第56章

nthehopesofprocuringthedismissalofmy

brother，theyhavechosenforhissuccessor

wretchloadedwithcrimes，acoward，an

extortioner，amurderer——theducd’Aiguillon。

Asforyougentlemen，whonowconstituteour

parliament，yourplaceswillsoonbefilledbya

magistracydrawnfromthedregsofsociety；a

troopofslaves，deafandblind，except

ashewhopaysthembestwillhavethem

exercisethosepowers。

“Thisisnotimeforindolentrepose；wemust

atoncecourageouslyandunanimouslydefeat

theguiltyschemesofourenemies。

Solongas

mybrotherretainshispresentposthewill

supportyouwithhisbestinterest；but，should

hebedismissed，yourbusinesswillsoonbefinished。

“Ibegmybestremembrances，first，toyour

excellentlady，andafterher，tomadameB。

andmadameL。，notforgettingthemarquisede

Chalret，whosewitistrulyAttic；northemarquise

deP——s，whoconcealsbeneaththegracefulexterior

ofaLanguedocianthesoulofoneofCorneille’s

Romanmatrons。

Foryourselfrelyuponmywarmest

friendshipandendeavourstoserveyou。

Mybrother

ismostanxioustoknowyou，aftertheflattering

mannerinwhichIhavementionedyoutohim。

WhenwillyougratifyusbothbyvisitingParis？

“Everyours，“

Nothingcouldhavearrivedmoreforourpurposethan

thisletter。

Iwasstillengagedinitsperusalwhenthekingwas

announced；IwishedtohurryitbackintothehandsofM。de

Maupeou；buthe，morecraftythanI，requestedIwouldkeepit。

“Itisfitting，“saidhe，“thatitshouldbeseenbytherightperson。“

LouisXV，astonishedatthestrangescene，inquiredwhatitmeant。

“Amostshamefulpieceofscandal，sire，“repliedI。

“Aninfamousepistle，“addedthechancellor，“whichoneofmy

friendsmanagedtoabstractfromthepost-office，andforwarded

tome:Ibroughtittomadamelacomtesse，thatshemightadmire

thedeterminedmaliceofourenemies。“

“Youexcitemycuriosity，“criedLouisXV。

“Madame，havethe

kindnesstoallowmetoseethispaper。“

“Indeed，sire，“exclaimedI，“IknownotwhetherIoughttoobey

yourmajesty，soentirelyhasthewriteroftheletterforgotten

therespectductoyoursacredperson。“

“Oh，“saidtheking，“Idonotfearthat；Iambuttoowellused

totheoffencetofeelastonishmentatitsoccurrence。“

IplacedthepaperinthehandofLouisXV，whoseeyeeasily

recognisedthehandwritingofmadamedeGrammont。

“Ah，ah！“

criedhe，“isitso？

letusseewhatthisrestlessladyhasto

sayofusall。“

Iwatchedthecountenanceofthekingasheread，

andsawthefrownthatcovereditgrowdarkeranddarker；

neverthelesshecontinuedtoreadonwithoutcommenttillhe

hadreachedtheend；thensittingdownandlookingfullatthe

chancellor，heexclaimed，

“Well，M。deMaupeou，andwhatdoyouthinkofthisbusiness？“

“Iamoverwhelmedwithconsternation，sire，“repliedhe，“whenI

thinkthatoneofyourmajesty’sministersshouldbeableto

conspirethusopenlyagainstyou。“

“Stay，“criedLouishastily，“thatfactisbynomeansproved。

TheduchessedeGrammontisamadwoman，whoinvolvesthesafety

ofherbrother；ifIonlybelievedhimcapableofsuchtreachery，

heshouldsleepthisni