Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

1670.] HER DREADFUL SUFFERINGS. 309
relieve her. What she took made her vomit. She had
already been disposed to this many times before she took
anything, but her vomitings were only slight. It appeared
to her that she was about to die, and with great calmness
she prepared herself for it.
" Monsieur told Madame de Gamache to feel her pulse,
as the physicians had not done so. She left the ruette in
agitation, saying ' she could not feel any pulse, and that
Madame's extremities were cold.' This frightened us, and
Monsieur seemed alarmed. M. Esprit said 'that was an
ordinary occurrence in colic, and that he would answer for
Madame's life.'
"Monsieur, angrily reminded the luckless physician,
that so had he answered for that of his son, the Duke de
Yalois, who had notwithstanding died ; and so he believed
would Madame, as he presumed to answer for her life.
"Meanwhile," continues Madame de la Fayette, "the
Cure' of St. Cloud, who had been sent for, arrived. Monsieur,
did me the honour to ask me, if this confessor should be
employed. I replied, that a confession, made at the prospect
of death, must be beneficial. Monsieur told me to go to
Madame, and inform her that the Cure of St. Cloud, was
come. I begged him to excuse me, and said that as she had,
herself, asked for him, he might at once enter her room.
" Monsieur went to her bedside, and of her own accord
she again asked for a confessor. One of her first women
of the bedchamber, was standing at her bolster, supporting
her. Madame wished her to remain, and confessed before
her. When the confessor retired, Monsieur went to her
bedside. She spoke to him in a sweet, affectionate tone,
but so low, that we could not hear her words.
" It had been suggested that she should be bled. She
wished it should be in the foot ; M. Esprit preferred the
arm, and there at last it was decided it should be done.