I forget whether Monsieur the fat Count of Provence took any share of this
royal masquerading; but look at the names of the other six actors of the
comedy, and it will be hard to find any person for whom Fate had such
dreadful visitations in store. Fancy the party, in the days of their
prosperity, here gathered at Trianon, and seated under the tall poplars by
the lake, discoursing familiarly together: suppose, of a sudden, some
conjuring Cagliostro of the time is introduced among them, and foretells
to them the woes that are about to come.
"You, Monsieur l'Aumonier, the descendant of a long line of princes, the
passionate admirer of that fair queen who sits by your side, shall be the
cause of her ruin and your own, [Footnote: In the diamond-necklace
affair.] and shall die in disgrace and exile. You, son of the Condes,
shall live long enough to see your royal race overthrown, and shall die by
the hands of a hangman. [Footnote: He was found hanging in his own bed-
room.] You, oldest son of St. Louis, shall perish by the executioner's ax;
that beautiful head, O Antoinette, the same ruthless blade shall sever.
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