The king's passion augmented daily, and my empire became
such as to defy the utmost endeavors of my enemies to undermine
it. Another woman in my place would have employed her power in
striking terror amongst all who were opposed to her, but for my
own part I contented myself with repulsing their attempts to injure
me, and in proceeding to severity only when my personal interests
were too deeply concerned to admit of my passing the matter
over in silence.
There was no accusation too infamous to be laid to my charge;
amongst other enormities they scrupled not to allege that I had
been the murderess of Lebel, the king's
, who
died by poison! Was it likely, was it probable that I should seek
the destruction of him to whom I owed my elevation, the most
devoted of friends, and for whom my heart cherished the most
lively sense of gratitude? What interest could I possibly derive
from the perpetration of such a crime? The imputation was too
absurd for belief, but slander cares little for the seeming
improbability of such an event. The simple fact remained that
Lebel was dead, of course the cruel and unjust consequence
became in the hands of my enemies, that I had been the principal
accessory to it.
My most trifling actions were misrepresented with the same black
malignity. They even made it a crime in me to have written to
madame de Bearn, thanking her for her past kindnesses, and thus
setting her at liberty to retire from the mercenary services she
pretended to have afforded me.
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