第94章

theaidofthegrandalmoner，Ihadtriumphedoverthewishesof

thearchbishopofParis，andthoseoftheconfessor。

Theprinces

andprincessesawaitedtheevent；allwascalmcomposure；when，

allatonce，thebarriersIhadbeensocarefullyerectingwere

crushedbeneathmyfeet，atonesuddenandunexpectedblow。

Thekingwasbynomeanseasyinhisownmindwithregardtohis

illness。

Themanymessagesthatwerecontinuallywhisperedaround

him，theremediesadministered，and，aboveall，theabsenceofhis

grandsons，allconvincedhimthatsomethingofaveryunusualand

alarmingnaturewasprogressing。

Hisownfeelingsmight，

likewise，wellassurehimthathewasattackedbyanillnessofno

ordinarynature。

Torturedbeyondfurtherbearingbythesuggestions

ofhisfancy，LouisXVatlengthresolvedtoascertainthetruth，

and，withthisintent，closelyquestionedBordeuandLemonnier，

whodidtheirbesttodeceivehim。

Still，dissatisfiedwiththeir

evasivereplies，hewatchedanopportunity，whentheywereboth

absent，todesireLaMartinierewouldatonceexplainthetrue

maladywithwhichhewasthensuffering。

LaMartinierepuzzled

andconfused，couldonlyexclaim，

“Ientreatofyou，sire，nottofatigueyourselfwithconversation；

rememberhowstronglyyouhavebeenforbiddenallexertion。“

“Iamnochild，LaMartiniere，“criedLouisXV，hischeeksglowing

withincreasedfire；“andIinsistuponbeingmadeacquaintedwith

theprecisenatureofmypresentillness。

Youhavealwaysserved

meloyallyandfaithfully，andfromyouIexpecttoreceivethat

candidstatementeveryoneaboutmeseemsbentuponconcealing。“

“Endeavourtogetsomesleep，sire，“rejoinedLaMartiniere，“and

donotexhaustyourselfbyspeakingatpresent。“

“LaMartiniere，youirritatemebeyondallendurance。

Ifyou

loveme，speakout，Iconjureyou，andtellme，frankly，thename

ofmycomplaint。“

“Doyouinsistuponit，sire？“

“Ido，myfriend，Ido。“

“Then，sire，youhavethesmall-pox；butbenotalarmed，itisa

diseaseasfrequentlycuredasmanyothers。“

“Thesmall-pox！“

exclaimedtheking，inavoiceofhorror；“have

Iindeedthatfataldisease？

anddoyoutalkofcuringit？“

“Doubtless，sire；manydieofitaswellasotherdisorders，but

wearesanguineinourhopesandexpectationsofsaving

yourmajesty。“

Thekingmadenoreply，but，turnedheavilyinhisbedandthrew

thecoverletoverhisface。

Asilenceensued，whichlasteduntil

thereturnofthephysicians，when，findingtheymadenoallusion

tohiscondition，thekingaddressedtheminacooland

offendedtone。

“Why，“saidhe，“haveyouconcealedfrommethefactofmyhaving

thesmall-pox？“

Thisabruptinquirypetrifiedthemwith

astonishment，andunabletoframeaproperreply，theystood

speechlesswithalarmandapprehension。

“Yes，“resumedtheking，

“butforLaMartiniere，Ishouldhavediedinignoranceofmy