ncesses, but that the state of my
health did not permit of my visiting Chantilly for the present."

"That is all very well," answered Louis XV; "you have framed your
excuse with much generosity, which I greatly fear will meet with a very
different turn; for if you do not accompany me to Chantilly, the
report circulated will be, that the princesses have forbidden you their
presence; which my dearly beloved daughters, whose characters I fully
understand, will neither affirm nor deny before the public, whilst in
private they will vow that they prohibited you from following them.
Always excepting madame Louise, who is an angel upon earth, as she will
most assuredly be one day in heaven, where I trust her prayers for me
and mine will be heard."

I did not at the time pay any particular attention to the latter part
of the king's discourse, for, indeed, the beginning was far more
interesting to me; but when I afterwards learnt that madame Louise had
quitted the grandeurs of Versailles for the gloom and austerity of a
convent I recollected it, and easily comprehended that it was spoken in
allusion to an event which took place some time afterwards, and of which
I shall speak in its proper place. However, the king's prediction was
exactly verified; and the report in general circulation was, that the
princesses had declared their intention of not going to Chantilly; it
was further rumored, that I was there, but in a private and concealed
manner. This is wholly untrue; the king would never have permitted such
a humiliation; nor do I believe I should have submitted to it had he
even desired it. However all this may be, he sought to recompense me for
his absence by writing a most delightful letter, which I will subjoin
for your gratification. To me it was of so much the greater value, that
having its royal writer's permission to show it, it became the first
death-blow I aimed at the cabal against me. The king possessed a much
greater portion of wit and talent than the weakness and timidity of his
character permitted to appear.

CHAPTER XX

Unpublished letter of Louis XV--Madame du Barry's cousin, M.
de Maupeou--The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young
girl seduced by the arts of the cure of her village--She
obtains pardon of the comte and comtesse de Louerne--The
king presents her with Lucienne--A second meeting with the
youthful prophet--His further predictions--He is sought for--