"
La Martiniere knew not what to reply; the king undertook his defence.
"Blame him not," said he; "but for him I should have quitted this
world like a heathen, without making my peace with an offended God."
At these words I fainted in the arms of doctor Bordeu, who, with
the aid of my attendants, carried me to my chamber, and, at length,
succeeded in restoring me. My family crowded around me, and
sought to afford me that consolation they were in equal need
of themselves.
Spite of the orders I had given to admit no person, the duc
d'Aiguillon would insist upon seeing me. He exerted his best
endeavours to persuade me to arm myself with courage, and, like
a true and attached friend, appeared to lose sight of his own
approaching fall from power in his ardent desire to serve me.
In this mournful occupation an hour passed away, and left my
dejected companions sighing over the present, and, anticipating
even worse prospects than those now before them.
CHAPTER XLIII
Terror of the king--A complication--Filial piety of the princesses--
Last interview between madame du Barry and Louis XV--Conversation
with the marechale de Mirepoix--The chancellor Maupeou--The fragment--
Comte Jean
Perhaps no person ever entertained so great a dread of death as
Louis XV, consequently no one required to be more carefully
prepared for the alarming intelligence so abruptly communicated
by La Martiniere, and which, in a manner, appeared to sign the
king's death-warrant.
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