登陆注册
15323200000173

第173章

A third letter from the duke--The king receives extreme unction--Letter from madame Victoire to the dauphin--M. de Machault--A promenade with the duc de Cosse--Kind attention from the prince des Deux Ponts--A fourth letter from the duc d'Aiguillon --Comte Jean bids me farewell--M. d'Aiguillon's fifth letter, containing an account of the death of Louis XV--The duc de la Vrilliere--The <lettre de cachet>--Letter to the queen--Departure for the abbey of <Pont aux Dames>

The account received in the evening from the duc d'Aiguillon Ishall not transcribe, as it was merely a repetition of the good tidings of the morning. The day following still brought a continuation of favorable accounts, but the next letter was in these words:--"MADAM, AND MOST HONORED FRIEND,--Arm yourself with courage; the king is extremely ill, and I ought not to conceal from you that serious apprehensions are entertained for his life; he has passed a wretched night, His daughters, who never quitted his bedside, whispered to him that the archbishop of Paris and his grand almoner were in the anteroom if he desired to see them. The king did not seem to hear their words, but about three o'clock in the morning he called the duc de Duras, whom he bade inquire whether M. Mandoux were in the chateau; and, if so, to apprize him he wished to speak with him.

"At these words the princesses and all who heard them burst into a fit of weeping, which was only interrupted by the arrival of the confessor, who, approaching the bedside of the penitent, held a conference with him of nearly a quarter of an hour:

this being concluded, the king, in a low and firm voice, inquired for his almoner. The latter soon presented himself, anxious to discharge the duties of his sacred office. His majesty kept continually repeating to his afflicted children, 'My daughters, why should what I am now about to do agitate or alarm you? You are well aware, that having the small-pox, the etiquette established in my family compels me to receive the last solemn rites of the church, and I but acquit myself of an obligation in submitting to it.'

"The tone in which the king spoke convinced his attendants that he rather strove to re-assure himself than his children, by the persuasion that the receiving extreme unction was not so much the consequence of his own dangerous state as a mere act of obedience to an established custom.

It was then decided that the sacred ceremony should take place at seven o'clock in the morning; and here arose some little embarrassment; the ecclesiastics insisting upon the necessity of the king's making some striking and open atonement for what they were pleased to term the scandal of his private life.

"The king's chamber now presented a picture at once solemn and gloomy. Grouped together on one side the bed might be seen the different noblemen in attendance upon his majesty; a little removed stood the clergy, concealed from the invalid by the closely-drawn curtains; in the midst of these contending parties were the princesses going from one to the other, vainly seeking by mild and gentle mediation to produce a satisfactory arrangement.

It was at length understood, that, on account of the extreme weakness of the invalid, the grand almoner should pronounce in his name a kind of honorable apology for past offences.

"You can scarcely imagine, madam, the universal consternation spread throughout the chateau by the information that the king was about to receive the last rites of his church. The terror and alarm became overpowering for a while, but subsiding into a more religious feeling crowds of persons followed with solemn reverence the holy procession as it passed along, bearing the holy sacrament to the expiring monarch. At the moment when it was administered the grand almoner, turning towards all present, pronounced the following words in the king's name:--"'Gentlemen, the weakness of his majesty preventing him from expressing himself, he has commanded me to inform you, that although he is responsible to God alone for his conduct, he yet regrets having caused any scandal to his people by the irregularities of his life, that he sincerely repents of his sins, and, should Providence restore him to health, he purposes living henceforward in all the virtue and morality of his youth, in the defence and maintenance of religion, in preserving a true faith, and in watching over the best interests of his people.'

"Yours, madam, etc., etc."

I learned also, through another channel, that (according to custom) forty hours' prayer had been enjoined in every church in France to implore the mercy of heaven for the king. I heard too that the shrine of Saint Genevieve had been displayed for the veneration of true believers.

I passed a miserable night, dreaming of graves, winding-sheets, and funeral-torches, from which I only awoke to receive the morning's despatches. Alas! the news but confirmed the distressing state of the king. The very solitude in which I was left at Ruel might alone have served to convince me of my misfortune; for, with the exception of the duc de Cosse, no person came near us.

M. de Cosse invited me to walk with him in the garden; I accepted the arm of this noble friend, and we directed our steps towards the wood. When we were there secure from interruption, the duke inquired what were my plans for the future?

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 智武掌乾坤

    智武掌乾坤

    谁说天才修行易,本书就和大家一起探讨被人大多作者带过拥有背景的天才修行。
  • 废柴重生之黑耀残爱

    废柴重生之黑耀残爱

    她,曾是世界金牌杀手,为了年迈的外婆的病,便去了传说中冰晶洞的中心寻找晶华却丢失了自己的性命而穿越到了另一个强者为尊的大陆,玄月大陆。可令她郁闷的是,穿到哪不好,偏偏穿到了一个废柴小姐的身上。鄙视,嘲笑,轻蔑的目光让一直高傲的她不甘心!废柴的称号从来都不可以是她!她是女王!是掌控所有的女王!她要颠覆所有…………
  • 关于女人(双语版)

    关于女人(双语版)

    <关于女人>本书作者冰心(1900—1999),原名谢婉莹,笔名冰心女士等,福建闽侯人。曾任中国文联委员、中国作协书记处书记等职。散文集《寄小读者》表达作者对小朋友的关心和扶植,对未来充满希望。本书是冰心的一本集子,署名“男士”,属“开明文学新刊”之一种,为“增订本”。
  • 西北汉子北京妞

    西北汉子北京妞

    小说主要描写西北青年张大发在北京从一名普通的小学教辅图书销售人员成长为上市公司图书销售经理的励志故事!他不甘平庸,他勇于进取,他爱憎分明.......他与身为董事长秘书的北京女孩童晓从陌生到相知相爱,但是这段办公室恋情却遭遇了重重的阻力……他们在企业文化的熏陶下,在董事长人格魅力的影响下,实现了从平凡到优秀再到卓越!是什么成就了西北汉子立志向上的动力?又是什么成就了北京女孩的心奋起飞扬?小说中将带给你答案!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 盛世大汉

    盛世大汉

    有人说从曹丕称帝开始,就意味这魏国的灭亡。因为世家已经开始逐渐掌握政权。一个在前世极度崇拜诸葛亮的宅男,穿越到人命不如狗的三国。不会发明创造,会发生什么事?看小人物如何在一次次战斗中成长,且看三国中曹操,孙权,刘备,已及主角如何针对世家。
  • 天使与恶魔:围绕身旁

    天使与恶魔:围绕身旁

    一个大学毕业的少女,在一次偶然的情况下,与男主产生爱,但,没想到剧烈的打击时她崩溃,忽然,她看到了魔鬼在她身旁!这!究竟是怎么了?她知道,还有一个天使,但,为什么她看不到天使?
  • 王者莫笑

    王者莫笑

    暴风雨肆虐,只有心智强大到可以和暴雨对抗,就有了胜算。云雾盘绕的战争顶峰,众神伫立,虚无缥缈的迷雾遮掩不了狂野的笑容。风起云涌的战场,笑容的后面,没有生存的希望,只有永不中断的危险!也许,在无意中坠落,也可以在怒吼声中站起!攥紧手中的利剑,继续你的步伐,战场上,从来没有笑容。尘封的意念,没有任何枷锁可以永久禁锢。沸腾的热血,没有任何人可以使它停止涌动。披上盔甲,带上武器,成为钢铁王者,在战争大陆上穿梭。没有任何钢铁栅栏,可以阻挡从不笑的王者踏上冲击极限的道路。生存还是毁灭,扫荡还是退缩,低头还是站起?
  • 时光可否重来之活在校园之中

    时光可否重来之活在校园之中

    时光可否重来,六年在喧闹中度过,可回忆起来,却有说不出来的心酸。
  • 宠妃无度:暴君的药引

    宠妃无度:暴君的药引

    枪林弹雨拼搏十几年,楼柒决定金盆洗手退出江湖,谁知一时贪玩驾机想飞越神秘黑三角,却被卷进了深海旋涡,然后…落在一个男人怀里。狂腻了,她现在要努力扮柔弱装装小白花,他却一步步撕开她的伪装,逼着她露出彪悍女汉子的本性。楼柒表示:这位帝君,你的人生太过跌宕起伏,太多腥风血雨,本姑娘不想玩啊,能不能你走你的阳关道,我走我的独木桥?某帝君却霸道宣称:本帝君的女人不许弱!想早早退休享福的彪悍女被一个霸道暴君拖入天下纷争,所以,这是一个遇神杀神,遇佛弑佛,男强女强的故事。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】