"Well, my dear countess," said she, taking my hand with a friendly pressure, "and how goes on the dear invalid?""Better, I hope," replied I, "and indeed, this illness, at first so alarming to me, seems rather calculated to allay my former fears and anxieties by affording the king calm and impartial reflection; the result of it is that my dreaded rival of the <Parc-aux-Cerfs> is dismissed.""I am delighted to hear this," replied madame de Mirepoix, "but, my dear soul, let me caution you against too implicitly trusting these deceitful appearances, to-morrow may destroy these flattering hopes, and the next day--""Indeed!" cried I, interrupting her, "the physicians answer for his recovery.""And suppose they should chance to be mistaken," returned my cautious friend, "what then? But, my dear countess, my regard or you compels me to speak out, and to warn you of reposing in tranquillity when you ought to be acting. Do not deceive yourself, leave nothing to chance; and if you have any favour to ask of the king, lose no time in so doing while yet you have the opportunity.""And what favour would you advise me to ask?" said I"You do not understand me, then?" exclaimed the marechale, "Isay that it is imperatively necessary for you to accept whatever the king may feel disposed to offer you as a future provision, and as affording you the means of passing the remainder of your days in ease and tranquillity. What would become of you in case of the worst? Your numerous creditors would besiege you with a rapacity, still further excited by the support they would receive from court. You look at me with surprise because I speak the language of truth; be a reasonable creature I implore of you once in your life, and do not thus sacrifice the interests of your life to a romantic disregard of self."I could not feel offended with the marechale for addressing me thus, but I could not help fancying the moment was ill chosen, and unable to frame an answer to my mind, I remained silent.
Mistaken as to the cause of my taciturnity, she continued,"Come, I am well pleased to see you thus reflecting upon what I have said; but lose no time, strike the iron while it is hot.
Do as I have recommended either to-night or early to-morrow;possibly, after that time it may be too late. May I venture also to remind you of your friends, my dear countess. I am in great trouble just now, and I trust you will not refuse to obtain for me, from his majesty, a favour of which I stand in the utmost need--50,000 francs would come very seasonably; I have lost that sum at cards, and must pay it, but how I know not.""Let not that distress you," said I, "for I can relieve you of that difficulty until the king's convalescence enables him to undertake the pleasing office of assisting your wishes. M. de Laborde has orders to honour all my drafts upon him, I willtherefore draw for the sum you require." So saying, I hastily scrawled upon a little tumbled piece of paper those magic words, which had power to unlock the strong coffers of a court banker.
The marechale embraced me several times with the utmost vivacity.
"You are my guardian angel," cried she, "you save me from despair.
But, tell me, my generous friend, do you think M. de Laborde will make any difficulty?""Why," said I, "should you suppose it possible he will do so?""Oh, merely on account of present circumstances.""What circumstances?"
"The illness--no, I mean the indisposition of his majesty.""He is an excellent man," said I, "and I doubt not but he will act nobly and honourably.""If we could but procure his majesty's signature--""But that is quite impossible to-night."
"I know it is, and, therefore, I will tell you what I think of doing. Perhaps, if I were to set out for Paris immediately, Imight be able to present this cheque before Laborde is acquainted with our misfortune. It is not late, so farewell, my dearest countess. I shall return to-morrow before you are up, but do not forget what I have said to you; and remember, that under any circumstances, the king should secure you a safe and ample independence. If his death finds you well provided for, you will still have a court, friends, relatives, partisans, in a word, the means of gratifying every inclination. Be guided by me, and follow my advice."And after this lesson of practical morality, the marechale quitted me to hurry to Paris; and I, wearied and heartsick, flew to my crowded salons as a remedy against the gloomy ideas her conversation had given rise to.