Comte Jean now rejoined us, accompanied by Bordeu and the duc de Richelieu; their countenances were gloomy and dejected. The miserable victim of ambition had the symptoms of the most malignant sort of small-pox; this was a finishing stroke to my previous alarms. However, comte Jean whispered in my ear, “Bordeu will arrange that the king shall remain here.” This assurance restored me to something like composure; but these hopes were speedily dissipated by the arrival of La Martinière. “What is the matter?” inquired he, “is the king very ill?” “That remains for you to decide”; replied the duc de Richelieu; “but however it may be, madame du Barry entreats of you not to think of removing the king to Versailles.” “And why so?” asked La Martinière, with his accustomed abruptness. “His majesty would be much better there than here.” “He can nowhere be better than at Trianon, monsieur,” said I. “That, madam,” answered La Martinière, “is the only point upon which you must excuse my consulting you, unless, indeed, you are armed with a physician’s diploma.” “Monsieur la Martinière,” cried the duc de Richelieu, “you might employ more gentle language when speaking to a lady.” “Was I sent for hither,” inquired the angry physician, “to go through a course of politeness?” For my own part I felt the utmost dread, I scarcely knew of what. Bordeu, seeing my consternation, hastened to interfere, by saying, “At any rate, monsieur la Martinière, you will not alarm the king needlessly.” “Nor lull him into a false security,” answered the determined La Martinière. “But what is his malady have you seen him, doctor Bordeu?” “Not yet.” “Then why do we linger here? Your servant, ladies and gentlemen.” The medical men then departed, accompanied the duc de Richelieu. CHAPTER XL La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles-- The young prophet appears again to madame du Barry-- Prediction respecting cardinal de Richelieu--The joiner’s daughter requests to see madame du Barry--Madame de Mirepoix and the 50,000 francs--A _soirée_ in the salon of madame du Barry We continued for some minutes silently gazing on the retreating figures of La Martinière and his companions. “Come,” said the maréchale, “let us return to the house”; saying which, she supported herself by the arm of comte Jean, whilst I mechanically followed her example, and sadly and sorrowfully we bent our steps beneath the splendid colonnade which formed the entrance to the mansion.