第90章

Henriettewasgreatlyalarmed，andimmediatelysummonedBordeu，

who，notventuringtobleedme，contentedhimselfwithadministering

somecordialswhichrevivedmeinsomedegree。

Buttheeventsof

thelastfewhoursseemedindeliblyfixedinmymind；andIheard，

almostwithindifference，thebulletinissuedrespectingthe

stateoftheking’shealthduringthefatalnightwhichhadjust

passed。

Oneobjectaloneengrossedmythoughts；-eyesseemed

stilltobeholdthemiserablegirlstretchedonherdyingbed，

whoseravingsofdespairandthreateningwordsyetrunginmy

ears，andproducedafreshchillofhorror，aswithpainful

tenacitymyminddweltuponthemtotheutterexclusionofevery

otherconsideration。

Theunfortunatecreatureexpiredonthe

thirdday，avictimtotherapidprogressofthemostvirulent

speciesofsmall-pox。

ShediedmorecalmlyandresignedthanI

hadseenher。

Formyownpart，Ifreelypardonedherinjustice

towardsmyself，andsincerelyforgivethepriestifhe(asIhave

beentold)excitedherbitternessagainstme。

ThesevereshockIhadexperiencedmighthaveterminatedfatally

forme，hadnotmythoughtsbeencompelledtorousethemselves

forthecontemplationofthealarmingprospectbeforeme。

Itwas

morethanfouro’clockinthemorningwhenIreturnedtothe

chateau，andatnineIroseagainwithouthavingobtainedtheleast

repose。

Thekinghadinquiredformeseveraltimes。

Iinstantly

wenttohim，andmylanguidframe，palecountenanceandheavy

eyes，allwhichhetookastheconsequencesofmyconcernforhis

indisposition，appearedgreatlytoaffecthim；andhesoughtto

comfortmebytheassuranceofhisbeingconsiderablybetter。

Thiswasfarfrombeingtrue，buthewasfarfromsuspecting

thenatureofthemaladytowhichhisframewasabouttobecome

aprey。

Thephysicianshadnowpronouncedwithcertaintyonthe

subject，norwasitpossibletomakeanymysteryofitwithme，

whohadseenAnneonhersick-bed。

Incommonwithallwhoknewtherealnatureofthecomplaint，I

soughttoconcealitfromtheking，andinthisdeceptionthe

physiciansthemselvesconcurred。

Inthecourseofthemorninga

consultationtookplace；whencalleduponfortheiropinion，each

ofthemendeavouredtoevadeadirectanswer，disguisingthename

ofhismajesty’sdiseaseundertheappellationofacutaneous

eruption，chicken-pox，etc。，etc。，nonedaringtogiveititstrue

denomination。

BordeuandLemonnierpursuedthiscautiousplan，

butLaMartiniere，whohadfirstofallpronouncedhisdecision

onthesubject，impatientofsomuchcircumlocutiononthepart

ofthosearoundhim，couldnolongerrepresshisindignation。

“Howisthis，gentlemen！“

exclaimedhe，“isscienceata

standstillwithyou？

Surely，youcannotbeinanydoubtonthe

subjectoftheking’sillness。

Hismajestyhasthesmall-pox，

withacomplicationofotherdiseasesequallydangerous，andI

lookuponhimasadeadman。“

“MonsieurdelaMartiniere，“criedtheducdeDuras，who，in

qualityofhisofficeoffirstgentl