Bordeu and Lemonnier pursued this cautious plan,
but La Martiniere, who had first of all pronounced his decision
on the subject, impatient of so much circumlocution on the part
of those around him, could no longer repress his indignation.
"How is this, gentlemen!" exclaimed he, "is science at a
standstill with you? Surely, you cannot be in any doubt on the
subject of the king's illness. His majesty has the small-pox,
with a complication of other diseases equally dangerous, and I
look upon him as a dead man."
"Monsieur de la Martiniere," cried the duc de Duras, who, in
quality of his office of first gentleman of the bed-chamber, was
present at this conference, "allow me to remind you that you are
expressing yourself very imprudently."
"Duc de Duras," replied the abrupt La Martiniere, "my business is
not to flatter the king, but to tell him the truth with regard to
his health. None of the medical gentlemen present can deny the
truth of what I have asserted; they are all of my opinion, although
I alone have the courage to act with that candour which my sense
of honour dictates."
The unbroken silence preserved by those who heard this address,
clearly proved the truth of all La Martiniere advanced. The duc
de Duras was but too fully convinced of the justice of his opinion.
"The king is then past all hope," repeated he, "and what remains
to be done?"
"To watch over him, and administer every aid and relief which art
suggests," was the brief reply of La Martiniere.
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