The Memoirs of Madame de Montespan, vol 3 | Page 6

take me before my, time. While plunged in such thoughts, I suddenly
heard the sound of a tocsin, and scanning the horizon, I saw flames and
smoke rising from some hamlet or country-house. I rang for my
servants, and told them instantly to despatch horsemen to the scene of
the catastrophe, and bring back news.
The messengers started off, and soon came back to say that the fire had
broken out at the residence of my lord Hyde, Chancellor of England,
who was but lately convalescent. They had seen him lying upon a rug
on the grass, some little distance from the burning mansion. I forthwith
ordered my carriage to be sent for him, and charged my surgeon and
secretary to invite him to take shelter at my castle.
My lord gratefully accepted the invitation; he entered my room as the
clock struck twelve. As yet he could not tell the cause of the disaster,
and in a calm, patriarchal manner observed, "I am a man marked out
for great misfortune. God forbid, madame, that the mischance which
dogs my footsteps touch you also!"
"I cannot bear to see a fire," said I, in reply to the English nobleman,
"for some dreadful accident always results therefrom. Yet, on the whole,
they are of good augury, and I am sure, my lord, that your health or
your affairs will benefit by this accident."
Hearing me talk thus, my lord smiled. He only took some slight
refreshment,--a little soup,--and heard me give orders for all my
available servants to be sent to the scene of disaster, in order to save all
his furniture, and protect it as well.
After repeated expressions of his gratitude, he desired to withdraw, and
retired to rest. Next day we learnt that the fire had been got under about
one o'clock in the morning; one wing only of the chateau had been
destroyed, and the library, together with all the linen and plate, was
well-nigh intact. Lord Hyde was very glad to hear the news. They told
him that all the labourers living near had gladly come to the help of his
servants and mine. As his private cashbox had been saved, owing to
their vigilance and honesty, he promised to distribute its contents
among them when he returned.
Hardly had he got the words out, when they came to tell me that, on the
highroad, just in front of my gates, a carriage, bound for Paris, had the

traces broken, and the travellers persons of distinction begged the
favour of my hospitality for a short while. I consented with pleasure,
and they went back to take the travellers my answer.
"You see, madame," said the Chancellor, "my bad luck is contagious;
no sooner have I set foot in this enchanting abode than its atmosphere
deteriorates. A travelling-carriage passes rapidly by in front of the gates,
when lo! some invisible hand breaks it to pieces, and stops it from
proceeding any further."
Then I replied, "But how do you know, monsieur, that this mishap may
not prove a most agreeable adventure for the travellers to whom we are
about to give shelter? To begin with, they will have the honour of
making your acquaintance, and to meet with an illustrious person is no
common or frivolous event."
The servants announced the Princes Comnenus, who immediately
entered the salon. Though dressed in travelling-costume, with
embroidered gaiters, in the Greek fashion, it was easy to see what they
were. The son, a lad of fourteen, was presented to me by his father, and
when both were seated, I introduced them to the Chancellor.
"The name is well known," observed the Prince, "even in Greece. My
lord married his daughter to the heir-presumptive to the English throne,
and England, being by nature ungrateful, has distressed this worthy
parent, while robbing him of all his possessions."
At these words Lord Hyde became greatly affected; he could not
restrain his tears, and fearing at first to compromise himself, he told us
that his exile was voluntary and self-imposed, or very nearly so.
After complimenting the Chancellor of a great kingdom, Prince
Comnenus thought that he ought to say something courteous and
flattering to myself.
"Madame," quoth he, "it is only now, after asking for hospitality and
generously obtaining it, that I and my son have learnt the name of the
lady who has so graciously granted us admission to this most lovely
place. For a moment we hesitated in awe. But now our eyes behold her
whom all Europe admires, whom a great King favours with his
friendship and confidence. What strange chances befall one in life!
Could I ever have foreseen so fortunate a mishap!"
I briefly replied to this amiable speech, and invited the travellers to
spend, at least, one day