de Beaumont.'
"'They are both truly anxious about you, my dearest father, and
if you would only see them--'
"'No, no,' answered Louis XV; 'they must not be taken from the
duties of their respective dioceses; besides, in case of need, I
have my grand almoner.'
"Madame Adelaide did not venture to urge the matter further just
then, and, after a short interval of silence, a message was
brought from you, inquiring whether you could see the king, to
which he himself replied, that he felt inclined to sleep, and
would rather not see any person that night. I was in the chamber,
and he very shortly called me to him, and said:
"'Duc d'Aiguillon, I have the small-pox; and you are aware that
there is a sort of etiquette in my family which enjoins my
immediately discharging my duties as a Christian.'
"'Yes, sire, if the malady wore a serious aspect; but in your case--'
"'May God grant,' replied he, 'that my disorder be not dangerous;
however, it may become so, if it is as yet harmless, and I would
fain die as a believer rather than an infidel. I have been a great
sinner, doubtless; but I have ever observed Lent with a most
scrupulous exactitude. I have caused more than a hundred thousand
masses to be said for the repose of unhappy souls; I have
respected the clergy, and punished the authors of all impious
works, so that I flatter myself I have not been a very bad Christian.
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