the memoirs of louis xiv-12-第14部分

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would　look　upon　my　presence　as　a　kind　of　insult。　　In　vain！　in　vain！　were
my　arguments；　my　entreaties；　my　instances。　　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　had
determined　that　I　should　go　on　this　errand；　and　go　I　must。

As　I　left　his　house　to　execute　my　luckless　commission；　I　found　one　of
Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans'　pages；　booted　and　spurred；　who　had　just
arrived　from　Saint…Cloud。　　I　begged　him　to　return　at　once；　at　a　gallop；
and　say；　on　arriving；　to　the　Duchesse　Sforze　（one　of　Madame　la　Duchesse
d'Orleans'　ladies）　that　I　should　be　there　soon　with　a　message　from　M。　le
Duc　d'Orleans；　and　to　ask　her　to　meet　me　as　I　descended　from　my　coach。
My　object　was　to　charge　her　with　the　message　I　had　to　deliver；　and　not　to
see　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans　at　all。　　But　my　poor　prudence　was
confounded　by　that　of　the　page；　who　had　not　less　than　I。　　He　took　good
care　not　to　be　the　bearer　of　such　ill　news　as　he　had　just　learned　at　the
Palais　Royal；　and　which　was　now　everywhere　public。　　He　contented　himself
with　saying　that　I　was　coming；　sent　by　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　spoke　not　a
word　to　the　Duchesse　Sforze；　and　disappeared　at　once。　　This　is　what　I
afterwards　learned；　and　what　I　saw　clearly　enough　on　arriving　at　Saint…
Cloud。

I　went　there　at　a　gentle　trot；　in　order　to　give　time　to　the　page　to
arrive　before　me；　and　to　the　Duchesse　Sforze　to　receive　me。　　During　the
journey　I　applauded　myself　for　my　address；　but　feared　lest　I　should　be
obliged　to　see　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans　after　Madame　Sforze。　　I　could
not　imagine　that　Saint…Cloud　was　in　ignorance　of　what　had　occurred；　and；
nevertheless；　I　was　in　an　agony　that　cannot　be　expressed；　and　this
increased　as　I　approached　the　end　of　my　journey。　　If　it　is　disagreeable
to　announce　unpleasant　news　to　the　indifferent；　how　much　more　is　it　to
announce　them　to　the　deeply　interested！

Penetrated　with　this　dolorous　sentiment　I　arrived　in　the　grand　court　of
Saint…Cloud；　and　saw　everybody　at　the　windows；　running　from　all　parts。
I　alighted；　and　asked　the　first　comer　to　lead　me　to　the　Duchesse　Sforze；
the　position　of　whose　apartments　I　am　unacquainted　with。　　I　was　told　that
Madame　Sforze　was　in　the　chapel　with　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans。　　Then
I　asked　for　the　Marechale　de　Rochefort；　and　after　a　time　she　arrived；
hobbling　along　with　her　stick。　　I　disputed　with　her；　wishing　to　see
Madame　Sforze；　who　was　not　to　be　found。　　I　was　anxious　at　all　events　to
go　to　her　room　and　wait；　but　the　inexorable　Marechale　pulled　me　by　the
arm；　asking　what　news　I　brought。　　Worn　out　at　last；　I　said；　〃News？　　news
that　you　are　acquainted　with。〃

〃How；　acquainted　with？〃　she　asked。　　〃We　know　nothing；　except　that　a　Bed
of　justice　has　been　held；　and　we　are　expiring　to　know　why；　and　what　has
passed　there。〃

My　astonishment　at　this　ignorance　was　extreme；　and　I　made　her　swear　and
repeat　four　times　over　that　nothing　was　known　at　Saint…Cloud。　　I　told　her
thereupon　what　had　happened；　and　she；　in　her　turn；　astonished；　almost
fell　backwards！　　But　where　was　Madame　Sforze？　　she　came　not；　and　do　what
I　must；　say　what　I　might；　I　was　forced　to　carry；　my　message　to　Madame　la
Duchesse　d'Orleans。　　I　was　sorely　loth　to　do　so；　but　was　dragged　by　the
hand　almost　as　a　sheep　is　led　to　the　slaughter。

I　stood　before　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans　after　having　passed　through
an　apartment　filled　with　her　people；　fear　painted　upon　all　their　faces。
I　saluted　her；　but；　oh！　how　differently　from　my　usual　manner！　　She　did
not　perceive　this　at　first；　and　begged　me；　with　a　cheerful　natural　air；
to　approach　her；　but　seeing　my　trouble；　she　exclaimed；　〃Good　Heavens；
Monsieur；　what　a　face　you　wear！　　What　news　bring　you？〃

Seeing　that　I　remained　silent　and　motionless；　she　became　more　moved；　and
repeated　her　questions。　　I　advanced　a　few　steps　towards　her；　and　at　her
third　appeal；　I　said：　〃　Madame；　you　know　nothing　then？〃

〃No；　Monsieur；　I　simply　know　that　there　has　been　a　Bed　of　justice：　what
has　passed　there　I　am　quite　ignorant　of。〃

〃Ah；　Madame；〃　I　replied；　half　turning　away；　〃I　am　more　unhappy；　then；
than　I　thought　to　be。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　exclaimed　she；　〃what　has　happened？〃　（rising　and
sitting　bolt　upright　on　the　sofa　she　was　stretched　upon。　　〃Come　near　and
sit　down！〃

I　approached；　stated　that　I　was　in　despair。　　She；　more　and　more　moved；
said　to　me；　〃But　speak；　better　to　learn　bad　news　from　one's　friend　than
from　others。〃

This　remark　pierced　me　to　the　heart；　and　made　me　sensible　of　the　grief　I
was　going　to　inflict　upon　her。　　I　summoned　up　courage；　and　I　told　her
all。

The　tears　of　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans　flowed　abundantly　at　my
recital。　　She　did　not　answer　a　word；　uttered　no　cry；　but　wept　bitterly。
She　pointed　to　a　seat　and　I　sat　down　upon　it；　my　eyes　during　several
instants　fixed　upon　the　floor。　　Afterwards　I　said　that　M。　le　Duc
d'Orleans；　who　had　rather　forced　upon　me　this　commission；　than　charged　me
with　it；　had　expressly　commanded　me　to　tell　her　that　he　had　very　strong
proofs　in　his　hands　against　M。　du　Maine；　that　he　had　kept　them　back　a
long　time；　but　could　no　longer　do　so　now。　　She　gently　replied　to　me　that
her　brother　was　very　unfortunate　and　shortly　afterwards　asked　if　I　knew
what　his　crime　was。　　I　said　that　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　had　not　told　me；　and
that　I　had　not　dared　to　question　him　upon　a　subject　of　this　nature；
seeing　that　he　was　not　inclined　to　talk　of　it。

More　tears　shortly　afterwards　filled　her　eyes。　　Her　brother　must　be　very
criminal；　she　said；　to　be　so　treated。

I　remained　some　time　upon　my　seat；　not　daring　to　raise　my　eyes；　in　the
most　painful　state　possible；　and　not　knowing　whether　to　remain　or　go
away。　　At　last　I　acquainted　her　with　my　difficulty；　said　I　fancied　she
would　like　to　be　alone　some　little　time　before　giving　me　her　orders；　but
that　respect　kept　me　equally　in　suspense　as　to　whether　I　should　go　or
stay。　　After　a　short　silence；　she　said　she　should　like　to　see　her　women。
I　rose；　sent　them　to　her；　and　said　to　them；　if　her　Royal　Highness　asked
for　me；　I　should　be　with　the　Duchesse　Sforze；　or　the　Marechale　Rochefort；
but　I　could　find　neither　of　these　two　ladies；　so　I　went　up　to　Madame。

She　rose　as　soon　as　I　appeared；　and　said　to　me；　with　eagerness；　〃Well；
Monsieur；　what　news？　　At　the　same　time　her　ladies　retired；　and　I　was　left
alone　with　her。

I　commenced　by　an　excuse　for　not　coming　to　see　her　first；　as　was　my　duty；
on　the　ground　that　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　had　assured　me　she　would　not
object　to　my　commencing　with　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans。　　She　did　not
object；　in　fact；　but　asked　me　for　my　news　with　much　eagerness。　　I　told
her　what　had　happened。　　Joy　spread　over　her　face。　　She　replied　with　a
mighty；　〃At　last！〃　which　she　repeated；　saying；　her　son　long　since　ought
to　have　struck　this　blow；　but　that　he　was　too　good。　　I　mentioned　to　her
that　she　was　standing；　but　for　politeness　she　remained　so。　　After　some
further　talk　she　begged　me　to　state　all　the　details　of　this　celebrated
morning。

I　again　recalled　to　her　mind　that　she　was　standing；　and　represented　that
what　she　desired　to　learn　would　take　a　long　time　to　relate；　but　her　ardor
to　know　it　was　extreme。　　I　began　then　my　story；　commencing　with　the　very
morning。　　At　the　end　of　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　Madame　seated　herself；　but
with　the　greatest　politeness。　　I　was　nearly　an　hour　with　her；　continually
telling　and　sometimes　replying　to　her　questions。　　She　was　delighted　at
the　humiliation　of　the　Parliament；　and　of　the　bastards；　and　that　her　son
had　at　last　displayed　some　firmness。

At　this　point　the　Marechale　de　Rochefort　entered；　and　summoned　me　back　to
Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans。　　I　found　that　princess　extended　upon　the
sofa　where　I　had　left　her；　an　inkstand　upon　her　knees　and　a　pen　in　her
hand。　　She　had　commenced　a　reply　to　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　but　had　not　been
able　to　finish　it。　　Looking　at　me　with　an　air　of　gentleness　and　of
friendship；　she　observed；　〃Tears　escape　me；　I　have　begged　you　to　descend
in　order　to　render　me　a　service；　my　hand　is　unsteady；　I　pray　you　finish
my　writing　for　me；〃　and　she　handed　to　me　the　inkstand　and　her　letter。　　I
took　them；　and　she　dictated　to　me　the　rest　of　the　epistle；　that　I　at　once
added　to　what　she　had　written。

I　was　infinitely　amazed　at　the　conciseness　and　appropriateness　of　the
expressions　she　readily　found；　in　the　midst　of　her　violent　emotion；　her
sobs；　and　her　tears。　　She　finished　by　saying　that　she　was　going　to
Montmartre　to　mourn　the　misfortunes　of　her　brother；　and　pray　God　for　his
prosperity。　　I　shall　regret　all　my　life　I　did　not　transcribe　this　letter。
All　its　expressions　were　so　worthy；　so　fitting；　so　measured；　everything
being　according　to　truth　and　duty；　and　the　letter；　in　fact；　being　so
perfectly　well　written；　that　although　I　remember　it　roughly；　I　dare　not
give　it；　for　fear　of　spoiling　it。　　What　a　pity　that　a　mind　capable　of
such　self…possession；　at　such　a　moment；　should　have　become　valueless　from
its　leaning　towards　illegitimacy。

After　this　I　had　another　interview　with　Madame；　and　a　long　talk　with　my
sure　and　trusty　friend　Madame　Sforze。　　Then　I　set　out　for　Paris；　went
straight　to　the　Palais　Royal；　and　found　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　with　Madame
la　Duchesse　de　Berry。　　He　was　delighted　when　he　heard　what　Madame　had
said　respecting　him；　but　he　was　not　particularly　pleased　when　he　found
that　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans　（who　after　telling　me　she　would　go　to
Montmartre；　had　changed　her　mind）；　was　coming　to　the　Palais　Royal。

I　learned　afterwards　that　she　came　about　half　an　hour　after　I　left。　　At
first　she　was　all　humility　and　sorrow；　hoping　to　soften　the　Regent　by
this　conduct。　　Then　she　passed　to　tears；　sobs；　cries；　reproaches；
expecting　to　make　him　by　these　means　undo　what　he　had　done；　and　reinstate
M。　du　Maine　in　the　position　he　had　lost。　　But　all　her　efforts　proving
vain；　she　adopted　another　course：　her　sorrow　turned　to　rage；her　tears
to　looks　of　anger。　　Still　in　vain。　　She　could　gain　nothing；　vex　and　annoy
M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　as　she　might　by　her　conduct。　　At　last；　finding　there
was　no　remedy　to　be　had；　she　was　obliged　to　endure　her　sorrow　as　best　she
might。

As　for　me；　I　was　erased　entirely　from　her　books。　　She　looked　upon　me　as
the　chief　cause　of　what　had　occurred；　and　would　not　see　me。　　I　remained
ever　af