Sophie Dawes, Queen of Chantilly . onation of Charles X—Scheme for adoptionof a prince as residuary legatee—Meetings between the duodOrleans and the due de Bourbon—Donations entre-vifs—Sophie again tries to get admitted to court—The due deBourbon refuses to make his will. MME. DE FEUCHERES was now Queenof Chantilly and mistress of thesituation; she began to completeher subjection of her elderly lover,and she was aided in her task by a lucky 1823 the duke was riding a black mare, a presentfrom Sophie, when the animal was startled by awild boar and threw its rider who broke his thigh
Sophie Dawes, Queen of Chantilly . onation of Charles X—Scheme for adoptionof a prince as residuary legatee—Meetings between the duodOrleans and the due de Bourbon—Donations entre-vifs—Sophie again tries to get admitted to court—The due deBourbon refuses to make his will. MME. DE FEUCHERES was now Queenof Chantilly and mistress of thesituation; she began to completeher subjection of her elderly lover,and she was aided in her task by a lucky 1823 the duke was riding a black mare, a presentfrom Sophie, when the animal was startled by awild boar and threw its rider who broke his thighand was obliged to keep his bed for nearly amonth. On this occasion, Mme. de Feucheres tookpossession of the sick-room and its occupant,whom she fed as if he were a child and waitedupon him hand and foot. During the course ofthis illness, which seems to have been very severe,the duke revealed to his faithful valet, Manoury,a certain secret which he had already confidedto Sir William Gordon, the prince-regents equerry, 40. A Family Secret and to the due de La Chatre during one of hismany visits to London. What that secret washas never transpired; but we may suppose thatit was connected with the correspondence foundhidden away in a casket after the due de Bour-bons demise.^ When the duke had recovered sufficiently fromthis illness, Sophie persuaded him to give a sortof fete to celebrate the anniversary of theirliaison. A bonfire was lighted and a repast servedal fresco to the guests; a sudden and unwelcomethunder-storm, however, spoiled the merry-making,which was finally stopped by the arrival of somefree-spoken villagers who improved the occasionby drawing comparisons between their ownpoverty and the richness and abundance of theviands consumed by the duke and his guests. It was about this time that the due de Bourbonpurchased the chateau and estate of Saint-Leu,situated about fourteen kilometres from Pontoise,which estate had originally belonged to thedOrleans family
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidsophiedawesq, bookyear1912
