M. de Luxembourg was kind
enough to assist me in this business, which we could not finish before
it was necessary I should set off, and I had not time to burn a single
paper. The marechal offered to take upon himself to sort what I should
leave behind me, and throw into the fire every sheet that he found
useless, without trusting to any person whomsoever, and to send me
those of which he should make choice. I accepted his offer, very
glad to be delivered from that care, that I might pass the few hours I
had to remain with persons so dear to me, from whom I was going to
separate forever. He took the key of the chamber in which I had left
these papers; and, at my earnest solicitation, sent for my poor
"aunt," who, not knowing what was become of me, or what was to
become of herself, and in momentary expectation of the arrival of
the officers of justice, without knowing how to act or what to
answer them, was miserable to an extreme. La Roche accompanied her
to the castle in silence; she thought I was already far from
Montmorency; on perceiving me, she made the place resound with her
cries, and threw herself into my arms. Oh, friendship, affinity of
sentiment, habit and intimacy.
In this pleasing yet cruel moment, the remembrance of so many days
of happiness, tenderness, and peace passed together, augmented the
grief of a first separation after an union of seventeen years,
during which we had scarcely lost sight of each other for a single
day.
The marechal, who saw this embrace, could not suppress his tears.
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