"Is the king dead?" cried I, in a stifled voice.
"No, madam," replied he, "Louis XV still lives, nor is it by any
means certain that the misfortune you apprehend is in store for us."
"He sends me from him, then," exclaimed I, with a convulsive cry,
"and my enemies have triumphed."
"His majesty is but of human nature, madam," replied the duke;
"he feels himself dangerously ill, dreads the future, and believes
that he owes his people a sort of reparation for past errors."
"How, my lord duke," interrupted I, "this grave language in your
lips--but no matter. Inform me only at whose desire you state
these melancholy facts; speak, I am prepared for your mission,
be it what it may."
"You shall hear everything, madam," replied the duke, leading me
to an arm-chair. I seated myself; my sisters- in-law, my niece,
and comte Jean stood around me, eagerly waiting the duke's
communication. "A few hours after you had been removed from his
chamber, the king inquired of the princess Adelaide whether it
were generally known at Paris that he had the small-pox. The
princess replied in the affirmative, adding:
"'The archbishop of Paris was here twice during yesterday to
inquire after you.'
"'Yet I belong more properly to the diocese of Chartres,' returned
the king, 'and surely M. de Fleury would not interest himself less
about me than M.
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