person had informed me of it. The moment Louis XV.
perceived me, he exclaimed in a hollow tone,

"Dearest countess, I have the small-pox."

At these words a cry of terror escaped me.

"Surely, sire," exclaimed I, "this is some wandering
of your imagination, and your medical attendants are
very wrong to permit you to indulge it for a minute."

"Peace!" returned Louis XV."you know not what you
say. I have the small-pox, I repeat; and, thanks to La
Martinière, I now know my real state."

I now perceived whose hand had dealt the blow, and
seeing at once all the consequences of the disclosure, ex-
claimed in my anger, turning towards La Martinière,

"You have achieved a noble work, indeed, sir; you
could not restrain yourself within the bounds of prudence,
and you see the state to which you have reduced his
majesty."

La Martinière knew not what to reply; the king un-
dertook 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 my-
self 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.

-419-