Part 30 (1/2)
”Well, M de Maupeou, and what do you think of this business?”
”I am overwhelmed with consternation, sire,” replied he, ”when I think that one of your ainst you”
”Stay,” cried Louis hastily, ”that fact is by no means proved The duchesse de Grammont is a mad woman, who involves the safety of her brother; if I only believed hiht in the Bastille, and to-ainst hiood walls, and avengeit out of her power to injure me further”
”Sire,” said I, in my turn, ”remember she is a woht of your just indignation fall upon her brother”
”Chancellor,” cried the king, ”this business htly passed over”
”Nor without due consideration,” replied M de Maupeou, ”your majesty may look upon this letter as the basis of a secret plot: as for the duchess, I am of my cousin's opinion; despise her audacious atteuilty as well as dangerous person”
The kingthe letter in his hand, threw it from him
”Would,” exclaiht in disgusting me with my very existence Heavens! how justly may I say I despise all men; nor have I a much better opinion of your sex, ed, sire,” cried I; ”really I was not prepared for such gallantry It is rather hard that you should quarrel with reeable duchess behaves ill! Upon my word it is very unpleasant!”
”Co hty child; if I had not you, where should I turn for consolation amidst the torments by which I am surrounded? Shall I tell you? In theaffairs, there arethe happiness of reatly eneral n; but it will always happen that ill-disposed persons seek to pervert the public opinion, and to lead , was the faithful and active agent of her brother The duke, to secure his stay in the erly avail hidom he seeks the support of the parliaments and philosophers; without, he claims the succour of Germany and Spain Your majesty is certainly master of your oill, and it would ill become me to point out the path you should tread; but reatest ene proof in the case of your august son; and now, if he fancied he should find it eous to have the dauphin for his itated, ”do you knohat you are asserting?”
”The truth, sire,” I exclaimed ”The public voice accuses the duc de Choiseul of the death of your son; they declare-”
”How! you, too,atwhat is in every one's e before,” added the king; ”the Jesuits inforive credit to such a monstrosity”
”So much the worse,” replied I; ”in the world in which we live we should always be on our guard”
”Sire,” added the chancellor, with the most diabolical address, ”I am persuaded that M de Choiseul is the most honourable man in the world, and that he would shudder at the bare idea of any attempt upon the life of your majesty; but his relations, friends, and creatures believe, that, supported by the dauphiness, he would continue in office under your successor Who can answer for their honour? Who can assure you, that so them may not do that for the duke which he would never venture to atteer youras M de Choiseul continues in office; were he disraced et hiitation, and for so the apartment with hasty strides; then he suddenly stopped
”You are then convinced, M de Maupeou,” cried he, ”that the duke is leagued with the parliaments to weaken my authority?”
”There are palpable proofs to that effect,” replied the chancellor; ”your majesty may recollect the skilful manner in which, on the 3d of last Septe you to parliament; most assuredly, had he not been the friend of rebels, he would not have shrunk fronation”
”That is but too true,” cried Louis XV; ”and I feltto amuse himself at the house of M de Laborde, when his duty summoned him to my side”
”Yourcondemns him; his personal conduct, equally with that of his sister, proves how little he regards his royal master's interest; and should your cle him now, you may find your mercy produce fatal effects to yourself”
”His disanize all my political measures Who could I put in his place? I know no one capable of filling it”