'I bequeath my beloved friend to your fidelity,'
added the suffering prince. I took advantage of
this opportunity to remark that I looked upon your
quitting Versailles as too precipitate and premature
a step. 'No, no,' replied the king, "I have acted
for the best; I have once been deceived as to my
condition, and I would willingly prevent being
again taken by surprise. Tell my beloved and
excellent countess how truly I love her'; and
hearing the prince de Soubise mention his design
of supping at Ruel, he charged him to embrace
you for him.
"The dauphin still remains secluded in his apartment,
but I know that he keeps up a regular correspondence
with madame Victoire, whose letters, after being
immersed in vinegar, are carried to the comte de
Muy, who fumigates them previously to allowing
them to reach the hands of the dauphin.
"I am, etc., etc.
"VERSAILLES, May 5, 1774, nine o'clock, evening."
Upon awaking the following morning I again received news of the
king, who was stated to have passed a good night, and even La
Martiniere seemed inclined to hope. As yet, then, there were no
safe grounds for abandoning me, and about two o'clock in the
afternoon I was favoured with a visit from madame de Mirepoix,
who, running up to me, exclaimed with her usual vivacity,
"Oh, my dear creature, how I longed to see you!" and then
leading me into another chamber, she added,
"Do you know I quite missed you? As I wrote you, my time hung
heavily on my hands.
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