the memoirs of marie antoinette-第25部分

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Parliaments　produced　the　strongest　sensation；　Paris　was　in　a　delirium　of　joy；　and　not　more　than　one　person　in　a　hundred　foresaw　that　the　spirit　of　the　ancient　magistracy　would　be　still　the　same；　and　that　in　a　short　time　it　would　make　new　attempts　upon　the　royal　authority。　　Madame　du　Barry　had　been　exiled　to　Pont…aux…Dames。　　This　was　a　measure　rather　of　necessity　than　of　severity；　a　short　period　of　compulsory　retreat　was　requisite　in　order　completely　to　break　off　her　connections　with　State　affairs。　　The　possession　of　Louveciennes　and　a　considerable　pension　were　continued　to　her。

　　　　　＇The　Comtesse　du　Barry　never　forgot　the　mild　treatment　she　　　　　　experienced　from　the　Court　of　Louis　XVI。；　during　the　most　violent　　　　　　convulsions　of　the　Revolution　she　signified　to　the　Queen　that　there　　　　　　was　no　one　in　France　more　grieved　at　the　sufferings　of　her　sovereign　　　　　　than　herself；　that　the　honour　she　had　for　years　enjoyed；　of　living　　　　　　near　the　throne；　and　the　unbounded　kindness　of　the　King　and　Queen；　　　　　　had　so　sincerely　attached　her　to　the　cause　of　royalty　that　she　　　　　　entreated　the　Queen　to　honour　her　by　disposing　of　all　she　possessed。　　　　　　Though　they　did　not　accept　her　offer；　their　Majesties　were　affected　　　　　　at　her　gratitude。　　The　Comtesse　du　Barry　was；　as　is　well　known；　one　　　　　　of　the　victims　of　the　Revolution。　　She　betrayed　at　the　last　great　　　　　　weakness；　and　the　most　ardent　desire　to　live。　　She　was　the　only　　　　　　woman　who　wept　upon　the　scaffold　and　implored　for　mercy。　　Her　beauty　　　　　　and　tears　made　an　impression　on　the　populace；　and　the　execution　was　　　　　　hurried　to　a　conclusion。MADAME　CAMPAN。＇

Everybody　expected　the　recall　of　M。　de　Choiseul；　the　regret　occasioned　by　his　absence　among　the　numerous　friends　whom　he　had　left　at　Court；　the　attachment　of　the　young　Princess　who　was　indebted　to　him　for　her　elevation　to　the　throne　of　France；　and　all　concurring　circumstances；　seemed　to　foretell　his　return；　the　Queen　earnestly　entreated　it　of　the　King；　but　she　met　with　an　insurmountable　and　unforeseen　obstacle。　　The　King；　it　is　said；　had　imbibed　the　strongest　prejudices　against　that　minister；　from　secret　memoranda　penned　by　his　father；　and　which　had　been　committed　to　the　care　of　the　Duc　de　La　Vauguyon；　with　an　injunction　to　place　them　in　his　hands　as　soon　as　he　should　be　old　enough　to　study　the　art　of　reigning。　　It　was　by　these　memoranda　that　the　esteem　which　he　had　conceived　for　the　Marechal　du　Muy　was　inspired；　and　we　may　add　that　Madame　Adelaide；　who　at　this　early　period　powerfully　influenced　the　decisions　of　the　young　monarch；　confirmed　the　impressions　they　had　made。

The　Queen　conversed　with　M。　Campan　on　the　regret　she　felt　at　having　been　unable　to　procure　the　recall　of　M。　de　Choiseul；　and　disclosed　the　cause　of　it　to　him。　　The　Abbe　de　Vermond；　who；　down　to　the　time　of　the　death　of　Louis　XV。；　had　been　on　terms　of　the　strictest　friendship　with　M。　Campan；　called　upon　him　on　the　second　day　after　the　arrival　of　the　Court　at　Choisy；　and；　assuming　a　serious　air；　said；　〃Monsieur；　the　Queen　was　indiscreet　enough　yesterday　to　speak　to　you　of　a　minister　to　whom　she　must　of　course　be　attached；　and　whom　his　friends　ardently　desire　to　have　near　her；　you　are　aware　that　we　must　give　up　all　expectation　of　seeing　the　Duke　at　Court；　you　know　the　reasons　why；　but　you　do　not　know　that　the　young　Queen；　having　mentioned　the　conversation　in　question　to　me；　it　was　my　duty；　both　as　her　preceptor　and　her　friend；　to　remonstrate　severely　with　her　on　her　indiscretion　in　communicating　to　you　those　particulars　of　which　you　are　in　possession。　　I　am　now　come　to　tell　you　that　if　you　continue　to　avail　yourself　of　the　good　nature　of　your　mistress　to　initiate　yourself　in　secrets　of　State；　you　will　have　me　for　your　most　inveterate　enemy。　　The　Queen　should　find　here　no　other　confidant　than　myself　respecting　things　that　ought　to　remain　secret。〃　　M。　Campan　answered　that　he　did　not　covet　the　important　and　dangerous　character　at　the　new　Court　which　the　Abbe　wished　to　appropriate；　and　that　he　should　confine　himself　to　the　duties　of　his　office；　being　sufficiently　satisfied　with　the　continued　kindness　with　which　the　Queen　honoured　him。　Notwithstanding　this；　however；　he　informed　the　Queen；　on　the　very　same　evening；　of　the　injunction　he　had　received。　　She　owned　that　she　had　mentioned　their　conversation　to　the　Abbe；　that　he　had　indeed　seriously　scolded　her；　in　order　to　make　her　feel　the　necessity　of　being　secret　in　concerns　of　State；　and　she　added；　〃The　Abbe　cannot　like　you；　my　dear　Campan；　he　did　not　expect　that　I　should；　on　my　arrival　in　France；　find　in　my　household　a　man　who　would　suit　me　so　exactly　as　you　have　done。　　I　know　that　he　has　taken　umbrage　at　it；　that　is　enough。　　I　know；　too；　that　you　are　incapable　of　attempting　anything　to　injure　him　in　my　esteem；　an　attempt　which　would　besides　be　vain；　for　I　have　been　too　long　attached　to　him。　　As　to　yourself；　be　easy　on　the　score　of　the　Abbe's　hostility；　which　shall　not　in　any　way　hurt　you。〃

The　Abbe　de　Vermond　having　made　himself　master　of　the　office　of　sole　confidant　to　the　Queen；　was　nevertheless　agitated　whenever　he　saw　the　young　King；　he　could　not　be　ignorant　that　the　Abbe　had　been　promoted　by　the　Duc　de　Choiseul；　and　was　believed　to　favour　the　Encyclopedists；　against　whom　Louis　XVI。　　entertained　a　secret　prejudice；　although　he　suffered　them　to　gain　so　great　an　ascendency　during　his　reign。　　The　Abbe　had；　moreover；　observed　that　the　King　had　never；　while　Dauphin；　addressed　a　single　word　to　him；　and　that　he　very　frequently　only　answered　him　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　　He　therefore　determined　on　writing　to　Louis　XVI。；　and　intimating　that　he　owed　his　situation　at　Court　solely　to　the　confidence　with　which　the　late　King　had　honoured　him；　and　that　as　habits　contracted　during　the　Queen's　education　placed　him　continually　in　the　closest　intimacy　with　her；　he　could　not　enjoy　the　honour　of　remaining　near　her　Majesty　without　the　King's　consent。　　Louis　XVI。　sent　back　his　letter；　after　writing　upon　it　these　words：　〃I　approve　the　Abbe　de　Vermond　continuing　in　his　office　about　the　Queen。〃




CHAPTER　V。

At　the　period　of　his　grandfather's　death；　Louis　XVI。　began　to　be　exceedingly　attached　to　the　Queen。　　The　first　period　of　so　deep　a　mourning　not　admitting　of　indulgence　in　the　diversion　of　hunting；　he　proposed　to　her　walks　in　the　gardens　of　Choisy；　they　went　out　like　husband　and　wife；　the　young　King　giving　his　arm　to　the　Queen；　and　accompanied　by　a　very　small　suite。　　The　influence　of　this　example　had　such　an　effect　upon　the　courtiers　that　the　next　day　several　couples；　who　had　long；　and　for　good　reasons；　been　disunited；　were　seen　walking　upon　the　terrace　with　the　same　apparent　conjugal　intimacy。　　Thus　they　spent　whole　hours；　braving　the　intolerable　wearisomeness　of　their　protracted　tete…a…tetes；　out　of　mere　obsequious　imitation。

The　devotion　of　Mesdames　to　the　King　their　father　throughout　his　dreadful　malady　had　produced　that　effect　upon　their　health　which　was　generally　apprehended。　　On　the　fourth　day　after　their　arrival　at　Choisy　they　were　attacked　by　pains　in　the　head　and　chest；　which　left　no　doubt　as　to　the　danger　of　their　situation。　　It　became　necessary　instantly　to　send　away　the　young　royal　family；　and　the　Ch