I never was more cheerful in
my life.
I have related in what manner I lost my sleep during my youth. I had
since that time contracted a habit of reading every night in my bed,
until I found my eyes begin to grow heavy. I then extinguished my
wax taper, and endeavored to slumber for a few moments, which were
in general very short. The book I commonly read at night was the
Bible, which, in this manner, I read five or six times from the
beginning to the end. This evening, finding myself less disposed to
sleep than ordinary, I continued my reading beyond the usual hour, and
read the whole book which finishes at the Levite of Ephraim, the
Book of judges, if I mistake not, for since that time I have never
once seen it. This history affected me exceedingly, and, in a kind
of dream, my imagination still ran on it, when suddenly I was roused
from my stupor by a noise and light. Theresa, carrying a candle,
lighted M. la Roche, who perceiving me hastily raise myself up,
said: "Do not be alarmed; I come from Madam de Luxembourg, who, in her
letter, incloses you another from the Prince of Conti." In fact, in
the letter of Madam de Luxembourg I found another, which an express
from the prince had brought her, stating that, notwithstanding all his
efforts, it was determined to proceed against me with the utmost
rigor. "The fermentation," said he, "is extreme; nothing can ward
off the blow; the court requires it, and the parliament will
absolutely proceed; at seven o'clock in the morning an order will be
made to arrest him, and persons will immediately be sent to execute
it.
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