第91章

“HowgreatlyamIobligedtoyouforyourpromptsuccour，“said

she，withouteveninquiringaftermyhealthorthatoftheking。

“Doyouknow，Iwasbutjustintime；tenminuteslater，andI

shouldhavebeenrefusedpaymentforyourcheque。

M。deLaborde，

whowassodevotedlyyourfriendonlyyesterday，countedoutto

metheglitteringcoinIwassoanxioustoobtain。

Heeven

accompaniedmetomycarriage，whenbehold，justatthemoment，

when，withhishatinhishand，hewasmostgallantlybowing，and

wishingmeapleasantjourney，acourierarrivedfromVersailles

bringinghimthenewsoftheking’sillness。

Helookedso

overwhelmedwithconsternationandalarm，thatIcouldnotprevent

myselffromburstingintoaheartyfitoflaughter，norhasmy

gaietyforsakenmeuptothepresentmoment。“

“Youareveryfortunate，“saidI，“tobeenabledthustopreserve

yourgoodspirits。“

“Mydearcreature，Iwouldfaincheattimeofsomeofhisclaims

uponme。

ButnowIthinkofit，whatisthemattersinceIwas

here？

Isthekingworse，andwhatisthisIhearwhisperedabroad

ofthesmall-pox？“

“Alas，madam，“answeredI，muchhurtattheinsensibilityshe

displayed，“werunbuttoogreatdangeroflosingourfriendand

benefactorforever。“

“Dearme，howveryshocking！

Butwhathashesettledonyou？

Whathaveyouaskedhimfor？“

“Nothing！“

repliedI，coolly。

“Nothing！

veryadmirable，indeed；but，mygoodsoul，thesefine

sentimentssometimesleavepeopletoeatthebreadofcharity。

So，then，youhavenotfollowedmyadvice。

Oncemore，Irepeat，

losenotthepresentopportunity，and，inyourplace，Iwouldset

aboutsecuringmyowninterestwithoutoneinstant’sdelay。“

“ThatIcouldnotdo，madam，“saidI；“itiswhollyforeignto

mynaturetotakeadvantageoftheweaknessofadyingman。“

“Dyingman！“

repeatedthemarechaleincredulously，“come，come，

heisnotdeadyet；andwhilstthereislifethereishope；andI

supposeyouhavecarriedyourideasofdisinterestednesssofar

astoomitmentioningyourfriends，likewise。

Youwillnever

haveanyworldlysense，Ibelieve。

Mydearsoul，“saidshe，

stoopingdownandwhisperinginmyear，“youaresurroundedbya

setofselfishwretches，whocarenothingforyouunlessyoucanf

forwardtheirinterests。“

“Iseeit，Iknowit，“exclaimedIimpatiently；“butthoughI

begmybread，Iwillnotimportunetheking。“

“Asyouplease，“criedmadamedeMirepoix，“praydonotletme

disturbyourintentions。

Sillywomanthatyouare，leaveothers

toactthesublimeandgrand，yourpartshouldbethatofa

reasonablecreature。

Lookatmyself，supposeIhadnotseized

theballatthebound。“

“YouwerebornatVersailles，“answeredI，smilinginspite

ofmyself。

“True，andIconfessthatwithmethegreatestofallsenseis

commonsense，whichproducesthatinstinctivefeelingof

self-preservationimplantedeveninanimals。

Butistheking

indeedsoveryill？“

“Heis，indeed，dangerouslyill。“

“Iamverysorry，“answeredshe，“hismajestyandmyselfwere

sucholdfriendsandcompanions；butthingswillno