norance of his real condition--The archbishop of Paris
visits Versailles

CHAPTER XLII

First proceedings of the council--The dauphin receives the prelates with
great coolness--Situation of the archbishop of Paris--Richelieu evades
the project for confessing the king--The friends of madame du Barry
come forward--The English physician--The abbe Terray--Interview with the
prince de Soubise--The prince and the courtiers--La Martiniere informs
the king of France the true nature of his complaint--Consequences of
this disclosure

CHAPTER XLIII

Terror of the king--A complication--Filial piety of the princesses--Last
interview between madame du Barry and Louis XV--Conversation with the
marechale de Mirepoix--The chancellor Maupeou--The fragment--Comte Jean

CHAPTER XLIV

The duc d'Aiguillon brings an order for the immediate departure of
madame du Barry--The king's remarks recapitulated--The countess holds
a privy council--Letter to madame de Mirepoix and the ducs de Cosse and
d'Aiguillon--Night of departure--Ruel--Visit from madame de Forcalquier

CHAPTER XLV

The duc d'Aiguillon's first letter--The marechale de Mirepoix--A second
letter from the duc d'Aiguillon--Numerous visitors

CHAPTER XLVI

A third letter from the duke--The king receives extreme unction--Letter
from madame Victoire to the dauphin--M. de Machault--A promenade with
the duc de Cosse--Kind attention from the prince des Deux Pouts--A
fourth letter from the duc d'Aiguillon--Comte Jean bids me farewell--M.
d'Aiguillon's fifth letter, containing an account of the death of Louis
XV--The duc de la Vrilliere--The _Lettre de cachet_--Letter to the
queen--Departure for the abbey of _Pont aux Dames_

SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT ARNOT

Up to the time of the Du Barry the court of France had been the stage
where the whole political and human drama of that country was enacted.
Under Louis XV the drama had been transformed into parades--parades
which were of as much importance to the people as to those who took
part in them. The spectators, hitherto silent, now began to hiss and be
moved. The scene of the comedy was changed, and the play was continued
among the spectators. The old theatre became an ante-chamber or a
dressing-room, and was no longer important except in connection with the
Cardinal de Bernis and the Duc de Richelieu, or Madame de Pompadour and
Madame du Barry.

The monarchy had still a step to take towards its downfall. It had
alrea