"
This letter wrung from me some bitter tears, as well for the king,
who had so lavishly bestowed his affections upon me, as for
myself. What would now be my fate? Alas! I knew not; all my
brilliant prospects were buried in the coffin of my late protector.
The duc d'Aiguillon arrived at Ruel about midnight; he, as well
as the other ministers who had been about the late monarch during
his last illness, being prohibited by etiquette from following the
present monarch to Choisy, whither the whole of the royal family
had retired for a few days. He told us that the duc d'Aumont,
having commanded La Martiniere to proceed with the embalming of
the royal corpse, that physician replied, "Certainly, my lord,
it shall be done if you command it, but, in that case, the duties
of your office compel you to receive his majesty's bowels in a
golden dish; and I protest, that such is the state of the body,
that of all who may assist at the operation, not one will survive
eight days. It is for your grace to determine what shall be done."
M. d'Aumont thought no more of embalming his late master, but
gave orders for the body being immediately placed in a leaden
coffin, from which here still issued frightful effluvia.
Up to the moment of my quitting Ruel madame de Mirepoix gave me
no token of recollection: I heard that herself and the prince de
Beauvau were reconciled, and for her sake I rejoiced at it.
Pages:
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637