t for what they were
pleased to term the scandal of his private life.

"The king's chamber now presented a picture at once solemn and gloomy.
Grouped together on one side the bed might be seen the different
noblemen in attendance upon his majesty; a little removed stood the
clergy, concealed from the invalid by the closely-drawn curtains; in the
midst of these contending parties were the princesses going from one
to the other, vainly seeking by mild and gentle mediation to produce a
satisfactory arrangement. It was at length understood, that, on account
of the extreme weakness of the invalid, the grand almoner should
pronounce in his name a kind of honorable apology for past offences.

"You can scarcely imagine, madam, the universal consternation spread
throughout the chateau by the information that the king was about
to receive the last rites of his church. The terror and alarm became
overpowering for a while, but subsiding into a more religious feeling
crowds of persons followed with solemn reverence the holy procession as
it passed along, bearing the holy sacrament to the expiring monarch. At
the moment when it was administered the grand almoner, turning towards
all present, pronounced the following words in the king's name:--

"'Gentlemen, the weakness of his majesty preventing him from expressing
himself, he has commanded me to inform you, that although he is
responsible to God alone for his conduct, he yet regrets having caused
any scandal to his people by the irregularities of his life, that he
sincerely repents of his sins, and, should Providence restore him t
purposes living henceforward in all the virtue and morality of his
youth, in the defence and maintenance of religion, in preserving a true
faith, and in watching over the best interests of his people.'

"Yours, madam, etc., etc."

I learned also, through another channel, that (according to custom)
forty hours' prayer had been enjoined in every church in France to
implore the mercy of heaven for the king. I heard too that the shrine of
Saint Genevieve had been displayed for the veneration of true believers.

I passed a miserable night, dreaming of graves, winding-sheets, and
funeral-torches, from which I only awoke to receive the morning's
despatches. Alas! the news but confirmed the distressing state of the
king. The very solitude in which I was left at Ruel might alone have
served to convince me of my misfortune; for, with the exception of the
duc