What was to become of us we did not know, whether
we were to stay or go; but as we heard no more, and Mademoiselle came
out and went to bed, we followed her example.
Between three and four we were all awakened by a loud knocking at the
door, and Mademoiselle's shrill voice calling out to her maids to
open it. Through the anteroom, where the Comtess de Fiesque and I
were sleeping, there came M. de Comminges. Mademoiselle, in her
laced night-cap, rose on her pillows and asked--
'Are we going?'
'Yes, Mademoiselle,' was the reply. 'The King, the Queen, and
Monsieur, are waiting for you in the court, and here is a letter from
Monsieur.'
She put it aside, saying she did not want Monsieur's orders to make
her obey those of the Queen, but he begged her to read it. She
glanced at it, and then declared that she would be ready immediately.
M. de Comminges departed, and then began the greatest bustle
imaginable, everybody dressing at once in the greatest confusion,
putting on each other's things by mistake, and Mademoiselle talking--
talking through all.
They were afraid to leave her behind, she said, lest she should have
headed a party. No doubt M. le Prince dreaded her influence, and so
did the Queen. They had made her father issue his commands without
warning lest she should disobey.
In fact she had the greatest desire to disobey, only she did not
quite venture, and we her ladies had no notion what we were to do,
whether to stay or go, while I was in great anxiety as to what they
might have done with my boy.
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