"
"Perhaps I took more wine than agreed with me last evening; but
where is the marechale?"
"In my chamber with madame de Forcalquier."
"And the prince de Soubise?"
"He has taken flight," replied I, laughing.
"I suppose so," returned Louis XV, "he could not bear a long
absence from Paris; company he must have."
"In that respect he resembles you, sire, for you generally consider
company as a necessary good."
He smiled, and then closing his eyes remained for some minutes
silent and motionless, after a while he said,
"My head is very heavy, so farewell, my sweet friend, I will
endeavour to get some sleep."
"Sleep, sire!" said I, "and may it prove as healthful and
refreshing as I pray it may."
So saying, I glided out of the room and returned to my friends,
I found madame de Mirepoix and the duc de Cosse waiting for me
in the anteroom.
"How is the king?" inquired they both in a breath.
"Better than I expected," I replied, "but he is desirous
of sleeping."
"So much the worse," observed the duc de Cosse; "I should have
thought better of his case had he been more wakeful."
"Are you aware of the most imperative step for you to take?"
inquired the marechale de Mirepoix.
"No," said I, "what is it?"
"To keep his majesty at Trianon," replied she; "it will be far
better for you that the present illness should take its course
at Trianon rather than at Versailles.
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