第88章

“To-night，“returnedhe，“whenallyourguestshaveretired，and

Versaillesisinamannerdeserted，Iwillfetchyou；wehavekeys

whichopenthevariousgatesinthepark，andwalkingthrough

which，andthegardens，wecanreachTrianonunobserved。

No

personwillbeawareofourexcursion，andweshallreturnwith

thesamecautionwithwhichwewent。

Wewill，afterourvisit，

causeourclothestobeburnt，takeabath，anduseeverypossible

precautiontopurifyourselvesfromallchanceofinfection。

When

thatisdoneyoumayventureintotheapartmentofhismajesty，

evenifthatmaladywhichatpresenthangsoverhimshouldturn

outtobethesmall-pox。“

Ithoughtbutlittleoftheconsequencesofourscheme，orofthe

personaldangerIincurred，andIpromisedmybrother-in-law

thatIwouldholdmyselfinreadinesstoaccompanyhim。

Wethen

conversedtogetheruponthestateoftheking，and，whatyouwill

havesomedifficultyincrediting，notonewordescapedeitherof

usrelativetoourfutureplansorprospects；stillitwasthe

pointtowhichthethoughtsofcomteJeanmustnaturally

haveturned。

Wewereinterruptedinourbythearrivalofthe

marechale，whoseexactitudeIcouldnotbutadmire。

ComteJean，

havinghastilypaidhiscompliments，leftustogether。

“Well，mydearcountess，“saidshe，takingmyhandwithafriendly

pressure，“andhowgoesonthedearinvalid？“

“Better，Ihope，“repliedI，“andindeed，thisillness，atfirst

soalarmingtome，seemsrathercalculatedtoallaymyformer

fearsandanxietiesbyaffordingthekingcalmandimpartial

reflection；theresultofitisthatmydreadedrivalofthe

isdismissed。“

“Iamdelightedtohearthis，“repliedmadamedeMirepoix，“but，

mydearsoul，letmecautionyouagainsttooimplicitlytrusting

thesedeceitfulappearances，to-morrowmaydestroytheseflattering

hopes，andthenextday——“

“Indeed！“

criedI，interruptingher，“thephysiciansanswer

forhisrecovery。“

“Andsupposetheyshouldchancetobemistaken，“returnedmy

cautiousfriend，“whatthen？

But，mydearcountess，myregard

oryoucompelsmetospeakout，andtowarnyouofreposingin

tranquillitywhenyououghttobeacting。

Donotdeceiveyourself，

leavenothingtochance；andifyouhaveanyfavourtoaskof

theking，losenotimeinsodoingwhileyetyouhavetheopportunity。“

“Andwhatfavourwouldyouadvisemetoask？“

saidI

“Youdonotunderstandme，then？“

exclaimedthe

marechale，“I

saythatitisimperativelynecessaryforyoutoacceptwhatever

thekingmayfeeldisposedtoofferyouasafutureprovision，

andasaffordingyouthemeansofpassingtheremainderofyour

daysineaseandtranquillity。

Whatwouldbecomeofyouincase

oftheworst？

Yournumerouscreditorswouldbesiegeyouwitha

rapacity，stillfurtherexcitedbythesupporttheywouldreceive

fromcourt。

YoulookatmewithsurprisebecauseIspeakthe

languageoftruth；beareasonablecreatureIimploreofyou

onceinyourlife，anddonotthussacrificetheinterestsof

yourlifetoaromanticdisregardofself。“

Icouldnotf