de Laborde will
make any difficulty?"
"Why," said I, "should you suppose it possible he will do so?"
"Oh, merely on account of present circumstances."
"What circumstances?"
"The illness--no, I mean the indisposition of his majesty."
"He is an excellent man," said I, "and I doubt not but he will
act nobly and honourably."
"If we could but procure his majesty's signature--"
"But that is quite impossible to-night."
"I know it is, and, therefore, I will tell you what I think of
doing. Perhaps, if I were to set out for Paris immediately, I
might be able to present this cheque before Laborde is acquainted
with our misfortune. It is not late, so farewell, my dearest
countess. I shall return to-morrow before you are up, but do
not forget what I have said to you; and remember, that under
any circumstances, the king should secure you a safe and ample
independence. If his death finds you well provided for, you will
still have a court, friends, relatives, partisans, in a word, the
means of gratifying every inclination. Be guided by me, and
follow my advice."
And after this lesson of practical morality, the marechale quitted
me to hurry to Paris; and I, wearied and heartsick, flew to my
crowded salons as a remedy against the gloomy ideas her
conversation had given rise to.
On this evening my guests were more numerous and brilliant than
usual, for no person entertaining the least suspicion of the king's
danger, all vied with each other in evincing, by their presence,
the desire they felt of expressing their regard for me.
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