choiseul—Letter from madame de Grammont—Louis XV—The chancellor and the countess—Louis XV and the abbé de la Ville—The maréchale de Mirepoix and madame du Barry Matters now assumed an air of importance. My struggle with the des Choiseuls had become a deadly war, which could only be terminated either by his downfall or my dismissal from court; this latter measure was not very probable; an old man is not easily detached from a woman w
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CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
Baron d'Oigny, general post-master—The king and the countess read the opened letters—The disgrace of de Choiseul resolved upon— Lettre de cachet —Anecdote—Spectre of Philip II, king of Spain—The duc de Choiseul banished—Visits to Chanteloup—The princesses—The dauphin and dauphiness—Candidates for the ministry The interference of madame de Mirepoix, originating, as it did, in the duc de Choiseul, let me at once into the secret of his fears and the extent of my own power. The knowledge of the weak
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CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du Barry—The countess and the prince de Condé—The duc de la Vauguyon and the countess—Provisional minister—Refusal of the secretaryship of war—Displeasure of the king—The maréchale de Mirepoix—Unpublished letter from Voltaire to Madame du Barry—Her reply The comte de la Marche had always evinced the warmest regard for me, and he sought, on the present occasion, to be repaid for his attachment. Both he and the prince de Condé had their ambitious speculation
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CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
A few words respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau—The comtesse du Barry is desirous of his acquaintance—The countess visits Jean Jacques Rousseau—His household furniture—His portrait—Thérèse—second visit from madame du Barry to Jean Jacques Rousseau—The countess relates her visit to the king—Billet from J. J. Rousseau to madame du Barry—The two duchesses d'Aiguillon Spite of the little estimation in which I held men of letters, generally speaking, you must not take it for granted that I entertained a
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CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXIX
The king's friends—The duc de Fronsac—The duc d'Ayen's remark—Manner of living at court—The marquis de Dreux—Brézé—Education of Louis XV—The Parc-aux-Cerfs —Its household—Its inmates—Mère Bompart—Livres expended on the Parc-aur-Cerfs —Good advice—Madame I was now firmly fixed at court, the king, more than ever devoted to me, seemed unable to dispense with my constant presence. I had so successfully studied his habits and peculiarities, that my empire over him was established on a basis too firm
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CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
Fête given by the comtesse de Valentinois—The comtesse du Barry feigns an indisposition—Her dress—The duc de Cossé—The comte and comtesse de Provence—Dramatic entertainment—Favart and Voisenon—A few observations—A pension—The maréchale de Luxembourg—Adventure of M. de Bombelles—Copy of a letter addressed to him—Louis XV—M. de Maupeou and madame du Barry My present situation was not a little embarrassing; known and recognised as the mistress of the king, it but ill accorded with my feelings to be
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CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXI
Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer—Louis XV and madame de Rumas—M. de Rumas and the comtesse du Barry—An intrigue— Denouement —A present upon the occasion—The duc de Richelieu in disgrace—100,000 livres This Marin, a provençal by birth, in his childhood one of the choristers, and afterwards organist of the village church, was, at the period of which I am speaking, one of the most useful men possible. Nominated by M. de St. Florentin to the post of censor royal, this fr
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CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXII
A prefatory remark—Madame Brillant—The maréchale de Luxembourg's cat—Despair of the maréchale—The ambassador, Beaumarchais, and the duc de Chaulnes—the comte d'Aranda—Louis XV and his relics—The abbé de Beauvais—His sermons—He is appointed bishop When I related to comte Jean my reconciliation with the duc de Richelieu, and the sum which this treaty had cost me, my brother-in-law flew into the most violent fury; he styled the maréchal a plunderer of the public treasury. Well may the scripture tel
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CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIII
M. D——n and madame de Blessac—Anecdote—The rendezvous and the Ball—The wife of Gaubert—They wish to give her to the king— Intrigues—Their results—Letter from the duc de la Vrillière to the countess—Reply—Reconciliation Amongst the pages of the chapel was one whom the king distinguished so greatly, that he raised him to the rank of a gentleman of the bedchamber, and confided to his charge the cabinet of medals, for which he had imbibed a taste since his liaison with madame de Pompadour. This este
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CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXIV
Conversation with the king—Marriage of the comte d'Artois— Intrigues—The place of lady of honor—The maréchale de Mirepoix—The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame du Barry—The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame Boncault The king was much annoyed at the indifference I evinced for all state secrets, and frequently observed to me, "You are not at all like madame de Pompadour: she was never satisfied unless she knew all that was going on, and was permitted to take an active part in every transaction;
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CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXV
Marriage of madame Boncault—The comte de Bourbon Busset—Marriage of comte d'Hargicourt—Disgrace of the comte de Broglie—He is replaced by M. Lemoine—The king complains of ennui—Conversations on the subject—Entry into Paris Spite of the merit of madame Boncault, and the many eulogiums I bestowed on her whilst relating her history to the king, I could not immediately obtain the post madame de Forcalquier had requested for this paragon of friends. His majesty replied to me by saying, that no doubt
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CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVI
Visit from a stranger—Madame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical monk—Continuation of this history—Deliverance of a state prisoner—A meeting with the stranger One day, at an hour at which I was not accustomed to see any person, a lady called and requested to see me; she was informed that I was visible to no person. No matter, she persisted in her request, saying that she had to speak to me upon matters of the first importance, and declared, that I should be delighted with her visit. However, my serva
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CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVII
A conspiracy—A scheme for poisoning madame du Barry—The four bottles—Letter to the duc d'Aiguillon—Advice of the ministers— Opinion of the physicians—The chancellor and lieutenant of police—Resolution of the council Have you any curiosity to learn the dénouement of the story I was telling you of my anonymous correspondent? Read what follows, then, and your wishes shall be gratified: that is, if you have patience to hear a rather long story; for I cannot promise you that mine will very speedily b
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Conclusion of this affair—A letter from the incognita—Her
Conclusion of this affair—A letter from the incognita—Her
examination—Arrest of Cabert the Swiss—He dies in the Bastille of poison—Madame Lorimer is arrested and poisoned—The innocence of the Jesuits acknowledged—Madame de Mirepoix and the 100,000 francs—Forgetfulness on the part of the lieutenant of police—A visit from comte Jean—Madame de Mirepoix M. de Sartines did not sleep on his post, but his researches were fruitless; and, on the following day, three successive messengers came to announce to us that they had as yet made no discovery. The day pas
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CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XXXIX
My alarms—An éléve of the Pare-aux-Cerfs —Comte Jean endeavours to direct the king's ideas—A supper at Trianon—Table talk—The king is seized with illness—His conversation with me—The joiner's daughter and the small-pox—My despair—Conduct of La Martinière the surgeon I had occasionally some unaccountable whims and caprices. Among other follies I took it into my head to become jealous of the duchesse de Cossé, under the idea that the duke would return to her, and that I should no longer possess hi
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CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER XL
La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles—The young prophet appears again to madame du Barry—Prediction respecting cardinal de Richelieu—The joiner's daughter requests to see madame du Barry—Madame de Mirepoix and the 50,000 francs—A soirée in the salon of madame du Barry We continued for some minutes silently gazing on the retreating figures of La Martinière and his companions. "Come," said the maréchale, "let us return to the house"; saying which, she supported herself by the a
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CHAPTER XLI
CHAPTER XLI
Interview with the joiner's daughter—Consultation of the physicians respecting the king—The small-pox declares itself—the comte de Muy—The princesses—Extreme sensibility of madame de Mirepoix—The king is kept in ignorance of his real condition—The archbishop of Paris visits Versailles The gloomy and mysterious air scattered over the group which presented itself to our eyes filled us with desponding thoughts. There appeared throughout the party a kind of concentrated grief and silent despair whic
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CHAPTER XLII
CHAPTER XLII
First proceedings of the council—The dauphin receives the prelates with great coolness—Situation of the archbishop of Paris—Richelieu evades the project for confessing the king—The friends of madame du Barry come forward—The English physician—The abbé Terray—Interview with the prince de Soubise—The prince and the courtiers—La Martinière informs the king of France the true nature of his complaint—Consequences of this disclosure The different members of this concile impromptu declared themselves i
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CHAPTER XLIII
CHAPTER XLIII
Terror of the king—A complication—Filial piety of the princesses— Last interview between madame du Barry and Louis XV—Conversation with the maréchale de Mirepoix—The chancellor Maupeou—The fragment—Comte Jean Perhaps no person ever entertained so great a dread of death as Louis XV, consequently no one required to be more carefully prepared for the alarming intelligence so abruptly communicated by La Martinière, and which, in a manner, appeared to sign the king's death-warrant. To every person wh
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CHAPTER XLIV
CHAPTER XLIV
The duc d'Aiguillon brings an order for the immediate departure of madame du Barry—The king's remarks recapitulated—The countess holds a privy council—Letter to madame de Mirepoix and the ducs de Cossé and d'Aiguillon—Night of departure—Ruel—Visit from madame de Forcalquier I said I did not expect the duc d'Aiguillon; and the grief which was spread over his features, and the large tears which stood in his eyes, persuaded me but too plainly that all hope was at an end. "Is the king dead?" cried I
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CHAPTER XLV
CHAPTER XLV
The duc d'Aiguillon's first letter—The maréchale de Mirepoix—A second letter from the duc d'Aiguillon—Numerous visitors "My much esteemed friend,—I promised you upon your departure to inform you of all that transpired, and although the task is a mournful one, I will do my best to acquit myself with zeal and sincerity, and each evening I will write you an exact detail of all that has occurred during the day. The king remains much as you left him, and you must know that already his medical attenda
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CHAPTER XLVI
CHAPTER XLVI
A third letter from the duke—The king receives extreme unction—Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphin—M. de Machault—A promenade with the duc de Cossé—Kind attention from the prince des Deux Ponts—A fourth letter from the duc d'Aiguillon—Comte Jean bids me farewell—M. d'Aiguillon's fifth letter, containing an account of the death of Louis XV—The duc de la Vrillière—The lettre de cachet —Letter to the queen—Departure for the abbey of Pont aux Dames The account received in the evening from the
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