Hertoiletended，thequeenwentfromherreception-roomtoherante-
room，wheretherewasanaltarsetupandarranged，atwhich，beforehehadbeentakenfromher，herchaplainusedtosaymass；andkneelingonthesteps，surroundedbyallherservants，shebeganthecommunionprayers，andwhentheywereended，drawingfromagoldenboxahostconsecratedbyPiusV，whichshehadalwaysscrupulouslypreservedfortheoccasionofherdeath，shetoldBourgointotakeit，and，ashewasthesenior，totakethepriest’splace，oldagebeingholyandsacred；andinthismannerinspiteofalltheprecautionstakentodepriveherofit，thequeenreceivedtheholysacramentoftheeucharist。
Thispiousceremonyended，Bourgointoldthequeenthatinherwillshehadforgottenthreepeople——MesdemoisellesBeauregard，deMontbrun，andherchaplain。Thequeenwasgreatlyastonishedatthisoversight，whichwasquiteinvoluntary，and，takingbackherwill，shewroteherwisheswithrespecttotheminthefirstemptymargin；
thenshekneeleddownagaininprayer；butafteramoment，asshesufferedtoomuchinthisposition，sherose，andBourgoinhavinghadbroughtheralittlebreadandwine，sheateanddrank，andwhenshehadfinished，gavehimherhandandthankedhimforhavingbeenpresenttohelpheratherlastmealashewasaccustomed；andfeelingstronger，shekneeleddownandbegantoprayagain。
Scarcelyhadshedoneso，thantherewasaknockingatthedoor：thequeenunderstoodwhatwasrequiredofher；butasshehadnotfinishedpraying，shebeggedthosewhowerecometofetchhertowaitamoment，andinafewminutes’shewouldbeready。