Memoirs of Madame de Staal de Launay (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ... THE MISSING DOCUMENT. 179 tunes of the Princess, and only thought how to soften the horrors of her captivity by care and kindness. The Duc du Maine was arrested at Seaux, where he had remained during the Duchess's sojourn at Paris. He was taken to the citadel of Dourlans in Picardy, where he was guarded by an officer called Favincour, who treated him with the incivility and harshness of a real gaoler. Monsieur de Malesieu, who had stayed at Seaux with the Duc du Maine, was arrested also; his papers were seized in his presence, and in his desk, in the folds of his son's marriage contract, was found the original draft of the letter from the King of Spain to the King of France, about which he had made so many inquiries, and the loss of which he had so much deplored. The moment he saw it, he threw himself upon it, and tore it up; but Monsieur Trudaine, who was searching his papers, rescued the pieces, which were carefully preserved, and Monsieur de Malesieu was taken to the Bastille. Messieurs Davisard and Barjeton, who had worked at the memorials on the rank of the legitimised Princes, and had no part in the present affair, were included in the disgrace common to everyone specially attached to the house of Maine. Monsieur de Malesieu's son, a Lieutenant-General of the Artillery, and the Chevalier de Gavaudun were captured at Paris at the house of the Duchesse du Maine, at the same time as herself. Her Maid of Honour, Mademoiselle de Montauban, although she had no great share in her confidence, experienced the same fate. Two grooms of the chamber, four of her footmen, and two housemaids, were all taken in one draught of the net, and sent to the Bastille the same day. The Abbe de Camus and the ruined Countess received the honour of being sent...