, I conjure you, I am only temporarily
indisposed. But hasten to that poor girl whose dangererous state
requires all your care."

My brother-in-law, recovering himself by a strong effort, profited by
the present opportunity to remove me into another apartment, the pure
air of which contributed to cool my fevered brain; but my trembling
limbs refused to support me, and it was necessary to apply strong
restoratives ere I was sufficiently recovered to quit the fatal spot. At
Trianon, as well as at Versailles, I was considered absolute mistress;
those of the royal household, who were aware of my being at the former,
earnestly solicited me to retire to the chamber I had occupied on the
preceding night, but to this arrangement the comte and myself were
equally opposed. A sedan chair was therefore procured, in which I was
rapidly transported back to Versailles.

You may easily conceive in what a state I arrived there. My good
Henriette was greatly alarmed, and immediately summoned Bordeu, who, not
venturing to bleed me, contented himself with administering some
cordials which revived me in some degree. But the events of the last few
hours seemed indelibly fixed in my mind; and I heard, almost with
indifference, the bulletin issued respecting the state of the king's
health during the fatal night which had just passed. One object alone
engrossed my thoughts;--eyes seemed still to behold the miserable girl
stretched on her dying bed, whose ravings of despair and threatening
words yet rung in my ears, and produced a fresh chill of horror, as with
painful tenacity my mind dwelt upon them to the utter exclusion of every
other consideration. The unfortunate creature expired on the third day,
a victim to the rapid progress of the most virulent species of small-pox.
She died more calmly and resigned than I had seen her. For my own
part, I freely pardoned her injustice towards myself, and sincerely
forgive the priest if he (as I have been told) excited her bitterness
against me.

The severe shock I had experienced might have terminated fatally for
me, had not my thoughts been compelled to rouse themselves for the
contemplation of the alarming prospect before me. It was more than four
o'clock in the morning when I returned to the chateau, and at nine I
rose again without having obtained the least repose. The king had
inquired for me several times. I instantly went to him, and my languid
frame, pale countenance and heavy eyes, all wh