Firstproceedingsofthecouncil——Thedauphinreceivestheprelates
　　withgreatcoolness——SituationofthearchbishopofParis——
　　Richelieuevadestheprojectforconfessingtheking——Thefriends
　　ofmadameduBarrycomeforward——TheEnglishphysician——The
　　abbeTerray——InterviewwiththeprincedeSoubise——Theprince
　　andthecourtiers——LaMartiniereinformsthekingofFrancethe
　　truenatureofhiscomplaint——Consequencesofthisdisclosure
　　Thedifferentmembersofthisdeclared
　　themselvesinfavourofthisadvice，muchtothegriefandchagrin
　　oftheprincessAdelaide。
　　Sheeasilyperceivedbythisproposition
　　thatthecourtwouldveryshortlychangemasters，andcouldshe
　　hopetopreservethesameinfluenceduringthereignofhernephew
　　shehadmanagedtoobtainwhilstherfatherheldthesceptre？
　　However，shemadenooppositiontotheresolutionoftheprelates，
　　whoforthwithproceededtothedauphin，whoreceivedthemwith
　　considerablecoolness。
　　Asyet，butill-assuredinthenewpart
　　hehadtoplay，theprinceshowedhimselffearfulandembarrassed。
　　Thedauphinesswouldwillinglyhaveadvisedhim，butthatprudence
　　wouldnotpermithertodo，sothatthedauphin，leftwhollyto
　　himself，knewnotonwhattodetermine。
　　Thiswaspreciselywhatthegrandalmonerhadhopedandexpected，
　　andhelaughedinhissleeveattheuselesstroubletakenbythe
　　archbishop；andwhilstheopenlyaffectedtopromotehisdesires
　　asmuchaswasinhispower，hesecretlytookmeasurestoprevent
　　theirsuccess。
　　M。deBeaumont，whowasofamostopenandupright
　　nature，wasfarfromsuspectingtheseintrigues；indeed，hissimple
　　andpiouscharacterbutill-qualifiedhimforthecorruptanddeceitful
　　atmosphereofacourt，especiallysuchaoneasVersailles。
　　His
　　situationnowbecameoneofdifficulty；abandonedbythebishops
　　andthegrandalmoner，disappointedinhishopesoffindinga
　　supporterinthedauphin，whatcouldhedoalonewiththe
　　princesses，who，intheirdreadofcausinganemotion，which
　　mightbefataltotheirparent，knewnotwhattoresolveupon。
　　As
　　alastresource，theysummonedthe
　　abbeMandaux，theking’s
　　confessor。
　　Theprelateexcitedhiszealinallitsfervour，and
　　thissimpleandobscurepriestdeterminedtoundertakethat
　　whichmanymoreeminentpersonageshadshrunkfromattempting。
　　Hethereforesoughtadmittanceintothechamberoftheking，where
　　hefoundtheducsdeDurasanddeRichelieu，towhomhe
　　communicatedthemissionuponwhichhewascome。
　　Atthisdeclaration，theconsequencesofwhichheplainlyforesaw，
　　theducdeDurashesitatedtoreply，scarcelyknowinghowtoward
　　offablowtheresponsibilityofwhichmustfalluponhimalone。
　　TheducdeRichelieu，withgreaterself-command，extricatedhim
　　fromhisdifficulty。
　　“Sir，“saidhetotheabbe，“yourzealishighlypraise-worthy，
　　boththedukeandmyselfareawareofallthatshouldbedone
　　uponsuchanoccasionasthepresent；andalthoughIfreely
　　admitthatthesacredactyouspeakofisofanimperativenature，
　　yetIwouldobserve，thatthekingbeingstillinignoranceofhis
　　fatalmalady，neitheryourdutiesnorourscanbegin，untilthe
　　momentwhenthephysiciansshallhavethoughtpropertoreveal
　　thewholetruthtohismajesty。
　　Thisisamatterofformand
　　etiquettetowhichallmustsubmitwhohaveanyfunctionsto
　　fulfilinthechateau。“
　　TheducdeDurascouldhavehuggedhiscolleagueforthiswell-
　　timedreply。
　　TheabbeMandauxfeltallthejustnessofthe
　　observation，yetwithallthetenacityofhisprofession，hereplied，
　　“Thatsinceitrestedwiththephysicianstoapprizethekingof
　　hisbeingillwiththesmall-pox，theyoughttobesummonedand
　　consultedastotheparttotake。“
　　AtthesewordstheducdeDurasslippedawayfromthegroup，
　　andwenthimselfinsearchofDoctorBordeu，whomhebrought
　　intoanangleofthechamberoutofsightoftheking’sbed。
　　The
　　ducdeDurashavingexplainedtohimwhattheabbehadjustbeen
　　sayingtothem，aswellasthedesirehehadmanifestedof
　　preparingthekingtoreceivethelastsacraments，thedoctor
　　regardedtheabbefixedlyforsomeinstance，andtheninquired
　　inaseveretone，“Whetherhehadpromisedanypersontomurder
　　theking？“
　　Thisabruptandalarmingquestionmadethepriestchangecolour，
　　whilstheaskedforanexplanationofsuchasingularcharge。
　　“Isay，sir，“repliedBordeu，“thatwhoeverspeaksatpresentto
　　hismajestyofsmall-pox，confession，orextremeunction，will
　　havetoanswerforhislife。“
　　“Doyou，indeed，believe，“askedtheducdeRichelieu，“thatthe
　　mentionofthesethingswouldproducesofatalaresult？“
　　“MostassuredlyIdo；andoutofonehundredsickpersonsit
　　wouldhavethesameeffectuponsixty，perhapseighty；indeed，
　　Ihaveknowntheshockproduceinstantaneousdeath。
　　ThisIam
　　willingtosignwithmyownbloodifitbenecessary，andmy
　　professionalbrothertherewillnotdisputeitstruth。“
　　AtthesewordshemadeasignforLemonniertoadvance，and
　　afterhavingexplainedtohimthesubjectofconversation，begged
　　ofhimtospeakhisopinionopenlyandcandidly。
　　Lemonnierwas
　　somewhatofacourtier，andoneglanceatthetwonoblemenbefore
　　whomhestood，wassufficienttoapprizehimwhatopinionwas
　　expectedfromhim。
　　He，therefore，fullyandunhesitatingly
　　confirmedallthatBordeuhadpreviouslyadvanced。
　　Stronginthesedecisions，theducdeDurasexpressedhisregret
　　totheconfessoratbeingunabletoaccordhisrequest。
　　“But，“
　　addedhe，“Youperceivethethingisimpossible，unlesstohim
　　whowouldbecomearegicide。“
　　Thisterribleexpressionrenewedtheformerterroroftheabbe，
　　who，satisfiedwithhavingshownhiszeal，was，perhaps，not
　　verysorryforhavingmetwithsuchinsurmountableobstacles。
　　He
　　immediatelyreturnedtotheapartmentofmadameSophie，where
　　thecouncilwasstillassembled，andrelatedtheparticularsof
　　hisvisit；whilstthepoorarchbishopofParis，thusfoiledin
　　everyattempt，wascompelledtoleaveVersailles
　　whollyunsuccessful。
　　IheardallthesethingsfromtheducdeRichelieu；hetoldme
　　thatnothingcouldhavebeenmoregratifyingthantheconductof
　　BordeuandLemonnier，andthatIhadeveryreasonforfeeling
　　satisfiedwiththeconductofallaroundme。
　　“Itisinthemoment
　　ofperil，“saidhe，“thatwearebestabletoknowourtruefriends。“
　　“Iseeit，“repliedI；“andsinceourdangerisamutualoneought
　　wenottoforgetouroldsubjectsofdispute？“
　　“Formyownpart，madam，“returnedhe，“Idonotrememberthat
　　anyeverexisted；besides，isnotmycauseyourslikewise？
　　Anew
　　reignwillplacemecompletelyinthebackground。
　　Thepresent
　　kinglooksuponmeasalmostyouthful；while，onthecontrary，
　　hisgrandsonwillconsidermeasaspecimenofthedaysof
　　Methuselah。
　　Thechangeofmasterscanbebuttomydisadvantage；
　　letus，therefore，standfirmlytogether，thatwemaybethebetter
　　enabledtoresisttheattacksofourenemies。“
　　“Doyouconsider，“inquiredI，“thatwemayrelyuponthefirmness
　　oftheducdeDuras？“
　　“Assafelyasyoumayonmine，“answeredhe，“solongasheis
　　notattackedfacetoface；butiftheyonceassailhimwiththe
　　armsofetiquette，heisalostman，hewillcapitulate。
　　Itis
　　unfortunateforhimthatIamnotlikelytobenearhimupon
　　suchanoccasion。“
　　ComteJean，whoneverleftme，thentookuptheconversation，
　　andadvisedM。deRichelieutoleavehimtohimselfaslittleas
　　possible；itwas，therefore，agreedthatweshouldcausetheduc
　　deDurastobeconstantlysurroundedbypersonsofourparty，
　　whoshouldkeepthoseofouradversariesatadistance。
　　Wehadnotyetlostallhopeofseeinghismajestyrestoredto
　　health；nature，solanguidandpowerlessinthecaseofpoor
　　Anne，seemedinclinedtomakeasalutaryeffortonthepartof
　　theking。
　　Everyinstantofthisdayandthenext，thatIdidnotspendby
　　thesick-bedofLouisXV，wereengrossedbymostintimatefriends，
　　theducsd’Aiguillon，deCosse，etc。，mesdamesdeMirepoix，de
　　Forcalquier，deValentinois，del’Hopital，deMontmorency，de
　　Flaracourt，andothers。
　　Asyet，noneofmypartyhadabandoned
　　me；thesituationofaffairswasnot，uptothepresent，sufficiently
　　cleartowarrantanentiredefection。
　　Thegood
　　Genevieve
　　Mathon，whomchancehadconductedtoVersaillesduringthelast
　　week，cametosharewithHenriette，mysisters-in-law，andmy
　　niece，thetormentsanduncertaintieswhichdistractedmymind。
　　Wewerecontinuallyinastateofmortalalarm，dreadingevery
　　instanttohearthatthekingwasawareofhismalady，andthe
　　dangerwhichthreatened，andourfearsbuttoowellproclaimed
　　ourpersuasionthatsuchamomentwouldbethedeath-blowtoour
　　hopes。
　　Ithappenedthatinthisexigency，asitmostcommonly
　　occursinaffairsofgreatimportance，allourapprehensionshad
　　beendirectedtowardstheecclesiastics，whileweentirely
　　overlookedtheprobabilitythat
　　theabruptlaMartinieremight，
　　inoneinstant，becomethecauseofourruin。
　　Allthissoentirely
　　escapedus，thatwetooknottheslightestprecautiontopreventit。
　　Nosoonerwasthenewsofthekingbeingattackedwithsmall-pox
　　publiclyknown，thanadoctorSulton，anEnglishphysician，the
　　pretendedprofessorofaninfalliblecureforthisdisease，presented
　　himselfatVersailles，andtenderedhisservices。
　　Thepoorman
　　wassimpleenoughtomakehisfirstapplicationtothosemedical
　　attendantsalreadyintrustedwiththemanagementofhismajesty，
　　butneitherofthemwouldgiveanyattentiontohisprofessionsof
　　skilltoovercomesofatalamalady。
　　Onthecontrary，theytreated
　　himasamerequack，declaredthattheywouldneverconsentto
　　confidethechargeoftheiraugustpatienttothehandsofa
　　strangerwhateverhemightbe。
　　SultonreturnedtoParis，and
　　obtaininganaudienceoftheducd’Orleans，relatedtohimwhat
　　hadpassedbetweenhimselfandtheking’sphysicians。
　　Theprince