"I want nothing, myself," answered he, "but here is comte Jean
du Barry with a lady from Versailles; they say they come at the
request of mademoiselle Anne."
We were now on the threshold of the door, and the nurse, crossing
the chamber, spoke to the mother, who hastily rose, while the
priest discontinued his prayers. The mother looked at us, then
whispered some words to her daughter. The patient stirred in her
bed, and the nurse returning to us, said to comte Jean that he
might approach the bed of the invalid.
He advanced and I followed him, although the noisome effluvia
with which the air was loaded produced a sickness I scarcely could
surmount. The gloom of the place was still further increased by
the dim light of two wax candles placed in a nook of the room.
The priest, having recognised my brother-in-law, and suspecting
doubtless who I was, was preparing to withdraw, but the sick girl
made signs for him to remain. He obeyed, but removing to a
distance, he took his place beside the young man, who, understanding
only that strangers had arrived, rose from his seat and displayed
his tall gigantic height to the fullest advantage.
CHAPTER XLI
Interview with the joiner's daughter--Consultation of the physicians
respecting the king--The small-pox declares itself--the comte de
Muy--The princesses--Extreme sensibility of madame de Mirepoix--The
king is kept in ignorance of his real condition--The archbishop of
Paris visits Versailles
The gloomy and mysterious air scattered over the group which
presented itself to our eyes filled us with desponding thoughts.
Pages:
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549