'
We all got into our carriages, a long train of them, at the
Luxembourg, with Monsieur looking from the window and waving his
farewell to his daughter, and the people called down benedictions on
her, though I hardly know what benefit they expected from her
enterprise. We had only two officers, six guards, and six Swiss to
escort us; but Mademoiselle was always popular, and we were quite
safe.
We slept at Chartres, and there met the Duke of Beaufort, who rode by
the carriage-window; and by and by, at Etampes, we found 500 light
horse of Monsieur's regiment, who all saluted. Mademoiselle was in
ecstasies; she insisted on leaving her carriage, and riding at their
head, with all the ladies who could sit on horseback; and thus we
came to Toury, where were the Duke de Nemours and others of the
Prince's party.
My heart was heavy, I hardly knew why, with fore-bodings about what
might be passing at home, or I should have enjoyed the comedy of
Mademoiselle's extreme delight in her own importance, and the
councils of war held before her, while the Dukes flattered her to the
top of her bent, laughed in their sleeve, and went their own way.
She made us all get up at break of day to throw ourselves into
Orleans, and we actually set out, but we had to move at a foot's
pace, because M. de Beaufort had, by accident or design, forgotten to
command the escort to be in attendance.
By and by a message was brought by some gentlemen, who told
Mademoiselle that the citizens of Orleans had closed their gates and
were resolved to admit nobody; that the Keeper of the Seals was on
the farther side, demanding entrance for the royal troops; and they
were afraid of the disorderly behaviour of any soldiers.
Pages:
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410