"
When the marechal had finished, I exclaimed,
"You have told us a sad dismal tale; I really fear I shall not
be able to close my eyes at all to-night for thinking of it."
"We must think of some means of keeping up your spirits," answered
Louis XV. " As for your story, marechal, it does not surprise me;
things equally inexplicable are continually taking place. I read
in a letter addressed by Philip V, of Spain, to Louis XIV, "that
the spirit of Philip II, founder of the Escurial, wanders at
certain intervals around that building. Philip V affirms that
he himself witnessed the apparition of the spectre of the king."
At this moment supper was announced. "Come, gentlemen," said I,
"let us seek to banish these gloomy ideas around our festive
board." Upon which the king conducted me to the supper-room,
the rest of the company following us. Spite of all my efforts
to be gay, and induce others to be so likewise, the conversation
still lingered upon this dismal subject.
"Heaven grant," exclaimed the chancellor, "that I may not soon
have to dread a visit from the ghost of the deceased parliament;
however, if such were the case, it would not prevent my sleeping."
"Oh!" cried the king, "these long-robed gentlemen have often
more effectually robbed me of sleep than all the spectres in the
world could do; yet one night--"
"Well, sire," said I, seeing that Louis was silent, "and what
happened to you that night?"
"Nothing that I can repeat," answered Louis XV, glancing around
with a mournful look.
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