"
"Sleep, sire!" said I, "and may it prove as healthful and
refreshing as I pray it may."
So saying, I glided out of the room and returned to my friends,
I found madame de Mirepoix and the duc de Cosse waiting for me
in the anteroom.
"How is the king?" inquired they both in a breath.
"Better than I expected," I replied, "but he is desirous
of sleeping."
"So much the worse," observed the duc de Cosse; "I should have
thought better of his case had he been more wakeful."
"Are you aware of the most imperative step for you to take?"
inquired the marechale de Mirepoix.
"No," said I, "what is it?"
"To keep his majesty at Trianon," replied she; "it will be far
better for you that the present illness should take its course
at Trianon rather than at Versailles."
"I second that advice," cried the duc de Richelieu, who just
then entered the room; "yes, yes, as madame de Mirepoix wisely
observes, this is the place for the king to be ill in."
"But," exclaimed I, "must we not be guided by the
physicians' advice?"
"Do you make sure of Bordeu," said the duke, "and I will speak
to La Martiniere."
M. de Cosse took me aside, and assured me that I might rely upon
him in life or death. When we had conversed together for some
minutes, I besought of him to leave the place as early as possible;
"Take madame de Forcalquier with you," said I, "your presence
just now at Trianon would be too much commented upon.
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