separately questioned, hesitated no
longer to express their concurrence in the opinion that his majesty's
case was entirely hopeless, unless, indeed, some crisis, which human
foresight could not anticipate, should arise in his favour.

This opinion changed the moral face of the chateau. The duc de Duras,
who had not previously suspected even the existence of danger, began to
feel how weighty a burthen reposed on his shoulders; he recommended to
the medical attendants the utmost caution and silence, pointing out,
at the same time, all the ill consequences which might arise, were any
imprudent or sudden explanation of his real malady made to the august
sufferer. Unable to attend to everything himself, and not inclined to
depend upon his son, whose natural propensity he was fully aware of,
he recalled to his recollection that the comte de Muy, the sincere and
attached friend of the dauphin, son to Louis XV, was then in Versailles.
He immediately sought him out in the apartments he occupied in the
chateau, and communicated to him the result of the consultation
respecting the king's illness.

The comte de Muy was one of those rare characters reserved by Providence
for the happiness of a state, when kings are wise enough to employ them.
He thought not of personal interest or advantage, but dictated to the
duke the precise line of conduct he himself would have pursued under
similar circumstances.

"The first thing to be done," said he, "is to remember that the king
is a Christian, and to conform in every respect to the customs of his
predecessors. You are aware, my lord duke, that directly any member of
the royal family is attacked by the small-pox, he ought immediately
to receive extreme unction; you will, therefore, make the necessary
arrangements, and apprize those whose duty it becomes to administer it."

"This is, indeed, an unpleasant commission," replied the duke; "to
administer extreme unction to his majesty, is to announce to him cruelly
and abruptly that his last hour has arrived, and to bid him prepare for
death."

"The duty is nevertheless imperative," answered the comte de Muy, "and
you incur no slight responsibility by neglecting it."

The consequence of this conversation was, that the duke sent off
two couriers immediately, one to madame Louise, and the other to the
archbishop of Paris. He also apprized the ministers of the result of the
consultation which had taken place, whilst the comte de Muy took upon