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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of Louis XIV., Volume 11
+by Duc de Saint-Simon
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of Louis XIV., Volume 11
+       And His Court and of The Regency
+
+Author: Duc de Saint-Simon
+
+Release Date: December 3, 2004 [EBook #3870]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV., ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+          MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY
+
+                        BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME 11.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVIII
+
+After having thus described with truth and the most exact fidelity all
+that has come to my knowledge through my own experience, or others
+qualified to speak of Louis XIV. during the last twenty-two years of his
+life: and after having shown him such as he was, without prejudice
+(although I have permitted myself to use the arguments naturally
+resulting from things), nothing remains but to describe the outside life
+of this monarch, during my residence at the Court.
+
+However insipid and perhaps superfluous details so well known may appear
+after what has been already given, lessons will be found therein for
+kings who may wish to make themselves respected, and who may wish to
+respect themselves.  What determines me still more is, that details
+wearying, nay annoying, to instructed readers, who had been witnesses of
+what I relate, soon escape the knowledge of posterity; and that
+experience shows us how much we regret that no one takes upon himself a
+labour, in his own time so ungrateful, but in future years so
+interesting, and by which princes, who have made quite as much stir as
+the one in question, are characterise.  Although it may be difficult to
+steer clear of repetitions, I will do my best to avoid them.
+
+I will not speak much of the King's manner of living when with the army.
+His hours were determined by what was to be done, though he held his
+councils regularly; I will simply say, that morning and evening he ate
+with people privileged to have that honour.  When any one wished to claim
+it, the first gentleman of the chamber on duty was appealed to.  He gave
+the answer, and if favourable you presented yourself the next day to the
+King, who said to you, "Monsieur, seat yourself at table."  That being
+done, all was done.  Ever afterwards you were at liberty to take a place
+at the King's table, but with discretion.  The number of the persons from
+whom a choice was made was, however, very limited.  Even very high
+military rank did not suffice.  M. de Vauban, at the siege of Namur, was
+overwhelmed by the distinction.  The King did the same honour at Namur to
+the Abbe de Grancey, who exposed himself everywhere to confess the
+wounded and encourage the troops.  No other Abbe was ever so
+distinguished.  All the clergy were excluded save the cardinals, and the
+bishops, piers, or the ecclesiastics who held the rank of foreign
+princes.
+
+At these repasts everybody was covered; it would have been a want of
+respect, of which you would have been immediately informed, if you had
+not kept your hat on your head.  The King alone was uncovered.  When the
+King wished to speak to you, or you had occasion to speak to him, you
+uncovered.  You uncovered, also, when Monseigneur or Monsieur spoke to
+you, or you to them.  For Princes of the blood you merely put your hand
+to your hat.  The King alone had an armchair.  All the rest of the
+company, Monseigneur included, had seats, with backs of black morocco
+leather, which could be folded up to be carried, and which were called
+"parrots."  Except at the army, the King never ate with any man, under
+whatever circumstances; not even with the Princes of the Blood, save
+sometimes at their wedding feasts.
+
+Let us return now to the Court.
+
+At eight o'clock the chief valet de chambre on duty, who alone had slept
+in the royal chamber, and who had dressed himself, awoke the King.  The
+chief physician, the chief surgeon, and the nurse (as long as she lived),
+entered at the same time; the latter kissed the King; the others rubbed
+and often changed his shirt, because he was in the habit of sweating a
+great deal.  At the quarter, the grand chamberlain was called (or, in his
+absence, the first gentleman of the chamber), and those who had what was
+called the 'grandes entrees'.  The chamberlain (or chief gentleman) drew
+back the curtains which had been closed again; and presented the holy-
+water from the vase, at the head of the bed.  These gentlemen stayed but
+a moment, and that was the time to speak to the King, if any one had
+anything to ask of him; in which case the rest stood aside.  When,
+contrary to custom, nobody had ought to say, they were there but for a
+few moments.  He who had opened the curtains and presented the holy-
+water, presented also a prayer-book.  Then all passed into the cabinet of
+the council.  A very short religious service being over, the King called,
+they re-entered, The same officer gave him his dressing-gown; immediately
+after, other privileged courtiers entered, and then everybody, in time to
+find the King putting on his shoes and stockings, for he did almost
+everything himself and with address and grace.  Every other day we saw
+him shave himself; and he had a little short wig in which he always
+appeared, even in bed, and on medicine days.  He often spoke of the
+chase, and sometimes said a-word to somebody.  No toilette table was near
+him; he had simply a mirror held before him.
+
+As soon as he was dressed, he prayed to God, at the side of his bed,
+where all the clergy present knelt, the cardinals without cushions, all
+the laity remaining standing; and the captain of the guards came to the
+balustrade during the prayer, after which the King passed into his
+cabinet.
+
+He found there, or was followed by all who had the entree, a very
+numerous company, for it included everybody in any office.  He gave
+orders to each for the day; thus within a half a quarter of an hour it
+was known what he meant to do; and then all this crowd left directly.
+The bastards, a few favourites; and the valets alone were left.  It was
+then a good opportunity for talking with the King; for example, about
+plans of gardens and buildings; and conversation lasted more or less
+according to the person engaged in it.
+
+All the Court meantime waited for the King in the gallery, the captain of
+the guard being alone in the chamber seated at the door of the cabinet.
+At morning the Court awaited in the saloon; at Trianon in the front rooms
+as at Meudon; at Fontainebleau in the chamber and ante-chamber.  During
+this pause the King gave audiences when he wished to accord any; spoke
+with whoever he might wish to speak secretly to, and gave secret
+interviews to foreign ministers in presence of Torcy.  They were called
+"secret" simply to distinguish them from the uncommon ones by the
+bedsides.
+
+The King went to mass, where his musicians always sang an anthem.  He did
+not go below--except on grand fetes or at ceremonies.  Whilst he was
+going to and returning from mass, everybody spoke to him who wished,
+after apprising the captain of the guard, if they were not distinguished;
+and he came and went by the door of the cabinet into the gallery.  During
+the mass the ministers assembled in the King's chamber, where
+distinguished people could go and speak or chat with them.  The King
+amused himself a little upon returning from mass and asked almost
+immediately for the council.  Then the morning was finished.
+
+On Sunday, and often on Monday, there was a council of state; on Tuesday
+a finance council; on Wednesday council of state; on Saturday finance
+council: rarely were two held in one day or any on Thursday or Friday.
+Once or twice a month there was a council of despatches on Monday
+morning; but the order that the Secretaries of State took every morning
+between the King's rising and his mass, much abridged this kind of
+business.  All the ministers were seated accordingly to rank, except at
+the council of despatches, where all stood except the sons of France, the
+Chancellor, and the Duc de Beauvilliers.
+
+Thursday morning was almost always blank.  It was the day for audiences
+that the King wished to give--often unknown to any--back-stair audiences.
+It was also the grand day taken advantage of by the bastards, the valets,
+etc., because the King had nothing to do.  On Friday after the mass the
+King was with his confessor, and the length of their audiences was
+limited by nothing, and might last until dinner.  At Fontainebleau on the
+mornings when there was no council, the King usually passed from mass to
+Madame de Maintenon's, and so at Trianon and Marly.  It was the time for
+their tete-a-tete without interruption.  Often on the days when there was
+no council the dinner hour was advanced, more or less for the chase or
+the promenade.  The ordinary hour was one o'clock; if the council still
+lasted, then the dinner waited and nothing was said to the King.
+
+The dinner was always 'au petit couvert', that is, the King ate by
+himself in his chamber upon a square table in front of the middle window.
+It was more or less abundant, for he ordered in the morning whether it
+was to be "a little," or "very little" service.  But even at this last,
+there were always many dishes, and three courses without counting the
+fruit.  The dinner being ready, the principal courtiers entered; then all
+who were known; and the gentleman of the chamber on duty informed the
+King.
+
+I have seen, but very rarely, Monseigneur and his sons standing at their
+dinners, the King not offering them a seat.  I have continually seen
+there the Princes of the blood and the cardinals.  I have often seen
+there also Monsieur, either on arriving from Saint-Cloud to see the King,
+or arriving from the council of despatches (the only one he entered),
+give the King his napkin and remain standing.  A little while afterwards,
+the King, seeing that he did not go away, asked him if he would not sit
+down; he bowed, and the King ordered a seat to be brought for him.  A
+stool was put behind him.  Some moments after the King said, "Nay then,
+sit down, my brother."  Monsieur bowed and seated himself until the end
+of the dinner, when he presented the napkin.
+
+At other times when he came from Saint-Cloud, the King, on arriving at
+the table, asked for a plate for Monsieur, or asked him if he would dine.
+If he refused, he went away a moment after, and there was no mention of a
+seat; if he accepted, the King asked for a plate for him.  The table was
+square, he placed himself at one end, his back to the cabinet.  Then the
+Grand Chamberlain (or the first gentleman of the chamber) gave him drink
+and plates, taking them from him as he finished with them, exactly as he
+served the King; but Monsieur received all this attention with strongly
+marked politeness.  When he dined thus with the King he much enlivened
+the conversation.  The King ordinarily spoke little at table unless some
+family favourite was near.  It was the same at hid rising.  Ladies
+scarcely ever were seen at these little dinners.
+
+I have, however, seen the Marechale de la Mothe, who came in because she
+had been used to do so as governess to the children of France, and who
+received a seat, because she was a Duchess.  Grand dinners were very
+rare, and only took place on grand occasions, and then ladies were
+present.
+
+Upon leaving the table the King immediately entered his cabinet.  That
+was the time for distinguished people to speak to him.  He stopped at the
+door a moment to listen, then entered; very rarely did any one follow
+him, never without asking him for permission to do so; and for this few
+had the courage.  If followed he placed himself in the embrasure of the
+window nearest to the door of the cabinet, which immediately closed of
+itself, and which you were obliged to open yourself on quitting the King.
+This also was the time for the bastards and the valets.
+
+The King amused himself by feeding his dogs, and remained with them more
+or less time, then asked for his wardrobe, changed before the very few
+distinguished people it pleased the first gentleman of the chamber to
+admit there, and immediately went out by the back stairs into the court
+of marble to get into his coach.  From the bottom of that staircase to
+the coach, any one spoke to him who wished.
+
+The King was fond of air, and when deprived of it his health suffered; he
+had headaches and vapours caused by the undue use he had formerly made of
+perfumes, so that for many years he could not endure any, except the
+odour of orange flowers; therefore if you had to approach anywhere near
+him you did well not to carry them.
+
+As he was but little sensitive to heat or cold, or even to rain, the
+weather was seldom sufficiently bad to prevent his going abroad.  He went
+out for three objects: stag-hunting, once or more each week; shooting in
+his parks (and no man handled a gun with more grace or skill), once or
+twice each week; and walking in his gardens for exercise, and to see his
+workmen.  Sometimes he made picnics with ladies, in the forest at Marly
+or at Fontainebleau, and in this last place, promenades with all the
+Court around the canal, which was a magnificent spectacle.  Nobody
+followed him in his other promenades but those who held principal
+offices, except at Versailles or in the gardens of Trianon.  Marly had a
+privilege unknown to the other places.  On going out from the chateau,
+the King said aloud, "Your hats, gentlemen," and immediately courtiers,
+officers of the guard, everybody, in fact, covered their heads, as he
+would have been much displeased had they not done so; and this lasted all
+the promenade, that is four or five hours in summer, or in other seasons,
+when he dined early at Versailles to go and walk at Marly, and not sleep
+there.
+
+The stag-hunting parties were on an extensive scale.  At Fontainebleau
+every one went who wished; elsewhere only those were allowed to go who
+had obtained the permission once for all, and those who had obtained
+leave to wear the justau-corps, which was a blue uniform with silver and
+gold lace, lined with red.  The King did not like too many people at
+these parties.  He did not care for you to go if you were not fond of the
+chase.  He thought that ridiculous, and never bore ill-will to those who
+stopped away altogether.
+
+It was the same with the play-table, which he liked to see always well
+frequented--with high stakes--in the saloon at Marly, for lansquenet and
+other games.  He amused himself at Fontainebleau during bad weather by
+seeing good players at tennis, in which he had formerly excelled; and at
+Marly by seeing mall played, in which he had also been skilful.
+Sometimes when there was no council, he would make presents of stuff, or
+of silverware, or jewels, to the ladies, by means of a lottery, for the
+tickets of which they paid nothing.  Madame de Maintenon drew lots with
+the others, and almost always gave at once what she gained.  The King
+took no ticket.
+
+Upon returning home from walks or drives, anybody, as I have said, might
+speak to the King from the moment he left his coach till he reached the
+foot of his staircase.  He changed his dress again, and rested in his
+cabinet an hour or more, then went to Madame de Maintenon's, and on the
+way any one who wished might speak to him.
+
+At ten o'clock his supper was served.  The captain of the guard announced
+this to him.  A quarter of an hour after the King came to supper, and
+from the antechamber of Madame de Maintenon to the table--again, any one
+spoke to him who wished.  This supper was always on a grand scale, the
+royal household (that is, the sons and daughters of France) at table, and
+a large number of courtiers and ladies present, sitting or standing, and
+on the evening before the journey to Marly all those ladies who wished to
+take part in it.  That was called presenting yourself for Marly.  Men
+asked in the morning, simply saying to the King, "Sire, Marly."  In later
+years the King grew tired of this, and a valet wrote up in the gallery
+the names of those who asked.  The ladies continued to present
+themselves.
+
+After supper the King stood some moments, his back to the balustrade of
+the foot of his bed, encircled by all his Court; then, with bows to the
+ladies, passed into his cabinet, where, on arriving, he gave his orders.
+
+He passed a little less than an hour there, seated in an armchair, with
+his legitimate children and bastards, his grandchildren, legitimate and
+otherwise, and their husbands or wives.  Monsieur in another armchair;
+the Princesses upon stools, Monseigneur and all the other Princes
+standing.
+
+The King, wishing to retire, went and fed his dogs; then said good night,
+passed into his chamber to the 'ruelle' of his bed, where he said his
+prayers, as in the morning, then undressed.  He said good night with an
+inclination of the head, and whilst everybody was leaving the room stood
+at the corner of the mantelpiece, where he gave the order to the colonel
+of the guards alone.  Then commenced what was called the 'petit coucher',
+at which only the specially privileged remained.  That was short.  They
+did not leave until be got into bed.  It was a moment to speak to him.
+Then all left if they saw any one buckle to the King.  For ten or twelve
+years before he died the 'petit coucher' ceased, in consequence of a long
+attack of gout be had had; so that the Court was finished at the rising
+from supper.
+
+On medicine days, which occurred about once a month, the King remained in
+bed, then heard mass.  The royal household came to see him for a moment,
+and Madame de Maintenon seated herself in the armchair at the head of his
+bed.  The King dined in bed about three o'clock, everybody being allowed
+to enter the room, then rose, and the privileged alone remained.  He
+passed afterwards into his cabinet, where he held a council, and
+afterwards went, as usual, to Madame de Maintenon's and supped at ten
+o'clock, according to custom.
+
+During all his life, the King failed only once in his attendance at mass,
+It was with the army, during a forced march; he missed no fast day,
+unless really indisposed.  Some days before Lent, he publicly declared
+that he should be very much displeased if any one ate meat or gave it to
+others, under any pretext.  He ordered the grand prevot to look to this,
+and report all cases of disobedience.  But no one dared to disobey his
+commands, for they would soon have found out the cost.  They extended
+even to Paris, where the lieutenant of police kept watch and reported.
+For twelve or fifteen years he had himself not observed Lent, however.
+At church he was very respectful.  During his mass everybody was obliged
+to kneel at the Sanctus, and to remain so until after the communion of
+the priest; and if he heard the least noise, or saw anybody talking
+during the mass, he was much displeased.  He took the communion five
+times a year, in the collar of the Order, band, and cloak.  On Holy
+Thursday, he served the poor at dinner; at the mass he said his chaplet
+(he knew no more), always kneeling, except at the Gospel.
+
+He was always clad in dresses more or less brown, lightly embroidered,
+but never at the edges, sometimes with nothing but a gold button,
+sometimes black velvet.  He wore always a vest of cloth, or of red, blue,
+or green satin, much embroidered.  He used no ring; and no jewels, except
+in the buckles of his shoes, garters, and hat, the latter always trimmed
+with Spanish point, with a white feather.  He had always the cordon bleu
+outside, except at fetes, when he wore it inside, with eight or ten
+millions of precious stones attached.
+
+Rarely a fortnight passed that the King did not go to Saint-Germain, even
+after the death of King James the Second.  The Court of Saint-Germain
+came also to Versailles, but oftener to Marly, and frequently to sup
+there; and no fete or ceremony took place to which they were not invited,
+and at which they were not received with all honours.  Nothing could
+compare with the politeness of the King for this Court, or with the air
+of gallantry and of majesty with which he received it at any time.  Birth
+days, or the fete days of the King and his family, so observed in the
+courts of Europe, were always unknown in that of the King; so that there
+never was the slightest mention of them, or any difference made on their
+account.
+
+The King was but little regretted.  His valets and a few other people
+felt his loss, scarcely anybody else.  His successor was not yet old
+enough to feel anything.  Madame entertained for him only fear and
+considerate respect.  Madame la Duchesse de Berry did not like him, and
+counted now upon reigning undisturbed.  M. le Duc d'Orleans could
+scarcely be expected to feel much grief for him.  And those who may have
+been expected did not consider it necessary to do their duty.  Madame de
+Maintenon was wearied with him ever since the death of the Dauphine; she
+knew not what to do, or with what to amuse him; her constraint was
+tripled because he was much more with her than before.  She had often,
+too, experienced much ill-humour from him.  She had attained all she
+wished, so whatever she might lose in losing him, she felt herself
+relieved, and was capable of no other sentiment at first.  The ennui and
+emptiness of her life afterwards made her feel regret.  As for M. du
+Maine, the barbarous indecency of his joy need not be dwelt upon.  The
+icy tranquillity of his brother, the Comte de Toulouse, neither increased
+nor diminished.  Madame la Duchesse d'Orleans surprised me.  I had
+expected some grief, I perceived only a few tears, which upon all
+occasions flowed very readily from her eyes, and which were soon dried
+up.  Her bed, which she was very fond of, supplied what was wanting
+during several days, amidst obscurity which she by no means disliked.
+
+But the window curtains were soon withdrawn and grief disappeared.
+
+As for the Court, it was divided into two grand parties, the men hoping
+to figure, to obtain employ, to introduce themselves: and they were
+ravished to see the end of a reign under which they had nothing to hope
+for; the others; fatigued with a heavy yoke, always overwhelming, and of
+the ministers much more than of the King, were charmed to find themselves
+at liberty.  Thus all, generally speaking, were glad to be delivered from
+continual restraint, and were eager for change.
+
+Paris, tired of a dependence which had enslaved everything, breathed
+again in the hope of liberty, and with joy at seeing at an end the
+authority of so many people who abused it.  The provinces in despair at
+their ruin and their annihilation breathed again and leaped for joy; and
+the Parliament and the robe destroyed by edicts and by revolutions,
+flattered themselves the first that they should figure, the other that
+they should find themselves free.  The people ruined, overwhelmed,
+desperate, gave thanks to God, with a scandalous eclat, for a
+deliverance, their most ardent desires had not anticipated.
+
+Foreigners delighted to be at last, after so many years, quit of a
+monarch who had so long imposed his law upon them, and who had escaped
+from them by a species of miracle at the very moment in which they
+counted upon having subjugated him, contained themselves with much more
+decency than the French.  The marvels of the first three quarters of this
+reign of more than seventy years, and the personal magnanimity of this
+King until then so successful, and so abandoned afterwards by fortune
+during the last quarter of his reign--had justly dazzled them.  They made
+it a point of honour to render to him after his death what they had
+constantly refused him during life.  No foreign Court exulted: all plumed
+themselves upon praising and honouring his memory.  The Emperor wore
+mourning as for a father, and although four or five months elapsed
+between the death of the King and the Carnival, all kinds of amusements
+were prohibited at Vienna during the Carnival, and the prohibition was
+strictly observed.  A monstrous fact was, that towards the end of this
+period there was a single ball and a kind of fete that the Comte du Luc
+our own ambassador, was not ashamed to give to the ladies, who seduced
+him by the ennui of so dull a Carnival.  This complaisance did not raise
+him in estimation at Vienna or elsewhere.  In France people were
+contented with ignoring it.
+
+As for our ministry and the intendants of the provinces, the financiers
+and what may be called the canaille, they felt all the extent of their
+loss.  We shall see if the realm was right or wrong in the sentiments it
+held, and whether it found soon after that it had gained or lost.
+
+To finish at once all that regards the King, let me here say, that his
+entrails were taken to Notre Dame, on the 4th of September, without any
+ceremony, by two almoners of the King, without accompaniment.  On Friday,
+the 6th of September, the Cardinal de Rohan carried the heart to the
+Grand Jesuits, with very little accompaniment or pomp.  Except the
+persons necessary for the ceremony, not half a dozen courtiers were
+present.  It is not for me to comment upon this prompt ingratitude, I,
+who for fifty-two years have never once missed going to Saint-Denis on
+the anniversary of the death of Louis XIII., and have never seen a single
+person there on the same errand.  On the 9th of September, the body of
+the late King was buried at Saint-Denis.  The Bishop of Aleth pronounced
+the oration.  Very little expense was gone to; and nobody was found who
+cared sufficiently for the late King to murmur at the economy.  On
+Friday, the 25th of October, his solemn obsequies took place at Saint-
+Denis in a confusion, as to rank and precedence, without example.  On
+Thursday, the 28th of November, the solemn obsequies were again
+performed, this time at Notre Dame, and with the usual ceremonies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIX
+
+The death of the King surprised M. le Duc d'Orleans in the midst of his
+idleness as though it had not been foreseen.  He had made no progress in
+numberless arrangements, which I had suggested he should carry out;
+accordingly he was overwhelmed with orders to give, with things to
+settle, each more petty than the other, but all so provisional and so
+urgent that it happened as I had predicted, he had no time to think of
+anything important.
+
+I learnt the death of the King upon awaking.  Immediately after, I went
+to pay my respects to the new monarch.  The first blood had already
+passed.  I found myself almost alone.  I went thence to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, whom I found shut in, but all his apartments so full that a
+pin could not have fallen to the ground.  I talked of the Convocation of
+the States-General, and reminded him of a promise he had given me, that
+he would allow the Dukes to keep their hats on when their votes were
+asked for; and I also mentioned various other promises he had made.  All
+I could obtain from him was another promise, that when the public affairs
+of pressing moment awaiting attention were disposed of, we should have
+all we required.  Several of the Dukes who had been witnesses of the
+engagement M. le Duc d'Orleans had made, were much vexed at this; but
+ultimately it was agreed that for the moment we would sacrifice our own
+particular interests to those of the State.
+
+Between five and six the next morning a number of us met at the house of
+the Archbishop of Rheims at the end of the Pont Royal, behind the Hotel
+de Mailly, and there, in accordance with a resolution previously agreed
+upon, it was arranged that I should make a protest to the Parliament
+before the opening of the King's will there, against certain other
+usurpations, and state that it was solely because M. le Duc d'Orleans had
+given us his word that our complaints should be attended to as soon as
+the public affairs of the government were settled, that we postponed
+further measures upon this subject.  It was past seven before our debate
+ended, and then we went straight to the Parliament.
+
+We found it already assembled, and a few Dukes who had not attended our
+meeting, but had promised to be guided by us, were also present; and then
+a quarter of an hour after we were seated the bastards arrived.  M. du
+Maine was bursting with joy; the term is strange, but his bearing cannot
+otherwise be described.  The smiling and satisfied air prevailed over
+that of audacity and of confidence, which shone, nevertheless, and over
+politeness which seemed to struggle with them.  He saluted right and
+left, and pierced everybody with his looks.  His salutation to the
+Presidents had an air of rejoicing.  To the peers he was serious, nay,
+respectful; the slowness, the lowness of his inclination, was eloquent.
+His head remained lowered even when he rose, so heavy is the weight of
+crime, even at the moment when nothing but triumph is expected.  I
+rigidly followed him everywhere with my eyes, and I remarked that his
+salute was returned by the peers in a very dry and cold manner.
+
+Scarcely were we re-seated than M. le Duc arrived, and the instant after
+M. le Duc d'Orleans.  I allowed the stir that accompanied his appearance
+to subside a little, and then, seeing that the, Chief-President was about
+to speak, I forestalled him, uncovered my head, and then covered it, and
+made my speech in the terms agreed upon.  I concluded by appealing to M.
+le Duc d'Orleans to verify the truth of what I had said, in so far as it
+affected him.
+
+The profound silence with which I was listened to showed the surprise of
+all present.  M. le Duc d'Orleans uncovered himself, and in a low tone,
+and with an embarrassed manner, confirmed what I had said, then covered
+himself again.
+
+Immediately afterwards I looked at M. du Maine, who appeared, to be well
+content at being let off so easily, and who, my neighbours said to me,
+appeared much troubled at my commencement.
+
+A very short silence followed my protest, after which I saw the Chief-
+President say something in a low tone to M. le Duc d'Orleans, then
+arrange a deputation of the Parliament to go in search of the King's
+will, and its codicil, which had been put in the same place.  Silence
+continued during this great and short period of expectation; every one
+looked at his neighbour without stirring.  We were all upon the lower
+seats, the doors were supposed to be closed, but the grand chamber was
+filled with a large and inquisitive crowd.  The regiment of guards had
+secretly occupied all the avenues, commanded by the Duc de Guiche, who
+got six hundred thousand francs out of the Duc d'Orleans for this
+service, which was quite unnecessary.
+
+The deputation was not long in returning.  It placed the will and the
+codicil in the hands of the Chief-President, who presented them, without
+parting with them, to M. le Duc d'Orleans, then passed them from hand to
+hand to Dreux, 'conseiller' of the Parliament, and father of the grand
+master of the ceremonies, saying that he read well, and in a loud voice
+that would he well heard by everybody.  It may be imagined with what
+silence he was listened to, and how all eyes? and ears were turned
+towards him.  Through all his; joy the Duc du Maine showed that his soul
+was, troubled, as though about to undergo an operation that he must
+submit to.  M. le Duc d'Orleans showed only a tranquil attention.
+
+I will not dwell upon these two documents, in which nothing is provided
+but the grandeur and the power of the bastards, Madame de Maintenon and
+Saint-Cyr, the choice of the King's education and of the council of the
+regency, by which M. le Duc d'Orleans was to be shorn of all authority to
+the advantage of M. le Duc du Maine.
+
+I remarked a sadness and a kind of indignation which were painted upon
+all cheeks, as the reading advanced, and which turned into a sort of
+tranquil fermentation at the reading of the codicil, which was entrusted
+to the Abbe Menguy, another conseiller.  The Duc du Maine felt it and
+grew pale, for he was solely occupied in looking at every face, and I in
+following his looks, and in glancing occasionally at M. le Duc d'Orleans.
+
+The reading being finished, that prince spoke, casting his eyes upon all
+the assembly, uncovering himself, and then covering himself again, and
+commencing by a word of praise and of regret for the late King;
+afterwards raising his voice, he declared that he had only to approve
+everything just read respecting the education of the King, and everything
+respecting an establishment so fine and so useful as that of Saint-Cyr;
+that with respect to the dispositions concerning the government of the
+state, he would speak separately of those in the will and those in the
+codicil; that he could with difficulty harmonise them with the assurances
+the King, during the last days of his life, had given him; that the King
+could not have understood the importance of what he had been made to do
+for the Duc du Maine since the council of the regency was chosen, and M.
+du Maine's authority so established by the will, that the Regent remained
+almost without power; that this injury done to the rights of his birth,
+to his attachment to the person of the King, to his love and fidelity for
+the state, could not be endured if he was to preserve his honour; and
+that he hoped sufficiently from the esteem of all present, to persuade
+himself that his regency would be declared as it ought to be, that is to
+say, complete, independent, and that he should be allowed to choose his
+own council, with the members of which he would not discuss public
+affairs, unless they were persons who, being approved by the public,
+might also have his confidence.  This short speech appeared to make a
+great impression.
+
+The Duc du Maine wished to speak.  As he was about to do so, M. le Duc
+d'Orleans put his head in front of M. le Duc and said, in a dry tone,
+"Monsieur, you will speak in your turn."  In one moment the affair turned
+according to the desires of M. le Duc d'Orleans.  The power of the
+council of the regency and its composition fell.  The choice of the
+council was awarded to M. le Duc d'Orleans, with all the authority of the
+regency, and to the plurality of the votes of the council, the decision
+of affairs, the vote of the Regent to be counted as two in the event of
+an equal division.  Thus all favours and all punishments remained in the
+hands of M. le Duc d'Orleans alone.  The acclamation was such that the
+Duc du Maine did not dare to say a word.  He reserved himself for the
+codicil, which, if adopted, would have annulled all that M. le Duc
+d'Orleans had just obtained.
+
+After some few moments of silence, M. le Duc d'Orleans spoke again.  He
+testified fresh surprise that the dispositions of the will had not been
+sufficient for those who had suggested them, and that, not content with
+having established themselves as masters of the state, they themselves
+should have thought those dispositions so strange that in order to
+reassure them, it had been thought necessary to make them masters of the
+person of the King, of the Regent, of the Court, and of Paris.  He added,
+that if his honour and all law and rule had been wounded by the
+dispositions of the will, still more violated were they by those of the
+codicil, which left neither his life nor his liberty in safety, and
+placed the person of the King in the absolute dependence of those who had
+dared to profit by the feeble state of a dying monarch, to draw from him
+conditions he did not understand.  He concluded by declaring that the
+regency was impossible under such conditions, and that he doubted not the
+wisdom of the assembly would annul a codicil which could not be
+sustained, and the regulations of which would plunge France into the
+greatest and most troublesome misfortune.  Whilst this prince spoke a
+profound and sad silence applauded him without explaining itself.
+
+The Duc du Maine became of all colours, and began to speak, this time
+being allowed to do so.  He said that the education of the King, and
+consequently his person, being confided to him, as a natural result,
+entire authority over his civil and military household followed, without
+which he could not properly serve him or answer for his person.  Then he
+vaunted his well-known attachment to the deceased King, who had put all
+confidence in him.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans interrupted him at this word, and commented upon it.
+M. du Maine wished to calm him by praising the Marechal de Villeroy, who
+was to assist him in his charge.  M. le Duc d'Orleans replied that it
+would be strange if the chief and most complete confidence were not
+placed in the Regent, and stranger still if he were obliged to live under
+the protection and authority of those who had rendered themselves the
+absolute masters within and without, and of Paris even, by the regiment
+of guards.
+
+The dispute grew warm, broken phrases were thrown from one to the other,
+when, troubled about the end of an altercation which became indecent and
+yielding to the proposal that the Duc de la Force had just made me in
+front of the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, who sat between us, I made a sign
+with my hand to M. le Duc d'Orleans to go out and finish this discussion
+in another room leading out of the grand chamber and where there was
+nobody.  What led me to this action was that I perceived M. du Maine grew
+stronger, that confused murmurs for a division were heard, and that M. le
+Duc d'Orleans did not shine to the best advantage since he descended to
+plead his cause, so to speak, against that of the Duc du Maine.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans was short-sighted.  He was entirely absorbed in
+attacking and repelling; so that he did not see the sign I made.  Some
+moments after I increased it, and meeting with no more success, rose,
+advanced some steps, and said to him, though rather distant, "Monsieur,
+if you passed into the fourth chamber with M. du Maine you could speak
+there more easily," and advancing nearer at the same time I pressed him
+by a sign of the head and the eyes that he could distinguish.  He replied
+to me with another sign, and scarcely was I reseated than I saw him
+advance in front of M. le Duc to the Duc du Maine, and immediately after
+both rose and went into the chamber I had indicated.  I could not see who
+of the scattered group around followed them, for all present rose at
+their departure, and seated themselves again directly in complete
+silence.  Some time after, M. le Comte de Toulouse left his place and
+went into the Chamber.  M. le Duc followed him in a little while soon
+again the Duc de la Force did the same.
+
+He did not stay long.  Returning to the assembly; he passed the Duc de la
+Rochefoucauld and me, put his head between that of the Duc de Sully and
+mine, because he did not wish to be heard by La Rochefoucauld, and said
+to me, "In the name of God go there; things are getting on badly.  M. le
+Duc d'Orleans gives way; stop the dispute; make M. le Duc d'Orleans come
+back; and, as soon as he is in his place, let him say that it is too late
+to finish, that the company had better go to dinner, and return to finish
+afterwards, and during this interval," added La Force, "send the King's
+people to the Palais Royal, and let doubtful peers be spoken to, and the
+chiefs among other magistrates."
+
+The advice appeared to me good and important.  I left the assembly and
+went to the chamber.  I found a large circle of spectators.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans and the Duc du Maine stood before the fireplace, looking both
+very excited.  I looked at this spectacle some moments; then approached
+the mantelpiece like a man who wishes to speak.  "What is this,
+Monsieur?" said M. le Duc d'Orleans to me, with an impatient manner.
+"A pressing word, Monsieur, that I have to say to you," said I.  He
+continued speaking to the Duc du Maine, I being close by.  I redoubled my
+instances; he lent me his ear.  "No, no," said I, "not like that, come
+here," and I took him into a, corner by the chimney.  The Comte de
+Toulouse, who was there, drew completely back, and all the circle on that
+side.  The Duc du Maine drew back also from where he was.
+
+I said to M. le Duc d'Orleans, in his ear, that he could not hope to gain
+anything from M. du Maine, who would not sacrifice the codicil to his
+reasonings; that the length of their conference became indecent, useless,
+dangerous; that he was making a sight of himself to all who entered; that
+the only thing to be done was to return to the assembly, and, when there,
+dissolve it.  "You are right," said he, "I will do it."--"But," said I,
+"do it immediately, and do not allow yourself to be amused.  It is to M.
+de la Force you owe this advice: he sent me to give it you."  He quitted
+me without another word, went to M. du Maine, told him in two words that
+it was too late, and that the matter must be finished after dinner.
+
+I had remained where he left me.  I saw the Duc du Maine bow to him
+immediately, and the two separated, and retired at the same moment into
+the assembly.
+
+The noise which always accompanies these entrances being appeased, M. le
+Duc d'Orleans said it was too late to abuse the patience of the company
+any longer; that dinner must be eaten, and the work finished afterwards.
+He immediately added, he believed it fitting that M. le Duc should enter
+the council of the regency as its chief; and that since the company had
+rendered the justice due to his birth and his position as Regent, he
+would explain what he thought upon the form to be given to the
+government, and that meanwhile he profited by the power he had to avail
+himself of the knowledge and the wisdom of the company, and restored to
+them from that time their former liberty of remonstrance.  These words
+were followed by striking and general applause, and the assembly was
+immediately adjourned.
+
+I was invited this day to dine with the Cardinal de Noailles, but I felt
+the importance of employing the time so precious and so short, of the
+interval of dinner, and of not quitting M. le Duc d'Orleans, according to
+a suggestion of M. le Duc de la Force.  I approached M. le Duc d'Orleans,
+and said in his ear, "The moments are precious: I will follow you to the
+Palais Royal," and went back to my place among the peers.  Jumping into
+my coach, I sent a gentleman with my excuses to the Cardinal de Noailles,
+saying, I would tell him the reason of my absence afterwards.  Then I
+went to the Palais Royal, where curiosity had gathered together all who
+were not at the palace, and even some who had been there.  All the
+acquaintances I met asked me the news with eagerness.  I contented myself
+with replying that everything went well, and according to rule, but that
+all was not yet finished.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans had passed into a cabinet, where I found him alone
+with Canillac, who had waited for him.  We took our measures there, and
+M. le Duc d'Orleans sent for the Attorney-General, D'Aguesseau,
+afterwards Chancellor, and the chief Advocate-General, Joly de Fleury,
+since Attorney-General.  It was nearly two o'clock.  A little dinner was
+served, of which Canillac, Conflans, M. le Duc d'Orleans, and myself
+partook; and I will say this, by the way, I never dined with him but once
+since, namely, at Bagnolet.
+
+We returned to the Parliament a little before four o'clock.  I arrived
+there alone in my carriage, a moment before M. le Duc d'Orleans, and
+found everybody assembled.  I was looked at with much curiosity, as it
+seemed to me.  I am not aware if it was known whence I came.  I took care
+that my bearing should say nothing.  I simply said to the Duc de la Force
+that his advice had been salutary, that I had reason to hope all success
+from it, and that I had told M. le Duc d'Orleans whence it came.  That
+Prince arrived, and (the hubbub inseparable from such a numerous suite
+being appeased) he said that matters must be recommenced from the point
+where they had been broken off in the morning; that it was his duty to
+say to the Court that in nothing had he agreed with M. du Maine and to
+bring again before all eyes the monstrous clauses of a codicil, drawn
+from a dying prince; clauses much more strange than the dispositions of
+the testament that the Court had not deemed fit to be put in execution,
+and that the Court could not allow M. du Maine to be master of the person
+of the King, of the camp, of Paris, consequently of the State, of the
+person, life, and liberty of the Regent, whom he would be in a position
+to arrest at any moment as soon as he became the absolute and independent
+master of the civil and military household of the King; that the Court
+saw what must inevitably result from an unheard-of novelty, which placed
+everything in the hands of M. du Maine; and that he left it to the
+enlightenment, to the prudence, to the wisdom, to the equity of the
+company, and its love for the State, to declare what they thought on this
+subject.
+
+M. du Maine appeared then as contemptible in the broad open daylight as
+he had appeared redoubtable in the obscurity of the cabinets.  He had the
+look of one condemned, and his face, generally so fresh-coloured, was now
+as pale as death.  He replied in a very low and scarcely intelligible
+voice, and with an air as respectful and as humble as it had been
+audacious in the morning.
+
+People opined without listening to him; and tumultuously, but with one
+voice, the entire abrogation of the codicil was passed.  This was
+premature, as the abrogation of the testament had been in the morning--
+both caused by sudden indignation.  D'Aguesseauand Fleury both spoke, the
+first in a few words, the other at greater length, making a very good
+speech.  As it exists, in the libraries, I will only say that the
+conclusions of both orators were in everything favourable to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans.
+
+After they had spoken, the Duc du Maine, seeing himself totally shorn,
+tried a last resource.  He represented, with more force than could have
+been expected from his demeanour at this second sitting, but yet with
+measure, that since he had been stripped of the authority confided to him
+by the codicil, he asked to be discharged from the responsibility of
+answering for the person of the King, and to be allowed simply to
+preserve the superintendence of his education.  M, le Duc d'Orleans
+replied, "With all my heart, Monsieur; nothing more is wanted."
+Thereupon the Chief.  President formally put the question to the vote.
+A decree was passed by which all power was taken from the hands of M. du
+Maine and placed in those of the Regent, with the right of placing whom
+he pleased in the council; of dismissing anybody as it should seem good
+to him; and of doing all he might think fit respecting the form to be
+given to the government; authority over public affairs, nevertheless, to
+remain with the council, and decision to be taken by the plurality of
+votes, the vote of the Regent to count double in case of equal division;
+M. le Duc to be chief of the council under him, with the right to enter
+it at once and opine there.
+
+During all this time, and until the end of the sitting, M. du Maine had
+his eyes always cast down, looked more dead than alive, and appeared
+motionless.  His son and his brother gave no sign of taking interest in
+anything.
+
+The decree was followed by loud acclamations of the crowd scattered
+outside, and that which filled the rest of the palace replied as soon as
+they learnt what had been decided.
+
+This noise, which lasted some time, being appeased, the Regent thanked
+the company in brief, polished, and majestic terms; declared with what
+care he would employ for the good of the state, the authority with which
+he was invested; then said it was time he should inform them what he
+judged ought to be established in order to aid him in the administration
+of affairs.  He added that he did so with the more confidence, because
+what he proposed was exactly what M. le Duc de Bourgogne ('twas thus he
+named him) had resolved, as shown by papers found in his bureau.  He
+passed a short and graceful eulogy upon the enlightenment and intentions
+of that prince; then declared that, besides the council of the regency,
+which would be the supreme centre from which all the affairs of the
+government would spring, he proposed to establish a council for foreign
+affairs, one for war, one for the navy, one for finance, one for
+ecclesiastical matters, and one for home affairs and to choose some of
+the magistrates of the company to enter these last two councils, and aid
+them by their knowledge upon the police of the realm, the jurisprudence,
+and what related to the liberties of the Gallican church.
+
+The applause of the magistrates burst out at this, and all the crowd
+replied to it.  The Chief-President concluded the sitting by a very short
+compliment to the Regent, who rose, and at the same time all the
+assembly, which then broke up.
+
+On Friday, the 6th of September, 1715, the Regent performed an action of
+most exquisite merit, if it had been actuated by the love of God, but
+which was of the utmost meanness, religion having no connection with it.
+He went at eight o'clock in the morning to see Madame de Maintenon at
+Saint-Cyr.  He was nearly an hour with this enemy, who had wished to cut
+off his head, and who quite recently had sought to deliver him, tied hand
+and foot, to M. du Maine, by the monstrous dispositions of the King's
+will and codicil.
+
+The Regent assured her during this visit that the four thousand livres
+the King had given her every month should be continued, and should be
+brought to her the first day of every month by the Duc de Noailles, who
+had apparently induced the Prince to pay this visit, and promise this
+present.  He said to Madame de Maintenon that if she wished for more she
+had only to speak, and assured her he would protect Saint-Cyr. In leaving
+he was shown the young girls, all together in classes.
+
+It must be remembered, that besides the estate of Maintenon, and the
+other property of this famous and fatal witch, the establishment of
+Saint-Cyr, which had more than four hundred thousand livres yearly
+income, and much money in reserve, was obliged by the rules which founded
+it, to receive Madame de Maintenon, if she wished to retire there; to
+obey her in all things, as the absolute and sole superior; to keep her
+and everybody connected with her, her domestics, her equipages, as she
+wished, her table, etc., at the expense of the house, all of which was
+very punctually done until her death.  Thus she needed not this generous
+liberality, by which her pension of forty-eight thousand livres was
+continued to her.  It would have been quite enough if M. le Duc d'Orleans
+had forgotten that she was in existence, and had simply left her
+untroubled in Saint-Cyr.
+
+The Regent took good care not to inform me of his visit, before or after;
+and I took good care not to reproach him with it, or make him ashamed of
+it.  It made much noise, and was not approved of.  The Spanish affair was
+not yet forgotten, and the will and codicil furnished other matter for
+all conversations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXX
+
+Saturday, the 7th of September, was the day fixed for the first Bed of
+Justice of the King (Louis XV.); but he caught a cold during the night,
+and suffered a good deal.  The Regent came alone to Paris.  The
+Parliament had assembled, and I went to a door of the palace, where I was
+informed of the countermand which had just arrived.  The Chief-President
+and the King's people were at once sent for to the Palais Royal, and the
+Parliament, which was about to adjourn, was continued for all the rest of
+the month for general business.  On the morrow, the Regent, who was
+wearied with Versailles,--for he liked to live in Paris, where all his
+pleasures were within easy reach,--and who met with opposition from the
+Court doctors, all comfortably lodged at Versailles, to the removal of
+the person of the King to Vincennes, under pretext of a slight cold,
+fetched other doctors from Paris, who had been sent for to see the
+deceased King.  These practitioners, who had nothing to gain by
+recommending Versailles, laughed at the Court doctors, and upon their
+opinion it was resolved to take the King to Vincennes, where all was
+ready for him on the morrow.
+
+He set out, then, that day from Versailles, at about two o'clock in the
+day, in company with the Regent, the Duchesse de Ventadour, the Duc du
+Maine, and the Marechal de Villeroy, passed round the ramparts of Paris,
+without entering the city, and arrived at Vincennes about five o'clock,
+many people and carriages having come out along the road to see him.
+
+On the day after the arrival of the King at Vincennes, the Regent worked
+all the morning with all the Secretaries of State separately, whom he had
+charged to bring him the list of all the 'lettres de cachet' issued from
+their bureaux, and a statement of the reasons for which they were
+delivered, as such oftentimes were slight.  The majority of the 'lettres
+de cachet' of exile and of imprisonment had been drawn up against
+Jansenists, and people who had opposed the constitution; numbers the
+reasons of which were known only to the deceased King, and to those who
+had induced him to grant them; others were of the time of previous
+ministers, and among them were many which had been long forgotten and
+unknown.  The Regent restored everybody to liberty, exiles and prisoners,
+except those whom he knew to have been arrested for grave crimes, or
+affairs of State; and brought down infinite benedictions upon himself by
+this act of justice and humanity.
+
+Many very singular and strange stories were then circulated, which showed
+the tyranny of the last reign, and of its ministers, and caused the
+misfortunes of the prisoners to be deplored.  Among those in the Bastille
+was a man who had been imprisoned thirty-five years.  Arrested the day he
+arrived in Paris, on a journey from Italy, to which country he belonged.
+It has never been known why he was arrested, and he had never been
+examined, as was the case with the majority of the others: people were
+persuaded a mistake had been made.  When his liberty was announced to
+him, he sadly asked what it was expected he could do with it.  He said he
+had not a farthing; that he did not know a soul in Paris, not even a
+single street, or a person in all France; that his relatives in Italy
+had, doubtless, died since he left; that his property, doubtless, had
+been divided, so many years having elapsed during which no news had been
+received from him; that he knew not what to do.  He asked to be allowed
+to remain in the Bastille for the rest of his days, with food and
+lodging.  This was granted, with as much liberty as he wished.
+
+As for those who were taken from the dungeons where the hatred of the
+ministers; of the Jesuits; and of the Constitution chiefs, had cast them,
+the horrible state they appeared in terrified everybody, and rendered
+credible all the cruel stories which, as soon as they were fully at
+liberty, they revealed.
+
+The same day on which this merciful decision was come to, died Madame de
+la Vieuville, not old, of a cancer in the breast, the existence of which
+she had concealed until two days before her death, and thus deprived
+herself of help.
+
+A few days after, the finances being in such a bad state, the Regent made
+Crosat treasurer of the order, in return for which he obtained from him a
+loan of a million, in bars of silver, and the promise of another two
+million.  Previous to this, the hunting establishments of the King had
+been much reduced.  Now another retrenchment was made.  There were seven
+intendants of the finances, who, for six hundred thousand livres, which
+their places had cost them, enjoyed eighty thousand livres each per
+annum.  They were all suppressed, and simply the interest of their
+purchase-money paid to them; that is to say, thirty thousand livres each,
+until that purchase-money could be paid.  It was found that there were
+sixteen hundred thousand francs owing to our ambassadors, and to our
+agents in foreign countries, the majority of whom literally had not
+enough to pay the postage of their letters, having spent all they
+possessed.  This was a cruel discredit to us, all over Europe.  I might
+fill a volume in treating upon the state and the arrangements of our
+finances.  But this labour is above my strength, and contrary to my
+taste.  I will simply say that as soon as money could be spared it was
+sent to our ambassadors abroad.  They were dying of hunger, were over
+head and ears in debt, had fallen into utter contempt, and our affairs
+were suffering accordingly.
+
+The council of the regency, let me say here, was composed of the
+following persons: M. le Duc d'Orleans, M. le Duc, the Duc du Maine, the
+Comte de Toulouse, Voysin the Chancellor, myself--since I must name
+myself,--Marechal de Villeroy, Marechal d'Harcourt, Marechal de Besons,
+the Late Bishop of Troyes, and Torcy, with a right to vote; with La
+Vrilliere, who kept the register, and Pontchartrain, both without the
+right to vote.
+
+I have already alluded to the presence of Lord Stair at this time in our
+Court, as ambassador from England.  By means of intrigues he had
+succeeded in ingratiating himself into the favour of the Regent, and in
+convincing him that the interests of France and England were identical.
+One of the reasons--the main one--which he brought forward to show this,
+was that King George was an usurper; and that if anything happened to our
+King, M. le Duc d'Orleans would become, in mounting the throne of France,
+an usurper also, the King of Spain being the real heir to the French
+monarchy; that, in consequence of this, France and England ought to march
+together, protect each other; France assisting England against the
+Pretender, and England assisting France, if need be, against the King of
+Spain.  M. le Duc d'Orleans had too much penetration not to see this
+snare; but, marvellous as it may seem, the crookedness of this policy,
+and not the desire of reigning, seduced him.  I am quite prepared, if
+ever these memoirs see the day, to find that this statement will be
+laughed at; that it will throw discredit on others, and cause me to be
+regarded as a great ass, if I think to make my readers, believe it; or
+for an idiot, if I have believed it myself.  Nevertheless, such is the
+pure truth, to which I sacrifice all, in despite of what my readers may
+think of me.  However incredible it may be, it is, as I say, the exact
+verity; and I do not hesitate to advance, that there are many such facts,
+unknown to history, which would much surprise if known; and which are
+unknown, only because scarcely any history has been written at first
+hand.
+
+Stair wished, above all, to hinder the Regent from giving any assistance
+to the Pretender, and to prevent him passing through the realm in order
+to reach a seaport.  Now the Regent was between two stools, for he had
+promised the Pretender to wink at his doings, and to favour his passage
+through France, if it were made secretly, and at the same time he had
+assented to the demand of Stair.  Things had arrived at this pass when
+the troubles increased in England, and the Earl of Mar obtained some
+success in Scotland.  Soon after news came that the Pretender had
+departed from Bar, and was making his way to the coast.  Thereupon Stair
+ran in hot haste to M. le Duc d'Orleans to ask him to keep his promise,
+and hinder the Pretender's journey.  The Regent immediately sent off
+Contade, major in the guards, very intelligent, and in whom he could
+trust, with his brother, a lieutenant in the same regiment, and two
+sergeants of their choice, to go to Chateau-Thierry, and wait for the
+Pretender, Stair having sure information that he would pass there.
+Contade set out at night on the 9th of November, well resolved and
+instructed to miss the person he was to seek.  Stair, who expected as
+much, took also his measures, which were within an inch of succeeding;
+for this is what happened.
+
+The Pretender set out disguised from Bar, accompanied by only three or
+four persons, and came to Chaillot, where M. de Lauzun had a little
+house, which he never visited, and which he had kept for mere fancy,
+although he had a house at Passy, of which he made much use.  It was in
+this, Chaillot's house, that the Pretender put up, and where he saw the
+Queen, his mother, who often stopped at the Convent of the Filles de
+Sainte Marie-Therese.  Thence he set out in a post-chaise of Torcy's, by
+way of Alencon, for Brittany, where he meant to embark.
+
+Stair discovered this scheme, and resolved to leave nothing undone in
+order to deliver his party of this, the last of the Stuarts.  He quietly
+despatched different people by different roads, especially by that from
+Paris to Alencon.  He charged with this duty Colonel Douglas (who
+belonged to the Irish (regiments) in the pay of France), who, under the
+protection of his name, and by his wit and his intrigues, had insinuated
+himself into many places in Paris since the commencement of the regency;
+had placed himself on a footing of consideration and of familiarity with
+the Regent; and often came to my house.  He was good company; had married
+upon the frontier of Metz; was very poor; had politeness and much
+experience of the world; the reputation of distinguished valour; and
+nothing which could render him suspected of being capable of a crime.
+
+Douglas got into a post-chaise, accompanied by two horsemen; all three
+were well armed, and posted leisurely along this road.  Nonancourt is a
+kind of little village upon this route, at nineteen leagues from Paris;
+between Dreux, three leagues further, and Verneuil au Perche, four
+leagues this side.  It was at Nonancourt that he alighted, ate a morsel
+at the post-house, inquired with extreme solicitude after a post-chaise
+which he described, as well as the manner in which it would be
+accompanied, expressed fear lest it had already passed, and lest he had
+not been answered truly.  After infinite inquiries, he left a third
+horseman, who had just reached him, on guard, with orders to inform him
+when the chaise he was in search of appeared; and added menaces and
+promises of recompense to the post people, so as not to be deceived by
+their negligence.
+
+The post-master was named L'Hospital; he was absent, but his wife was in
+the house, and she fortunately was a very honest woman, who had wit,
+sense, and courage.  Nonancourt is only five leagues from La Ferme, and
+when, to save distance, you do not pass there, they send you relays upon
+the road.  Thus I knew very well this post-mistress, who mixed herself
+more in the business than her husband, and who has herself related to me
+this adventure more than once.  She did all she could, uselessly, to
+obtain some explanation upon these alarms.  All that she could unravel
+was that the strangers were Englishmen, and in a violent excitement about
+something, that something very important was at stake,--and that they
+meditated mischief.  She fancied thereupon that the Pretender was in
+question; resolved to save him; mentally arranged her plans, and
+fortunately enough executed them.
+
+In order to succeed she devoted herself to the service of these
+gentlemen, refused them nothing, appeared quite satisfied, and promised
+that they should infallibly be informed.  She persuaded them of this so
+thoroughly, that Douglas went away without saying where, except to this
+third horseman just arrived, but it was close at hand; so that he might
+be warned in time.  He took one of his valets with him; the other
+remained with the horseman to wait and watch.
+
+Another man much embarrassed the post-mistress; nevertheless, she laid
+her plans.  She proposed to the horseman to drink something, because when
+he arrived Douglas had left the table.  She served him in her best
+manner, and with her best wine, and kept him at table as long as she
+could, anticipating all his orders.  She had placed a valet, in whom she
+could trust, as guard, with orders simply to appear, without a word, if
+he saw a chaise; and her resolution was to lock up the Englishman and his
+servant, and to give their horses to the chaise if it came.  But it came
+not, and the Englishman grew tired of stopping at table.  Then she
+manoeuvred so well that she persuaded him to go and lie down, and to
+count upon her, her people, and upon the valet Douglas had left.  The
+Englishman told this valet not to quit the threshold of the house, and to
+inform him as soon as the chaise appeared.  He then suffered himself to
+be led to the back of the house, in order to lie down.  The post-
+mistress, immediately after, goes to one of her friends in a by-street,
+relates her adventure and her suspicions, makes the friend agree to
+receive and secrete in her dwelling the person she expected, sends for an
+ecclesiastic, a relative of them both, and in whom she could repose
+confidence, who came and lent an Abbe's dress and wig to match.  This
+done, Madame L'Hospital returns to her home, finds the English valet at
+the door, talks with him, pities his ennui, says he is a good fellow to
+be so particular, says that from the door to the house there is but one
+step, promises him that he shall be as well informed as by his own eyes,
+presses him to drink something, and tips the wink to a trusty postilion,
+who makes him drink until he rolls dead drunk under the table.  During
+this performance, the wary mistress listens at the door of the English
+gentleman's room, gently turns the key and locks him in, and then
+establishes herself upon the threshold of her door.
+
+Half an hour after comes the trusty valet whom she had put on guard: it
+was the expected chaise, which, as well as the three men who accompanied
+it, were made, without knowing why, to slacken speed.  It was King James.
+Madame L'Hospital accosts him, says he is expected, and lost if he does
+not take care; but that he may trust in her and follow her.  At once they
+both go to her friends.  There he learns all that has happened, and they
+hide him, and the three men of his suite as well as they could.  Madame
+L'Hospital returns home, sends for the officers of justice, and in
+consequence of her suspicions she causes the English gentleman and the
+English valet, the one drunk, the other asleep, locked in the room where
+she had left him, to be arrested, and immediately after despatches a
+postilion to Torcy.  The officers of justice act, and send their
+deposition to the Court.
+
+The rage of the English gentleman on finding himself arrested, and unable
+to execute the duty which led him there, and his fury against the valet
+who had allowed himself to be intoxicated, cannot be expressed.  As for
+Madame L'Hospital he would have strangled her if he could; and she for a
+long time was afraid of her life.
+
+The Englishman could not be induced to confess what brought him there, or
+where was Douglas, whom he named in order to show his importance.  He
+declared he had been sent by the English ambassador, though Stair had not
+yet officially assumed that title, and exclaimed that that minister would
+never suffer the affront he had received.  They civilly replied to him,
+that there were no proofs he came from the English ambassador,--none that
+he was connected with the minister: that very suspicious designs against
+public safety on the highway alone were visible; that no harm or
+annoyance should be caused him, but that he must remain in safety until
+orders came, and there upon he was civilly led to prison, as well as the
+intoxicated valet.
+
+What became of Douglas at that time was never known, except that he was
+recognised in various places, running, inquiring, crying out with despair
+that he had escaped, without mentioning any name.  Apparently news came
+to him, or he sought it, being tired of receiving none.  The report of
+what had occurred in such a little place as Nonancourt would easily have
+reached him, close as he was to it; and perhaps it made him set out anew
+to try and catch his prey.
+
+But he journeyed in vain.  King James had remained hidden at Nonancourt,
+where, charmed with the attentions of his generous post-mistress, who had
+saved him from his assassins, he admitted to her who he was, and gave her
+a letter for the Queen, his mother.  He remained there three days, to
+allow the hubbub to pass, and rob those who sought him of all hope; then,
+disguised as an Abbe, he jumped into a post-chaise that Madame L'Hospital
+had borrowed in the neighbourhood--to confound all identity--and
+continued his journey, during which he was always pursued, but happily
+was never recognised, and embarked in Brittany for Scotland.
+
+Douglas, tired of useless searches, returned to Paris, where Stair kicked
+up a fine dust about the Nonancourt adventure.  This he denominated
+nothing less than an infraction of the law of nations, with an extreme
+audacity and impudence, and Douglas, who could not be ignorant of what
+was said about him, had the hardihood to go about everywhere as usual; to
+show himself at the theatre; and to present himself before M. le Duc
+d'Orleans.
+
+This Prince ignored as much as he could a plot so cowardly and so
+barbarous, and in respect to him so insolent.  He kept silence, said to
+Stair what he judged fitting to make him be silent likewise, but gave
+liberty to his English assassins.  Douglas, however, fell much in the
+favour of the Regent, and many considerable people closed their doors to
+him.  He vainly tried to force mine.  But as for me I was a perfect
+Jacobite, and quite persuaded that it was the interest of France to give
+England domestic occupation, which would long hinder her from thinking of
+foreign matters.  I then, as may be supposed, could not look upon the
+odious enterprise with a favourable eye, or pardon its authors.  Douglas
+complained to me of my disregard for him, but to no purpose.  Soon after
+he disappeared from Paris.  I know not what became of him afterwards.
+His wife and his children remained there living by charity.  A long time
+after his death beyond the seas, the Abbe de Saint-Simon passed from
+Noyan to Metz, where he found his widow in great misery.
+
+The Queen of England sent for Madame L'Hospital to Saint-Germain, thanked
+her, caressed her, as she deserved, and gave her her portrait.  This was
+all; the Regent gave her nothing; a long while after King James wrote to
+her, and sent her also his portrait.  Conclusion: she remained post-
+mistress of Nonancourt as before, twenty or twenty-five years after, to
+her death; and her son and her daughter-in-law keep the post now.  She
+was a true woman; estimated in her neighbourhood; not a single word that
+she uttered concerning this history has been contradicted by any one.
+What it cost her can never be said, but she never received a farthing.
+She never complained, but spoke as she found things, with modesty, and
+without seeking to speak.  Such is the indigence of dethroned Kings, and
+their complete forgetfulness of the greatest perils and the most signal
+services.
+
+Many honest people avoided Stair, whose insolent airs made others avoid
+him.  He filled the cup by the insupportable manner in which he spoke
+upon that affair, never daring to admit he had directed it, or deigning
+to disculpate himself.  The only annoyance he showed was about his ill-
+success.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXI
+
+I must say a few words now of Madame la Duchesse de Berry, who, as may be
+imagined, began to hold her head very high indeed directly the regency of
+Monsieur her father was established.  Despite the representations of
+Madame de Saint-Simon, she usurped all the honours of a queen; she went
+through Paris with kettle-drums beating, and all along the quay of the
+Tuileries where the King was.  The Marechal de Villeroy complained of
+this next day to M. le Duc d'Orleans, who promised him that while the
+King remained in Paris no kettle-drums should be heard but his.  Never
+afterwards did Madame la Duchesse de Berry have any, yet when she went to
+the theatre she sat upon a raised dais in her box, had four of her guards
+upon the stage, and others in the pit; the house was better lighted than
+usual, and before the commencement of the performance she was harangued
+by the players.  This made a strange stir in Paris, and as she did not
+dare to continue it she gave up her usual place, and took at the opera a
+little box where she could scarcely be seen, and where she was almost
+incognito.  As the comedy was played then upon the opera stage for
+Madame, this little box served for both entertainments.
+
+The Duchess desired apparently to pass the summer nights in all liberty
+in the garden of the Luxembourg.  She accordingly had all the gates
+walled up but one, by which the Faubourg Saint-Germain, which had always
+enjoyed the privilege of walking there, were much deprived.  M. le Duc
+thereupon opened the Conti garden to make up to the public for their
+loss.  As may be imagined, strange things were said about the motives
+which led to the walling up of the garden.
+
+As the Princess found new lovers to replace the old ones, she tried to
+pension off the latter at the expense of the public.  She had a place
+created expressly for La Haye.  She bought, or rather the King for her,
+a little house at the entry of the Bois de Boulogne, which was pretty,
+with all the wood in front, and a fine garden behind.  It was called La
+Muette.
+
+After many amours she had become smitten with Rion, a younger son of the
+house of Aydic.  He was a fat, chubby, pale little fellow, who had so
+many pimples that he did not ill resemble an abscess.  He had good teeth,
+but had no idea he should cause a passion which in less than no time
+became ungovernable, and which lasted a long while without however
+interfering with temporary and passing amours.  He was not worth a penny,
+but had many brothers and sisters who had no more than he.  He was a
+lieutenant of dragoons, relative of Madame Pons, dame d'atours of Madame
+la Duchesse de Berry, who sent for him to try and do something for him.
+Scarcely had he arrived than the passion of the Duchess declared itself,
+and he became the master of the Luxembourg where she dwelt.  M. de
+Lauzun, who was a distant relative, was delighted, and chuckled inwardly.
+He thought he saw a repetition of the old times, when Mademoiselle was in
+her glory; he vouchsafed his advice to Rion.
+
+Rion was gentle and naturally polished and respectful, a good and honest
+fellow.  He soon felt the power of his charms, which could only have
+captivated the incomprehensible and depraved fantasy of such a princess.
+He did not abuse this power; made himself liked by everybody; but he
+treated Madame la Duchesse de Berry as M. de Lauzun had treated
+Mademoiselle.  He was soon decorated with the most beautiful lace and the
+richest clothes covered with silver, loaded with snuffboxes, jewels, and
+precious stones.  He took pleasure in making the Princess long after him,
+and be jealous; affecting to be still more jealous of her.  He often made
+her cry.  Little by little, he obtained such authority over her that she
+did not dare to do anything without his permission, not even the most
+indifferent things.  If she were ready to go to the opera, he made her
+stay away; at other times he made her go thither in spite of herself.
+He made her treat well many ladies she did not like, or of whom she was
+jealous, and treat ill persons who pleased her, but of whom he pretended
+to be jealous.  Even in her finery she had not the slightest liberty.
+He amused himself by making her disarrange her head-dress, or change her
+clothes, when she was quite dressed; and that so often and so publicly,
+that he accustomed her at last to take over night his orders for her
+morning's dress and occupation, and on the morrow he would change
+everything, and the Princess wept as much as she could, and more.  At
+last she actually sent messages to him by trusty valets,--for he lived
+close to the Luxembourg,--several times during her toilet, to know what
+ribbons she should wear; the same with her gown and other things; and
+nearly always he made her wear what she did not wish for.  If ever she
+dared to do the least thing without his permission, he treated her like a
+serving-wench, and her tears lasted sometimes several days.  This
+princess, so haughty, and so fond of showing and exercising the most
+unmeasured pride, disgraced herself by joining in repasts with him and
+obscure people; she, with whom no man could lawfully eat if he were not a
+prince of the blood!
+
+A Jesuit, named Pere Riglet, whom she had known as a child, and whose
+intimacy she had always cultivated since, was admitted to these private
+repasts, without being ashamed thereof, and without Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry being embarrassed.  Madame de Mouchy was the confidante of all
+these strange parties she and Rion invited the guests, and chose the
+days.  La Mouchy often reconciled the Princess to her lover, and was
+better treated by him than she, without her daring to take notice of it,
+for fear of an eclat which would have caused her to lose so dear a lover,
+and a confidante so necessary.  This life was public; everybody at the
+Luxembourg paid court to M. de Rion, who, on his side, took care to be on
+good terms with all the world, nay, with an air of respect that he
+refused, even in public, to his princess.  He often gave sharp replies to
+her in society, which made people lower their eyes, and brought blushes
+to the cheek of Madame la Duchesse de Berry, who, nevertheless, did not
+attempt to conceal her submission and passionate manners, even before
+others.  A remarkable fact is, that in the midst of this life, she took
+an apartment at the Convent of the Carmelites of the Faubourg Saint-
+Germain, where she sometimes went in the afternoon, always slept there on
+grand religious fete days, and often remained there several days running.
+She took with her two ladies, rarely three, scarcely a single domestic;
+she ate with her ladies what the convent could supply for her table;
+attended the services, was sometimes long in prayer, and rigidly fasted
+on the appointed days.
+
+Two Carmelites, of much talent, and who knew the world, were charged to
+receive her, and to be near her.  One was very beautiful: the other had
+been so.  They were rather young, especially the handsomer; but were very
+religious and holy, and performed the office entrusted to them much
+against their inclination.  When they became more familiar they spoke
+freely to the Princess, and said to her that if they knew nothing of her
+but what they saw, they should admire her as a saint, but, elsewhere,
+they learnt that she led a strange life, and so public, that they could
+not comprehend why she came to their convent.  Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry laughed at this, and was not angry.  Sometimes they lectured her,
+called people and things by their names, and exhorted her to change so
+scandalous a life; but it was all in vain.  She lived as before, both at
+the Luxembourg and at the Carmelites, and caused wonderment by this
+surprising conduct.
+
+Madame la Duchesse de Berry returned with usury to her father, the
+severity and the domination she suffered at the hands of Rion--yet this
+prince, in his weakness, was not less submissive to her, attentive to
+her, or afraid of her.  He was afflicted with the public reign of Rion,
+and the scandal of his daughter; but he did not dare to breathe a word,
+or if he did (after some scene, as ridiculous as it was violent, had
+passed between the lover and the Princess, and become public), he was
+treated like a negro, pouted at several days, and did not know how to
+make his peace.
+
+But it is time now to speak of the public and private occupations of the
+Regent himself, of his conduct, his pleasure parties, and the employment
+of his days.
+
+Up to five o'clock in the evening he devoted himself exclusively to
+public business, reception of ministers, councils, etc., never dining
+during the day, but taking chocolate between two and three o'clock, when
+everybody was allowed to enter his room.  After the council of the day,
+that is to say, at about five o'clock, there was no more talk of
+business.  It was now the time of the Opera or the Luxembourg (if he had
+not been to the latter place before his chocolate), or he went to Madame
+la Duchesse d'Orleans' apartments, or supped, or went out privately, or
+received company privately; or, in the fine season, he went to Saint-
+Cloud, or elsewhere out of town, now supping there, or at the Luxembourg,
+or at home.  When Madame was at Paris, he spoke to her for a moment
+before his mass; and when she was at Saint-Cloud he went to see her
+there, and always paid her much attention and respect.
+
+His suppers were always in very strange company.  His mistresses,
+sometimes an opera girl, often Madame la Duchesse de Berry, and a dozen
+men whom he called his rows, formed the party.  The requisite cheer was
+prepared in places made expressly, on the same floor, all the utensils
+were of silver; the company often lent a hand to the cooks.  It was at
+these parties that the character of every one was passed in review,
+ministers and favourites like the rest, with a liberty which was
+unbridled license.  The gallantries past and present of the Court and of
+the town; all old stories, disputes, jokes, absurdities were raked up;
+nobody was spared; M. le Duc d'Orleans had his say like the rest, but
+very rarely did these discourses make the slightest impression upon him.
+The company drank as much as they could, inflamed themselves, said the
+filthiest things without stint, uttered impieties with emulation, and
+when they had made a good deal of noise and were very drunk, they went to
+bed to recommence the same game the next day.  From the moment when
+supper was ready, business, no matter of, what importance, no matter
+whether private or national, was entirely banished from view.  Until the
+next morning everybody and everything were compelled to wait.
+
+The Regent lost then an infinite amount of time in private, in
+amusements, and debauchery.  He lost much also in audiences too long, too
+extended, too easily granted, and drowned himself in those same details
+which during the lifetime of the late King we had both so often
+reproached him with.  Questions he might have decided in half an hour he
+prolonged, sometimes from weakness, sometimes from that miserable desire
+to set people at loggerheads, and that poisonous maxim which occasionally
+escaped him or his favourite, 'divide et impera'; often from his general
+mistrust of everybody and everything; nothings became hydras with which
+he himself afterwards was much embarrassed.  His familiarity and his
+readiness of access extremely pleased people, but were much abused.
+Folks sometimes were even wanting in respect to him, which at last was an
+inconvenience all the more dangerous because he could not, when he
+wished, reprimand those who embarrassed him; insomuch as they themselves
+did not feel embarrassed.
+
+What is extraordinary is, neither his mistress nor Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry, nor his 'roues', could ever draw anything from him, even when
+drunk, concerning the affairs of the government, however important.  He
+publicly lived with Madame de Parabere; he lived at the same time with
+others; he amused himself with the jealousy and vexation of these women;
+he was not the less on good terms with them all; and the scandal of this
+public seraglio, and that of the daily filthiness and impiety at his
+suppers, were extreme and spread everywhere.
+
+Towards the end of the year (1715) the Chevalier de Bouillon, who since
+the death of the son of the Comte d'Auvergne had taken the name of the
+Prince d'Auvergne, proposed to the Regent that there should be a public
+ball, masked and unmasked, in the opera three times a week, people to pay
+upon entering, and the boxes to be thrown open to those who did not care
+to dance.  It was believed that a public ball, guarded as is the opera on
+days of performance, would prevent those adventures which happened so
+often at the little obscure balls scattered throughout Paris; and indeed
+close them altogether.  The opera balls were established on a grand
+scale, and with all possible effect.  The proposer of the idea had for it
+six thousand livres pension; and a machine admirably invented and of easy
+and instantaneous application, was made to cover the orchestra, and put
+the stage and the pit on the same level.  The misfortune was, that the
+opera was at the Palais Royal, and that M. le Duc d'Orleans had only one
+step to take to reach it after his suppers and show himself there, often
+in a state but little becoming.  The Duc de Noailles, who strove to pay
+court to him, went there from the commencement so drunk that there was no
+indecency he did not commit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXII
+
+Let me speak now of another matter.
+
+A Scotchman, I do not know of what family, a great player and combiner,
+who had gained much in various countries he had been in, had come to
+Paris during the last days of the deceased King.  His name was Law; but
+when he became more known, people grew so accustomed to call him Las,
+that his name of Law disappeared.  He was spoken of to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans as a man deep in banking and commercial matters, in the
+movements of the precious metals, in monies and finance: the Regent, from
+this description, was desirous to see him.  He conversed with Law some
+time, and was so pleased with him, that he spoke of him to Desmarets as a
+man from whom information was to be drawn.  I recollect that the Prince
+spoke of him to me at the same time.  Desmarets sent for Law, and was a
+long while with him several times; I know nothing of what passed between
+them or its results, except that Desmarets was pleased with Law, and
+formed some esteem for him.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans, after that, only saw him from time to time; but
+after the first rush of affairs, which followed the death of the King,
+Law, who had formed some subaltern acquaintances at the Palais Royal, and
+an intimacy with the Abbe Dubois, presented himself anew before M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, soon after conversed with him in private, and proposed some
+finance plans to him.  The Regent made him work with the Duc de Noailles,
+with Rouille, with Amelot--this last for commercial matters.  The first
+two were afraid of an intruder, favoured by the Regent, in their
+administration; so that Law was a long time tossed about, but was always
+backed by the Duc d'Orleans.  At last, the bank project pleased that
+Prince so much that he wished to carry it out.  He spoke in private to
+the heads of finance, in whom he found great opposition.  He had often
+spoken to me of it, and I had contented myself with listening to him upon
+a matter I never liked, and which, consequently, I never well understood;
+and the carrying out of which appeared to me distant.  When he had
+entirely formed his resolution, he summoned a financial and commercial
+assembly, in which Law explained the whole plan of the bank he wished to
+establish (this was on the 24th of October, 1715).  He was listened to as
+long as he liked to talk.  Some, who saw that the Regent was almost
+decided, acquiesced; but the majority opposed.
+
+Law was not disheartened.  The majority were spoken to privately in very
+good French.  Nearly the same assembly was called, in which, the Regent
+being present, Law again explained his project.  This time few opposed
+and feebly.  The Duc de Noailles was obliged to give in.  The bank being
+approved of in this manner, it had next to be proposed to the regency
+council.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans took the trouble to speak in private to each member
+of the council, and gently to make them understand that he wished the
+bank to meet with no opposition.  He spoke his mind to me thoroughly:
+therefore a reply was necessary.  I said to him that I did not hide my
+ignorance or my disgust for all finance matters; that, nevertheless, what
+he had just explained to me appeared good in itself, that without any new
+tax, without expense, and without wronging or embarrassing anybody, money
+should double itself at once by means of the notes of this bank, and
+become transferable with the greatest facility.  But along with this
+advantage I found two inconveniences, the first, how to govern the bank
+with sufficient foresight and wisdom, so as not to issue more notes than
+could be paid whenever presented: the second, that what is excellent in a
+republic, or in a monarchy where the finance is entirely popular, as in
+England, is of pernicious use in an absolute monarchy, such as France,
+where the necessities of a war badly undertaken and ill sustained, the
+avarice of a first minister, favourite, or mistress, the luxury, the wild
+expenses, the prodigality of a King, might soon exhaust a bank, and ruin
+all the holders of notes, that is to say, overthrow the realm.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans agreed to this; but at the same time maintained that a King
+would have so much interest in never meddling or allowing minister,
+mistress, or favourite to meddle with the bank, that this capital
+inconvenience was never to be feared.  Upon that we for a long time
+disputed without convincing each other, so that when, some few days
+afterwards, he proposed the bank to the regency council, I gave my
+opinion as I have just explained it, but with more force and at length:
+and my conclusion was to reject the bank, as a bait the most fatal, in an
+absolute country, while in a free country it would be a very good and
+very wise establishment.
+
+Few dared to be of this opinion: the bank passed.  Duc d'Orleans cast
+upon me some little reproaches, but gentle, for having spoken at such
+length.  I based my excuses upon my belief that by duty, honour, and
+conscience, I ought to speak according to my persuasion, after having
+well thought over the matter, and explained myself sufficiently to make
+my opinion well understood, and the reason I had for forming it.
+Immediately after, the edict was registered without difficulty at the
+Parliament.  This assembly sometimes knew how to please the Regent with
+good grace in order to turn the cold shoulder to him afterwards with more
+efficacy.
+
+Some time after, to relate all at once, M. le Duc d'Orleans wished me to
+see Law in order that he might explain to me his plans, and asked me to
+do so as a favour.  I represented to him my unskilfulness in all finance
+matters; that Law would in vain speak a language to me of which I
+understood nothing, that we should both lose our time very uselessly.
+I tried to back out thus, as well as I could.  The Regent several times
+reverted to the charge, and at last demanded my submission.  Law came
+then to my house.  Though there was much of the foreigner in his bearing,
+in his expressions, and in his accent, he expressed himself in very good
+terms, with much clearness and precision.  He conversed with me a long
+while upon his bank, which, indeed, was an excellent thing in itself, but
+for another country rather than for France, and with a prince less easy
+than the Regent.  Law had no other solutions to give me, of my two
+objections, than those the Regent himself had given, which did not
+satisfy me.  But as the affair had passed, and there was nothing now to
+do but well direct it, principally upon that did our conversation turn.
+I made him feel as much as I could the importance of not showing such
+facility, that it might be abused, with a Regent so good, so easy, so
+open, so surrounded.  I masked as well as I could what I wished to make
+him understand thereupon; and I dwelt especially upon the necessity of
+being prepared to satisfy instantly all bearers of notes, who should
+demand payment: for upon this depended the credit or the overthrow of the
+bank.  Law, on going out, begged me to permit him to come sometimes and
+talk with me; we separated mutually satisfied, at which the Regent was
+still more so.
+
+Law came several other times to my house, and showed much desire to grow
+intimate with me.  I kept to civilities, because finance entered not into
+my head, and I regarded as lost time all these conversations.  Some time
+after, the Regent, who spoke to me tolerably often of Law with great
+prepossession, said that he had to ask of me, nay to demand of me, a
+favour; it was, to receive a visit from Law regularly every week.  I
+represented to him the perfect inutility of these conversations, in which
+I was incapable of learning anything, and still more so of enlightening
+Law upon subjects he possessed, and of which I knew naught.  It was in
+vain; the Regent wished it; obedience was necessary.  Law, informed of
+this by the Regent, came then to my house.  He admitted to me with good
+grace, that it was he who had asked the Regent to ask me, not daring to
+do so himself.  Many compliments followed on both sides, and we agreed
+that he should come to my house every Tuesday morning about ten o'clock,
+and that my door should be closed to everybody while he remained.  This
+first visit was not given to business.  On the following Tuesday morning
+he came to keep his appointment, and punctually came until his
+discomfiture.  An hour-and-a-half, very often two hours, was the ordinary
+time for our conversations.  He always took care to inform me of the
+favour his bank was obtaining in France and foreign countries, of its
+products, of his views, of his conduct, of the opposition he met with
+from the heads of finance and the magistracy, of his reasons, and
+especially of his balance sheet, to convince me that he was more than
+prepared to face all holders of notes whatever sums they had to ask for.
+
+I soon knew that if Law had desired these regular visits at my house, it
+was not because he expected to make me a skilful financier; but because,
+like a man of sense--and he had a good deal--he wished to draw near a
+servitor of the Regent who had the best post in his confidence, and who
+long since had been in a position to speak to him of everything and of
+everybody with the greatest freedom and the most complete liberty; to try
+by this frequent intercourse to gain my friendship; inform himself by me
+of the intrinsic qualities of those of whom he only saw the outside; and
+by degrees to come to the Council, through me, to represent the
+annoyances he experienced, the people with whom he had to do; and lastly,
+to profit by my dislike to the Duc de Noailles, who, whilst embracing him
+every day, was dying of jealousy and vexation, and raised in his path,
+under-hand, all the obstacles and embarrassments possible, and would have
+liked to stifle him.  The bank being in action and flourishing,
+I believed it my duty to sustain it.  I lent myself, therefore, to the
+instructions Law proposed, and soon we spoke to each other with a
+confidence I never have had reason to repent.  I will not enter into the
+details of this bank, the other schemes which followed it, or the
+operations made in consequence.  This subject of finance would fill
+several volumes.  I will speak of it only as it affects the history of
+the time, or what concerns me in particular.  It is the history of my
+time I have wished to write; I should have been too much turned from it
+had I entered into the immense details respecting finance.  I might add
+here what Law was.  I defer it to a time when this curiosity will be more
+in place.
+
+Arouet, son of a notary, who was employed by my father and me until his
+death, was exiled and sent to Tulle at this time (the early part of
+1716), for some verses very satirical and very impudent.
+
+I should not amuse myself by writing down such a trifle, if this same
+Arouet, having become a great poet and academician under the name of
+Voltaire, had not also become--after many tragical adventures--a manner
+of personage in the republic of letters, and even achieved a sort of
+importance among certain people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIII
+
+I have elsewhere alluded to Alberoni, and shown what filthy baseness he
+stooped to in order to curry favour with the infamous Duc de Vendome.
+I have also shown that he accompanied the new Queen of Spain from Parma
+to Madrid, after she had been married, by procuration, to Philip V.  He
+arrived at the Court of Spain at a most opportune moment for his fortune.
+Madame des Ursins had just been disgraced; there was no one to take her
+place.  Alberoni saw his opportunity and was not slow to avail himself of
+it.  During the journey with the new Queen, he had contrived to
+ingratiate himself so completely into her favour, that she was, in a
+measure, prepared to see only with his eyes.  The King had grown so
+accustomed to be shut out from all the world, and to be ruled by others,
+that he easily adapted himself to his new chains.  The Queen and
+Alberoni, then, in a short time had him as completely under their thumb,
+as he had before been under that of Madame des Ursins.
+
+Alberoni, unscrupulous and ambitious, stopped at nothing in order to
+consolidate his power and pave the way for his future greatness.  Having
+become prime minister, he kept the King as completely inaccessible to the
+courtiers as to the world; would allow no one to approach him whose
+influence he had in any way feared.  He had Philip completely in his own
+hands by means of the Queen, and was always on his guard to keep him
+there.
+
+Ever since the Regent's accession to power an intimacy had gradually been
+growing up between the two governments of France and England.  This was
+mainly owing to the intrigues of the Abbe Dubois, who had sold himself to
+the English Court, from which he secretly received an enormous pension.
+He was, therefore, devoted heart and soul--if such a despicable personage
+can be said to have the one or the other--to the interests of King
+George, and tried to serve them in every way.  He had but little
+difficulty--comparatively speaking--in inducing M. le Duc d'Orleans to
+fall into his nets, and to declare himself in favour of an English
+alliance.  Negotiations with this end in view were, in fact, set on foot,
+had been for some time; and about the month of September of this year
+(1716), assumed a more smiling face than they had yet displayed.
+
+Both France and England, from different motives, wished to draw Spain
+into this alliance.  The Regent, therefore, in order to further this
+desire, obtained from England a promise that she would give up Gibraltar
+to its former owners, the Spaniards.  The King of England consented to do
+so, but on one condition: it was, that in order not to expose himself to
+the cries of the party opposed to him, this arrangement should be kept
+profoundly secret until executed.  In order that this secrecy might be
+secured, he stipulated that the negotiation should not in any way pass
+through the hands of Alberoni, or any Spanish minister, but be treated
+directly between the Regent and the King of Spain, through a confidential
+agent chosen by the former.
+
+This confidential agent was to take a letter respecting the treaty to the
+King of Spain, a letter full of insignificant trifles, and at the same
+time a positive order from the King of England, written and signed by his
+hand, to the Governor of Gibraltar, commanding him to surrender the place
+to the King of Spain the very moment he received this order, and to
+retire with his garrison, etc., to Tangiers.  In order to execute this a
+Spanish general was suddenly to march to Gibraltar, under pretence of
+repressing the incursions of its garrison,--summon the Governor to
+appear, deliver to him the King of England's order, and enter into
+possession of the place.  All this was very weakly contrived; but this
+concerned the King of England, not us.
+
+I must not be proud; and must admit that I knew nothing of all this, save
+at second-hand.  If I had, without pretending to be very clever, I must
+say that I should have mistrusted this fine scheme.  The King of England
+could not be ignorant with what care and with what jealousy the Queen and
+Alberoni kept the King of Spain locked up, inaccessible to everybody--and
+that the certain way to fail, was to try to speak to him without their
+knowledge, in spite of them, or unaided by them.  However, my opinion
+upon this point was not asked, and accordingly was not given.
+
+Louville was the secret agent whom the Regent determined to send.  He had
+already been in Spain, had gained the confidence of the King, and knew
+him better than any other person who could have been chosen.  Precisely
+because of all these reasons, I thought him the most unfit person to be
+charged with this commission.  The more intimate he had been with the
+King of Spain, the more firm in his confidence, the more would he be
+feared by the Queen and Alberoni; and the more would they do to cover his
+embassy with failure, so as to guard their credit and their authority.
+I represented my views on this subject to Louville, who acknowledged
+there was truth in them, but contented himself with saying, that he had
+not in his surprise dared to refuse the mission offered to him; and that
+if he succeeded in it, the restitution to Spain of such an important
+place as Gibraltar, would doubtless be the means of securing to him large
+arrears of pensions due to him from Philip the First: an object of no
+small importance in his eyes.  Louville, therefore, in due time departed
+to Madrid, on his strange and secret embassy.
+
+Upon arriving he went straight to the house of the Duc de Saint-Aignan,
+our ambassador, and took up his quarters there.  Saint-Aignan who had
+received not the slightest information of his arriving, was surprised
+beyond measure at it.  Alberoni was something more than surprised.
+As fortune would have it, Louville when at some distance from Madrid was
+seen by a courier, who straightway told Alberoni of the circumstance.
+As may be imagined, tormented as Alberoni was by jealousy and suspicion,
+this caused him infinite alarm.  He was quite aware who Louville was;
+the credit he had attained with the King of Spain; the trouble Madame
+des Ursins and the deceased Queen had had to get him out of their way;
+the fear, therefore, that he conceived on account of this unexpected
+arrival, was so great that he passed all bounds, in order to free himself
+from it.
+
+He instantly despatched a courier to meet Louville with an order
+prohibiting him to approach any nearer to Madrid.  The courier missed
+Louville, but a quarter of an hour after this latter had alighted at
+Saint-Aignan's, he received a note from Grimaldo inclosing an order from
+the King of Spain, commanding him to leave the city that instant!
+Louville replied that he was charged with a confidential letter from the
+King of France, and with another from M. le Duc d'Orleans, for the King
+of Spain; and with a commission for his Catholic Majesty which would not
+permit him to leave until he had executed it.  In consequence of this
+reply, a courier was at once despatched to the Prince de Cellamare,
+Spanish ambassador at Paris, ordering him to ask for the recall of
+Louville, and to declare that the King of Spain so disliked his person
+that he would neither see him, nor allow him to treat with any of the
+ministers!
+
+Meanwhile the fatigue of the journey followed by such a reception so
+affected Louville, that during the night he had an attack of a disease to
+which he was subject, so that he had a bath prepared for him, into which
+he got towards the end of the morning.
+
+Alberoni, not satisfied with what he had already done, came himself to
+the Duc de Saint-Aignan's, in order to persuade Louville to depart at
+once.  Despite the representations made to him, he insisted upon
+penetrating to the sick-chamber.  There he saw Louville in his bath.
+Nothing could be more civil than the words of Alberoni, but nothing could
+be more dry, more negative, or more absolute than their signification.
+He pitied the other's illness and the fatigue of his journey; would have
+wished to have known of this journey beforehand, so as to have prevented
+it; and had hoped to be able to overcome the repugnance of the King of
+Spain to see him, or at least to obtain permission for him to remain some
+days in Madrid.  He added that he had been unable to shake his Majesty in
+any way, or to avoid obeying the very express order he had received from
+him, to see that he (Louville) departed at once.
+
+Louville, however, was in a condition which rendered his departure
+impossible.  Alberoni admitted this, but warned him that his stay must
+only last as long as his illness, and that the attack once over, he must
+away.  Louville insisted upon the confidential letters, of which he was
+the bearer, and which gave him an official character, instructed as he
+was to execute an important commission from the King of France, nephew of
+the King of Spain, such as his Majesty could not refuse to hear direct
+from his mouth, and such as he would regret not having listened to.
+The dispute was long and warm, despite the illness of Louville, who could
+gain nothing.  He did not fail to remain five or six days with the Duc de
+Saint-Aignan, and to make him act as ambassador in order to obtain an
+audience of the King, although Saint-Aignan was hurt at being kept
+ignorant of the object of the other's mission.
+
+Louville did not dare to call upon a soul, for fear of committing
+himself, and nobody dared to call upon him.  He hazarded, however, for
+curiosity, to go and see the King of Spain pass through a street, and
+ascertain if, on espying him, he would not be tempted to hear him, in
+case his arrival, as was very possible, had been kept a secret.  But
+Alberoni had anticipated everything.  Louville saw the King pass,
+certainly, but found it was impossible to make himself perceived by his
+Majesty.  Grimaldo came afterwards to intimate to Louville an absolute
+order to depart, and to inform the Duc de Saint-Aignan that the King of
+Spain was so angry with the obstinacy of this delay, that he would not
+say what might happen if the stay of Louville was protracted; but that he
+feared the respect due to a representative minister, and above all an
+ambassador of France, would be disregarded.
+
+Both Louville and Saint-Aignan clearly saw that all audience was
+impossible, and that in consequence a longer stay could only lead to
+disturbances which might embroil the two crowns; so that, at the end of
+seven or eight days, Louville departed, returning as he came.  Alberoni
+began then to breathe again after the extreme fear he had had.  He was
+consoled by this proof of his power, which showed he need no longer fear
+that any one could approach the King without his aid, or that any
+business could be conducted without him.  Thus Spain lost Gibraltar, and
+she has never been able to recover it since.
+
+Such is the utility of prime ministers!
+
+Alberoni spread the report in Spain and in France, that Philip V. had
+taken a mortal aversion against Louville, since he had driven him out of
+the country for his insolence and his scheming; that he would never see
+him, and was offended because he had passed the Pyrenees; that Louville
+had no proposition to make, or commission to execute; that he had
+deceived the Regent, in making him believe that if once he found a
+pretext for appearing before the King of Spain, knowing him so well as he
+did, that prince would be ravished by the memory of his former affection,
+would reinstate him in his former credit, and thus France would be able
+to make Spain do all she wished.  In a word, Alberoni declared that
+Louville had only come into the country to try and obtain some of the
+pensions he had been promised on quitting the King of Spain, but that he
+had not gone the right way to work to be so soon paid.
+
+Nothing short of the effrontery of Alberoni would have been enough for
+the purpose of spreading these impostures.  No one had forgotten in Spain
+what Madame des Ursins had done to get rid of Louville, how the King of
+Spain had resisted; that she was not able to succeed without the aid of
+France and her intrigues with Madame de Maintenon; and that the King,
+afflicted to the utmost, yielding to the orders given by France to
+Louville, had doubled the pensions which had for a long time been paid to
+him, given him a sum of money in addition, and the government of
+Courtray, which he lost only by the misfortune of the war that followed
+the loss of the battle of Ramillies.  With respect to the commission, to
+deny it was an extreme piece of impudence, a man being concerned so well
+known as Louville, who descends at the house of the ambassador of France,
+says he has letters of trust from the King and the Regent, and an
+important mission which he can only confide to the King of Spain, the
+self-same ambassador striving to obtain an audience for him.  Nothing was
+so easy as to cover Louville with confusion, if he had spoken falsely,
+by making him show his letters; if he had none he would have been struck
+dumb, and having no official character, Alberoni would have been free to
+punish him.  Even if with confidential letters, he had only a complaint
+to utter in order to introduce himself and to solicit his pay, Alberoni
+would very easily have been able to dishonour him, because he had no
+commission after having roundly asserted that he was charged with one of
+great importance.  But omnipotence says and does with impunity whatever
+it pleases.
+
+Louville having returned, it was necessary to send word to the King of
+England of all he had done in Spain; and this business came to nothing,
+except that it set Alberoni against the Regent for trying to execute a
+secret commission without his knowledge; and that it set the Regent
+against Alberoni for frustrating a project so openly, and for showing the
+full force of his power.  Neither of the two ever forgot this matter; and
+the dislike of Alberoni to the Regent led, as will be seen, to some
+strange results.
+
+I will add here, that the treaty of alliance between France and England
+was signed a short time after this event.  I did my utmost to prevent it,
+representing to the Regent that his best policy was to favour the cause
+of the Pretender, and thus by keeping the attention of Great Britain
+continually fixed upon her domestic concerns, he would effectually
+prevent her from influencing the affairs of the continent, and long were
+the conversations I had with him, insisting upon this point.  But
+although, while he was with me, my arguments might appear to have some
+weight with him, they were forgotten, clean swept from his mind, directly
+the Abbe Dubois, who had begun to obtain a most complete and pernicious
+influence over him, brought his persuasiveness to bear.  Dubois' palm had
+been so well greased by the English that he was afraid of nothing.
+He succeeded then in inducing the Regent to sign a treaty with England,
+in every way, it may safely be said, advantageous to that power, and in
+no way advantageous to France.  Amongst other conditions, the Regent
+agreed to send the so-called Pretender out of the realm, and to force him
+to seek an asylum in Italy.  This was, in fact, executed to the letter.
+King James, who for some time had retired to Avignon, crossed the Alps
+and settled in Rome, where he lived ever afterwards.  I could not but
+deplore the adoption of a policy so contrary to the true interests of
+France; but the business being done I held my peace, and let matters take
+their course.  It was the only course of conduct open to me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIV
+
+I have already shown in these memoirs, that the late King had made of the
+lieutenant of police a species of secret and confidential minister; a
+sort of inquisitor, with important powers that brought him in constant
+relation with the King.  The Regent, with less authority than the
+deceased monarch, and with more reasons than he to be well informed of
+everything passing, intrigues included, found occupying this office of
+lieutenant of police, Argenson, who had gained his good graces chiefly,
+I fancy, when the affair of the cordelier was on the carpet, as shown in
+its place.  Argenson, who had much intelligence, and who had desired this
+post as the entry, the basis, and the road of his fortune, filled it in a
+very superior manner, and the Regent made use of him with much liberty.
+The Parliament, very ready to show the extent of its authority
+everywhere, at the least as though in competition with that of the
+Regent, suffered impatiently what it called the encroachments of the
+Court.  It wished to indemnify itself for the silence it had been
+compelled to keep thereon under the last reign, and to re-obtain at the
+expense of the Regent all it had lost of its authority over the police,
+of which it is the head.  The lieutenant of police is answerable to this
+body--even receives his orders from it, and its reprimands (in public
+audiences, standing uncovered at the bar of the Parliament) from the
+mouth of the Chief-President, or of him who presides, and who calls him
+neither Master nor Monsieur, but nakedly by his name, although the
+lieutenant of police might have claimed these titles, being then
+Councillor of State.
+
+The Parliament wished, then, to humiliate Argenson (whom it hated during
+the time of the deceased King); to give a disagreeable lesson to the
+Regent; to prepare worse treatment still for his lieutenant of police; to
+make parade of its power, to terrify thus the public, and arrogate to
+itself the right of limiting the authority of the Regent.
+
+Argenson had often during the late reign, and sometimes since, made use
+of an intelligent and clever fellow, just suited to him, and named
+Pomereu, to make discoveries, arrest people, and occasionally keep them a
+short time in his own house.  The Parliament believed, and rightly, that
+in arresting this man under other pretexts, it would find the thread of
+many curious and secret tortuosities, which would aid its design, and
+that it might plume itself upon protecting the public safety against the
+tyranny of secret arrests and private imprisonments.  To carry out its
+aim it made use of the Chamber of justice, so as to appear as little as
+possible in the matter.  This Chamber hastened on so well the
+proceedings, for fear of being stopped on the road, that the first hint
+people had of them was on learning that Pomereu was, by decree of this
+Chamber, in the prisons of the Conciergerie, which are those of the
+Parliament.  Argenson, who was informed of this imprisonment immediately
+it took place, instantly went to the Regent, who that very moment sent a
+'lettre de cachet', ordering Pomereu to be taken from prison by force if
+the gaoler made the slightest difficulty in giving him up to the bearers
+of the 'lettre de cachet'; but that gentleman did not dare to make any.
+The execution was so prompt that this man was not an hour in prison, and
+they who had sent him there had not time to seize upon a box of papers
+which had been transported with him to the Conciergerie, and which was
+very carefully carried away with him.  At the same time, everything in
+any way bearing upon Pomereu, or upon the things in which he had been
+employed, was carefully removed and secreted.
+
+The vexation of the Parliament upon seeing its prey, which it had
+reckoned upon making such a grand use of, carried off before its eyes,
+may be imagined.  It left nothing undone in order to move the public by
+its complaints, and by its cries against such an attack upon law.  The
+Chamber of justice sent a deputation to the Regent, who made, fun of it,
+by gravely giving permission to the deputies to re-take their prisoner,
+but without saying a single word to them upon his escape from gaol.  He
+was in Paris, in a place where he feared nobody.  The Chamber of justice
+felt the derisiveness of the Regent's permission, and ceased to transact
+business.  It thought to embarrass the Regent thus, but 'twould have been
+at its own expense.  This lasted only a day or two.  The Duc de Noailles
+spoke to the Chamber; the members felt they could gain nothing by their
+strike, and that if they were obstinate they would be dispensed with, and
+others found to perform their duties.  They recommenced their labours
+then, and the Parliament gained nothing by its attack, but only showed
+its ill-will, and at the same time its powerlessness.
+
+I have forgotten something which, from its singularity, deserves
+recollection, and I will relate it now lest it should escape me again.
+
+One afternoon, as we were about to take our places at the regency
+council, the Marechal de Villars drew me aside and asked me if I knew
+that Marly was going to be destroyed.  I replied, "No;" indeed, I had not
+heard speak of it; and I added that I could not believe it.  "You do not
+approve of it?" said the Marechal.  I assured him I was far from doing
+so.  He repeated that the destruction was resolved on, that he knew it
+beyond all doubt, and that if I wished to hinder it, I had not a moment
+to lose.  I replied that when we took our places I would speak to M. le
+Duc d'Orleans.  "Immediately," quickly replied the Marechal; "speak to
+him this instant, for the order is perhaps already given."
+
+As all the council were already seated I went behind to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, and whispered in his ear what I had just learnt without naming
+from whom, and begged him, if my information was right, to suspend
+execution of his project until I had spoken to him, adding that I would
+join him at the Palais Royal after the council.  He stammered a little,
+as if sorry at being discovered, but nevertheless agreed to wait for me:
+I said so in leaving to the Marechal de Villars, and went to the Palais
+Royal, where M. le Duc d'Orleans admitted the truth of the news I had
+heard.  I said I would not ask who had given such a pernicious counsel.
+He tried to show it was good by pointing to the saving in keeping up that
+would be obtained; to the gain that would accrue from the sale of so many
+water-conduits and materials; to the unpleasant situation of a place to
+which the King would not be able to go for several years; and to the
+expense the King was put to in keeping up so many other beautiful houses,
+not one of which admitted of pulling down.
+
+I replied to him, that these were the reasons of the guardian of a
+private gentleman that had been presented to him, the conduct of whom
+could in no way resemble that of the guardian of a King of France; that
+the expenses incurred in keeping up Marly were necessary, and that,
+compared with the total of those of the King, they were but as drops in
+the ocean.  I begged him to get rid of the idea that the sale of the
+materials would yield any profit,--all the receipts would go in gifts and
+pillage, I said; and also that it was not these petty objects he ought to
+regard, but that he should consider how many millions had been buried in
+this ancient sewer, to transform it into a fairy palace, unique as to
+form in all Europe--unique by the beauty of its fountains, unique also by
+the reputation that the deceased King had given to it; and that it was an
+object of curiosity to strangers of every rank who came to France; that
+its destruction would resound throughout Europe with censure; that these
+mean reasons of petty economy would not prevent all France from being
+indignant at seeing so distinguished an ornament swept away; that
+although neither he nor I might be very delicate upon what had been the
+taste and the favourite work of the late King, the Regent ought to avoid
+wounding his memory,--which by such a long reign, so many brilliant
+years, so many grand reverses so heroically sustained, and escaped from
+in so unhoped-for a manner--had left the entire world in veneration of
+his person: in fine, that he might reckon all the discontented, all the
+neutral even, would join in chorus with the Ancient Court, and cry
+murder; that the Duc du Maine, Madame de Ventadour, the Marechal de
+Villeroy would not hesitate to look upon the destruction of Marly as a
+crime against the King,--a crime they would not fail to make the best of
+for their own purposes during all the regency, and even after it was at
+an end.  I clearly saw that M. le Duc d'Orleans had not in the least
+reflected upon all this.  He agreed that I was right: promised that Marly
+should not be touched, that it should continue to be kept up, and thanked
+me for preserving him from this fault.
+
+When I was well assured of him, "Admit," said I, "that the King, in the
+other world, would be much astonished if he could know that the Duc de
+Noailles had made you order the destruction of Marly, and that it was who
+hindered it."
+
+"Oh! as to that," he quickly replied, "it is true he could not believe
+it."  In effect Marly was preserved and kept up; and it is the Cardinal
+Fleury, with his collegiate proctor's avarice, who has stripped it of its
+river, which was its most superb charm.
+
+I hastened to relate this good resolve to the Marechal de Villars.
+The Duc de Noailles, who, for his own private reasons, had wished the
+destruction of Marly, was furious when he saw his proposal fail.
+To indemnify himself in some degree for his vexation, he made the Regent
+agree, in the utmost secrecy, for fear of another failure, that all the
+furniture, linen, etc., should be sold.  He persuaded M. le Duc d'Orleans
+that all these things would be spoiled and lost by the time the King was
+old enough to use them; that in selling them a large sum would be gained
+to relieve expenses; and that in future years the King could furnish
+Marly as he pleased.  There was an immense quantity of things sold, but
+owing to favour and pillage they brought very little; and to replace them
+afterwards, millions were spent.  I did not know of this sale, at which
+anybody bought who wished, and at very low prices, until it had
+commenced; therefore I was unable to hinder this very damaging
+parsimoniousness.
+
+The Regent just about this time was bestowing his favours right and left
+with a very prodigal hand; I thought, therefore, I was fully entitled to
+ask him for one, which, during the previous reign, had been so rare, so
+useful, and accordingly so difficult to obtain; I mean the right of
+entering the King's room--the 'grandes entrees'--as it was called, and I
+attained it at once.
+
+Since the occasion offers, I may as well explain what are the different
+sorts of entrees.  The most precious are called the "grand," which give
+the right to enter into all the retired places of the King's apartments,
+whenever the grand chamberlain and the chief gentlemen of the chamber
+enter.  The importance of this privilege under a King who grants
+audiences with difficulty, need not be insisted on.  Enjoying it, you can
+speak with him, tete-a-tete, whenever you please, without asking his
+permission, and without the knowledge of others; you obtain a
+familiarity, too, with him by being able to see him thus in private.
+
+The offices which give this right are, those of grand chamberlain, of
+first gentleman of the chamber, and of grand master of the wardrobe on
+annual duty; the children, legitimate and illegitimate, of the King, and
+the wives and husbands of the latter enjoy the same right.  As for
+Monsieur and M. le Duc d'Orleans they always had these entrees, and as
+sons of France, were at liberty to enter and see the King at all hours,
+but they did not abuse this privilege.  The Duc du Maine and the Comte de
+Toulouse had the same, which they availed themselves of unceasingly, but
+by the back stairs.
+
+The second entrees, simply called entrees, were purely personal; no
+appointment or change gave them.  They conferred the right to see the
+King at his rising, after the grandes, and also to see him, but under
+difficulties, during all the day and evening.
+
+The last entrees are those called chamber entrees.  They also give the
+right to see the King at his rising, before the distinguished courtiers;
+but no other privilege except to be present at the booting of the King.
+This was the name employed when the King changed his coat, in going or
+returning from hunting or a walk.  At Marly, all who were staying there
+by invitation, entered to see this ceremony without asking; elsewhere,
+those who had not the entree were excluded.  The first gentleman of the
+chamber had the right, and used it sometimes, to admit four or five
+persons at the most, to the "booting," if they asked, and provided they
+were people of quality, or of some distinction.
+
+Lastly, there were the entrees of the cabinet which gave you the right to
+wait for the King there when he entered after rising, until he had given
+orders for the day, and to pay your court to him, and to enter there when
+he entered to change his coat.  Beyond this, the privilege attached to
+these admissions did not extend.  The Cardinals and the Princes of the
+blood had the entrees of the chamber and those of the cabinet, so had all
+the chief officials.
+
+I was the first who had the 'grandes entrees' from the Regent.  D'Antin
+asked for them next.  Soon after, upon this example, they were accorded
+to D'O.  M. le Prince de Conti, the sole prince of the blood who had them
+not, because he was the sole prince of the blood who did not come from
+Madame de Montespan, received them next, and little by little the
+privilege was completely prostituted as so many others were.
+
+By extremely rare good fortune a servant employed in the diamond mines of
+the Great Mogul found means to secrete about his person a diamond of
+prodigious size, and what is more marvellous, to gain the seashore and
+embark without being subjected to the rigid and not very delicate ordeal,
+that all persons not above suspicion by their name or their occupation,
+are compelled to submit to, ere leaving the country.  He played his cards
+so well, apparently, that he was not suspected of having been near the
+mines, or of having had anything to do with the jewel trade.  To complete
+his good fortune he safely arrived in Europe with his diamond.  He showed
+it to several princes, none of whom were rich enough to buy, and carried
+it at last to England, where the King admired it, but could not resolve
+to purchase it.  A model of it in crystal was made in England, and the
+man, the diamond, and the model (perfectly resembling the original) were
+introduced to Law, who proposed to the Regent that he should purchase the
+jewel for the King.  The price dismayed the Regent, who refused to buy.
+
+Law, who had in many things much grandour of sentiment, came dispirited
+to me, bringing the model.  I thought, with him, that it was not
+consistent with the greatness of a King of France to be repelled from the
+purchase of an inestimable jewel, unique of its kind in the world, by the
+mere consideration of price, and that the greater the number of
+potentates who had not dared to think of it, the greater ought to be his
+care not to let it escape him.  Law, ravished to find me think in this
+manner, begged me to speak to M. le Duc d'Orleans.  The state of the
+finances was an obstacle upon which the Regent much insisted.  He feared
+blame for making so considerable a purchase, while the most pressing
+necessities could only be provided for with much trouble, and so many
+people were of necessity kept in distress.  I praised this sentiment,
+but I said that he ought not to regard the greatest King of Europe as he
+would a private gentleman, who would be very reprehensible if he threw
+away 100,000 livres upon a fine diamond, while he owed many debts which
+he could not pay: that he must consider the honour of the crown, and not
+lose the occasion of obtaining, a priceless diamond which would efface
+the lustre of all others in Europe: that it was a glory for his regency
+which would last for ever; that whatever might be the state of the
+finances the saving obtained by a refusal of the jewel would not much
+relieve them, for it would be scarcely perceptible; in fact I did not
+quit M. le Duc d'Orleans until he had promised that the diamond should be
+bought.
+
+Law, before speaking to me, had so strongly represented to the dealer the
+impossibility of selling his diamond at the price he hoped for, and the
+loss he would suffer in cutting it into different pieces, that at last he
+made him reduce the price to two millions, with the scrapings, which must
+necessarily be made in polishing, given in.  The bargain was concluded on
+these terms.  The interest upon the two millions was paid to the dealer
+until the principal could be given to him, and in the meanwhile two
+millions' worth of jewels were handed to him as security.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans was agreeably deceived by the applause that the
+public gave to an acquisition so beautiful and so unique.  This diamond
+was called the "Regent."  It is of the size of a greengage plum, nearly
+round, of a thickness which corresponds with its volume, perfectly white,
+free from all spot, speck, or blemish, of admirable water, and weighs
+more than 500 grains.  I much applauded myself for having induced the
+Regent to make so illustrious a purchase.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXV
+
+In 1716 the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres died at Paris in her fine hotel.
+She was not old, but had been long a widow, and had lost her only son.
+She was the last relic of the Gondi who were brought into France by
+Catherine de' Medici, and who made so prodigious a fortune.  She left
+great wealth.  She was a sort of fairy, who, though endowed with much
+wit, would see scarcely anybody, still less give dinners to the few
+people she did see.  She never went to Court, and seldom went out of her
+house.  The door of her house was always thrown back, disclosing a
+grating, through which could be perceived a true fairy palace, such as
+is sometimes described in romances.  Inside it was nearly desert, but of
+consummate magnificence, and all this confirmed the first impression,
+assisted by the singularity of everything, her followers, her livery,
+the yellow hangings of her carriage, and the two great Moors who always
+followed her.  She left much to her servants, and for pious purposes, but
+nothing to her daughter-in-law, though poor and respectful to her. Others
+got magnificent legacies.
+
+Cavoye died about the same time.  I have said enough about him and his
+wife to have nothing to add.  Cavoye, away from Court, was like a fish
+out of water; and he could not stand it long.  If romances have rarely
+produced conduct like that of his wife towards him, they would with still
+greater difficulty describe the courage with which her lasting love for
+her husband sustained her in her attendance on his last illness, and the
+entombment to which she condemned herself afterwards.  She preserved her
+first mourning all her life, never slept away from the house where he
+died, or went out, except to go twice a day to Saint-Sulpice to pray in
+the chapel where he was buried.  She would never see any other persons
+besides those she had seen during the last moments of her husband, and
+occupied herself with good works also, consuming herself thus in a few
+years without a single sign of hesitation.  A vehemence so equal and so
+maintained is perhaps an example, great, unique, and assuredly very
+respectable.
+
+Peter I., Czar of Muscovy, has made for himself, and justly, such a great
+name, in his own country, in all Europe, and in Asia, that I will not
+undertake to describe so grand, so illustrious a prince--comparable to
+the greatest men of antiquity--who has been the admiration of his age,
+who will be that of years to come, and whom all Europe has been so much
+occupied in studying.  The singularity of the journey into France of so
+extraordinary a prince, has appeared to me to deserve a complete
+description in an unbroken narrative.  It is for this reason that I place
+my account of it here a little late, according to the order of time, but
+with dates that will rectify this fault.
+
+Various things relating to this monarch have been seen in their place;
+his various journeys to Holland, Germany, Vienna, England, and to several
+parts of the North; the object of those journeys, with some account of
+his military actions, his policy, his family.  It has been shown that he
+wished to come into France during the time of the late King, who civilly
+refused to receive him.  There being no longer this obstacle, he wished
+to satisfy his curiosity, and he informed the Regent through Prince
+Kourakin, his ambassador at Paris, that he was going to quit the Low
+Countries, and come and see the King.
+
+There was nothing for it but to appear very pleased, although the Regent
+would gladly have dispensed with this visit.  The expenses to be defrayed
+were great; the trouble would be not less great with a prince so powerful
+and so clear-sighted, but full of whims, with a remnant of barbarous
+manners, and a grand suite of people, of behaviour very different from
+that common in these countries, full of caprices and of strange fashions,
+and both they and their master very touchy and very positive upon what
+they claimed to be due or permitted to them.
+
+Moreover the Czar was at daggers drawn with the King of England, the
+enmity between them passing all decent limits, and being the more bitter
+because personal.  This troubled not a little the Regent, whose intimacy
+with the King of England was public, the private interest of Dubois
+carrying it even to dependence.  The dominant passion of the Czar was to
+render his territories flourishing by commerce; he had made a number of
+canals in order to facilitate it; there was one for which he needed the
+concurrence of the King of England, because it traversed a little corner
+of his German dominions.  From jealousy George would not consent to it.
+Peter, engaged in the war with Poland, then in that of the North, in
+which George was also engaged, negotiated in vain.  He was all the more
+irritated, because he was in no condition to employ force; and this
+canal, much advanced, could not be continued.  Such was the source of
+that hatred which lasted all the lives of these monarchs, and with the
+utmost bitterness.
+
+Kourakin was of a branch of that ancient family of the Jagellons, which
+had long worn the crowns of Poland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.  He was
+a tall, well-made man, who felt all the grandeur of his origin; had much
+intelligence, knowledge of the way of managing men, and instruction.  He
+spoke French and several languages very fairly; he had travelled much,
+served in war, then been employed in different courts.  He was Russian to
+the backbone, and his extreme avarice much damaged his talents.  The Czar
+and he had married two sisters, and each had a son.  The Czarina had been
+repudiated and put into a convent near Moscow; Kourakin in no way
+suffered from this disgrace; he perfectly knew his master, with whom he
+kept on very free terms, and by whom he was treated with confidence and
+consideration.  His last mission had been to Rome, where he remained
+three years; thence he came as ambassador to Paris.  At Rome he was
+without official character, and without business except a secret one,
+with which the Czar had entrusted him, as to a sure and enlightened man.
+
+This monarch, who wished to raise himself and his country from barbarism,
+and extend his power by conquests and treaties, had felt the necessity of
+marriages, in order to ally himself with the chief potentates of Europe.
+But to form such marriages he must be of the Catholic religion, from
+which the Greeks were separated by such a little distance, that he
+thought his project would easily be received in his dominions, if he
+allowed liberty of conscience there.  But this prince was sufficiently
+sagacious to seek enlightenment beforehand upon Romish pretensions.  He
+had sent for that purpose to Rome a man of no mark, but capable of well
+fulfilling his mission, who remained there five or six months, and who
+brought back no very satisfactory report.  Later he opened his heart in
+Holland to King William, who dissuaded him from his design, and who
+counselled him even to imitate England, and to make himself the chief of
+his religion, without which he would never be really master in his own
+country.  This counsel pleased the Czar all the more, because it was by
+the wealth and by the authority of the patriarchs of Moscow, his
+grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, that his father had attained the
+crown, although only of ordinary rank among the Russian nobility.
+
+These patriarchs were dependent upon those of the Greek rite of
+Constantinople but very slightly.  They had obtained such great power,
+and such prodigious rank, that at their entry into Moscow the Czar held
+their stirrups, and, on foot, led their horse by the bridle: Since the
+grandfather of Peter, there had been no patriarch at Moscow.  Peter I.,
+who had reigned some time with his elder brother, incapable of affairs,
+long since dead, leaving no son, had, like his father, never consented to
+have a patriarch there.  The archbishops of Novgorod supplied their place
+in certain things, as occupying the chief see after that of Moscow, but
+with scarcely any authority that the Czar did not entirely usurp, and
+more carefully still after King William had given him the counsel before
+alluded to; so that by degrees he had become the real religious chief of
+his vast dominions.
+
+Nevertheless, the passionate desire he had to give to his posterity the
+privilege of marrying with Catholic princes, the wish he had, above all,
+for the honour of alliances with the house of France, and that of
+Austria, made him return to his first project.  He tried to persuade
+himself that the man whom he had secretly sent to Rome had not been well
+informed, or had ill understood; he resolved, therefore, to fathom his
+doubts, so that he should no longer have any as to the course he ought to
+adopt.
+
+It was with this design that he chose Prince Kourakin, whose knowledge
+and intelligence were known to him, and sent him to Rome under pretence
+of curiosity, feeling that a nobleman of his rank would find the best,
+the most important, and the most distinguished society there ready to
+receive him; and that by remaining there, under pretext of liking the
+life he led, and of wishing to see and admire at his ease all the marvels
+of so many different kinds collected there, he should have leisure and
+means to return perfectly instructed upon everything he wished to know.
+Kourakin, in fact, remained in Rome three years, associating with the
+savans on the one hand and the best company on the other, whence by
+degrees he obtained all he wished to know; all the more readily because
+this Court boasts of its temporal pretensions and of its conquests of
+this kind, instead of keeping them secret.  In consequence of the long
+and faithful report that Kourakin made to the Czar, that prince heaved a
+sigh, saying that he must be master in his own country, and could not
+place there anybody greater than himself; and never afterwards did he
+think of turning Catholic.
+
+This fact respecting the Czars and Rome, Prince Kourakin did not hide.
+Everybody who knew him has heard him relate it.  I have eaten with him
+and he with me, and I have talked a good deal with him, and heard him
+talk, with pleasure, upon many things.
+
+The Regent, informed by him of the forthcoming arrival in France of the
+Czar by sea, sent the King's equipages; horses, coaches, vehicles,
+waggons, and tables and chambers with Du Libois, one of the King's
+gentlemen in ordinary, to go and wait for the Czar at Dunkerque, pay the
+expenses incurred by him and his suite on the way to Paris, and
+everywhere render him the same honour as to the King.  The Czar proposed
+to allot a hundred days to his journey.  The apartment of the Queen-
+mother at the Louvre was furnished for him, the councils usually held
+there taking place in the houses of the chiefs of these councils.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans discussing with me as to the nobleman best fitted to
+be appointed to wait upon the Czar during his stay, I recommended the
+Marechal de Tesse, as a man without occupation, who well knew the
+language and usages of society, who was accustomed to foreigners by his
+journeys and negotiations in Spain, Turin, Rome, and in other courts of
+Italy, and who, gentle and polite, was sure to perform his duties well.
+M. le Duc d'Orleans agreed with me, and the next day sent for him and
+gave him his orders.
+
+When it was known that the Czar was near Dunkerque, the Regent sent the
+Marquis de Neelle to receive him at Calais, and accompany him until they
+met the Marechal de Tesse, who was not to go beyond Beaumont to wait for
+him.  At the same time the Hotel de Lesdiguieres was prepared for the
+Czar and his suite, under the idea that he might prefer a private house,
+with all his people around him, to the Louvre.  The Hotel de Lesdiguieres
+was large and handsome, as I have said at the commencement of this
+chapter, adjoined the arsenal, and belonged by succession to the Marechal
+de Villeroy, who lodged at the Tuileries.  Thus the house was empty,
+because the Duc de Villeroy, who was not a man fond of display, had found
+it too distant to live in.  It was entirely refurnished, and very
+magnificently, with the furniture of the King.
+
+The Czar arrived at Beaumont on Friday, the 7th of May, 1717, about mid-
+day.  Tesse made his reverences to him as he descended from his coach,
+had the honour of dining with him, and of escorting him that very day to
+Paris.
+
+The Czar entered the city in one of Tesse's coaches, with three of his
+suite with him, but not Tesse himself.  The Marechal followed in another
+coach.  The Czar alighted at nine o'clock in the evening at the Louvre,
+and walked all through the apartments of the Queen-mother.  He considered
+them to be too magnificently hung and lighted, jumped into his coach
+again, and went to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, where he wished to lodge.
+He thought the apartment destined for him too fine also, and had his
+camp-bed immediately spread out in a wardrobe.  The Marechal de Tesse,
+who was to do the honours of his house and of his table, to accompany him
+everywhere, and not quit the place where he might be, lodged in an
+apartment of the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, and had enough to do in following
+and sometimes running after him.  Verton, one of the King's maitres
+d'hotel, was charged with serving him and all the tables of the Czar and
+his suite.  The suite consisted of forty persons of all sorts, twelve or
+fifteen of whom were considerable people in themselves, or by their
+appointments; they all ate with the Czar.
+
+Verton was a clever lad, strong in certain company, fond of good cheer
+and of gaming, and served the Czar with so much order, and conducted
+himself so well, that this monarch and all the suite conceived a singular
+friendship for him.
+
+The Czar excited admiration by his extreme curiosity, always bearing upon
+his views of government, trade, instruction, police, and this curiosity
+embraced everything, disdained nothing in the smallest degree useful;
+it was marked and enlightened, esteeming only what merited to be
+esteemed, and exhibited in a clear light the intelligence, justness,
+ready appreciation of his mind.  Everything showed in the Czar the vast
+extent of his knowledge, and a sort of logical harmony of ideas.  He
+allied in the most surprising manner the highest, the proudest, the most
+delicate, the most sustained, and at the same time the least embarrassing
+majesty, when he had established it in all its safety with a marked
+politeness.  Yet he was always and with everybody the master everywhere,
+but with gradations, according to the persons he was with.  He had a kind
+of familiarity which sprang from liberty, but he was not without a strong
+dash of that ancient barbarism of his country, which rendered all his
+actions rapid; nay, precipitous, his will uncertain, and not to be
+constrained or contradicted in anything.  Often his table was but little
+decent, much less so were the attendants who served, often too with an
+openness of kingly audacity everywhere.  What he proposed to see or do
+was entirely independent of means; they were to be bent to his pleasure
+and command.  His desire for liberty, his dislike to be made a show of,
+his free and easy habits, often made him prefer hired coaches, common
+cabs even; nay, the first which he could lay his hands on, though
+belonging to people below him of whom he knew nothing.  He jumped in, and
+had himself driven all over the city, and outside it.  On one occasion he
+seized hold of the coach of Madame de Mattignon, who had come to gape at
+him, drove off with it to Boulogne and other country places near Paris.
+The owner was much astonished to find she must journey back on foot.  On
+such occasions the Marechal de Tesse and his suite had often hard work to
+find the Czar, who had thus escaped them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVI
+
+The Czar was a very tall man, exceedingly well made; rather thin, his
+face somewhat round, a high forehead, good eyebrows, a rather short nose,
+but not too short, and large at the end, rather thick lips, complexion
+reddish brown, good black eyes, large, bright, piercing, and well open;
+his look majestic and gracious when he liked, but when otherwise, severe
+and stern, with a twitching of the face, not often occurring, but which
+appeared to contort his eyes and all his physiognomy, and was frightful
+to see; it lasted a moment, gave him a wild and terrible air, and passed
+away.  All his bearing showed his intellect, his reflectiveness, and his
+greatness, and was not devoid of a certain grace.  He wore a linen
+collar, a round-brown wig, as though without powder, and which did not
+reach to his shoulders; a brown coat tight to the body, even, and with
+gold buttons; vest, breeches, stockings, no gloves or ruffles, the star
+of his order over his coat, and the cordon under it, the coat itself
+being frequently quite unbuttoned, his hat upon the table, but never upon
+his head, even out of doors.  With this simplicity ill-accompanied or ill
+mounted as he might be, the air of greatness natural to him could not be
+mistaken.
+
+What he ate and drank at his two regular meals is inconceivable, without
+reckoning the beer, lemonade, and other drinks he swallowed between these
+repasts, his suite following his example; a bottle or two of beer, as
+many more of wine, and occasionally, liqueurs afterwards; at the end of
+the meal strong drinks, such as brandy, as much sometimes as a quart.
+This was about the usual quantity at each meal.  His suite at his table
+drank more and ate in proportion, at eleven o'clock in the morning and at
+eight at night.  There was a chaplain who ate at the table of the Czar,
+who consumed half as much again as the rest, and with whom the monarch,
+who was fond of him, much amused himself.  Prince Kourakin went every day
+to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, but lodged elsewhere.
+
+The Czar well understood French, and I think could have spoken it, if he
+had wished, but for greatness' sake he always had an interpreter.  Latin
+and many other languages he spoke very well.  There was a detachment of
+guards in his house, but he would scarcely ever allow himself to be
+followed by them.  He would not set foot outside the Hotel de
+Lesdiguieres, whatever curiosity he might feel, or give any signs of
+life, until he had received a visit from the King.
+
+On Saturday, the day after his arrival, the Regent went in the morning to
+see the Czar.  This monarch left his cabinet, advanced a few paces,
+embraced Monsieur d'Orleans with an air of great superiority, pointed to
+the door of the cabinet, and instantly turning on his heel, without the
+slightest compliment, entered there.  The Regent followed, and Prince
+Kourakin after him to serve as interpreter.  They found two armchairs
+facing each other, the Czar seated himself in the upper, the Regent in
+the other.  The conversation lasted nearly an hour without public affairs
+being mentioned, after which the Czar left his cabinet; the Regent
+followed him, made him a profound reverence, but slightly returned, and
+left him in the same place as he had found him on entering.
+
+On Monday, the 10th of May, the King went to see the Czar, who received
+him at the door, saw him alight from his coach, walked with him at his
+left into his chamber, where they found two armchairs equally placed.
+The King sat down in the right-hand one, the Czar in the other, Prince
+Kourakin served as interpreter.  It was astonishing to see the Czar take
+the King under both arms, hoist him up to his level, embrace him thus in
+the air; and the King, young as he was, show no fear, although he could
+not possibly have been prepared for such a reception.  It was striking,
+too, to see the grace which the Czar displayed before the King, the air
+of tenderness he assumed towards him, the politeness which flowed as it
+were naturally, and which nevertheless was mixed with greatness, with
+equality of rank, and slightly with superiority of age: for all these
+things made themselves felt.  He praised the King, appeared charmed with
+him, and persuaded everybody he was.  He embraced him again and again.
+The King paid his brief compliment very prettily; and M. du Maine, the
+Marechal de Villeroy, and the distinguished people present, filled up the
+conversation.  The meeting lasted a short quarter of an hour.  The Czar
+accompanied the King as he had received him, and saw him to his coach.
+
+On Tuesday, the 11th of May, between four and five o'clock, the Czar went
+to see the King.  He was received by the King at his carriage door, took
+up a position on his right, and was conducted within.  All these
+ceremonies had been agreed on before the King went to see him.  The Czar
+showed the same affection and the same attentions to the King as before;
+and his visit was not longer than the one he had received, but the crowd
+much surprised him.
+
+He had been at eight o'clock in the morning to see the Place Royal, the
+Place des Victoires, and the Place de Vendome, and the next day he went
+to the Observatoire, the Gobelins, and the King's Garden of Simples.
+Everywhere he amused himself in examining everything, and in asking many
+questions.
+
+On Thursday, the 13th of May, he took medicine, but did not refrain after
+dinner from calling upon several celebrated artificers.  On Friday, the
+14th, he went at six o'clock in the morning into the grand gallery of the
+Louvre, to see the plans in relief of all the King's fortified places,
+Hasfield, with his engineers, doing the honours.  The Czar examined all
+these plans for a long time; visited many other parts of the Louvre, and
+descended afterwards into the Tuileries garden, from which everybody had
+been excluded.  They were working then upon the Pont Tournant.  The Czar
+industriously examined this work, and remained there a long time.  In the
+afternoon he went to see, at the Palais Royal, Madame, who had sent her
+compliments to him by her officer.  The armchair excepted, she received
+him as she would have received the King.  M. le Duc d'Orleans came
+afterwards and took him to the Opera, into his grand box, where they sat
+upon the front seat upon a splendid carpet.  Sometime after, the Czar
+asked if there was no beer to be had.  Immediately a large goblet of it
+was brought to him, on a salver.  The Regent rose, took it, and presented
+it to the Czar, who with a smile and an inclination of politeness,
+received the goblet without any ceremony, drank, and put it back on the
+salver which the Regent still held.  In handing it back, the Regent took
+a plate, in which was a napkin, presented it to the Czar, who without
+rising made use of it, at which the house appeared rather astonished.
+At the fourth act the Czar went away to supper, but did not wish the
+Regent to leave the box.  The next morning he jumped into a hired coach,
+and went to see a number of curiosities among the workmen.
+
+On the 16th of May, Whit Sunday, he went to the Invalides, where he
+wished to see and examine everything.  At the refectory he tasted the
+soldiers' soup and their wine, drank to their healths, struck them on the
+shoulders, and called them comrades.  He much admired the church, the
+dispensary, and the infirmary, and appeared much pleased with the order
+of the establishment.  The Marechal de Villars did the honours; the
+Marechale went there to look on.  The Czar was very civil to her.
+
+On Monday, the 17th, he dined early with Prince Ragotzi, who had invited
+him, and afterwards went to Meudon, where he found some of the King's
+horses to enable him to see the gardens and the park at his ease.  Prince
+Ragotzi accompanied him.
+
+On Tuesday, the 18th, the Marechal d'Estrees took him, at eight o'clock
+in the morning, to his house at Issy, gave him a dinner, and much amused
+him during the day with many things shown to him relating to the navy.
+
+On Monday, the 24th, he went out early to the Tuileries, before the King
+was up.  He entered the rooms of the Marechal de Villeroy, who showed him
+the crown jewels.  They were more beautiful and more numerous than he
+suspected, but he said he was not much of a judge of such things.  He
+stated that he cared but little for the beauties purely of wealth and
+imagination, above all for those he could not attain.  Thence he wished
+to go and see the King, who spared him the trouble by coming.  It had
+been expressly arranged thus, so that his visit should appear one of
+chance.  They met each other in a cabinet, and remained there.  The King,
+who held a roll of paper in his hand, gave it to him, and said it was the
+map of his territories.  This compliment much pleased the Czar, whose
+politeness and friendly affectionate bearing were the same as before,
+with much grace and majesty.
+
+In the afternoon he went to Versailles, where the Marechal de Tesse left
+him to the Duc d'Antin.  The apartment of Madame la Dauphine was prepared
+for him, and he slept in the room of Monseigneur le Dauphin (the King's
+father), now made into a cabinet for the Queen.
+
+On Tuesday, the 25th, he had traversed the gardens, and had been upon the
+canal early in the morning, before the hour of his appointment with
+D'Antin.  He saw all Versailles, Trianon, and the menagerie.  His
+principal suite was lodged at the chateau.  They took ladies with them,
+and slept in the apartments Madame de Maintenon had occupied, quite close
+to that in which the Czar slept.  Bloin, governor of Versailles, was
+extremely scandalised to see this temple of prudery thus profaned.  Its
+goddess and he formerly would have been less shocked.  The Czar and his
+people were not accustomed to restraint.
+
+The expenses of this Prince amounted to six hundred crowns a day, though
+he had much diminished his table since the commencement.
+
+On Sunday, the 30th of May, he set out with Bellegarde, and many relays,
+to dine at Petit Bourg, with D'Antin, who received him there, and took
+him in the afternoon to see Fontainebleau, where he slept, and the morrow
+there was a stag-hunt, at which the Comte de Toulouse did the honours.
+Fontainebleau did not much please the Czar, and the hunt did not please
+him at all; for he nearly fell off his horse, not being accustomed to
+this exercise, and finding it too violent.  When he returned to Petit
+Bourg, the appearance of his carriage showed that he had eaten and drunk
+a good deal in it.
+
+On Friday, the 11th of June, he went from Versailles to Saint-Cyr, where
+he saw all the household, and the girls in their classes.  He was
+received there like the King.  He wished to see Madame de Maintenon, who,
+expecting his curiosity, had buried herself in her bed, all the curtains
+closed, except one, which was half-open.  The Czar entered her chamber,
+pulled back the window-curtains upon arriving, then the bed-curtains,
+took a good long stare at her, said not a word to her,--nor did she open
+her lips,--and, without making her any kind of reverence, went his way.
+I knew afterwards that she was much astonished, and still more mortified
+at this; but the King was no more.  The Czar returned on Saturday, the
+12th of June, to Paris.
+
+On Tuesday, the 15th of June, he went early to D'Antin's Paris house.
+Working this day with M. le Duc d'Orleans, I finished in half an hour; he
+was surprised, and wished to detain me.  I said, I could always have the
+honour of finding him, but not the Czar, who was going away; that I had
+not yet seen him, and was going to D'Antin's to stare at my ease.  Nobody
+entered except those invited, and some ladies with Madame la Duchesse and
+the Princesses, her daughters, who wished to stare also.  I entered the
+garden, where the Czar was walking.  The Marechal de Tesse, seeing me at
+a distance, came up, wishing to present me to the Czar.  I begged him to
+do nothing of the kind, not even to perceive me, but to let me gape at my
+ease, which I could not do if made known.  I begged him also to tell this
+to D'Antin, and with these precautions I was enabled to satisfy my
+curiosity without interruption.  I found that the Czar conversed
+tolerably freely, but always as the master everywhere.  He retired into a
+cabinet, where D'Antin showed him various plans and several curiosities,
+upon which he asked several questions.  It was there I saw the convulsion
+which I have noticed.  I asked Tesse if it often happened; he replied,
+"several times a day, especially when he is not on his guard to prevent
+it."  Returning afterwards into the garden, D'Antin made the Czar pass
+through the lower apartments, and informed him that Madame la Duchesse
+was there with some ladies, who had a great desire to see him.  He made
+no reply, but allowed himself to be conducted.  He walked more gently,
+turned his head towards the apartment where all the ladies were under
+arms to receive him; looked well at them all, made a slight inclination
+of the head to the whole company at once, and passed on haughtily.  I
+think, by the manner in which he received other ladies, that he would
+have shown more politeness to these if Madame la Duchesse had not been
+there, making her visit too pretentious.  He affected even not to inquire
+which she was, or to ask the name of any of the others.  I was nearly an
+hour without quitting him, and unceasingly regarding him.  At last I saw
+he remarked it.  This rendered me more discreet, lest he should ask who I
+was.  As he was returning, I walked away to the room where the table was
+laid.  D'Antin, always the same, had found means to have a very good
+portrait of the Czarina placed upon the chimney-piece of this room, with
+verses in her praise, which much pleased and surprised the Czar.  He and
+his suite thought the portrait very like.
+
+The King gave the Czar two magnificent pieces of Gobelins tapestry.  He
+wished to give him also a beautiful sword, ornamented with diamonds, but
+he excused himself from accepting it.  The Czar, on his side, distributed
+60,000 livres to the King's domestics, who had waited upon him; gave to
+D'Antin, Marechal d'Estrees, and Marechal Tesse, his portrait, adorned
+with diamonds, and five gold and eleven silver medals, representing the
+principal actions of his life.  He made a friendly present to Verton,
+whom he begged the Regent to send to him as charge d'affaires of the
+King, which the Regent promised.
+
+On Wednesday, the 16th of June, he attended on horseback a review of the
+two regiments of the guards; gendarmes, light horse, and mousquetaires.
+There was only M. le Duc d'Orleans with him; the Czar scarcely looked at
+these troops, and they perceived it.  He partook of a dinner-supper at
+Saint Ouen, at the Duc de Tresmes, where he said that the excessive heat
+and dust, together with the crowd on horseback and on foot, had made him
+quit the review sooner than he wished.  The meal was magnificent; the
+Czar learnt that the Marquise de Bethune, who was looking on, was the
+daughter of the Duc de Tresriles; he begged her to sit at table; she was
+the only lady who did so, among a crowd of noblemen.  Several other
+ladies came to look on, and to these he was very civil when he knew who
+they were.
+
+On Thursday, the 17th, he went for the second time to the Observatoire,
+and there supped with the Marechal de Villars.
+
+On Friday, the 18th of June, the Regent went early to the Hotel de
+Lesdiguieres, to say adieu to the Czar, remaining some time with him,
+with Prince Kourakin present.  After this visit the Czar went to say
+goodbye to the King at the Tuileries.  It had been agreed that there
+should be no more ceremonies between them.  It was impossible to display
+more intelligence, grace, and tenderness towards the King than the Czar
+displayed on all these occasions; and again on the morrow, when the King
+came to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres to wish him a pleasant journey, no
+ceremony being observed.
+
+On Sunday, the 20th of June, the Czar departed, and slept at Ivry, bound
+straight for Spa, where he was expected by the Czarina.  He would be
+accompanied by nobody, not even on leaving Paris.  The luxury he remarked
+much surprised him; he was moved in speaking upon the King and upon
+France, saying, he saw with sorrow that this luxury would soon ruin the
+country.  He departed, charmed by the manner in which he had been
+received, by all he had seen, by the liberty that had been left to him,
+and extremely desirous to closely unite himself with the King; but the
+interests of the Abbe Dubois, and of England, were obstacles which have
+been much deplored since.
+
+The Czar had an extreme desire to unite himself to France.  Nothing would
+have been more advantageous to our commerce, to our importance in the
+north, in Germany, in all Europe.  The Czar kept England in restraint as
+to her commerce, and King George in fear for his German states.  He kept
+Holland respectful, and the Emperor measured.  It cannot be denied that
+he made a grand figure in Europe and in Asia, or that France would have
+infinitely profited by close union with him.  He did not like the
+Emperor; he wished to sever us from England, and it was England which
+rendered us deaf to his invitations, unbecomingly so, though they lasted
+after his departure.  Often I vainly pressed the Regent upon this
+subject, and gave him reasons of which he felt all the force, and to
+which he could not reply.  He was bewitched by Dubois, who panted to
+become Cardinal, and who built all his hopes of success upon England.
+The English saw his ambition, and took advantage of it for their own
+interests.  Dubois' aim was to make use of the intimacy between the King
+of England and the Emperor, in order that the latter might be induced by
+the former to obtain a Cardinalship from the Pope, over whom he had great
+power.  It will be seen, in due time, what success has attended the
+intrigues of the scheming and unscrupulous Abbe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVII
+
+Courson, Intendant, or rather King of Languedoc, exercised his authority
+there so tyrannically that the people suffered the most cruel oppressions
+at his hands.  He had been Intendant of Rouen, and was so hated that more
+than once he thought himself in danger of having his brains beaten out
+with stones.  He became at last so odious that he was removed; but the
+credit of his father saved him, and he was sent as Intendant to Bordeaux.
+He was internally and externally a very animal, extremely brutal,
+extremely insolent, his hands by no means clean, as was also the case
+with those of his secretaries, who did all his work for him, he being
+very idle and quite unfit for his post.
+
+Amongst other tyrannic acts he levied very violent and heavy taxes in
+Perigueux, of his own good will and pleasure, without any edict or decree
+of the Council; and seeing that people were not eager to satisfy his
+demands, augmented them, multiplied the expenses, and at last threw into
+dungeons some sheriffs and other rich citizens.  He became so tyrannical
+that they sent a deputation to Paris to complain of him.  But the
+deputies went in vain the round of all the members of the council of the
+regency, after having for two months kicked their heels in the ante-
+chamber of the Duc de Noailles, the minister who ought to have attended
+to their representations.
+
+The Comte de Toulouse, who was a very just man, and who had listened to
+them, was annoyed that they could obtain no hearing of the Duc de,
+Noailles, and spoke to me on the subject.  I was as indignant as he.
+I spoke to M. le Duc d'Orleans, who only knew the matter superficially.
+I showed him the necessity of thoroughly examining into complaints of
+this nature; the injustice of allowing these deputies to wear out hope,
+patience, and life, in the streets of Paris, without giving some
+audience; the cruelty of suffering honest citizens to languish in
+dungeons, without knowing why or by what authority they were there.  He
+agreed with me, and promised to speak to the Duc de Noailles.  At the
+first finance council after this, I apprised the Comte de Toulouse, and
+we both asked the Duc de Noailles when he meant to bring forward the
+affair of these Perigueux people.
+
+He was utterly unprepared for this question, and wished to put us off.  I
+said to him that for a long time some of these people had been in prison,
+and others had wandered the streets of Paris; that this was shameful, and
+could not be longer endured.  The Comte de Toulouse spoke very firmly, in
+the same sense.  M. le Duc d'Orleans arrived and took his place.
+
+As the Duc de Noailles opened his bag, I said very loudly to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans that M. le Comte de Toulouse and I had just asked M. de
+Noailles when he would bring forward the Perigueux affair; that these
+people, innocent or guilty, begged only to be heard and tried; and that
+it appeared to me the council was in honour bound to keep them in misery
+no longer.  On finishing, I looked at the Comte de Toulouse, who also
+said something short but rather strong.  M. le Duc d'Orleans replied that
+we could not have done better.  The Duc de Noailles began muttering
+something about the press of business; that he had not time, and so
+forth.  I interrupted him by saying that he must find time, and that he
+ought to have found it long before; that nothing was so important as to
+keep people from ruin, or to extricate others from dungeons they were
+remaining in without knowing why.  M. le Duc d'Orleans said a word to the
+same effect, and ordered the Duc de Noailles to get himself ready to
+bring forward the case in a week.
+
+From excuse to excuse, three weeks passed over.  At last I said openly to
+M. le Duc d'Orleans that he was being laughed at, and that justice was
+being trodden under foot.  At the next council it appeared that M. le Duc
+d'Orleans had already told the Duc de Noailles he would wait no longer.
+M. le Comte de Toulouse and I continued to ask him if at last he would
+bring forward the Perigueux affair.  We doubted not that it would in the
+end be brought forward, but artifice was not yet at an end.
+
+It was on a Tuesday afternoon, when M. le Duc d'Orleans often abridged
+the council to go to the opera.  Knowing this, the Duc de Noailles kept
+all the council occupied with different matters.  I was between him and
+the Comte de Toulouse.  At the end of each matter I said to him, "And the
+Perigueux affair?"--"Directly," he replied, and at once commenced
+something else.  At last I perceived his project, and whispered so to the
+Comte de Toulouse, who had already suspected it, and resolved not to be
+its dupe.  When the Duc de Noailles had exhausted his bag, it was five
+o'clock.  After putting back his papers he closed his bag, and said to M.
+le Duc d'Orleans that there was still the Perigueux affair which he had
+ordered him to bring forward, but that it would be long and detailed;
+that he doubtless wished to go to the opera; that it could be attended to
+next week; and at once, without waiting for a reply, he rises, pushes
+back his stool, and turns to go away.  I took him by the arm.
+
+"Gently," said I.  "You must learn his highness's pleasure.  Monsieur,"
+said I to M. le Duc d'Orleans, still firmly holding the sleeve of the Duc
+de Noailles, "do you care much to-day for the opera?"
+
+"No, no," replied he; "let us turn to the Perigueux affair."
+
+"But without strangling it," replied I.
+
+"Yes," said M. le Duc d'Orleans: then looking at M. le Duc, who smiled;
+"you don't care to go there?"
+
+"No, Monsieur, let us see this business," replied M. le Duc.
+
+"Oh, sit down again then, Monsieur," said I to the Duc de Noailles in a
+very firm tone, pulling him sharply; "take your rest, and re-open your
+bag."
+
+Without saying a word he drew forward his stool with a great noise, and
+threw himself upon it as though he would smash it.  Rage beamed from his
+eyes.  The Comte de Toulouse smiled; he had said his word, too, upon the
+opera, and all the company looked at us; nearly every one smiling, but
+astounded also.
+
+The Duc de Noailles displayed his papers, and began reading them.  As
+various documents were referred to, I turned them over, and now and then
+took him up and corrected him.  He did not dare to show anger in his
+replies, yet he was foaming.  He passed an eulogy upon Basville (father
+of the Intendant), talked of the consideration he merited; excused
+Courson, and babbled thereupon as much as he could to extenuate
+everything, and lose sight of the principal points at issue.  Seeing that
+he did not finish, and that he wished to tire us, and to manage the
+affair in his own way, I interrupted him, saying that the father and the
+son were two people; that the case in point respected the son alone, and
+that he had to determine whether an Intendant was authorised or not, by
+his office, to tax people at will; to raise imposts in the towns and
+country places of his department, without edicts ordering them, without
+even a decree of council, solely by his own particular ordonnances, and
+to keep people in prison four or five months, without form or shadow of
+trial, because they refused to pay these heavy taxes, rendered still more
+heavy by expenses.  Then, turning round so as to look hard at him, "It is
+upon that, Monsieur," added I, "that we must decide, since your report is
+over, and not amuse ourselves with a panegyric upon M. de Basville, who
+is not mixed up in the case."
+
+The Duc de Noailles, all the more beside himself because he saw the
+Regent smile, and M. le Duc, who looked at me do the same, but more
+openly, began to speak, or rather to stammer.  He did not dare, however,
+to decide against the release of the prisoners.
+
+"And the expenses, and the ordonnance respecting these taxes, what do you
+do with them?"
+
+"By setting the prisoners at liberty," he said, "the ordonnance falls to
+the ground."
+
+I did not wish to push things further just then.  The liberation of the
+prisoners, and the quashing of the ordonnance, were determined on: some
+voices were for the reimbursement of the charges at the expense of the
+Intendant, and for preventing him to do the like again.
+
+When it was my turn to speak, I expressed the same opinions, but I added
+that it was not enough to recompense people so unjustly ill-treated; that
+I thought a sum of money, such as it should please the council to
+name, ought to be adjudged to them; and that as to an Intendant who
+abused the authority of his office so much as to usurp that of the King
+and impose taxes, such as pleased him by his own ordinances, and who
+threw people into dungeons as he thought fit by his private authority,
+pillaging thus a province, I was of opinion that his Royal Highness
+should be asked to make such an example of him that all the other
+Intendants might profit by it.
+
+The majority of those who had spoken before me made signs that I was
+right, but did not speak again.  Others were against me.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans promised the liberation of the prisoners, broke Courson's!,
+ordonnance, and all which had followed it; said that as for the rest, he
+would take care these people should be well recompensed, and Courson well
+blamed; that he merited worse, and, but for his father, would have
+received it.  As we were about to rise, I said it would be as well to
+draw up the decree at once, and M. le Duc d'Orleans approved.  Noailles
+pounced, like a bird of prey, upon paper and ink, and commenced writing.
+I bent down and read as he wrote.  He stopped and boggled at the
+annulling of the ordonnance, and the prohibition against issuing one
+again without authorisation by edict or decree of council.  I dictated
+the clause to him; he looked at the company as though questioning all
+eyes.
+
+"Yes," said I, "it was passed like that--you have only to ask again."
+M. le Duc d Orleans said, "Yes."  Noailles wrote.  I took the paper, and
+read what he had written.  He received it back in fury, cast it among the
+papers pell-mell into his bag, then shoved his stool almost to the other
+end of the room, and went out, bristling like a wild boar, without
+looking at or saluting anybody--we all laughing.  M. le Duc and several
+others came to me, and with M. le Comte de Toulouse, were much diverted.
+M. de Noailles had, in fact, so little command over himself, that, in
+turning to go out, he struck the table, swearing, and saying he could
+endure it no longer.
+
+I learnt afterwards, by frequenters of the Hotel de Noailles, who told it
+to my friends, that when he reached home he went to bed: and would not
+see a soul; that fever seized him, that the next day he was of a
+frightful temper, and, that he had been heard to say he could no longer
+endure the annoyances I caused him.  It may be imagined whether or not
+this softened me.  The Duc de Noailles had, in fact, behaved towards me
+with such infamous treachery, and such unmasked impudence, that I took
+pleasure at all times and at all places in making him feel, and others
+see, the sovereign disdain I entertained for him.  I did not allow my
+private feelings to sway my judgment when public interests were at stake,
+for when I thought the Duc de Noailles right, and this often occurred,
+I supported him; but when I knew him to be wrong, or when I caught him
+neglecting his duties, conniving at injustice, shirking inquiry, or
+evading the truth, I in no way spared him.  The incident just related is
+an illustration of the treatment he often received at my hands.  Fret,
+fume, stamp, storm, as he might, I cared nothing for him.  His anger to
+me was as indifferent as his friendship.  I despised both equally.
+Occasionally he would imagine, after there had been no storm between us
+for some time, that I had become reconciled to him, and would make
+advances to me.  But the stern and terrible manner in which I met them,
+--or rather refused to meet them, taking no more notice of his politeness
+and his compliments, than as if they made no appeal whatever to my eyes
+or ears,--soon convinced him of the permanent nature of our quarrel, and
+drove him to the most violent rage and despair.
+
+The history of the affair was, apparently, revealed by somebody to the
+deputies of Perigueux (for this very evening it was talked of in Paris),
+who came and offered me many thanks.  Noailles was so afraid of me, that
+he did not keep their business unsettled more than two days.
+
+A few months afterwards Courson was recalled, amid the bonfires of his
+province.  This did not improve him, or hinder him from obtaining
+afterwards one of the two places of councillor at the Royal Council of
+Finance, for he was already Councillor of State at the time of this
+affair of Perigueux.
+
+An amusement, suited to the King's age, caused a serious quarrel.  A sort
+of tent had been erected for him on the terrace of the Tuileries, before
+his apartments, and on the same level.  The diversions of kings always
+have to do with distinction.  He invented some medals to give to the
+courtiers of his own age, whom he wished to distinguish, and those
+medals, which were intended to be worn, conferred the right of entering
+this tent without being invited; thus was created the Order of the
+Pavilion.  The Marechal de Villeroy gave orders to Lefevre to have the
+medals made.  He obeyed, and brought them to the Marechal, who presented
+them to the King.  Lefevre was silversmith to the King's household, and
+as such under the orders of the first gentleman of the chamber.  The Duc
+de Mortemart, who had previously had some tiff with the Marechal de
+Villeroy, declared that it devolved upon him to order these medals and
+present them to the King.  He flew into a passion because everything had
+been done without his knowledge; and complained to the Duc d'Orleans.
+It was a trifle not worth discussing, and in which the three other
+gentlemen of the chamber took no part.  Thus the Duc de Mortemart,
+opposed alone to the Marechal de Villeroy, stood no chance.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, with his usual love for mezzo termine, said that Lefevre had
+not made these medals, or brought them to the Marechal as silversmith,
+but as having received through the Marechal the King's order, and that
+nothing more must be said.  The Duc de Mortemart was indignant, and did
+not spare the Marechal.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARK:
+
+Scarcely any history has been written at first hand
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Memoirs Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, v11
+#11 in our series by The Duc de Saint-Simon
+#33 in our series Historic Court Memoirs
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+Title: The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, v11
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+
+          MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY
+
+                        BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON
+
+
+                                VOLUME 11.
+
+CHAPTER LXXVIII
+
+External Life of Louis XIV.--At the Army.--Etiquette of the King's
+Table.--Court Manners and Customs.--The Rising of the King.--Morning
+Occupations.--Secret Amours.--Going to Mass.--Councils.--Thursdays.--
+Fridays.--Ceremony of the King's Dinner.--The King's Brother.--After
+Dinner.--The Drive.--Walks at Marly and Elsewhere.--Stag--hunting.--Play-
+tables.--Lotteries.--Visits to Madame de Maintenon.--Supper.--The King
+Retires to Rest.--Medicine Days.--Kings Religious Observances.--Fervency
+in Lent.--At Mass.--Costume.--Politeness of the King for the Court of
+Saint-Germain.--Feelings of the Court at His Death.--Relief of Madame de
+Maintenon.--Of the Duchesse d'Orleans.--Of the Court Generally.--Joy of
+Paris and the Whole of France.--Decency of Foreigners.--Burial of the
+King.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIX
+
+Surprise of M. d'Orleans at the King's Death.--My Interview with Him.--
+Dispute about Hats.--M. du Maine at the Parliament.--His Reception.--
+My Protest.--The King's Will.--Its Contents and Reception.--Speech of the
+Duc d'Orleans.--Its Effect.--His Speech on the Codicil.--Violent
+Discussion.--Curious Scene.--Interruption for Dinner.--Return to the
+Parliament.--Abrogation of the Codicil.--New Scheme of Government.--
+The Regent Visits Madame de Maintenon.--The Establishment of Saint-Cyr.--
+The Regent's Liberality to Madame de Maintenon.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXX
+
+The Young King's Cold.--'Lettres des Cachet' Revived.--A Melancholy
+Story.--A Loan from Crosat.--Retrenchments.--Unpaid Ambassadors.--Council
+of the Regency.--Influence of Lord Stair.--The Pretender.--His Departure
+from Bar.--Colonel Douglas.--The Pursuit.--Adventure at Nonancourt.--Its
+Upshot.--Madame l'Hospital.--Ingratitude of the Pretender.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXI
+
+Behaviour of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Arrogance Checked by Public
+Opinion.--Walls up the Luxembourg Garden.--La Muette.--Her Strange Amour
+with Rion.--Extraordinary Details.--The Duchess at the Carmelites.--
+Weakness of the Regent.--His Daily Round of Life.--His Suppers.--
+How He Squandered His Time.--His Impenetrability.--Scandal of His Life.--
+Public Balls at the Opera.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXII
+
+First Appearance of Law.--His Banking Project Supported by the Regent.--
+Discussed by the Regent with Me.--Approved by the Council and Registered.
+--My Interviews with Law.--His Reasons for Seeking My Friendship.--
+Arouet de Voltaire.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIII
+
+Rise of Alberoni.--Intimacy of France and England.--Gibraltar Proposed to
+be Given Up.--Louville the Agent.--His Departure.--Arrives at Madrid.--
+Alarm of Alberoni.--His Audacious Intrigues.--Louville in the Bath.--
+His Attempts to See the King.--Defeated.--Driven out of Spain.--Impudence
+of Alberoni.--Treaty between France and England.--Stipulation with
+Reference to the Pretender.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIV
+
+The Lieutenant of Police.--Jealousy of Parliament.--Arrest of Pomereu
+Resolved On.--His Imprisonment and Sudden Release.--Proposed Destruction
+of Marly.--How I Prevented It.--Sale of the Furniture.--I Obtain the
+'Grandes Entrees'.--Their Importance and Nature.--Afterwards Lavished
+Indiscriminately.--Adventure of the Diamond called "The Regent."--Bought
+for the Crown of France.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXV
+
+Death of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Cavoye and His Wife.--Peter the
+Great.--His Visit to France.--Enmity to England.--Its Cause.--Kourakin,
+the Russian Ambassador.--The Czar Studies Rome.--Makes Himself the Head
+of Religion.--New Desires for Rome--Ultimately Suppressed.--Preparations
+to Receive the Czar at Paris.--His Arrival at Dunkerque.--At Beaumont.--
+Dislikes the Fine Quarters Provided for Him.--His Singular Manners, and
+Those of His Suite.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVI
+
+Personal Appearance of the Czar.--His Meals.--Invited by the Regent.--
+His Interview with the King--He Returns the Visit.--Excursion in Paris.--
+Visits Madame.--Drinks Beer at the Opera.--At the Invalides.--Meudon.--
+Issy.--The Tuileries.--Versailles.--Hunt at Fontainebleau.--Saint--Cyr.--
+Extraordinary Interview with Madame de Maintenon.--My Meeting with the
+Czar at D'Antin's.--The Ladies Crowd to See Him.--Interchange of
+Presents.--A Review.--Party Visits.--Desire of the Czar to Be United to
+France.
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVII
+
+Courson in Languedoc.--Complaints of Perigueux.--Deputies to Paris.--
+Disunion at the Council.--Intrigues of the Duc de Noailles.--Scene.--
+I Support the Perigueux People.--Triumph.--My Quarrel with Noailles.--
+The Order of the Pavilion.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVIII
+
+After having thus described with truth and the most exact fidelity all
+that has come to my knowledge through my own experience, or others
+qualified to speak of Louis XIV. during the last twenty-two years of his
+life: and after having shown him such as he was, without prejudice
+(although I have permitted myself to use the arguments naturally
+resulting from things), nothing remains but to describe the outside life
+of this monarch, during my residence at the Court.
+
+However insipid and perhaps superfluous details so well known may appear
+after what has been already given, lessons will be found therein for
+kings who may wish to make themselves respected, and who may wish to
+respect themselves.  What determines me still more is, that details
+wearying, nay annoying, to instructed readers, who had been witnesses of
+what I relate, soon escape the knowledge of posterity; and that
+experience shows us how much we regret that no one takes upon himself a
+labour, in his own time so ungrateful, but in future years so
+interesting, and by which princes, who have made quite as much stir as
+the one in question, are characterise.  Although it may be difficult to
+steer clear of repetitions, I will do my best to avoid them.
+
+I will not speak much of the King's manner of living when with the army.
+His hours were determined by what was to be done, though he held his
+councils regularly; I will simply say, that morning and evening he ate
+with people privileged to have that honour.  When any one wished to claim
+it, the first gentleman of the chamber on duty was appealed to.  He gave
+the answer, and if favourable you presented yourself the next day to the
+King, who said to you, "Monsieur, seat yourself at table."  That being
+done, all was done.  Ever afterwards you were at liberty to take a place
+at the King's table, but with discretion.  The number of the persons from
+whom a choice was made was, however, very limited.  Even very high
+military rank did not suffice.  M. de Vauban, at the siege of Namur, was
+overwhelmed by the distinction.  The King did the same honour at Namur to
+the Abbe de Grancey, who exposed himself everywhere to confess the
+wounded and encourage the troops.  No other Abbe was ever so
+distinguished.  All the clergy were excluded save the cardinals, and the
+bishops, piers, or the ecclesiastics who held the rank of foreign
+princes.
+
+At these repasts everybody was covered; it would have been a want of
+respect, of which you would have been immediately informed, if you had
+not kept your hat on your head.  The King alone was uncovered.  When the
+King wished to speak to you, or you had occasion to speak to him, you
+uncovered.  You uncovered, also, when Monseigneur or Monsieur spoke to
+you, or you to them.  For Princes of the blood you merely put your hand
+to your hat.  The King alone had an armchair.  All the rest of the
+company, Monseigneur included, had seats, with backs of black morocco
+leather, which could be folded up to be carried, and which were called
+"parrots."  Except at the army, the King never ate with any man, under
+whatever circumstances; not even with the Princes of the Blood, save
+sometimes at their wedding feasts.
+
+Let us return now to the Court.
+
+At eight o'clock the chief valet de chambre on duty, who alone had slept
+in the royal chamber, and who had dressed himself, awoke the King.  The
+chief physician, the chief surgeon, and the nurse (as long as she lived),
+entered at the same time; the latter kissed the King; the others rubbed
+and often changed his shirt, because he was in the habit of sweating a
+great deal.  At the quarter, the grand chamberlain was called (or, in his
+absence, the first gentleman of the chamber), and those who had what was
+called the 'grandes entrees'.  The chamberlain (or chief gentleman) drew
+back the curtains which had been closed again; and presented the holy-
+water from the vase, at the head of the bed.  These gentlemen stayed but
+a moment, and that was the time to speak to the King, if any one had
+anything to ask of him; in which case the rest stood aside.  When,
+contrary to custom, nobody had ought to say, they were there but for a
+few moments.  He who had opened the curtains and presented the holy-
+water, presented also a prayer-book.  Then all passed into the cabinet of
+the council.  A very short religious service being over, the King called,
+they re-entered, The same officer gave him his dressing-gown; immediately
+after, other privileged courtiers entered, and then everybody, in time to
+find the King putting on his shoes and stockings, for he did almost
+everything himself and with address and grace.  Every other day we saw
+him shave himself; and he had a little short wig in which he always
+appeared, even in bed, and on medicine days.  He often spoke of the
+chase, and sometimes said a-word to somebody.  No toilette table was near
+him; he had simply a mirror held before him.
+
+As soon as he was dressed, he prayed to God, at the side of his bed,
+where all the clergy present knelt, the cardinals without cushions, all
+the laity remaining standing; and the captain of the guards came to the
+balustrade during the prayer, after which the King passed into his
+cabinet.
+
+He found there, or was followed by all who had the entree, a very
+numerous company, for it included everybody in any office.  He gave
+orders to each for the day; thus within a half a quarter of an hour it
+was known what he meant to do; and then all this crowd left directly.
+The bastards, a few favourites; and the valets alone were left.  It was
+then a good opportunity for talking with the King; for example, about
+plans of gardens and buildings; and conversation lasted more or less
+according to the person engaged in it.
+
+All the Court meantime waited for the King in the gallery, the captain of
+the guard being alone in the chamber seated at the door of the cabinet.
+At morning the Court awaited in the saloon; at Trianon in the front rooms
+as at Meudon; at Fontainebleau in the chamber and ante-chamber.  During
+this pause the King gave audiences when he wished to accord any; spoke
+with whoever he might wish to speak secretly to, and gave secret
+interviews to foreign ministers in presence of Torcy.  They were called
+"secret" simply to distinguish them from the uncommon ones by the
+bedsides.
+
+The King went to mass, where his musicians always sang an anthem.  He did
+not go below--except on grand fetes or at ceremonies.  Whilst he was
+going to and returning from mass, everybody spoke to him who wished,
+after apprising the captain of the guard, if they were not distinguished;
+and he came and went by the door of the cabinet into the gallery.  During
+the mass the ministers assembled in the King's chamber, where
+distinguished people could go and speak or chat with them.  The King
+amused himself a little upon returning from mass and asked almost
+immediately for the council.  Then the morning was finished.
+
+On Sunday, and often on Monday, there was a council of state; on Tuesday
+a finance council; on Wednesday council of state; on Saturday finance
+council: rarely were two held in one day or any on Thursday or Friday.
+Once or twice a month there was a council of despatches on Monday
+morning; but the order that the Secretaries of State took every morning
+between the King's rising and his mass, much abridged this kind of
+business.  All the ministers were seated accordingly to rank, except at
+the council of despatches, where all stood except the sons of France, the
+Chancellor, and the Duc de Beauvilliers.
+
+Thursday morning was almost always blank.  It was the day for audiences
+that the King wished to give--often unknown to any--back-stair audiences.
+It was also the grand day taken advantage of by the bastards, the valets,
+etc., because the King had nothing to do.  On Friday after the mass the
+King was with his confessor, and the length of their audiences was
+limited by nothing, and might last until dinner.  At Fontainebleau on the
+mornings when there was no council, the King usually passed from mass to
+Madame de Maintenon's, and so at Trianon and Marly.  It was the time for
+their tete-a-tete without interruption.  Often on the days when there was
+no council the dinner hour was advanced, more or less for the chase or
+the promenade.  The ordinary hour was one o'clock; if the council still
+lasted, then the dinner waited and nothing was said to the King.
+
+The dinner was always 'au petit couvert', that is, the King ate by
+himself in his chamber upon a square table in front of the middle window.
+It was more or less abundant, for he ordered in the morning whether it
+was to be "a little," or "very little" service.  But even at this last,
+there were always many dishes, and three courses without counting the
+fruit.  The dinner being ready, the principal courtiers entered; then all
+who were known; and the gentleman of the chamber on duty informed the
+King.
+
+I have seen, but very rarely, Monseigneur and his sons standing at their
+dinners, the King not offering them a seat.  I have continually seen
+there the Princes of the blood and the cardinals.  I have often seen
+there also Monsieur, either on arriving from Saint-Cloud to see the King,
+or arriving from the council of despatches (the only one he entered),
+give the King his napkin and remain standing.  A little while afterwards,
+the King, seeing that he did not go away, asked him if he would not sit
+down; he bowed, and the King ordered a seat to be brought for him.  A
+stool was put behind him.  Some moments after the King said, "Nay then,
+sit down, my brother."  Monsieur bowed and seated himself until the end
+of the dinner, when he presented the napkin.
+
+At other times when he came from Saint-Cloud, the King, on arriving at
+the table, asked for a plate for Monsieur, or asked him if he would dine.
+If he refused, he went away a moment after, and there was no mention of a
+seat; if he accepted, the King asked for a plate for him.  The table was
+square, he placed himself at one end, his back to the cabinet.  Then the
+Grand Chamberlain (or the first gentleman of the chamber) gave him drink
+and plates, taking them from him as he finished with them, exactly as he
+served the King; but Monsieur received all this attention with strongly
+marked politeness.  When he dined thus with the King he much enlivened
+the conversation.  The King ordinarily spoke little at table unless some
+family favourite was near.  It was the same at hid rising.  Ladies
+scarcely ever were seen at these little dinners.
+
+I have, however, seen the Marechale de la Mothe, who came in because she
+had been used to do so as governess to the children of France, and who
+received a seat, because she was a Duchess.  Grand dinners were very
+rare, and only took place on grand occasions, and then ladies were
+present.
+
+Upon leaving the table the King immediately entered his cabinet.  That
+was the time for distinguished people to speak to him.  He stopped at the
+door a moment to listen, then entered; very rarely did any one follow
+him, never without asking him for permission to do so; and for this few
+had the courage.  If followed he placed himself in the embrasure of the
+window nearest to the door of the cabinet, which immediately closed of
+itself, and which you were obliged to open yourself on quitting the King.
+This also was the time for the bastards and the valets.
+
+The King amused himself by feeding his dogs, and remained with them more
+or less time, then asked for his wardrobe, changed before the very few
+distinguished people it pleased the first gentleman of the chamber to
+admit there, and immediately went out by the back stairs into the court
+of marble to get into his coach.  From the bottom of that staircase to
+the coach, any one spoke to him who wished.
+
+The King was fond of air, and when deprived of it his health suffered; he
+had headaches and vapours caused by the undue use he had formerly made of
+perfumes, so that for many years he could not endure any, except the
+odour of orange flowers; therefore if you had to approach anywhere near
+him you did well not to carry them.
+
+As he was but little sensitive to heat or cold, or even to rain, the
+weather was seldom sufficiently bad to prevent his going abroad.  He went
+out for three objects: stag-hunting, once or more each week; shooting in
+his parks (and no man handled a gun with more grace or skill), once or
+twice each week; and walking in his gardens for exercise, and to see his
+workmen.  Sometimes he made picnics with ladies, in the forest at Marly
+or at Fontainebleau, and in this last place, promenades with all the
+Court around the canal, which was a magnificent spectacle.  Nobody
+followed him in his other promenades but those who held principal
+offices, except at Versailles or in the gardens of Trianon.  Marly had a
+privilege unknown to the other places.  On going out from the chateau,
+the King said aloud, "Your hats, gentlemen," and immediately courtiers,
+officers of the guard, everybody, in fact, covered their heads, as he
+would have been much displeased had they not done so; and this lasted all
+the promenade, that is four or five hours in summer, or in other seasons,
+when he dined early at Versailles to go and walk at Marly, and not sleep
+there.
+
+The stag-hunting parties were on an extensive scale.  At Fontainebleau
+every one went who wished; elsewhere only those were allowed to go who
+had obtained the permission once for all, and those who had obtained
+leave to wear the justau-corps, which was a blue uniform with silver and
+gold lace, lined with red.  The King did not like too many people at
+these parties.  He did not care for you to go if you were not fond of the
+chase.  He thought that ridiculous, and never bore ill-will to those who
+stopped away altogether.
+
+It was the same with the play-table, which he liked to see always well
+frequented--with high stakes--in the saloon at Marly, for lansquenet and
+other games.  He amused himself at Fontainebleau during bad weather by
+seeing good players at tennis, in which he had formerly excelled; and at
+Marly by seeing mall played, in which he had also been skilful.
+Sometimes when there was no council, he would make presents of stuff, or
+of silverware, or jewels, to the ladies, by means of a lottery, for the
+tickets of which they paid nothing.  Madame de Maintenon drew lots with
+the others, and almost always gave at once what she gained.  The King
+took no ticket.
+
+Upon returning home from walks or drives, anybody, as I have said, might
+speak to the King from the moment he left his coach till he reached the
+foot of his staircase.  He changed his dress again, and rested in his
+cabinet an hour or more, then went to Madame de Maintenon's, and on the
+way any one who wished might speak to him.
+
+At ten o'clock his supper was served.  The captain of the guard announced
+this to him.  A quarter of an hour after the King came to supper, and
+from the antechamber of Madame de Maintenon to the table--again, any one
+spoke to him who wished.  This supper was always on a grand scale, the
+royal household (that is, the sons and daughters of France) at table, and
+a large number of courtiers and ladies present, sitting or standing, and
+on the evening before the journey to Marly all those ladies who wished to
+take part in it.  That was called presenting yourself for Marly.  Men
+asked in the morning, simply saying to the King, "Sire, Marly."  In later
+years the King grew tired of this, and a valet wrote up in the gallery
+the names of those who asked.  The ladies continued to present
+themselves.
+
+After supper the King stood some moments, his back to the balustrade of
+the foot of his bed, encircled by all his Court; then, with bows to the
+ladies, passed into his cabinet, where, on arriving, he gave his orders.
+
+He passed a little less than an hour there, seated in an armchair, with
+his legitimate children and bastards, his grandchildren, legitimate and
+otherwise, and their husbands or wives.  Monsieur in another armchair;
+the Princesses upon stools, Monseigneur and all the other Princes
+standing.
+
+The King, wishing to retire, went and fed his dogs; then said good night,
+passed into his chamber to the 'ruelle' of his bed, where he said his
+prayers, as in the morning, then undressed.  He said good night with an
+inclination of the head, and whilst everybody was leaving the room stood
+at the corner of the mantelpiece, where he gave the order to the colonel
+of the guards alone.  Then commenced what was called the 'petit coucher',
+at which only the specially privileged remained.  That was short.  They
+did not leave until be got into bed.  It was a moment to speak to him.
+Then all left if they saw any one buckle to the King.  For ten or twelve
+years before he died the 'petit coucher' ceased, in consequence of a long
+attack of gout be had had; so that the Court was finished at the rising
+from supper.
+
+On medicine days, which occurred about once a month, the King remained in
+bed, then heard mass.  The royal household came to see him for a moment,
+and Madame de Maintenon seated herself in the armchair at the head of his
+bed.  The King dined in bed about three o'clock, everybody being allowed
+to enter the room, then rose, and the privileged alone remained.  He
+passed afterwards into his cabinet, where he held a council, and
+afterwards went, as usual, to Madame de Maintenon's and supped at ten
+o'clock, according to custom.
+
+During all his life, the King failed only once in his attendance at mass,
+It was with the army, during a forced march; he missed no fast day,
+unless really indisposed.  Some days before Lent, he publicly declared
+that he should be very much displeased if any one ate meat or gave it to
+others, under any pretext.  He ordered the grand prevot to look to this,
+and report all cases of disobedience.  But no one dared to disobey his
+commands, for they would soon have found out the cost.  They extended
+even to Paris, where the lieutenant of police kept watch and reported.
+For twelve or fifteen years he had himself not observed Lent, however.
+At church he was very respectful.  During his mass everybody was obliged
+to kneel at the Sanctus, and to remain so until after the communion of
+the priest; and if he heard the least noise, or saw anybody talking
+during the mass, he was much displeased.  He took the communion five
+times a year, in the collar of the Order, band, and cloak.  On Holy
+Thursday, he served the poor at dinner; at the mass he said his chaplet
+(he knew no more), always kneeling, except at the Gospel.
+
+He was always clad in dresses more or less brown, lightly embroidered,
+but never at the edges, sometimes with nothing but a gold button,
+sometimes black velvet.  He wore always a vest of cloth, or of red, blue,
+or green satin, much embroidered.  He used no ring; and no jewels, except
+in the buckles of his shoes, garters, and hat, the latter always trimmed
+with Spanish point, with a white feather.  He had always the cordon bleu
+outside, except at fetes, when he wore it inside, with eight or ten
+millions of precious stones attached.
+
+Rarely a fortnight passed that the King did not go to Saint-Germain, even
+after the death of King James the Second.  The Court of Saint-Germain
+came also to Versailles, but oftener to Marly, and frequently to sup
+there; and no fete or ceremony took place to which they were not invited,
+and at which they were not received with all honours.  Nothing could
+compare with the politeness of the King for this Court, or with the air
+of gallantry and of majesty with which he received it at any time.  Birth
+days, or the fete days of the King and his family, so observed in the
+courts of Europe, were always unknown in that of the King; so that there
+never was the slightest mention of them, or any difference made on their
+account.
+
+The King was but little regretted.  His valets and a few other people
+felt his loss, scarcely anybody else.  His successor was not yet old
+enough to feel anything.  Madame entertained for him only fear and
+considerate respect.  Madame la Duchesse de Berry did not like him, and
+counted now upon reigning undisturbed.  M. le Duc d'Orleans could
+scarcely be expected to feel much grief for him.  And those who may have
+been expected did not consider it necessary to do their duty.  Madame de
+Maintenon was wearied with him ever since the death of the Dauphine; she
+knew not what to do, or with what to amuse him; her constraint was
+tripled because he was much more with her than before.  She had often,
+too, experienced much ill-humour from him.  She had attained all she
+wished, so whatever she might lose in losing him, she felt herself
+relieved, and was capable of no other sentiment at first.  The ennui and
+emptiness of her life afterwards made her feel regret.  As for M. du
+Maine, the barbarous indecency of his joy need not be dwelt upon.  The
+icy tranquillity of his brother, the Comte de Toulouse, neither increased
+nor diminished.  Madame la Duchesse d'Orleans surprised me.  I had
+expected some grief, I perceived only a few tears, which upon all
+occasions flowed very readily from her eyes, and which were soon dried
+up.  Her bed, which she was very fond of, supplied what was wanting
+during several days, amidst obscurity which she by no means disliked.
+
+But the window curtains were soon withdrawn and grief disappeared.
+
+As for the Court, it was divided into two grand parties, the men hoping
+to figure, to obtain employ, to introduce themselves: and they were
+ravished to see the end of a reign under which they had nothing to hope
+for; the others; fatigued with a heavy yoke, always overwhelming, and of
+the ministers much more than of the King, were charmed to find themselves
+at liberty.  Thus all, generally speaking, were glad to be delivered from
+continual restraint, and were eager for change.
+
+Paris, tired of a dependence which had enslaved everything, breathed
+again in the hope of liberty, and with joy at seeing at an end the
+authority of so many people who abused it.  The provinces in despair at
+their ruin and their annihilation breathed again and leaped for joy; and
+the Parliament and the robe destroyed by edicts and by revolutions,
+flattered themselves the first that they should figure, the other that
+they should find themselves free.  The people ruined, overwhelmed,
+desperate, gave thanks to God, with a scandalous eclat, for a
+deliverance, their most ardent desires had not anticipated.
+
+Foreigners delighted to be at last, after so many years, quit of a
+monarch who had so long imposed his law upon them, and who had escaped
+from them by a species of miracle at the very moment in which they
+counted upon having subjugated him, contained themselves with much more
+decency than the French.  The marvels of the first three quarters of this
+reign of more than seventy years, and the personal magnanimity of this
+King until then so successful, and so abandoned afterwards by fortune
+during the last quarter of his reign--had justly dazzled them.  They made
+it a point of honour to render to him after his death what they had
+constantly refused him during life.  No foreign Court exulted: all plumed
+themselves upon praising and honouring his memory.  The Emperor wore
+mourning as for a father, and although four or five months elapsed
+between the death of the King and the Carnival, all kinds of amusements
+were prohibited at Vienna during the Carnival, and the prohibition was
+strictly observed.  A monstrous fact was, that towards the end of this
+period there was a single ball and a kind of fete that the Comte du Luc
+our own ambassador, was not ashamed to give to the ladies, who seduced
+him by the ennui of so dull a Carnival.  This complaisance did not raise
+him in estimation at Vienna or elsewhere.  In France people were
+contented with ignoring it.
+
+As for our ministry and the intendants of the provinces, the financiers
+and what may be called the canaille, they felt all the extent of their
+loss.  We shall see if the realm was right or wrong in the sentiments it
+held, and whether it found soon after that it had gained or lost.
+
+To finish at once all that regards the King, let me here say, that his
+entrails were taken to Notre Dame, on the 4th of September, without any
+ceremony, by two almoners of the King, without accompaniment.  On Friday,
+the 6th of September, the Cardinal de Rohan carried the heart to the
+Grand Jesuits, with very little accompaniment or pomp.  Except the
+persons necessary for the ceremony, not half a dozen courtiers were
+present.  It is not for me to comment upon this prompt ingratitude, I,
+who for fifty-two years have never once missed going to Saint-Denis on
+the anniversary of the death of Louis XIII., and have never seen a single
+person there on the same errand.  On the 9th of September, the body of
+the late King was buried at Saint-Denis.  The Bishop of Aleth pronounced
+the oration.  Very little expense was gone to; and nobody was found who
+cared sufficiently for the late King to murmur at the economy.  On
+Friday, the 25th of October, his solemn obsequies took place at Saint-
+Denis in a confusion, as to rank and precedence, without example.  On
+Thursday, the 28th of November, the solemn obsequies were again
+performed, this time at Notre Dame, and with the usual ceremonies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIX
+
+The death of the King surprised M. le Duc d'Orleans in the midst of his
+idleness as though it had not been foreseen.  He had made no progress in
+numberless arrangements, which I had suggested he should carry out;
+accordingly he was overwhelmed with orders to give, with things to
+settle, each more petty than the other, but all so provisional and so
+urgent that it happened as I had predicted, he had no time to think of
+anything important.
+
+I learnt the death of the King upon awaking.  Immediately after, I went
+to pay my respects to the new monarch.  The first blood had already
+passed.  I found myself almost alone.  I went thence to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, whom I found shut in, but all his apartments so full that a
+pin could not have fallen to the ground.  I talked of the Convocation of
+the States-General, and reminded him of a promise he had given me, that
+he would allow the Dukes to keep their hats on when their votes were
+asked for; and I also mentioned various other promises he had made.  All
+I could obtain from him was another promise, that when the public affairs
+of pressing moment awaiting attention were disposed of, we should have
+all we required.  Several of the Dukes who had been witnesses of the
+engagement M. le Duc d'Orleans had made, were much vexed at this; but
+ultimately it was agreed that for the moment we would sacrifice our own
+particular interests to those of the State.
+
+Between five and six the next morning a number of us met at the house of
+the Archbishop of Rheims at the end of the Pont Royal, behind the Hotel
+de Mailly, and there, in accordance with a resolution previously agreed
+upon, it was arranged that I should make a protest to the Parliament
+before the opening of the King's will there, against certain other
+usurpations, and state that it was solely because M. le Duc d'Orleans had
+given us his word that our complaints should be attended to as soon as
+the public affairs of the government were settled, that we postponed
+further measures upon this subject.  It was past seven before our debate
+ended, and then we went straight to the Parliament.
+
+We found it already assembled, and a few Dukes who had not attended our
+meeting, but had promised to be guided by us, were also present; and then
+a quarter of an hour after we were seated the bastards arrived.  M. du
+Maine was bursting with joy; the term is strange, but his bearing cannot
+otherwise be described.  The smiling and satisfied air prevailed over
+that of audacity and of confidence, which shone, nevertheless, and over
+politeness which seemed to struggle with them.  He saluted right and
+left, and pierced everybody with his looks.  His salutation to the
+Presidents had an air of rejoicing.  To the peers he was serious, nay,
+respectful; the slowness, the lowness of his inclination, was eloquent.
+His head remained lowered even when he rose, so heavy is the weight of
+crime, even at the moment when nothing but triumph is expected.  I
+rigidly followed him everywhere with my eyes, and I remarked that his
+salute was returned by the peers in a very dry and cold manner.
+
+Scarcely were we re-seated than M. le Duc arrived, and the instant after
+M. le Duc d'Orleans.  I allowed the stir that accompanied his appearance
+to subside a little, and then, seeing that the, Chief-President was about
+to speak, I forestalled him, uncovered my head, and then covered it, and
+made my speech in the terms agreed upon.  I concluded by appealing to M.
+le Duc d'Orleans to verify the truth of what I had said, in so far as it
+affected him.
+
+The profound silence with which I was listened to showed the surprise of
+all present.  M. le Duc d'Orleans uncovered himself, and in a low tone,
+and with an embarrassed manner, confirmed what I had said, then covered
+himself again.
+
+Immediately afterwards I looked at M. du Maine, who appeared, to be well
+content at being let off so easily, and who, my neighbours said to me,
+appeared much troubled at my commencement.
+
+A very short silence followed my protest, after which I saw the Chief-
+President say something in a low tone to M. le Duc d'Orleans, then
+arrange a deputation of the Parliament to go in search of the King's
+will, and its codicil, which had been put in the same place.  Silence
+continued during this great and short period of expectation; every one
+looked at his neighbour without stirring.  We were all upon the lower
+seats, the doors were supposed to be closed, but the grand chamber was
+filled with a large and inquisitive crowd.  The regiment of guards had
+secretly occupied all the avenues, commanded by the Duc de Guiche, who
+got six hundred thousand francs out of the Duc d'Orleans for this
+service, which was quite unnecessary.
+
+The deputation was not long in returning.  It placed the will and the
+codicil in the hands of the Chief-President, who presented them, without
+parting with them, to M. le Duc d'Orleans, then passed them from hand to
+hand to Dreux, 'conseiller' of the Parliament, and father of the grand
+master of the ceremonies, saying that he read well, and in a loud voice
+that would he well heard by everybody.  It may be imagined with what
+silence he was listened to, and how all eyes? and ears were turned
+towards him.  Through all his; joy the Duc du Maine showed that his soul
+was, troubled, as though about to undergo an operation that he must
+submit to.  M. le Duc d'Orleans showed only a tranquil attention.
+
+I will not dwell upon these two documents, in which nothing is provided
+but the grandeur and the power of the bastards, Madame de Maintenon and
+Saint-Cyr, the choice of the King's education and of the council of the
+regency, by which M. le Duc d'Orleans was to be shorn of all authority to
+the advantage of M. le Duc du Maine.
+
+I remarked a sadness and a kind of indignation which were painted upon
+all cheeks, as the reading advanced, and which turned into a sort of
+tranquil fermentation at the reading of the codicil, which was entrusted
+to the Abbe Menguy, another conseiller.  The Duc du Maine felt it and
+grew pale, for he was solely occupied in looking at every face, and I in
+following his looks, and in glancing occasionally at M. le Duc d'Orleans.
+
+The reading being finished, that prince spoke, casting his eyes upon all
+the assembly, uncovering himself, and then covering himself again, and
+commencing by a word of praise and of regret for the late King;
+afterwards raising his voice, he declared that he had only to approve
+everything just read respecting the education of the King, and everything
+respecting an establishment so fine and so useful as that of Saint-Cyr;
+that with respect to the dispositions concerning the government of the
+state, he would speak separately of those in the will and those in the
+codicil; that he could with difficulty harmonise them with the assurances
+the King, during the last days of his life, had given him; that the King
+could not have understood the importance of what he had been made to do
+for the Duc du Maine since the council of the regency was chosen, and M.
+du Maine's authority so established by the will, that the Regent remained
+almost without power; that this injury done to the rights of his birth,
+to his attachment to the person of the King, to his love and fidelity for
+the state, could not be endured if he was to preserve his honour; and
+that he hoped sufficiently from the esteem of all present, to persuade
+himself that his regency would be declared as it ought to be, that is to
+say, complete, independent, and that he should be allowed to choose his
+own council, with the members of which he would not discuss public
+affairs, unless they were persons who, being approved by the public,
+might also have his confidence.  This short speech appeared to make a
+great impression.
+
+The Duc du Maine wished to speak.  As he was about to do so, M. le Duc
+d'Orleans put his head in front of M. le Duc and said, in a dry tone,
+"Monsieur, you will speak in your turn."  In one moment the affair turned
+according to the desires of M. le Duc d'Orleans.  The power of the
+council of the regency and its composition fell.  The choice of the
+council was awarded to M. le Duc d'Orleans, with all the authority of the
+regency, and to the plurality of the votes of the council, the decision
+of affairs, the vote of the Regent to be counted as two in the event of
+an equal division.  Thus all favours and all punishments remained in the
+hands of M. le Duc d'Orleans alone.  The acclamation was such that the
+Duc du Maine did not dare to say a word.  He reserved himself for the
+codicil, which, if adopted, would have annulled all that M. le Duc
+d'Orleans had just obtained.
+
+After some few moments of silence, M. le Duc d'Orleans spoke again.  He
+testified fresh surprise that the dispositions of the will had not been
+sufficient for those who had suggested them, and that, not content with
+having established themselves as masters of the state, they themselves
+should have thought those dispositions so strange that in order to
+reassure them, it had been thought necessary to make them masters of the
+person of the King, of the Regent, of the Court, and of Paris.  He added,
+that if his honour and all law and rule had been wounded by the
+dispositions of the will, still more violated were they by those of the
+codicil, which left neither his life nor his liberty in safety, and
+placed the person of the King in the absolute dependence of those who had
+dared to profit by the feeble state of a dying monarch, to draw from him
+conditions he did not understand.  He concluded by declaring that the
+regency was impossible under such conditions, and that he doubted not the
+wisdom of the assembly would annul a codicil which could not be
+sustained, and the regulations of which would plunge France into the
+greatest and most troublesome misfortune.  Whilst this prince spoke a
+profound and sad silence applauded him without explaining itself.
+
+The Duc du Maine became of all colours, and began to speak, this time
+being allowed to do so.  He said that the education of the King, and
+consequently his person, being confided to him, as a natural result,
+entire authority over his civil and military household followed, without
+which he could not properly serve him or answer for his person.  Then he
+vaunted his well-known attachment to the deceased King, who had put all
+confidence in him.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans interrupted him at this word, and commented upon it.
+M. du Maine wished to calm him by praising the Marechal de Villeroy, who
+was to assist him in his charge.  M. le Duc d'Orleans replied that it
+would be strange if the chief and most complete confidence were not
+placed in the Regent, and stranger still if he were obliged to live under
+the protection and authority of those who had rendered themselves the
+absolute masters within and without, and of Paris even, by the regiment
+of guards.
+
+The dispute grew warm, broken phrases were thrown from one to the other,
+when, troubled about the end of an altercation which became indecent and
+yielding to the proposal that the Duc de la Force had just made me in
+front of the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, who sat between us, I made a sign
+with my hand to M. le Duc d'Orleans to go out and finish this discussion
+in another room leading out of the grand chamber and where there was
+nobody.  What led me to this action was that I perceived M. du Maine grew
+stronger, that confused murmurs for a division were heard, and that M. le
+Duc d'Orleans did not shine to the best advantage since he descended to
+plead his cause, so to speak, against that of the Duc du Maine.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans was short-sighted.  He was entirely absorbed in
+attacking and repelling; so that he did not see the sign I made.  Some
+moments after I increased it, and meeting with no more success, rose,
+advanced some steps, and said to him, though rather distant, "Monsieur,
+if you passed into the fourth chamber with M. du Maine you could speak
+there more easily," and advancing nearer at the same time I pressed him
+by a sign of the head and the eyes that he could distinguish.  He replied
+to me with another sign, and scarcely was I reseated than I saw him
+advance in front of M. le Duc to the Duc du Maine, and immediately after
+both rose and went into the chamber I had indicated.  I could not see who
+of the scattered group around followed them, for all present rose at
+their departure, and seated themselves again directly in complete
+silence.  Some time after, M. le Comte de Toulouse left his place and
+went into the Chamber.  M. le Duc followed him in a little while soon
+again the Duc de la Force did the same.
+
+He did not stay long.  Returning to the assembly; he passed the Duc de la
+Rochefoucauld and me, put his head between that of the Duc de Sully and
+mine, because he did not wish to be heard by La Rochefoucauld, and said
+to me, "In the name of God go there; things are getting on badly.  M. le
+Duc d'Orleans gives way; stop the dispute; make M. le Duc d'Orleans come
+back; and, as soon as he is in his place, let him say that it is too late
+to finish, that the company had better go to dinner, and return to finish
+afterwards, and during this interval," added La Force, "send the King's
+people to the Palais Royal, and let doubtful peers be spoken to, and the
+chiefs among other magistrates."
+
+The advice appeared to me good and important.  I left the assembly and
+went to the chamber.  I found a large circle of spectators.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans and the Duc du Maine stood before the fireplace, looking both
+very excited.  I looked at this spectacle some moments; then approached
+the mantelpiece like a man who wishes to speak.  "What is this,
+Monsieur?" said M. le Duc d'Orleans to me, with an impatient manner.
+"A pressing word, Monsieur, that I have to say to you," said I.  He
+continued speaking to the Duc du Maine, I being close by.  I redoubled my
+instances; he lent me his ear.  "No, no," said I, "not like that, come
+here," and I took him into a, corner by the chimney.  The Comte de
+Toulouse, who was there, drew completely back, and all the circle on that
+side.  The Duc du Maine drew back also from where he was.
+
+I said to M. le Duc d'Orleans, in his ear, that he could not hope to gain
+anything from M. du Maine, who would not sacrifice the codicil to his
+reasonings; that the length of their conference became indecent, useless,
+dangerous; that he was making a sight of himself to all who entered; that
+the only thing to be done was to return to the assembly, and, when there,
+dissolve it.  "You are right," said he, "I will do it."--"But," said I,
+"do it immediately, and do not allow yourself to be amused.  It is to M.
+de la Force you owe this advice: he sent me to give it you."  He quitted
+me without another word, went to M. du Maine, told him in two words that
+it was too late, and that the matter must be finished after dinner.
+
+I had remained where he left me.  I saw the Duc du Maine bow to him
+immediately, and the two separated, and retired at the same moment into
+the assembly.
+
+The noise which always accompanies these entrances being appeased, M. le
+Duc d'Orleans said it was too late to abuse the patience of the company
+any longer; that dinner must be eaten, and the work finished afterwards.
+He immediately added, he believed it fitting that M. le Duc should enter
+the council of the regency as its chief; and that since the company had
+rendered the justice due to his birth and his position as Regent, he
+would explain what he thought upon the form to be given to the
+government, and that meanwhile he profited by the power he had to avail
+himself of the knowledge and the wisdom of the company, and restored to
+them from that time their former liberty of remonstrance.  These words
+were followed by striking and general applause, and the assembly was
+immediately adjourned.
+
+I was invited this day to dine with the Cardinal de Noailles, but I felt
+the importance of employing the time so precious and so short, of the
+interval of dinner, and of not quitting M. le Duc d'Orleans, according to
+a suggestion of M. le Duc de la Force.  I approached M. le Duc d'Orleans,
+and said in his ear, "The moments are precious: I will follow you to the
+Palais Royal," and went back to my place among the peers.  Jumping into
+my coach, I sent a gentleman with my excuses to the Cardinal de Noailles,
+saying, I would tell him the reason of my absence afterwards.  Then I
+went to the Palais Royal, where curiosity had gathered together all who
+were not at the palace, and even some who had been there.  All the
+acquaintances I met asked me the news with eagerness.  I contented myself
+with replying that everything went well, and according to rule, but that
+all was not yet finished.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans had passed into a cabinet, where I found him alone
+with Canillac, who had waited for him.  We took our measures there, and
+M. le Duc d'Orleans sent for the Attorney-General, D'Aguesseau,
+afterwards Chancellor, and the chief Advocate-General, Joly de Fleury,
+since Attorney-General.  It was nearly two o'clock.  A little dinner was
+served, of which Canillac, Conflans, M. le Duc d'Orleans, and myself
+partook; and I will say this, by the way, I never dined with him but once
+since, namely, at Bagnolet.
+
+We returned to the Parliament a little before four o'clock.  I arrived
+there alone in my carriage, a moment before M. le Duc d'Orleans, and
+found everybody assembled.  I was looked at with much curiosity, as it
+seemed to me.  I am not aware if it was known whence I came.  I took care
+that my bearing should say nothing.  I simply said to the Duc de la Force
+that his advice had been salutary, that I had reason to hope all success
+from it, and that I had told M. le Duc d'Orleans whence it came.  That
+Prince arrived, and (the hubbub inseparable from such a numerous suite
+being appeased) he said that matters must be recommenced from the point
+where they had been broken off in the morning; that it was his duty to
+say to the Court that in nothing had he agreed with M. du Maine and to
+bring again before all eyes the monstrous clauses of a codicil, drawn
+from a dying prince; clauses much more strange than the dispositions of
+the testament that the Court had not deemed fit to be put in execution,
+and that the Court could not allow M. du Maine to be master of the person
+of the King, of the camp, of Paris, consequently of the State, of the
+person, life, and liberty of the Regent, whom he would be in a position
+to arrest at any moment as soon as he became the absolute and independent
+master of the civil and military household of the King; that the Court
+saw what must inevitably result from an unheard-of novelty, which placed
+everything in the hands of M. du Maine; and that he left it to the
+enlightenment, to the prudence, to the wisdom, to the equity of the
+company, and its love for the State, to declare what they thought on this
+subject.
+
+M. du Maine appeared then as contemptible in the broad open daylight as
+he had appeared redoubtable in the obscurity of the cabinets.  He had the
+look of one condemned, and his face, generally so fresh-coloured, was now
+as pale as death.  He replied in a very low and scarcely intelligible
+voice, and with an air as respectful and as humble as it had been
+audacious in the morning.
+
+People opined without listening to him; and tumultuously, but with one
+voice, the entire abrogation of the codicil was passed.  This was
+premature, as the abrogation of the testament had been in the morning--
+both caused by sudden indignation.  D'Aguesseauand Fleury both spoke, the
+first in a few words, the other at greater length, making a very good
+speech.  As it exists, in the libraries, I will only say that the
+conclusions of both orators were in everything favourable to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans.
+
+After they had spoken, the Duc du Maine, seeing himself totally shorn,
+tried a last resource.  He represented, with more force than could have
+been expected from his demeanour at this second sitting, but yet with
+measure, that since he had been stripped of the authority confided to him
+by the codicil, he asked to be discharged from the responsibility of
+answering for the person of the King, and to be allowed simply to
+preserve the superintendence of his education.  M, le Duc d'Orleans
+replied, "With all my heart, Monsieur; nothing more is wanted."
+Thereupon the Chief.  President formally put the question to the vote.
+A decree was passed by which all power was taken from the hands of M. du
+Maine and placed in those of the Regent, with the right of placing whom
+he pleased in the council; of dismissing anybody as it should seem good
+to him; and of doing all he might think fit respecting the form to be
+given to the government; authority over public affairs, nevertheless, to
+remain with the council, and decision to be taken by the plurality of
+votes, the vote of the Regent to count double in case of equal division;
+M. le Duc to be chief of the council under him, with the right to enter
+it at once and opine there.
+
+During all this time, and until the end of the sitting, M. du Maine had
+his eyes always cast down, looked more dead than alive, and appeared
+motionless.  His son and his brother gave no sign of taking interest in
+anything.
+
+The decree was followed by loud acclamations of the crowd scattered
+outside, and that which filled the rest of the palace replied as soon as
+they learnt what had been decided.
+
+This noise, which lasted some time, being appeased, the Regent thanked
+the company in brief, polished, and majestic terms; declared with what
+care he would employ for the good of the state, the authority with which
+he was invested; then said it was time he should inform them what he
+judged ought to be established in order to aid him in the administration
+of affairs.  He added that he did so with the more confidence, because
+what he proposed was exactly what M. le Duc de Bourgogne ('twas thus he
+named him) had resolved, as shown by papers found in his bureau.  He
+passed a short and graceful eulogy upon the enlightenment and intentions
+of that prince; then declared that, besides the council of the regency,
+which would be the supreme centre from which all the affairs of the
+government would spring, he proposed to establish a council for foreign
+affairs, one for war, one for the navy, one for finance, one for
+ecclesiastical matters, and one for home affairs and to choose some of
+the magistrates of the company to enter these last two councils, and aid
+them by their knowledge upon the police of the realm, the jurisprudence,
+and what related to the liberties of the Gallican church.
+
+The applause of the magistrates burst out at this, and all the crowd
+replied to it.  The Chief-President concluded the sitting by a very short
+compliment to the Regent, who rose, and at the same time all the
+assembly, which then broke up.
+
+On Friday, the 6th of September, 1715, the Regent performed an action of
+most exquisite merit, if it had been actuated by the love of God, but
+which was of the utmost meanness, religion having no connection with it.
+He went at eight o'clock in the morning to see Madame de Maintenon at
+Saint-Cyr.  He was nearly an hour with this enemy, who had wished to cut
+off his head, and who quite recently had sought to deliver him, tied hand
+and foot, to M. du Maine, by the monstrous dispositions of the King's
+will and codicil.
+
+The Regent assured her during this visit that the four thousand livres
+the King had given her every month should be continued, and should be
+brought to her the first day of every month by the Duc de Noailles, who
+had apparently induced the Prince to pay this visit, and promise this
+present.  He said to Madame de Maintenon that if she wished for more she
+had only to speak, and assured her he would protect Saint-Cyr. In leaving
+he was shown the young girls, all together in classes.
+
+It must be remembered, that besides the estate of Maintenon, and the
+other property of this famous and fatal witch, the establishment of
+Saint-Cyr, which had more than four hundred thousand livres yearly
+income, and much money in reserve, was obliged by the rules which founded
+it, to receive Madame de Maintenon, if she wished to retire there; to
+obey her in all things, as the absolute and sole superior; to keep her
+and everybody connected with her, her domestics, her equipages, as she
+wished, her table, etc., at the expense of the house, all of which was
+very punctually done until her death.  Thus she needed not this generous
+liberality, by which her pension of forty-eight thousand livres was
+continued to her.  It would have been quite enough if M. le Duc d'Orleans
+had forgotten that she was in existence, and had simply left her
+untroubled in Saint-Cyr.
+
+The Regent took good care not to inform me of his visit, before or after;
+and I took good care not to reproach him with it, or make him ashamed of
+it.  It made much noise, and was not approved of.  The Spanish affair was
+not yet forgotten, and the will and codicil furnished other matter for
+all conversations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXX
+
+Saturday, the 7th of September, was the day fixed for the first Bed of
+Justice of the King (Louis XV.); but he caught a cold during the night,
+and suffered a good deal.  The Regent came alone to Paris.  The
+Parliament had assembled, and I went to a door of the palace, where I was
+informed of the countermand which had just arrived.  The Chief-President
+and the King's people were at once sent for to the Palais Royal, and the
+Parliament, which was about to adjourn, was continued for all the rest of
+the month for general business.  On the morrow, the Regent, who was
+wearied with Versailles,--for he liked to live in Paris, where all his
+pleasures were within easy reach,--and who met with opposition from the
+Court doctors, all comfortably lodged at Versailles, to the removal of
+the person of the King to Vincennes, under pretext of a slight cold,
+fetched other doctors from Paris, who had been sent for to see the
+deceased King.  These practitioners, who had nothing to gain by
+recommending Versailles, laughed at the Court doctors, and upon their
+opinion it was resolved to take the King to Vincennes, where all was
+ready for him on the morrow.
+
+He set out, then, that day from Versailles, at about two o'clock in the
+day, in company with the Regent, the Duchesse de Ventadour, the Duc du
+Maine, and the Marechal de Villeroy, passed round the ramparts of Paris,
+without entering the city, and arrived at Vincennes about five o'clock,
+many people and carriages having come out along the road to see him.
+
+On the day after the arrival of the King at Vincennes, the Regent worked
+all the morning with all the Secretaries of State separately, whom he had
+charged to bring him the list of all the 'lettres de cachet' issued from
+their bureaux, and a statement of the reasons for which they were
+delivered, as such oftentimes were slight.  The majority of the 'lettres
+de cachet' of exile and of imprisonment had been drawn up against
+Jansenists, and people who had opposed the constitution; numbers the
+reasons of which were known only to the deceased King, and to those who
+had induced him to grant them; others were of the time of previous
+ministers, and among them were many which had been long forgotten and
+unknown.  The Regent restored everybody to liberty, exiles and prisoners,
+except those whom he knew to have been arrested for grave crimes, or
+affairs of State; and brought down infinite benedictions upon himself by
+this act of justice and humanity.
+
+Many very singular and strange stories were then circulated, which showed
+the tyranny of the last reign, and of its ministers, and caused the
+misfortunes of the prisoners to be deplored.  Among those in the Bastille
+was a man who had been imprisoned thirty-five years.  Arrested the day he
+arrived in Paris, on a journey from Italy, to which country he belonged.
+It has never been known why he was arrested, and he had never been
+examined, as was the case with the majority of the others: people were
+persuaded a mistake had been made.  When his liberty was announced to
+him, he sadly asked what it was expected he could do with it.  He said he
+had not a farthing; that he did not know a soul in Paris, not even a
+single street, or a person in all France; that his relatives in Italy
+had, doubtless, died since he left; that his property, doubtless, had
+been divided, so many years having elapsed during which no news had been
+received from him; that he knew not what to do.  He asked to be allowed
+to remain in the Bastille for the rest of his days, with food and
+lodging.  This was granted, with as much liberty as he wished.
+
+As for those who were taken from the dungeons where the hatred of the
+ministers; of the Jesuits; and of the Constitution chiefs, had cast them,
+the horrible state they appeared in terrified everybody, and rendered
+credible all the cruel stories which, as soon as they were fully at
+liberty, they revealed.
+
+The same day on which this merciful decision was come to, died Madame de
+la Vieuville, not old, of a cancer in the breast, the existence of which
+she had concealed until two days before her death, and thus deprived
+herself of help.
+
+A few days after, the finances being in such a bad state, the Regent made
+Crosat treasurer of the order, in return for which he obtained from him a
+loan of a million, in bars of silver, and the promise of another two
+million.  Previous to this, the hunting establishments of the King had
+been much reduced.  Now another retrenchment was made.  There were seven
+intendants of the finances, who, for six hundred thousand livres, which
+their places had cost them, enjoyed eighty thousand livres each per
+annum.  They were all suppressed, and simply the interest of their
+purchase-money paid to them; that is to say, thirty thousand livres each,
+until that purchase-money could be paid.  It was found that there were
+sixteen hundred thousand francs owing to our ambassadors, and to our
+agents in foreign countries, the majority of whom literally had not
+enough to pay the postage of their letters, having spent all they
+possessed.  This was a cruel discredit to us, all over Europe.  I might
+fill a volume in treating upon the state and the arrangements of our
+finances.  But this labour is above my strength, and contrary to my
+taste.  I will simply say that as soon as money could be spared it was
+sent to our ambassadors abroad.  They were dying of hunger, were over
+head and ears in debt, had fallen into utter contempt, and our affairs
+were suffering accordingly.
+
+The council of the regency, let me say here, was composed of the
+following persons: M. le Duc d'Orleans, M. le Duc, the Duc du Maine, the
+Comte de Toulouse, Voysin the Chancellor, myself--since I must name
+myself,--Marechal de Villeroy, Marechal d'Harcourt, Marechal de Besons,
+the Late Bishop of Troyes, and Torcy, with a right to vote; with La
+Vrilliere, who kept the register, and Pontchartrain, both without the
+right to vote.
+
+I have already alluded to the presence of Lord Stair at this time in our
+Court, as ambassador from England.  By means of intrigues he had
+succeeded in ingratiating himself into the favour of the Regent, and in
+convincing him that the interests of France and England were identical.
+One of the reasons--the main one--which he brought forward to show this,
+was that King George was an usurper; and that if anything happened to our
+King, M. le Duc d'Orleans would become, in mounting the throne of France,
+an usurper also, the King of Spain being the real heir to the French
+monarchy; that, in consequence of this, France and England ought to march
+together, protect each other; France assisting England against the
+Pretender, and England assisting France, if need be, against the King of
+Spain.  M. le Duc d'Orleans had too much penetration not to see this
+snare; but, marvellous as it may seem, the crookedness of this policy,
+and not the desire of reigning, seduced him.  I am quite prepared, if
+ever these memoirs see the day, to find that this statement will be
+laughed at; that it will throw discredit on others, and cause me to be
+regarded as a great ass, if I think to make my readers, believe it; or
+for an idiot, if I have believed it myself.  Nevertheless, such is the
+pure truth, to which I sacrifice all, in despite of what my readers may
+think of me.  However incredible it may be, it is, as I say, the exact
+verity; and I do not hesitate to advance, that there are many such facts,
+unknown to history, which would much surprise if known; and which are
+unknown, only because scarcely any history has been written at first
+hand.
+
+Stair wished, above all, to hinder the Regent from giving any assistance
+to the Pretender, and to prevent him passing through the realm in order
+to reach a seaport.  Now the Regent was between two stools, for he had
+promised the Pretender to wink at his doings, and to favour his passage
+through France, if it were made secretly, and at the same time he had
+assented to the demand of Stair.  Things had arrived at this pass when
+the troubles increased in England, and the Earl of Mar obtained some
+success in Scotland.  Soon after news came that the Pretender had
+departed from Bar, and was making his way to the coast.  Thereupon Stair
+ran in hot haste to M. le Duc d'Orleans to ask him to keep his promise,
+and hinder the Pretender's journey.  The Regent immediately sent off
+Contade, major in the guards, very intelligent, and in whom he could
+trust, with his brother, a lieutenant in the same regiment, and two
+sergeants of their choice, to go to Chateau-Thierry, and wait for the
+Pretender, Stair having sure information that he would pass there.
+Contade set out at night on the 9th of November, well resolved and
+instructed to miss the person he was to seek.  Stair, who expected as
+much, took also his measures, which were within an inch of succeeding;
+for this is what happened.
+
+The Pretender set out disguised from Bar, accompanied by only three or
+four persons, and came to Chaillot, where M. de Lauzun had a little
+house, which he never visited, and which he had kept for mere fancy,
+although he had a house at Passy, of which he made much use.  It was in
+this, Chaillot's house, that the Pretender put up, and where he saw the
+Queen, his mother, who often stopped at the Convent of the Filles de
+Sainte Marie-Therese.  Thence he set out in a post-chaise of Torcy's, by
+way of Alencon, for Brittany, where he meant to embark.
+
+Stair discovered this scheme, and resolved to leave nothing undone in
+order to deliver his party of this, the last of the Stuarts.  He quietly
+despatched different people by different roads, especially by that from
+Paris to Alencon.  He charged with this duty Colonel Douglas (who
+belonged to the Irish (regiments) in the pay of France), who, under the
+protection of his name, and by his wit and his intrigues, had insinuated
+himself into many places in Paris since the commencement of the regency;
+had placed himself on a footing of consideration and of familiarity with
+the Regent; and often came to my house.  He was good company; had married
+upon the frontier of Metz; was very poor; had politeness and much
+experience of the world; the reputation of distinguished valour; and
+nothing which could render him suspected of being capable of a crime.
+
+Douglas got into a post-chaise, accompanied by two horsemen; all three
+were well armed, and posted leisurely along this road.  Nonancourt is a
+kind of little village upon this route, at nineteen leagues from Paris;
+between Dreux, three leagues further, and Verneuil au Perche, four
+leagues this side.  It was at Nonancourt that he alighted, ate a morsel
+at the post-house, inquired with extreme solicitude after a post-chaise
+which he described, as well as the manner in which it would be
+accompanied, expressed fear lest it had already passed, and lest he had
+not been answered truly.  After infinite inquiries, he left a third
+horseman, who had just reached him, on guard, with orders to inform him
+when the chaise he was in search of appeared; and added menaces and
+promises of recompense to the post people, so as not to be deceived by
+their negligence.
+
+The post-master was named L'Hospital; he was absent, but his wife was in
+the house, and she fortunately was a very honest woman, who had wit,
+sense, and courage.  Nonancourt is only five leagues from La Ferme, and
+when, to save distance, you do not pass there, they send you relays upon
+the road.  Thus I knew very well this post-mistress, who mixed herself
+more in the business than her husband, and who has herself related to me
+this adventure more than once.  She did all she could, uselessly, to
+obtain some explanation upon these alarms.  All that she could unravel
+was that the strangers were Englishmen, and in a violent excitement about
+something, that something very important was at stake,--and that they
+meditated mischief.  She fancied thereupon that the Pretender was in
+question; resolved to save him; mentally arranged her plans, and
+fortunately enough executed them.
+
+In order to succeed she devoted herself to the service of these
+gentlemen, refused them nothing, appeared quite satisfied, and promised
+that they should infallibly be informed.  She persuaded them of this so
+thoroughly, that Douglas went away without saying where, except to this
+third horseman just arrived, but it was close at hand; so that he might
+be warned in time.  He took one of his valets with him; the other
+remained with the horseman to wait and watch.
+
+Another man much embarrassed the post-mistress; nevertheless, she laid
+her plans.  She proposed to the horseman to drink something, because when
+he arrived Douglas had left the table.  She served him in her best
+manner, and with her best wine, and kept him at table as long as she
+could, anticipating all his orders.  She had placed a valet, in whom she
+could trust, as guard, with orders simply to appear, without a word, if
+he saw a chaise; and her resolution was to lock up the Englishman and his
+servant, and to give their horses to the chaise if it came.  But it came
+not, and the Englishman grew tired of stopping at table.  Then she
+manoeuvred so well that she persuaded him to go and lie down, and to
+count upon her, her people, and upon the valet Douglas had left.  The
+Englishman told this valet not to quit the threshold of the house, and to
+inform him as soon as the chaise appeared.  He then suffered himself to
+be led to the back of the house, in order to lie down.  The post-
+mistress, immediately after, goes to one of her friends in a by-street,
+relates her adventure and her suspicions, makes the friend agree to
+receive and secrete in her dwelling the person she expected, sends for an
+ecclesiastic, a relative of them both, and in whom she could repose
+confidence, who came and lent an Abbe's dress and wig to match.  This
+done, Madame L'Hospital returns to her home, finds the English valet at
+the door, talks with him, pities his ennui, says he is a good fellow to
+be so particular, says that from the door to the house there is but one
+step, promises him that he shall be as well informed as by his own eyes,
+presses him to drink something, and tips the wink to a trusty postilion,
+who makes him drink until he rolls dead drunk under the table.  During
+this performance, the wary mistress listens at the door of the English
+gentleman's room, gently turns the key and locks him in, and then
+establishes herself upon the threshold of her door.
+
+Half an hour after comes the trusty valet whom she had put on guard: it
+was the expected chaise, which, as well as the three men who accompanied
+it, were made, without knowing why, to slacken speed.  It was King James.
+Madame L'Hospital accosts him, says he is expected, and lost if he does
+not take care; but that he may trust in her and follow her.  At once they
+both go to her friends.  There he learns all that has happened, and they
+hide him, and the three men of his suite as well as they could.  Madame
+L'Hospital returns home, sends for the officers of justice, and in
+consequence of her suspicions she causes the English gentleman and the
+English valet, the one drunk, the other asleep, locked in the room where
+she had left him, to be arrested, and immediately after despatches a
+postilion to Torcy.  The officers of justice act, and send their
+deposition to the Court.
+
+The rage of the English gentleman on finding himself arrested, and unable
+to execute the duty which led him there, and his fury against the valet
+who had allowed himself to be intoxicated, cannot be expressed.  As for
+Madame L'Hospital he would have strangled her if he could; and she for a
+long time was afraid of her life.
+
+The Englishman could not be induced to confess what brought him there, or
+where was Douglas, whom he named in order to show his importance.  He
+declared he had been sent by the English ambassador, though Stair had not
+yet officially assumed that title, and exclaimed that that minister would
+never suffer the affront he had received.  They civilly replied to him,
+that there were no proofs he came from the English ambassador,--none that
+he was connected with the minister: that very suspicious designs against
+public safety on the highway alone were visible; that no harm or
+annoyance should be caused him, but that he must remain in safety until
+orders came, and there upon he was civilly led to prison, as well as the
+intoxicated valet.
+
+What became of Douglas at that time was never known, except that he was
+recognised in various places, running, inquiring, crying out with despair
+that he had escaped, without mentioning any name.  Apparently news came
+to him, or he sought it, being tired of receiving none.  The report of
+what had occurred in such a little place as Nonancourt would easily have
+reached him, close as he was to it; and perhaps it made him set out anew
+to try and catch his prey.
+
+But he journeyed in vain.  King James had remained hidden at Nonancourt,
+where, charmed with the attentions of his generous post-mistress, who had
+saved him from his assassins, he admitted to her who he was, and gave her
+a letter for the Queen, his mother.  He remained there three days, to
+allow the hubbub to pass, and rob those who sought him of all hope; then,
+disguised as an Abbe, he jumped into a post-chaise that Madame L'Hospital
+had borrowed in the neighbourhood--to confound all identity--and
+continued his journey, during which he was always pursued, but happily
+was never recognised, and embarked in Brittany for Scotland.
+
+Douglas, tired of useless searches, returned to Paris, where Stair kicked
+up a fine dust about the Nonancourt adventure.  This he denominated
+nothing less than an infraction of the law of nations, with an extreme
+audacity and impudence, and Douglas, who could not be ignorant of what
+was said about him, had the hardihood to go about everywhere as usual; to
+show himself at the theatre; and to present himself before M. le Duc
+d'Orleans.
+
+This Prince ignored as much as he could a plot so cowardly and so
+barbarous, and in respect to him so insolent.  He kept silence, said to
+Stair what he judged fitting to make him be silent likewise, but gave
+liberty to his English assassins.  Douglas, however, fell much in the
+favour of the Regent, and many considerable people closed their doors to
+him.  He vainly tried to force mine.  But as for me I was a perfect
+Jacobite, and quite persuaded that it was the interest of France to give
+England domestic occupation, which would long hinder her from thinking of
+foreign matters.  I then, as may be supposed, could not look upon the
+odious enterprise with a favourable eye, or pardon its authors.  Douglas
+complained to me of my disregard for him, but to no purpose.  Soon after
+he disappeared from Paris.  I know not what became of him afterwards.
+His wife and his children remained there living by charity.  A long time
+after his death beyond the seas, the Abbe de Saint-Simon passed from
+Noyan to Metz, where he found his widow in great misery.
+
+The Queen of England sent for Madame L'Hospital to Saint-Germain, thanked
+her, caressed her, as she deserved, and gave her her portrait.  This was
+all; the Regent gave her nothing; a long while after King James wrote to
+her, and sent her also his portrait.  Conclusion: she remained post-
+mistress of Nonancourt as before, twenty or twenty-five years after, to
+her death; and her son and her daughter-in-law keep the post now.  She
+was a true woman; estimated in her neighbourhood; not a single word that
+she uttered concerning this history has been contradicted by any one.
+What it cost her can never be said, but she never received a farthing.
+She never complained, but spoke as she found things, with modesty, and
+without seeking to speak.  Such is the indigence of dethroned Kings, and
+their complete forgetfulness of the greatest perils and the most signal
+services.
+
+Many honest people avoided Stair, whose insolent airs made others avoid
+him.  He filled the cup by the insupportable manner in which he spoke
+upon that affair, never daring to admit he had directed it, or deigning
+to disculpate himself.  The only annoyance he showed was about his ill-
+success.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXI
+
+I must say a few words now of Madame la Duchesse de Berry, who, as may be
+imagined, began to hold her head very high indeed directly the regency of
+Monsieur her father was established.  Despite the representations of
+Madame de Saint-Simon, she usurped all the honours of a queen; she went
+through Paris with kettle-drums beating, and all along the quay of the
+Tuileries where the King was.  The Marechal de Villeroy complained of
+this next day to M. le Duc d'Orleans, who promised him that while the
+King remained in Paris no kettle-drums should be heard but his.  Never
+afterwards did Madame la Duchesse de Berry have any, yet when she went to
+the theatre she sat upon a raised dais in her box, had four of her guards
+upon the stage, and others in the pit; the house was better lighted than
+usual, and before the commencement of the performance she was harangued
+by the players.  This made a strange stir in Paris, and as she did not
+dare to continue it she gave up her usual place, and took at the opera a
+little box where she could scarcely be seen, and where she was almost
+incognito.  As the comedy was played then upon the opera stage for
+Madame, this little box served for both entertainments.
+
+The Duchess desired apparently to pass the summer nights in all liberty
+in the garden of the Luxembourg.  She accordingly had all the gates
+walled up but one, by which the Faubourg Saint-Germain, which had always
+enjoyed the privilege of walking there, were much deprived.  M. le Duc
+thereupon opened the Conti garden to make up to the public for their
+loss.  As may be imagined, strange things were said about the motives
+which led to the walling up of the garden.
+
+As the Princess found new lovers to replace the old ones, she tried to
+pension off the latter at the expense of the public.  She had a place
+created expressly for La Haye.  She bought, or rather the King for her,
+a little house at the entry of the Bois de Boulogne, which was pretty,
+with all the wood in front, and a fine garden behind.  It was called La
+Muette.
+
+After many amours she had become smitten with Rion, a younger son of the
+house of Aydic.  He was a fat, chubby, pale little fellow, who had so
+many pimples that he did not ill resemble an abscess.  He had good teeth,
+but had no idea he should cause a passion which in less than no time
+became ungovernable, and which lasted a long while without however
+interfering with temporary and passing amours.  He was not worth a penny,
+but had many brothers and sisters who had no more than he.  He was a
+lieutenant of dragoons, relative of Madame Pons, dame d'atours of Madame
+la Duchesse de Berry, who sent for him to try and do something for him.
+Scarcely had he arrived than the passion of the Duchess declared itself,
+and he became the master of the Luxembourg where she dwelt.  M. de
+Lauzun, who was a distant relative, was delighted, and chuckled inwardly.
+He thought he saw a repetition of the old times, when Mademoiselle was in
+her glory; he vouchsafed his advice to Rion.
+
+Rion was gentle and naturally polished and respectful, a good and honest
+fellow.  He soon felt the power of his charms, which could only have
+captivated the incomprehensible and depraved fantasy of such a princess.
+He did not abuse this power; made himself liked by everybody; but he
+treated Madame la Duchesse de Berry as M. de Lauzun had treated
+Mademoiselle.  He was soon decorated with the most beautiful lace and the
+richest clothes covered with silver, loaded with snuffboxes, jewels, and
+precious stones.  He took pleasure in making the Princess long after him,
+and be jealous; affecting to be still more jealous of her.  He often made
+her cry.  Little by little, he obtained such authority over her that she
+did not dare to do anything without his permission, not even the most
+indifferent things.  If she were ready to go to the opera, he made her
+stay away; at other times he made her go thither in spite of herself.
+He made her treat well many ladies she did not like, or of whom she was
+jealous, and treat ill persons who pleased her, but of whom he pretended
+to be jealous.  Even in her finery she had not the slightest liberty.
+He amused himself by making her disarrange her head-dress, or change her
+clothes, when she was quite dressed; and that so often and so publicly,
+that he accustomed her at last to take over night his orders for her
+morning's dress and occupation, and on the morrow he would change
+everything, and the Princess wept as much as she could, and more.  At
+last she actually sent messages to him by trusty valets,--for he lived
+close to the Luxembourg,--several times during her toilet, to know what
+ribbons she should wear; the same with her gown and other things; and
+nearly always he made her wear what she did not wish for.  If ever she
+dared to do the least thing without his permission, he treated her like a
+serving-wench, and her tears lasted sometimes several days.  This
+princess, so haughty, and so fond of showing and exercising the most
+unmeasured pride, disgraced herself by joining in repasts with him and
+obscure people; she, with whom no man could lawfully eat if he were not a
+prince of the blood!
+
+A Jesuit, named Pere Riglet, whom she had known as a child, and whose
+intimacy she had always cultivated since, was admitted to these private
+repasts, without being ashamed thereof, and without Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry being embarrassed.  Madame de Mouchy was the confidante of all
+these strange parties she and Rion invited the guests, and chose the
+days.  La Mouchy often reconciled the Princess to her lover, and was
+better treated by him than she, without her daring to take notice of it,
+for fear of an eclat which would have caused her to lose so dear a lover,
+and a confidante so necessary.  This life was public; everybody at the
+Luxembourg paid court to M. de Rion, who, on his side, took care to be on
+good terms with all the world, nay, with an air of respect that he
+refused, even in public, to his princess.  He often gave sharp replies to
+her in society, which made people lower their eyes, and brought blushes
+to the cheek of Madame la Duchesse de Berry, who, nevertheless, did not
+attempt to conceal her submission and passionate manners, even before
+others.  A remarkable fact is, that in the midst of this life, she took
+an apartment at the Convent of the Carmelites of the Faubourg Saint-
+Germain, where she sometimes went in the afternoon, always slept there on
+grand religious fete days, and often remained there several days running.
+She took with her two ladies, rarely three, scarcely a single domestic;
+she ate with her ladies what the convent could supply for her table;
+attended the services, was sometimes long in prayer, and rigidly fasted
+on the appointed days.
+
+Two Carmelites, of much talent, and who knew the world, were charged to
+receive her, and to be near her.  One was very beautiful: the other had
+been so.  They were rather young, especially the handsomer; but were very
+religious and holy, and performed the office entrusted to them much
+against their inclination.  When they became more familiar they spoke
+freely to the Princess, and said to her that if they knew nothing of her
+but what they saw, they should admire her as a saint, but, elsewhere,
+they learnt that she led a strange life, and so public, that they could
+not comprehend why she came to their convent.  Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry laughed at this, and was not angry.  Sometimes they lectured her,
+called people and things by their names, and exhorted her to change so
+scandalous a life; but it was all in vain.  She lived as before, both at
+the Luxembourg and at the Carmelites, and caused wonderment by this
+surprising conduct.
+
+Madame la Duchesse de Berry returned with usury to her father, the
+severity and the domination she suffered at the hands of Rion--yet this
+prince, in his weakness, was not less submissive to her, attentive to
+her, or afraid of her.  He was afflicted with the public reign of Rion,
+and the scandal of his daughter; but he did not dare to breathe a word,
+or if he did (after some scene, as ridiculous as it was violent, had
+passed between the lover and the Princess, and become public), he was
+treated like a negro, pouted at several days, and did not know how to
+make his peace.
+
+But it is time now to speak of the public and private occupations of the
+Regent himself, of his conduct, his pleasure parties, and the employment
+of his days.
+
+Up to five o'clock in the evening he devoted himself exclusively to
+public business, reception of ministers, councils, etc., never dining
+during the day, but taking chocolate between two and three o'clock, when
+everybody was allowed to enter his room.  After the council of the day,
+that is to say, at about five o'clock, there was no more talk of
+business.  It was now the time of the Opera or the Luxembourg (if he had
+not been to the latter place before his chocolate), or he went to Madame
+la Duchesse d'Orleans' apartments, or supped, or went out privately, or
+received company privately; or, in the fine season, he went to Saint-
+Cloud, or elsewhere out of town, now supping there, or at the Luxembourg,
+or at home.  When Madame was at Paris, he spoke to her for a moment
+before his mass; and when she was at Saint-Cloud he went to see her
+there, and always paid her much attention and respect.
+
+His suppers were always in very strange company.  His mistresses,
+sometimes an opera girl, often Madame la Duchesse de Berry, and a dozen
+men whom he called his rows, formed the party.  The requisite cheer was
+prepared in places made expressly, on the same floor, all the utensils
+were of silver; the company often lent a hand to the cooks.  It was at
+these parties that the character of every one was passed in review,
+ministers and favourites like the rest, with a liberty which was
+unbridled license.  The gallantries past and present of the Court and of
+the town; all old stories, disputes, jokes, absurdities were raked up;
+nobody was spared; M. le Duc d'Orleans had his say like the rest, but
+very rarely did these discourses make the slightest impression upon him.
+The company drank as much as they could, inflamed themselves, said the
+filthiest things without stint, uttered impieties with emulation, and
+when they had made a good deal of noise and were very drunk, they went to
+bed to recommence the same game the next day.  From the moment when
+supper was ready, business, no matter of, what importance, no matter
+whether private or national, was entirely banished from view.  Until the
+next morning everybody and everything were compelled to wait.
+
+The Regent lost then an infinite amount of time in private, in
+amusements, and debauchery.  He lost much also in audiences too long, too
+extended, too easily granted, and drowned himself in those same details
+which during the lifetime of the late King we had both so often
+reproached him with.  Questions he might have decided in half an hour he
+prolonged, sometimes from weakness, sometimes from that miserable desire
+to set people at loggerheads, and that poisonous maxim which occasionally
+escaped him or his favourite, 'divide et impera'; often from his general
+mistrust of everybody and everything; nothings became hydras with which
+he himself afterwards was much embarrassed.  His familiarity and his
+readiness of access extremely pleased people, but were much abused.
+Folks sometimes were even wanting in respect to him, which at last was an
+inconvenience all the more dangerous because he could not, when he
+wished, reprimand those who embarrassed him; insomuch as they themselves
+did not feel embarrassed.
+
+What is extraordinary is, neither his mistress nor Madame la Duchesse de
+Berry, nor his 'roues', could ever draw anything from him, even when
+drunk, concerning the affairs of the government, however important.  He
+publicly lived with Madame de Parabere; he lived at the same time with
+others; he amused himself with the jealousy and vexation of these women;
+he was not the less on good terms with them all; and the scandal of this
+public seraglio, and that of the daily filthiness and impiety at his
+suppers, were extreme and spread everywhere.
+
+Towards the end of the year (1715) the Chevalier de Bouillon, who since
+the death of the son of the Comte d'Auvergne had taken the name of the
+Prince d'Auvergne, proposed to the Regent that there should be a public
+ball, masked and unmasked, in the opera three times a week, people to pay
+upon entering, and the boxes to be thrown open to those who did not care
+to dance.  It was believed that a public ball, guarded as is the opera on
+days of performance, would prevent those adventures which happened so
+often at the little obscure balls scattered throughout Paris; and indeed
+close them altogether.  The opera balls were established on a grand
+scale, and with all possible effect.  The proposer of the idea had for it
+six thousand livres pension; and a machine admirably invented and of easy
+and instantaneous application, was made to cover the orchestra, and put
+the stage and the pit on the same level.  The misfortune was, that the
+opera was at the Palais Royal, and that M. le Duc d'Orleans had only one
+step to take to reach it after his suppers and show himself there, often
+in a state but little becoming.  The Duc de Noailles, who strove to pay
+court to him, went there from the commencement so drunk that there was no
+indecency he did not commit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXII
+
+Let me speak now of another matter.
+
+A Scotchman, I do not know of what family, a great player and combiner,
+who had gained much in various countries he had been in, had come to
+Paris during the last days of the deceased King.  His name was Law; but
+when he became more known, people grew so accustomed to call him Las,
+that his name of Law disappeared.  He was spoken of to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans as a man deep in banking and commercial matters, in the
+movements of the precious metals, in monies and finance: the Regent, from
+this description, was desirous to see him.  He conversed with Law some
+time, and was so pleased with him, that he spoke of him to Desmarets as a
+man from whom information was to be drawn.  I recollect that the Prince
+spoke of him to me at the same time.  Desmarets sent for Law, and was a
+long while with him several times; I know nothing of what passed between
+them or its results, except that Desmarets was pleased with Law, and
+formed some esteem for him.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans, after that, only saw him from time to time; but
+after the first rush of affairs, which followed the death of the King,
+Law, who had formed some subaltern acquaintances at the Palais Royal, and
+an intimacy with the Abbe Dubois, presented himself anew before M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, soon after conversed with him in private, and proposed some
+finance plans to him.  The Regent made him work with the Duc de Noailles,
+with Rouille, with Amelot--this last for commercial matters.  The first
+two were afraid of an intruder, favoured by the Regent, in their
+administration; so that Law was a long time tossed about, but was always
+backed by the Duc d'Orleans.  At last, the bank project pleased that
+Prince so much that he wished to carry it out.  He spoke in private to
+the heads of finance, in whom he found great opposition.  He had often
+spoken to me of it, and I had contented myself with listening to him upon
+a matter I never liked, and which, consequently, I never well understood;
+and the carrying out of which appeared to me distant.  When he had
+entirely formed his resolution, he summoned a financial and commercial
+assembly, in which Law explained the whole plan of the bank he wished to
+establish (this was on the 24th of October, 1715).  He was listened to as
+long as he liked to talk.  Some, who saw that the Regent was almost
+decided, acquiesced; but the majority opposed.
+
+Law was not disheartened.  The majority were spoken to privately in very
+good French.  Nearly the same assembly was called, in which, the Regent
+being present, Law again explained his project.  This time few opposed
+and feebly.  The Duc de Noailles was obliged to give in.  The bank being
+approved of in this manner, it had next to be proposed to the regency
+council.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans took the trouble to speak in private to each member
+of the council, and gently to make them understand that he wished the
+bank to meet with no opposition.  He spoke his mind to me thoroughly:
+therefore a reply was necessary.  I said to him that I did not hide my
+ignorance or my disgust for all finance matters; that, nevertheless, what
+he had just explained to me appeared good in itself, that without any new
+tax, without expense, and without wronging or embarrassing anybody, money
+should double itself at once by means of the notes of this bank, and
+become transferable with the greatest facility.  But along with this
+advantage I found two inconveniences, the first, how to govern the bank
+with sufficient foresight and wisdom, so as not to issue more notes than
+could be paid whenever presented: the second, that what is excellent in a
+republic, or in a monarchy where the finance is entirely popular, as in
+England, is of pernicious use in an absolute monarchy, such as France,
+where the necessities of a war badly undertaken and ill sustained, the
+avarice of a first minister, favourite, or mistress, the luxury, the wild
+expenses, the prodigality of a King, might soon exhaust a bank, and ruin
+all the holders of notes, that is to say, overthrow the realm.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans agreed to this; but at the same time maintained that a King
+would have so much interest in never meddling or allowing minister,
+mistress, or favourite to meddle with the bank, that this capital
+inconvenience was never to be feared.  Upon that we for a long time
+disputed without convincing each other, so that when, some few days
+afterwards, he proposed the bank to the regency council, I gave my
+opinion as I have just explained it, but with more force and at length:
+and my conclusion was to reject the bank, as a bait the most fatal, in an
+absolute country, while in a free country it would be a very good and
+very wise establishment.
+
+Few dared to be of this opinion: the bank passed.  Duc d'Orleans cast
+upon me some little reproaches, but gentle, for having spoken at such
+length.  I based my excuses upon my belief that by duty, honour, and
+conscience, I ought to speak according to my persuasion, after having
+well thought over the matter, and explained myself sufficiently to make
+my opinion well understood, and the reason I had for forming it.
+Immediately after, the edict was registered without difficulty at the
+Parliament.  This assembly sometimes knew how to please the Regent with
+good grace in order to turn the cold shoulder to him afterwards with more
+efficacy.
+
+Some time after, to relate all at once, M. le Duc d'Orleans wished me to
+see Law in order that he might explain to me his plans, and asked me to
+do so as a favour.  I represented to him my unskilfulness in all finance
+matters; that Law would in vain speak a language to me of which I
+understood nothing, that we should both lose our time very uselessly.
+I tried to back out thus, as well as I could.  The Regent several times
+reverted to the charge, and at last demanded my submission.  Law came
+then to my house.  Though there was much of the foreigner in his bearing,
+in his expressions, and in his accent, he expressed himself in very good
+terms, with much clearness and precision.  He conversed with me a long
+while upon his bank, which, indeed, was an excellent thing in itself, but
+for another country rather than for France, and with a prince less easy
+than the Regent.  Law had no other solutions to give me, of my two
+objections, than those the Regent himself had given, which did not
+satisfy me.  But as the affair had passed, and there was nothing now to
+do but well direct it, principally upon that did our conversation turn.
+I made him feel as much as I could the importance of not showing such
+facility, that it might be abused, with a Regent so good, so easy, so
+open, so surrounded.  I masked as well as I could what I wished to make
+him understand thereupon; and I dwelt especially upon the necessity of
+being prepared to satisfy instantly all bearers of notes, who should
+demand payment: for upon this depended the credit or the overthrow of the
+bank.  Law, on going out, begged me to permit him to come sometimes and
+talk with me; we separated mutually satisfied, at which the Regent was
+still more so.
+
+Law came several other times to my house, and showed much desire to grow
+intimate with me.  I kept to civilities, because finance entered not into
+my head, and I regarded as lost time all these conversations.  Some time
+after, the Regent, who spoke to me tolerably often of Law with great
+prepossession, said that he had to ask of me, nay to demand of me, a
+favour; it was, to receive a visit from Law regularly every week.  I
+represented to him the perfect inutility of these conversations, in which
+I was incapable of learning anything, and still more so of enlightening
+Law upon subjects he possessed, and of which I knew naught.  It was in
+vain; the Regent wished it; obedience was necessary.  Law, informed of
+this by the Regent, came then to my house.  He admitted to me with good
+grace, that it was he who had asked the Regent to ask me, not daring to
+do so himself.  Many compliments followed on both sides, and we agreed
+that he should come to my house every Tuesday morning about ten o'clock,
+and that my door should be closed to everybody while he remained.  This
+first visit was not given to business.  On the following Tuesday morning
+he came to keep his appointment, and punctually came until his
+discomfiture.  An hour-and-a-half, very often two hours, was the ordinary
+time for our conversations.  He always took care to inform me of the
+favour his bank was obtaining in France and foreign countries, of its
+products, of his views, of his conduct, of the opposition he met with
+from the heads of finance and the magistracy, of his reasons, and
+especially of his balance sheet, to convince me that he was more than
+prepared to face all holders of notes whatever sums they had to ask for.
+
+I soon knew that if Law had desired these regular visits at my house, it
+was not because he expected to make me a skilful financier; but because,
+like a man of sense--and he had a good deal--he wished to draw near a
+servitor of the Regent who had the best post in his confidence, and who
+long since had been in a position to speak to him of everything and of
+everybody with the greatest freedom and the most complete liberty; to try
+by this frequent intercourse to gain my friendship; inform himself by me
+of the intrinsic qualities of those of whom he only saw the outside; and
+by degrees to come to the Council, through me, to represent the
+annoyances he experienced, the people with whom he had to do; and lastly,
+to profit by my dislike to the Duc de Noailles, who, whilst embracing him
+every day, was dying of jealousy and vexation, and raised in his path,
+under-hand, all the obstacles and embarrassments possible, and would have
+liked to stifle him.  The bank being in action and flourishing,
+I believed it my duty to sustain it.  I lent myself, therefore, to the
+instructions Law proposed, and soon we spoke to each other with a
+confidence I never have had reason to repent.  I will not enter into the
+details of this bank, the other schemes which followed it, or the
+operations made in consequence.  This subject of finance would fill
+several volumes.  I will speak of it only as it affects the history of
+the time, or what concerns me in particular.  It is the history of my
+time I have wished to write; I should have been too much turned from it
+had I entered into the immense details respecting finance.  I might add
+here what Law was.  I defer it to a time when this curiosity will be more
+in place.
+
+Arouet, son of a notary, who was employed by my father and me until his
+death, was exiled and sent to Tulle at this time (the early part of
+1716), for some verses very satirical and very impudent.
+
+I should not amuse myself by writing down such a trifle, if this same
+Arouet, having become a great poet and academician under the name of
+Voltaire, had not also become--after many tragical adventures--a manner
+of personage in the republic of letters, and even achieved a sort of
+importance among certain people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIII
+
+I have elsewhere alluded to Alberoni, and shown what filthy baseness he
+stooped to in order to curry favour with the infamous Duc de Vendome.
+I have also shown that he accompanied the new Queen of Spain from Parma
+to Madrid, after she had been married, by procuration, to Philip V.  He
+arrived at the Court of Spain at a most opportune moment for his fortune.
+Madame des Ursins had just been disgraced; there was no one to take her
+place.  Alberoni saw his opportunity and was not slow to avail himself of
+it.  During the journey with the new Queen, he had contrived to
+ingratiate himself so completely into her favour, that she was, in a
+measure, prepared to see only with his eyes.  The King had grown so
+accustomed to be shut out from all the world, and to be ruled by others,
+that he easily adapted himself to his new chains.  The Queen and
+Alberoni, then, in a short time had him as completely under their thumb,
+as he had before been under that of Madame des Ursins.
+
+Alberoni, unscrupulous and ambitious, stopped at nothing in order to
+consolidate his power and pave the way for his future greatness.  Having
+become prime minister, he kept the King as completely inaccessible to the
+courtiers as to the world; would allow no one to approach him whose
+influence he had in any way feared.  He had Philip completely in his own
+hands by means of the Queen, and was always on his guard to keep him
+there.
+
+Ever since the Regent's accession to power an intimacy had gradually been
+growing up between the two governments of France and England.  This was
+mainly owing to the intrigues of the Abbe Dubois, who had sold himself to
+the English Court, from which he secretly received an enormous pension.
+He was, therefore, devoted heart and soul--if such a despicable personage
+can be said to have the one or the other--to the interests of King
+George, and tried to serve them in every way.  He had but little
+difficulty--comparatively speaking--in inducing M. le Duc d'Orleans to
+fall into his nets, and to declare himself in favour of an English
+alliance.  Negotiations with this end in view were, in fact, set on foot,
+had been for some time; and about the month of September of this year
+(1716), assumed a more smiling face than they had yet displayed.
+
+Both France and England, from different motives, wished to draw Spain
+into this alliance.  The Regent, therefore, in order to further this
+desire, obtained from England a promise that she would give up Gibraltar
+to its former owners, the Spaniards.  The King of England consented to do
+so, but on one condition: it was, that in order not to expose himself to
+the cries of the party opposed to him, this arrangement should be kept
+profoundly secret until executed.  In order that this secrecy might be
+secured, he stipulated that the negotiation should not in any way pass
+through the hands of Alberoni, or any Spanish minister, but be treated
+directly between the Regent and the King of Spain, through a confidential
+agent chosen by the former.
+
+This confidential agent was to take a letter respecting the treaty to the
+King of Spain, a letter full of insignificant trifles, and at the same
+time a positive order from the King of England, written and signed by his
+hand, to the Governor of Gibraltar, commanding him to surrender the place
+to the King of Spain the very moment he received this order, and to
+retire with his garrison, etc., to Tangiers.  In order to execute this a
+Spanish general was suddenly to march to Gibraltar, under pretence of
+repressing the incursions of its garrison,--summon the Governor to
+appear, deliver to him the King of England's order, and enter into
+possession of the place.  All this was very weakly contrived; but this
+concerned the King of England, not us.
+
+I must not be proud; and must admit that I knew nothing of all this, save
+at second-hand.  If I had, without pretending to be very clever, I must
+say that I should have mistrusted this fine scheme.  The King of England
+could not be ignorant with what care and with what jealousy the Queen and
+Alberoni kept the King of Spain locked up, inaccessible to everybody--and
+that the certain way to fail, was to try to speak to him without their
+knowledge, in spite of them, or unaided by them.  However, my opinion
+upon this point was not asked, and accordingly was not given.
+
+Louville was the secret agent whom the Regent determined to send.  He had
+already been in Spain, had gained the confidence of the King, and knew
+him better than any other person who could have been chosen.  Precisely
+because of all these reasons, I thought him the most unfit person to be
+charged with this commission.  The more intimate he had been with the
+King of Spain, the more firm in his confidence, the more would he be
+feared by the Queen and Alberoni; and the more would they do to cover his
+embassy with failure, so as to guard their credit and their authority.
+I represented my views on this subject to Louville, who acknowledged
+there was truth in them, but contented himself with saying, that he had
+not in his surprise dared to refuse the mission offered to him; and that
+if he succeeded in it, the restitution to Spain of such an important
+place as Gibraltar, would doubtless be the means of securing to him large
+arrears of pensions due to him from Philip the First: an object of no
+small importance in his eyes.  Louville, therefore, in due time departed
+to Madrid, on his strange and secret embassy.
+
+Upon arriving he went straight to the house of the Duc de Saint-Aignan,
+our ambassador, and took up his quarters there.  Saint-Aignan who had
+received not the slightest information of his arriving, was surprised
+beyond measure at it.  Alberoni was something more than surprised.
+As fortune would have it, Louville when at some distance from Madrid was
+seen by a courier, who straightway told Alberoni of the circumstance.
+As may be imagined, tormented as Alberoni was by jealousy and suspicion,
+this caused him infinite alarm.  He was quite aware who Louville was;
+the credit he had attained with the King of Spain; the trouble Madame
+des Ursins and the deceased Queen had had to get him out of their way;
+the fear, therefore, that he conceived on account of this unexpected
+arrival, was so great that he passed all bounds, in order to free himself
+from it.
+
+He instantly despatched a courier to meet Louville with an order
+prohibiting him to approach any nearer to Madrid.  The courier missed
+Louville, but a quarter of an hour after this latter had alighted at
+Saint-Aignan's, he received a note from Grimaldo inclosing an order from
+the King of Spain, commanding him to leave the city that instant!
+Louville replied that he was charged with a confidential letter from the
+King of France, and with another from M. le Duc d'Orleans, for the King
+of Spain; and with a commission for his Catholic Majesty which would not
+permit him to leave until he had executed it.  In consequence of this
+reply, a courier was at once despatched to the Prince de Cellamare,
+Spanish ambassador at Paris, ordering him to ask for the recall of
+Louville, and to declare that the King of Spain so disliked his person
+that he would neither see him, nor allow him to treat with any of the
+ministers!
+
+Meanwhile the fatigue of the journey followed by such a reception so
+affected Louville, that during the night he had an attack of a disease to
+which he was subject, so that he had a bath prepared for him, into which
+he got towards the end of the morning.
+
+Alberoni, not satisfied with what he had already done, came himself to
+the Duc de Saint-Aignan's, in order to persuade Louville to depart at
+once.  Despite the representations made to him, he insisted upon
+penetrating to the sick-chamber.  There he saw Louville in his bath.
+Nothing could be more civil than the words of Alberoni, but nothing could
+be more dry, more negative, or more absolute than their signification.
+He pitied the other's illness and the fatigue of his journey; would have
+wished to have known of this journey beforehand, so as to have prevented
+it; and had hoped to be able to overcome the repugnance of the King of
+Spain to see him, or at least to obtain permission for him to remain some
+days in Madrid.  He added that he had been unable to shake his Majesty in
+any way, or to avoid obeying the very express order he had received from
+him, to see that he (Louville) departed at once.
+
+Louville, however, was in a condition which rendered his departure
+impossible.  Alberoni admitted this, but warned him that his stay must
+only last as long as his illness, and that the attack once over, he must
+away.  Louville insisted upon the confidential letters, of which he was
+the bearer, and which gave him an official character, instructed as he
+was to execute an important commission from the King of France, nephew of
+the King of Spain, such as his Majesty could not refuse to hear direct
+from his mouth, and such as he would regret not having listened to.
+The dispute was long and warm, despite the illness of Louville, who could
+gain nothing.  He did not fail to remain five or six days with the Duc de
+Saint-Aignan, and to make him act as ambassador in order to obtain an
+audience of the King, although Saint-Aignan was hurt at being kept
+ignorant of the object of the other's mission.
+
+Louville did not dare to call upon a soul, for fear of committing
+himself, and nobody dared to call upon him.  He hazarded, however, for
+curiosity, to go and see the King of Spain pass through a street, and
+ascertain if, on espying him, he would not be tempted to hear him, in
+case his arrival, as was very possible, had been kept a secret.  But
+Alberoni had anticipated everything.  Louville saw the King pass,
+certainly, but found it was impossible to make himself perceived by his
+Majesty.  Grimaldo came afterwards to intimate to Louville an absolute
+order to depart, and to inform the Duc de Saint-Aignan that the King of
+Spain was so angry with the obstinacy of this delay, that he would not
+say what might happen if the stay of Louville was protracted; but that he
+feared the respect due to a representative minister, and above all an
+ambassador of France, would be disregarded.
+
+Both Louville and Saint-Aignan clearly saw that all audience was
+impossible, and that in consequence a longer stay could only lead to
+disturbances which might embroil the two crowns; so that, at the end of
+seven or eight days, Louville departed, returning as he came.  Alberoni
+began then to breathe again after the extreme fear he had had.  He was
+consoled by this proof of his power, which showed he need no longer fear
+that any one could approach the King without his aid, or that any
+business could be conducted without him.  Thus Spain lost Gibraltar, and
+she has never been able to recover it since.
+
+Such is the utility of prime ministers!
+
+Alberoni spread the report in Spain and in France, that Philip V. had
+taken a mortal aversion against Louville, since he had driven him out of
+the country for his insolence and his scheming; that he would never see
+him, and was offended because he had passed the Pyrenees; that Louville
+had no proposition to make, or commission to execute; that he had
+deceived the Regent, in making him believe that if once he found a
+pretext for appearing before the King of Spain, knowing him so well as he
+did, that prince would be ravished by the memory of his former affection,
+would reinstate him in his former credit, and thus France would be able
+to make Spain do all she wished.  In a word, Alberoni declared that
+Louville had only come into the country to try and obtain some of the
+pensions he had been promised on quitting the King of Spain, but that he
+had not gone the right way to work to be so soon paid.
+
+Nothing short of the effrontery of Alberoni would have been enough for
+the purpose of spreading these impostures.  No one had forgotten in Spain
+what Madame des Ursins had done to get rid of Louville, how the King of
+Spain had resisted; that she was not able to succeed without the aid of
+France and her intrigues with Madame de Maintenon; and that the King,
+afflicted to the utmost, yielding to the orders given by France to
+Louville, had doubled the pensions which had for a long time been paid to
+him, given him a sum of money in addition, and the government of
+Courtray, which he lost only by the misfortune of the war that followed
+the loss of the battle of Ramillies.  With respect to the commission, to
+deny it was an extreme piece of impudence, a man being concerned so well
+known as Louville, who descends at the house of the ambassador of France,
+says he has letters of trust from the King and the Regent, and an
+important mission which he can only confide to the King of Spain, the
+self-same ambassador striving to obtain an audience for him.  Nothing was
+so easy as to cover Louville with confusion, if he had spoken falsely,
+by making him show his letters; if he had none he would have been struck
+dumb, and having no official character, Alberoni would have been free to
+punish him.  Even if with confidential letters, he had only a complaint
+to utter in order to introduce himself and to solicit his pay, Alberoni
+would very easily have been able to dishonour him, because he had no
+commission after having roundly asserted that he was charged with one of
+great importance.  But omnipotence says and does with impunity whatever
+it pleases.
+
+Louville having returned, it was necessary to send word to the King of
+England of all he had done in Spain; and this business came to nothing,
+except that it set Alberoni against the Regent for trying to execute a
+secret commission without his knowledge; and that it set the Regent
+against Alberoni for frustrating a project so openly, and for showing the
+full force of his power.  Neither of the two ever forgot this matter; and
+the dislike of Alberoni to the Regent led, as will be seen, to some
+strange results.
+
+I will add here, that the treaty of alliance between France and England
+was signed a short time after this event.  I did my utmost to prevent it,
+representing to the Regent that his best policy was to favour the cause
+of the Pretender, and thus by keeping the attention of Great Britain
+continually fixed upon her domestic concerns, he would effectually
+prevent her from influencing the affairs of the continent, and long were
+the conversations I had with him, insisting upon this point.  But
+although, while he was with me, my arguments might appear to have some
+weight with him, they were forgotten, clean swept from his mind, directly
+the Abbe Dubois, who had begun to obtain a most complete and pernicious
+influence over him, brought his persuasiveness to bear.  Dubois' palm had
+been so well greased by the English that he was afraid of nothing.
+He succeeded then in inducing the Regent to sign a treaty with England,
+in every way, it may safely be said, advantageous to that power, and in
+no way advantageous to France.  Amongst other conditions, the Regent
+agreed to send the so-called Pretender out of the realm, and to force him
+to seek an asylum in Italy.  This was, in fact, executed to the letter.
+King James, who for some time had retired to Avignon, crossed the Alps
+and settled in Rome, where he lived ever afterwards.  I could not but
+deplore the adoption of a policy so contrary to the true interests of
+France; but the business being done I held my peace, and let matters take
+their course.  It was the only course of conduct open to me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIV
+
+I have already shown in these memoirs, that the late King had made of the
+lieutenant of police a species of secret and confidential minister; a
+sort of inquisitor, with important powers that brought him in constant
+relation with the King.  The Regent, with less authority than the
+deceased monarch, and with more reasons than he to be well informed of
+everything passing, intrigues included, found occupying this office of
+lieutenant of police, Argenson, who had gained his good graces chiefly,
+I fancy, when the affair of the cordelier was on the carpet, as shown in
+its place.  Argenson, who had much intelligence, and who had desired this
+post as the entry, the basis, and the road of his fortune, filled it in a
+very superior manner, and the Regent made use of him with much liberty.
+The Parliament, very ready to show the extent of its authority
+everywhere, at the least as though in competition with that of the
+Regent, suffered impatiently what it called the encroachments of the
+Court.  It wished to indemnify itself for the silence it had been
+compelled to keep thereon under the last reign, and to re-obtain at the
+expense of the Regent all it had lost of its authority over the police,
+of which it is the head.  The lieutenant of police is answerable to this
+body--even receives his orders from it, and its reprimands (in public
+audiences, standing uncovered at the bar of the Parliament) from the
+mouth of the Chief-President, or of him who presides, and who calls him
+neither Master nor Monsieur, but nakedly by his name, although the
+lieutenant of police might have claimed these titles, being then
+Councillor of State.
+
+The Parliament wished, then, to humiliate Argenson (whom it hated during
+the time of the deceased King); to give a disagreeable lesson to the
+Regent; to prepare worse treatment still for his lieutenant of police; to
+make parade of its power, to terrify thus the public, and arrogate to
+itself the right of limiting the authority of the Regent.
+
+Argenson had often during the late reign, and sometimes since, made use
+of an intelligent and clever fellow, just suited to him, and named
+Pomereu, to make discoveries, arrest people, and occasionally keep them a
+short time in his own house.  The Parliament believed, and rightly, that
+in arresting this man under other pretexts, it would find the thread of
+many curious and secret tortuosities, which would aid its design, and
+that it might plume itself upon protecting the public safety against the
+tyranny of secret arrests and private imprisonments.  To carry out its
+aim it made use of the Chamber of justice, so as to appear as little as
+possible in the matter.  This Chamber hastened on so well the
+proceedings, for fear of being stopped on the road, that the first hint
+people had of them was on learning that Pomereu was, by decree of this
+Chamber, in the prisons of the Conciergerie, which are those of the
+Parliament.  Argenson, who was informed of this imprisonment immediately
+it took place, instantly went to the Regent, who that very moment sent a
+'lettre de cachet', ordering Pomereu to be taken from prison by force if
+the gaoler made the slightest difficulty in giving him up to the bearers
+of the 'lettre de cachet'; but that gentleman did not dare to make any.
+The execution was so prompt that this man was not an hour in prison, and
+they who had sent him there had not time to seize upon a box of papers
+which had been transported with him to the Conciergerie, and which was
+very carefully carried away with him.  At the same time, everything in
+any way bearing upon Pomereu, or upon the things in which he had been
+employed, was carefully removed and secreted.
+
+The vexation of the Parliament upon seeing its prey, which it had
+reckoned upon making such a grand use of, carried off before its eyes,
+may be imagined.  It left nothing undone in order to move the public by
+its complaints, and by its cries against such an attack upon law.  The
+Chamber of justice sent a deputation to the Regent, who made, fun of it,
+by gravely giving permission to the deputies to re-take their prisoner,
+but without saying a single word to them upon his escape from gaol.  He
+was in Paris, in a place where he feared nobody.  The Chamber of justice
+felt the derisiveness of the Regent's permission, and ceased to transact
+business.  It thought to embarrass the Regent thus, but 'twould have been
+at its own expense.  This lasted only a day or two.  The Duc de Noailles
+spoke to the Chamber; the members felt they could gain nothing by their
+strike, and that if they were obstinate they would be dispensed with, and
+others found to perform their duties.  They recommenced their labours
+then, and the Parliament gained nothing by its attack, but only showed
+its ill-will, and at the same time its powerlessness.
+
+I have forgotten something which, from its singularity, deserves
+recollection, and I will relate it now lest it should escape me again.
+
+One afternoon, as we were about to take our places at the regency
+council, the Marechal de Villars drew me aside and asked me if I knew
+that Marly was going to be destroyed.  I replied, "No;" indeed, I had not
+heard speak of it; and I added that I could not believe it.  "You do not
+approve of it?" said the Marechal.  I assured him I was far from doing
+so.  He repeated that the destruction was resolved on, that he knew it
+beyond all doubt, and that if I wished to hinder it, I had not a moment
+to lose.  I replied that when we took our places I would speak to M. le
+Duc d'Orleans.  "Immediately," quickly replied the Marechal; "speak to
+him this instant, for the order is perhaps already given."
+
+As all the council were already seated I went behind to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, and whispered in his ear what I had just learnt without naming
+from whom, and begged him, if my information was right, to suspend
+execution of his project until I had spoken to him, adding that I would
+join him at the Palais Royal after the council.  He stammered a little,
+as if sorry at being discovered, but nevertheless agreed to wait for me:
+I said so in leaving to the Marechal de Villars, and went to the Palais
+Royal, where M. le Duc d'Orleans admitted the truth of the news I had
+heard.  I said I would not ask who had given such a pernicious counsel.
+He tried to show it was good by pointing to the saving in keeping up that
+would be obtained; to the gain that would accrue from the sale of so many
+water-conduits and materials; to the unpleasant situation of a place to
+which the King would not be able to go for several years; and to the
+expense the King was put to in keeping up so many other beautiful houses,
+not one of which admitted of pulling down.
+
+I replied to him, that these were the reasons of the guardian of a
+private gentleman that had been presented to him, the conduct of whom
+could in no way resemble that of the guardian of a King of France; that
+the expenses incurred in keeping up Marly were necessary, and that,
+compared with the total of those of the King, they were but as drops in
+the ocean.  I begged him to get rid of the idea that the sale of the
+materials would yield any profit,--all the receipts would go in gifts and
+pillage, I said; and also that it was not these petty objects he ought to
+regard, but that he should consider how many millions had been buried in
+this ancient sewer, to transform it into a fairy palace, unique as to
+form in all Europe--unique by the beauty of its fountains, unique also by
+the reputation that the deceased King had given to it; and that it was an
+object of curiosity to strangers of every rank who came to France; that
+its destruction would resound throughout Europe with censure; that these
+mean reasons of petty economy would not prevent all France from being
+indignant at seeing so distinguished an ornament swept away; that
+although neither he nor I might be very delicate upon what had been the
+taste and the favourite work of the late King, the Regent ought to avoid
+wounding his memory,--which by such a long reign, so many brilliant
+years, so many grand reverses so heroically sustained, and escaped from
+in so unhoped-for a manner--had left the entire world in veneration of
+his person: in fine, that he might reckon all the discontented, all the
+neutral even, would join in chorus with the Ancient Court, and cry
+murder; that the Duc du Maine, Madame de Ventadour, the Marechal de
+Villeroy would not hesitate to look upon the destruction of Marly as a
+crime against the King,--a crime they would not fail to make the best of
+for their own purposes during all the regency, and even after it was at
+an end.  I clearly saw that M. le Duc d'Orleans had not in the least
+reflected upon all this.  He agreed that I was right: promised that Marly
+should not be touched, that it should continue to be kept up, and thanked
+me for preserving him from this fault.
+
+When I was well assured of him, "Admit," said I, "that the King, in the
+other world, would be much astonished if he could know that the Duc de
+Noailles had made you order the destruction of Marly, and that it was who
+hindered it."
+
+"Oh! as to that," he quickly replied, "it is true he could not believe
+it."  In effect Marly was preserved and kept up; and it is the Cardinal
+Fleury, with his collegiate proctor's avarice, who has stripped it of its
+river, which was its most superb charm.
+
+I hastened to relate this good resolve to the Marechal de Villars.
+The Duc de Noailles, who, for his own private reasons, had wished the
+destruction of Marly, was furious when he saw his proposal fail.
+To indemnify himself in some degree for his vexation, he made the Regent
+agree, in the utmost secrecy, for fear of another failure, that all the
+furniture, linen, etc., should be sold.  He persuaded M. le Duc d'Orleans
+that all these things would be spoiled and lost by the time the King was
+old enough to use them; that in selling them a large sum would be gained
+to relieve expenses; and that in future years the King could furnish
+Marly as he pleased.  There was an immense quantity of things sold, but
+owing to favour and pillage they brought very little; and to replace them
+afterwards, millions were spent.  I did not know of this sale, at which
+anybody bought who wished, and at very low prices, until it had
+commenced; therefore I was unable to hinder this very damaging
+parsimoniousness.
+
+The Regent just about this time was bestowing his favours right and left
+with a very prodigal hand; I thought, therefore, I was fully entitled to
+ask him for one, which, during the previous reign, had been so rare, so
+useful, and accordingly so difficult to obtain; I mean the right of
+entering the King's room--the 'grandes entrees'--as it was called, and I
+attained it at once.
+
+Since the occasion offers, I may as well explain what are the different
+sorts of entrees.  The most precious are called the "grand," which give
+the right to enter into all the retired places of the King's apartments,
+whenever the grand chamberlain and the chief gentlemen of the chamber
+enter.  The importance of this privilege under a King who grants
+audiences with difficulty, need not be insisted on.  Enjoying it, you can
+speak with him, tete-a-tete, whenever you please, without asking his
+permission, and without the knowledge of others; you obtain a
+familiarity, too, with him by being able to see him thus in private.
+
+The offices which give this right are, those of grand chamberlain, of
+first gentleman of the chamber, and of grand master of the wardrobe on
+annual duty; the children, legitimate and illegitimate, of the King, and
+the wives and husbands of the latter enjoy the same right.  As for
+Monsieur and M. le Duc d'Orleans they always had these entrees, and as
+sons of France, were at liberty to enter and see the King at all hours,
+but they did not abuse this privilege.  The Duc du Maine and the Comte de
+Toulouse had the same, which they availed themselves of unceasingly, but
+by the back stairs.
+
+The second entrees, simply called entrees, were purely personal; no
+appointment or change gave them.  They conferred the right to see the
+King at his rising, after the grandes, and also to see him, but under
+difficulties, during all the day and evening.
+
+The last entrees are those called chamber entrees.  They also give the
+right to see the King at his rising, before the distinguished courtiers;
+but no other privilege except to be present at the booting of the King.
+This was the name employed when the King changed his coat, in going or
+returning from hunting or a walk.  At Marly, all who were staying there
+by invitation, entered to see this ceremony without asking; elsewhere,
+those who had not the entree were excluded.  The first gentleman of the
+chamber had the right, and used it sometimes, to admit four or five
+persons at the most, to the "booting," if they asked, and provided they
+were people of quality, or of some distinction.
+
+Lastly, there were the entrees of the cabinet which gave you the right to
+wait for the King there when he entered after rising, until he had given
+orders for the day, and to pay your court to him, and to enter there when
+he entered to change his coat.  Beyond this, the privilege attached to
+these admissions did not extend.  The Cardinals and the Princes of the
+blood had the entrees of the chamber and those of the cabinet, so had all
+the chief officials.
+
+I was the first who had the 'grandes entrees' from the Regent.  D'Antin
+asked for them next.  Soon after, upon this example, they were accorded
+to D'O.  M. le Prince de Conti, the sole prince of the blood who had them
+not, because he was the sole prince of the blood who did not come from
+Madame de Montespan, received them next, and little by little the
+privilege was completely prostituted as so many others were.
+
+By extremely rare good fortune a servant employed in the diamond mines of
+the Great Mogul found means to secrete about his person a diamond of
+prodigious size, and what is more marvellous, to gain the seashore and
+embark without being subjected to the rigid and not very delicate ordeal,
+that all persons not above suspicion by their name or their occupation,
+are compelled to submit to, ere leaving the country.  He played his cards
+so well, apparently, that he was not suspected of having been near the
+mines, or of having had anything to do with the jewel trade.  To complete
+his good fortune he safely arrived in Europe with his diamond.  He showed
+it to several princes, none of whom were rich enough to buy, and carried
+it at last to England, where the King admired it, but could not resolve
+to purchase it.  A model of it in crystal was made in England, and the
+man, the diamond, and the model (perfectly resembling the original) were
+introduced to Law, who proposed to the Regent that he should purchase the
+jewel for the King.  The price dismayed the Regent, who refused to buy.
+
+Law, who had in many things much grandour of sentiment, came dispirited
+to me, bringing the model.  I thought, with him, that it was not
+consistent with the greatness of a King of France to be repelled from the
+purchase of an inestimable jewel, unique of its kind in the world, by the
+mere consideration of price, and that the greater the number of
+potentates who had not dared to think of it, the greater ought to be his
+care not to let it escape him.  Law, ravished to find me think in this
+manner, begged me to speak to M. le Duc d'Orleans.  The state of the
+finances was an obstacle upon which the Regent much insisted.  He feared
+blame for making so considerable a purchase, while the most pressing
+necessities could only be provided for with much trouble, and so many
+people were of necessity kept in distress.  I praised this sentiment,
+but I said that he ought not to regard the greatest King of Europe as he
+would a private gentleman, who would be very reprehensible if he threw
+away 100,000 livres upon a fine diamond, while he owed many debts which
+he could not pay: that he must consider the honour of the crown, and not
+lose the occasion of obtaining, a priceless diamond which would efface
+the lustre of all others in Europe: that it was a glory for his regency
+which would last for ever; that whatever might be the state of the
+finances the saving obtained by a refusal of the jewel would not much
+relieve them, for it would be scarcely perceptible; in fact I did not
+quit M. le Duc d'Orleans until he had promised that the diamond should be
+bought.
+
+Law, before speaking to me, had so strongly represented to the dealer the
+impossibility of selling his diamond at the price he hoped for, and the
+loss he would suffer in cutting it into different pieces, that at last he
+made him reduce the price to two millions, with the scrapings, which must
+necessarily be made in polishing, given in.  The bargain was concluded on
+these terms.  The interest upon the two millions was paid to the dealer
+until the principal could be given to him, and in the meanwhile two
+millions' worth of jewels were handed to him as security.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans was agreeably deceived by the applause that the
+public gave to an acquisition so beautiful and so unique.  This diamond
+was called the "Regent."  It is of the size of a greengage plum, nearly
+round, of a thickness which corresponds with its volume, perfectly white,
+free from all spot, speck, or blemish, of admirable water, and weighs
+more than 500 grains.  I much applauded myself for having induced the
+Regent to make so illustrious a purchase.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXV
+
+In 1716 the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres died at Paris in her fine hotel.
+She was not old, but had been long a widow, and had lost her only son.
+She was the last relic of the Gondi who were brought into France by
+Catherine de' Medici, and who made so prodigious a fortune.  She left
+great wealth.  She was a sort of fairy, who, though endowed with much
+wit, would see scarcely anybody, still less give dinners to the few
+people she did see.  She never went to Court, and seldom went out of her
+house.  The door of her house was always thrown back, disclosing a
+grating, through which could be perceived a true fairy palace, such as
+is sometimes described in romances.  Inside it was nearly desert, but of
+consummate magnificence, and all this confirmed the first impression,
+assisted by the singularity of everything, her followers, her livery,
+the yellow hangings of her carriage, and the two great Moors who always
+followed her.  She left much to her servants, and for pious purposes, but
+nothing to her daughter-in-law, though poor and respectful to her. Others
+got magnificent legacies.
+
+Cavoye died about the same time.  I have said enough about him and his
+wife to have nothing to add.  Cavoye, away from Court, was like a fish
+out of water; and he could not stand it long.  If romances have rarely
+produced conduct like that of his wife towards him, they would with still
+greater difficulty describe the courage with which her lasting love for
+her husband sustained her in her attendance on his last illness, and the
+entombment to which she condemned herself afterwards.  She preserved her
+first mourning all her life, never slept away from the house where he
+died, or went out, except to go twice a day to Saint-Sulpice to pray in
+the chapel where he was buried.  She would never see any other persons
+besides those she had seen during the last moments of her husband, and
+occupied herself with good works also, consuming herself thus in a few
+years without a single sign of hesitation.  A vehemence so equal and so
+maintained is perhaps an example, great, unique, and assuredly very
+respectable.
+
+Peter I., Czar of Muscovy, has made for himself, and justly, such a great
+name, in his own country, in all Europe, and in Asia, that I will not
+undertake to describe so grand, so illustrious a prince--comparable to
+the greatest men of antiquity--who has been the admiration of his age,
+who will be that of years to come, and whom all Europe has been so much
+occupied in studying.  The singularity of the journey into France of so
+extraordinary a prince, has appeared to me to deserve a complete
+description in an unbroken narrative.  It is for this reason that I place
+my account of it here a little late, according to the order of time, but
+with dates that will rectify this fault.
+
+Various things relating to this monarch have been seen in their place;
+his various journeys to Holland, Germany, Vienna, England, and to several
+parts of the North; the object of those journeys, with some account of
+his military actions, his policy, his family.  It has been shown that he
+wished to come into France during the time of the late King, who civilly
+refused to receive him.  There being no longer this obstacle, he wished
+to satisfy his curiosity, and he informed the Regent through Prince
+Kourakin, his ambassador at Paris, that he was going to quit the Low
+Countries, and come and see the King.
+
+There was nothing for it but to appear very pleased, although the Regent
+would gladly have dispensed with this visit.  The expenses to be defrayed
+were great; the trouble would be not less great with a prince so powerful
+and so clear-sighted, but full of whims, with a remnant of barbarous
+manners, and a grand suite of people, of behaviour very different from
+that common in these countries, full of caprices and of strange fashions,
+and both they and their master very touchy and very positive upon what
+they claimed to be due or permitted to them.
+
+Moreover the Czar was at daggers drawn with the King of England, the
+enmity between them passing all decent limits, and being the more bitter
+because personal.  This troubled not a little the Regent, whose intimacy
+with the King of England was public, the private interest of Dubois
+carrying it even to dependence.  The dominant passion of the Czar was to
+render his territories flourishing by commerce; he had made a number of
+canals in order to facilitate it; there was one for which he needed the
+concurrence of the King of England, because it traversed a little corner
+of his German dominions.  From jealousy George would not consent to it.
+Peter, engaged in the war with Poland, then in that of the North, in
+which George was also engaged, negotiated in vain.  He was all the more
+irritated, because he was in no condition to employ force; and this
+canal, much advanced, could not be continued.  Such was the source of
+that hatred which lasted all the lives of these monarchs, and with the
+utmost bitterness.
+
+Kourakin was of a branch of that ancient family of the Jagellons, which
+had long worn the crowns of Poland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.  He was
+a tall, well-made man, who felt all the grandeur of his origin; had much
+intelligence, knowledge of the way of managing men, and instruction.  He
+spoke French and several languages very fairly; he had travelled much,
+served in war, then been employed in different courts.  He was Russian to
+the backbone, and his extreme avarice much damaged his talents.  The Czar
+and he had married two sisters, and each had a son.  The Czarina had been
+repudiated and put into a convent near Moscow; Kourakin in no way
+suffered from this disgrace; he perfectly knew his master, with whom he
+kept on very free terms, and by whom he was treated with confidence and
+consideration.  His last mission had been to Rome, where he remained
+three years; thence he came as ambassador to Paris.  At Rome he was
+without official character, and without business except a secret one,
+with which the Czar had entrusted him, as to a sure and enlightened man.
+
+This monarch, who wished to raise himself and his country from barbarism,
+and extend his power by conquests and treaties, had felt the necessity of
+marriages, in order to ally himself with the chief potentates of Europe.
+But to form such marriages he must be of the Catholic religion, from
+which the Greeks were separated by such a little distance, that he
+thought his project would easily be received in his dominions, if he
+allowed liberty of conscience there.  But this prince was sufficiently
+sagacious to seek enlightenment beforehand upon Romish pretensions.  He
+had sent for that purpose to Rome a man of no mark, but capable of well
+fulfilling his mission, who remained there five or six months, and who
+brought back no very satisfactory report.  Later he opened his heart in
+Holland to King William, who dissuaded him from his design, and who
+counselled him even to imitate England, and to make himself the chief of
+his religion, without which he would never be really master in his own
+country.  This counsel pleased the Czar all the more, because it was by
+the wealth and by the authority of the patriarchs of Moscow, his
+grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, that his father had attained the
+crown, although only of ordinary rank among the Russian nobility.
+
+These patriarchs were dependent upon those of the Greek rite of
+Constantinople but very slightly.  They had obtained such great power,
+and such prodigious rank, that at their entry into Moscow the Czar held
+their stirrups, and, on foot, led their horse by the bridle: Since the
+grandfather of Peter, there had been no patriarch at Moscow.  Peter I.,
+who had reigned some time with his elder brother, incapable of affairs,
+long since dead, leaving no son, had, like his father, never consented to
+have a patriarch there.  The archbishops of Novgorod supplied their place
+in certain things, as occupying the chief see after that of Moscow, but
+with scarcely any authority that the Czar did not entirely usurp, and
+more carefully still after King William had given him the counsel before
+alluded to; so that by degrees he had become the real religious chief of
+his vast dominions.
+
+Nevertheless, the passionate desire he had to give to his posterity the
+privilege of marrying with Catholic princes, the wish he had, above all,
+for the honour of alliances with the house of France, and that of
+Austria, made him return to his first project.  He tried to persuade
+himself that the man whom he had secretly sent to Rome had not been well
+informed, or had ill understood; he resolved, therefore, to fathom his
+doubts, so that he should no longer have any as to the course he ought to
+adopt.
+
+It was with this design that he chose Prince Kourakin, whose knowledge
+and intelligence were known to him, and sent him to Rome under pretence
+of curiosity, feeling that a nobleman of his rank would find the best,
+the most important, and the most distinguished society there ready to
+receive him; and that by remaining there, under pretext of liking the
+life he led, and of wishing to see and admire at his ease all the marvels
+of so many different kinds collected there, he should have leisure and
+means to return perfectly instructed upon everything he wished to know.
+Kourakin, in fact, remained in Rome three years, associating with the
+savans on the one hand and the best company on the other, whence by
+degrees he obtained all he wished to know; all the more readily because
+this Court boasts of its temporal pretensions and of its conquests of
+this kind, instead of keeping them secret.  In consequence of the long
+and faithful report that Kourakin made to the Czar, that prince heaved a
+sigh, saying that he must be master in his own country, and could not
+place there anybody greater than himself; and never afterwards did he
+think of turning Catholic.
+
+This fact respecting the Czars and Rome, Prince Kourakin did not hide.
+Everybody who knew him has heard him relate it.  I have eaten with him
+and he with me, and I have talked a good deal with him, and heard him
+talk, with pleasure, upon many things.
+
+The Regent, informed by him of the forthcoming arrival in France of the
+Czar by sea, sent the King's equipages; horses, coaches, vehicles,
+waggons, and tables and chambers with Du Libois, one of the King's
+gentlemen in ordinary, to go and wait for the Czar at Dunkerque, pay the
+expenses incurred by him and his suite on the way to Paris, and
+everywhere render him the same honour as to the King.  The Czar proposed
+to allot a hundred days to his journey.  The apartment of the Queen-
+mother at the Louvre was furnished for him, the councils usually held
+there taking place in the houses of the chiefs of these councils.
+
+M. le Duc d'Orleans discussing with me as to the nobleman best fitted to
+be appointed to wait upon the Czar during his stay, I recommended the
+Marechal de Tesse, as a man without occupation, who well knew the
+language and usages of society, who was accustomed to foreigners by his
+journeys and negotiations in Spain, Turin, Rome, and in other courts of
+Italy, and who, gentle and polite, was sure to perform his duties well.
+M. le Duc d'Orleans agreed with me, and the next day sent for him and
+gave him his orders.
+
+When it was known that the Czar was near Dunkerque, the Regent sent the
+Marquis de Neelle to receive him at Calais, and accompany him until they
+met the Marechal de Tesse, who was not to go beyond Beaumont to wait for
+him.  At the same time the Hotel de Lesdiguieres was prepared for the
+Czar and his suite, under the idea that he might prefer a private house,
+with all his people around him, to the Louvre.  The Hotel de Lesdiguieres
+was large and handsome, as I have said at the commencement of this
+chapter, adjoined the arsenal, and belonged by succession to the Marechal
+de Villeroy, who lodged at the Tuileries.  Thus the house was empty,
+because the Duc de Villeroy, who was not a man fond of display, had found
+it too distant to live in.  It was entirely refurnished, and very
+magnificently, with the furniture of the King.
+
+The Czar arrived at Beaumont on Friday, the 7th of May, 1717, about mid-
+day.  Tesse made his reverences to him as he descended from his coach,
+had the honour of dining with him, and of escorting him that very day to
+Paris.
+
+The Czar entered the city in one of Tesse's coaches, with three of his
+suite with him, but not Tesse himself.  The Marechal followed in another
+coach.  The Czar alighted at nine o'clock in the evening at the Louvre,
+and walked all through the apartments of the Queen-mother.  He considered
+them to be too magnificently hung and lighted, jumped into his coach
+again, and went to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, where he wished to lodge.
+He thought the apartment destined for him too fine also, and had his
+camp-bed immediately spread out in a wardrobe.  The Marechal de Tesse,
+who was to do the honours of his house and of his table, to accompany him
+everywhere, and not quit the place where he might be, lodged in an
+apartment of the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, and had enough to do in following
+and sometimes running after him.  Verton, one of the King's maitres
+d'hotel, was charged with serving him and all the tables of the Czar and
+his suite.  The suite consisted of forty persons of all sorts, twelve or
+fifteen of whom were considerable people in themselves, or by their
+appointments; they all ate with the Czar.
+
+Verton was a clever lad, strong in certain company, fond of good cheer
+and of gaming, and served the Czar with so much order, and conducted
+himself so well, that this monarch and all the suite conceived a singular
+friendship for him.
+
+The Czar excited admiration by his extreme curiosity, always bearing upon
+his views of government, trade, instruction, police, and this curiosity
+embraced everything, disdained nothing in the smallest degree useful;
+it was marked and enlightened, esteeming only what merited to be
+esteemed, and exhibited in a clear light the intelligence, justness,
+ready appreciation of his mind.  Everything showed in the Czar the vast
+extent of his knowledge, and a sort of logical harmony of ideas.  He
+allied in the most surprising manner the highest, the proudest, the most
+delicate, the most sustained, and at the same time the least embarrassing
+majesty, when he had established it in all its safety with a marked
+politeness.  Yet he was always and with everybody the master everywhere,
+but with gradations, according to the persons he was with.  He had a kind
+of familiarity which sprang from liberty, but he was not without a strong
+dash of that ancient barbarism of his country, which rendered all his
+actions rapid; nay, precipitous, his will uncertain, and not to be
+constrained or contradicted in anything.  Often his table was but little
+decent, much less so were the attendants who served, often too with an
+openness of kingly audacity everywhere.  What he proposed to see or do
+was entirely independent of means; they were to be bent to his pleasure
+and command.  His desire for liberty, his dislike to be made a show of,
+his free and easy habits, often made him prefer hired coaches, common
+cabs even; nay, the first which he could lay his hands on, though
+belonging to people below him of whom he knew nothing.  He jumped in, and
+had himself driven all over the city, and outside it.  On one occasion he
+seized hold of the coach of Madame de Mattignon, who had come to gape at
+him, drove off with it to Boulogne and other country places near Paris.
+The owner was much astonished to find she must journey back on foot.  On
+such occasions the Marechal de Tesse and his suite had often hard work to
+find the Czar, who had thus escaped them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVI
+
+The Czar was a very tall man, exceedingly well made; rather thin, his
+face somewhat round, a high forehead, good eyebrows, a rather short nose,
+but not too short, and large at the end, rather thick lips, complexion
+reddish brown, good black eyes, large, bright, piercing, and well open;
+his look majestic and gracious when he liked, but when otherwise, severe
+and stern, with a twitching of the face, not often occurring, but which
+appeared to contort his eyes and all his physiognomy, and was frightful
+to see; it lasted a moment, gave him a wild and terrible air, and passed
+away.  All his bearing showed his intellect, his reflectiveness, and his
+greatness, and was not devoid of a certain grace.  He wore a linen
+collar, a round-brown wig, as though without powder, and which did not
+reach to his shoulders; a brown coat tight to the body, even, and with
+gold buttons; vest, breeches, stockings, no gloves or ruffles, the star
+of his order over his coat, and the cordon under it, the coat itself
+being frequently quite unbuttoned, his hat upon the table, but never upon
+his head, even out of doors.  With this simplicity ill-accompanied or ill
+mounted as he might be, the air of greatness natural to him could not be
+mistaken.
+
+What he ate and drank at his two regular meals is inconceivable, without
+reckoning the beer, lemonade, and other drinks he swallowed between these
+repasts, his suite following his example; a bottle or two of beer, as
+many more of wine, and occasionally, liqueurs afterwards; at the end of
+the meal strong drinks, such as brandy, as much sometimes as a quart.
+This was about the usual quantity at each meal.  His suite at his table
+drank more and ate in proportion, at eleven o'clock in the morning and at
+eight at night.  There was a chaplain who ate at the table of the Czar,
+who consumed half as much again as the rest, and with whom the monarch,
+who was fond of him, much amused himself.  Prince Kourakin went every day
+to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres, but lodged elsewhere.
+
+The Czar well understood French, and I think could have spoken it, if he
+had wished, but for greatness' sake he always had an interpreter.  Latin
+and many other languages he spoke very well.  There was a detachment of
+guards in his house, but he would scarcely ever allow himself to be
+followed by them.  He would not set foot outside the Hotel de
+Lesdiguieres, whatever curiosity he might feel, or give any signs of
+life, until he had received a visit from the King.
+
+On Saturday, the day after his arrival, the Regent went in the morning to
+see the Czar.  This monarch left his cabinet, advanced a few paces,
+embraced Monsieur d'Orleans with an air of great superiority, pointed to
+the door of the cabinet, and instantly turning on his heel, without the
+slightest compliment, entered there.  The Regent followed, and Prince
+Kourakin after him to serve as interpreter.  They found two armchairs
+facing each other, the Czar seated himself in the upper, the Regent in
+the other.  The conversation lasted nearly an hour without public affairs
+being mentioned, after which the Czar left his cabinet; the Regent
+followed him, made him a profound reverence, but slightly returned, and
+left him in the same place as he had found him on entering.
+
+On Monday, the 10th of May, the King went to see the Czar, who received
+him at the door, saw him alight from his coach, walked with him at his
+left into his chamber, where they found two armchairs equally placed.
+The King sat down in the right-hand one, the Czar in the other, Prince
+Kourakin served as interpreter.  It was astonishing to see the Czar take
+the King under both arms, hoist him up to his level, embrace him thus in
+the air; and the King, young as he was, show no fear, although he could
+not possibly have been prepared for such a reception.  It was striking,
+too, to see the grace which the Czar displayed before the King, the air
+of tenderness he assumed towards him, the politeness which flowed as it
+were naturally, and which nevertheless was mixed with greatness, with
+equality of rank, and slightly with superiority of age: for all these
+things made themselves felt.  He praised the King, appeared charmed with
+him, and persuaded everybody he was.  He embraced him again and again.
+The King paid his brief compliment very prettily; and M. du Maine, the
+Marechal de Villeroy, and the distinguished people present, filled up the
+conversation.  The meeting lasted a short quarter of an hour.  The Czar
+accompanied the King as he had received him, and saw him to his coach.
+
+On Tuesday, the 11th of May, between four and five o'clock, the Czar went
+to see the King.  He was received by the King at his carriage door, took
+up a position on his right, and was conducted within.  All these
+ceremonies had been agreed on before the King went to see him.  The Czar
+showed the same affection and the same attentions to the King as before;
+and his visit was not longer than the one he had received, but the crowd
+much surprised him.
+
+He had been at eight o'clock in the morning to see the Place Royal, the
+Place des Victoires, and the Place de Vendome, and the next day he went
+to the Observatoire, the Gobelins, and the King's Garden of Simples.
+Everywhere he amused himself in examining everything, and in asking many
+questions.
+
+On Thursday, the 13th of May, he took medicine, but did not refrain after
+dinner from calling upon several celebrated artificers.  On Friday, the
+14th, he went at six o'clock in the morning into the grand gallery of the
+Louvre, to see the plans in relief of all the King's fortified places,
+Hasfield, with his engineers, doing the honours.  The Czar examined all
+these plans for a long time; visited many other parts of the Louvre, and
+descended afterwards into the Tuileries garden, from which everybody had
+been excluded.  They were working then upon the Pont Tournant.  The Czar
+industriously examined this work, and remained there a long time.  In the
+afternoon he went to see, at the Palais Royal, Madame, who had sent her
+compliments to him by her officer.  The armchair excepted, she received
+him as she would have received the King.  M. le Duc d'Orleans came
+afterwards and took him to the Opera, into his grand box, where they sat
+upon the front seat upon a splendid carpet.  Sometime after, the Czar
+asked if there was no beer to be had.  Immediately a large goblet of it
+was brought to him, on a salver.  The Regent rose, took it, and presented
+it to the Czar, who with a smile and an inclination of politeness,
+received the goblet without any ceremony, drank, and put it back on the
+salver which the Regent still held.  In handing it back, the Regent took
+a plate, in which was a napkin, presented it to the Czar, who without
+rising made use of it, at which the house appeared rather astonished.
+At the fourth act the Czar went away to supper, but did not wish the
+Regent to leave the box.  The next morning he jumped into a hired coach,
+and went to see a number of curiosities among the workmen.
+
+On the 16th of May, Whit Sunday, he went to the Invalides, where he
+wished to see and examine everything.  At the refectory he tasted the
+soldiers' soup and their wine, drank to their healths, struck them on the
+shoulders, and called them comrades.  He much admired the church, the
+dispensary, and the infirmary, and appeared much pleased with the order
+of the establishment.  The Marechal de Villars did the honours; the
+Marechale went there to look on.  The Czar was very civil to her.
+
+On Monday, the 17th, he dined early with Prince Ragotzi, who had invited
+him, and afterwards went to Meudon, where he found some of the King's
+horses to enable him to see the gardens and the park at his ease.  Prince
+Ragotzi accompanied him.
+
+On Tuesday, the 18th, the Marechal d'Estrees took him, at eight o'clock
+in the morning, to his house at Issy, gave him a dinner, and much amused
+him during the day with many things shown to him relating to the navy.
+
+On Monday, the 24th, he went out early to the Tuileries, before the King
+was up.  He entered the rooms of the Marechal de Villeroy, who showed him
+the crown jewels.  They were more beautiful and more numerous than he
+suspected, but he said he was not much of a judge of such things.  He
+stated that he cared but little for the beauties purely of wealth and
+imagination, above all for those he could not attain.  Thence he wished
+to go and see the King, who spared him the trouble by coming.  It had
+been expressly arranged thus, so that his visit should appear one of
+chance.  They met each other in a cabinet, and remained there.  The King,
+who held a roll of paper in his hand, gave it to him, and said it was the
+map of his territories.  This compliment much pleased the Czar, whose
+politeness and friendly affectionate bearing were the same as before,
+with much grace and majesty.
+
+In the afternoon he went to Versailles, where the Marechal de Tesse left
+him to the Duc d'Antin.  The apartment of Madame la Dauphine was prepared
+for him, and he slept in the room of Monseigneur le Dauphin (the King's
+father), now made into a cabinet for the Queen.
+
+On Tuesday, the 25th, he had traversed the gardens, and had been upon the
+canal early in the morning, before the hour of his appointment with
+D'Antin.  He saw all Versailles, Trianon, and the menagerie.  His
+principal suite was lodged at the chateau.  They took ladies with them,
+and slept in the apartments Madame de Maintenon had occupied, quite close
+to that in which the Czar slept.  Bloin, governor of Versailles, was
+extremely scandalised to see this temple of prudery thus profaned.  Its
+goddess and he formerly would have been less shocked.  The Czar and his
+people were not accustomed to restraint.
+
+The expenses of this Prince amounted to six hundred crowns a day, though
+he had much diminished his table since the commencement.
+
+On Sunday, the 30th of May, he set out with Bellegarde, and many relays,
+to dine at Petit Bourg, with D'Antin, who received him there, and took
+him in the afternoon to see Fontainebleau, where he slept, and the morrow
+there was a stag-hunt, at which the Comte de Toulouse did the honours.
+Fontainebleau did not much please the Czar, and the hunt did not please
+him at all; for he nearly fell off his horse, not being accustomed to
+this exercise, and finding it too violent.  When he returned to Petit
+Bourg, the appearance of his carriage showed that he had eaten and drunk
+a good deal in it.
+
+On Friday, the 11th of June, he went from Versailles to Saint-Cyr, where
+he saw all the household, and the girls in their classes.  He was
+received there like the King.  He wished to see Madame de Maintenon, who,
+expecting his curiosity, had buried herself in her bed, all the curtains
+closed, except one, which was half-open.  The Czar entered her chamber,
+pulled back the window-curtains upon arriving, then the bed-curtains,
+took a good long stare at her, said not a word to her,--nor did she open
+her lips,--and, without making her any kind of reverence, went his way.
+I knew afterwards that she was much astonished, and still more mortified
+at this; but the King was no more.  The Czar returned on Saturday, the
+12th of June, to Paris.
+
+On Tuesday, the 15th of June, he went early to D'Antin's Paris house.
+Working this day with M. le Duc d'Orleans, I finished in half an hour; he
+was surprised, and wished to detain me.  I said, I could always have the
+honour of finding him, but not the Czar, who was going away; that I had
+not yet seen him, and was going to D'Antin's to stare at my ease.  Nobody
+entered except those invited, and some ladies with Madame la Duchesse and
+the Princesses, her daughters, who wished to stare also.  I entered the
+garden, where the Czar was walking.  The Marechal de Tesse, seeing me at
+a distance, came up, wishing to present me to the Czar.  I begged him to
+do nothing of the kind, not even to perceive me, but to let me gape at my
+ease, which I could not do if made known.  I begged him also to tell this
+to D'Antin, and with these precautions I was enabled to satisfy my
+curiosity without interruption.  I found that the Czar conversed
+tolerably freely, but always as the master everywhere.  He retired into a
+cabinet, where D'Antin showed him various plans and several curiosities,
+upon which he asked several questions.  It was there I saw the convulsion
+which I have noticed.  I asked Tesse if it often happened; he replied,
+"several times a day, especially when he is not on his guard to prevent
+it."  Returning afterwards into the garden, D'Antin made the Czar pass
+through the lower apartments, and informed him that Madame la Duchesse
+was there with some ladies, who had a great desire to see him.  He made
+no reply, but allowed himself to be conducted.  He walked more gently,
+turned his head towards the apartment where all the ladies were under
+arms to receive him; looked well at them all, made a slight inclination
+of the head to the whole company at once, and passed on haughtily.  I
+think, by the manner in which he received other ladies, that he would
+have shown more politeness to these if Madame la Duchesse had not been
+there, making her visit too pretentious.  He affected even not to inquire
+which she was, or to ask the name of any of the others.  I was nearly an
+hour without quitting him, and unceasingly regarding him.  At last I saw
+he remarked it.  This rendered me more discreet, lest he should ask who I
+was.  As he was returning, I walked away to the room where the table was
+laid.  D'Antin, always the same, had found means to have a very good
+portrait of the Czarina placed upon the chimney-piece of this room, with
+verses in her praise, which much pleased and surprised the Czar.  He and
+his suite thought the portrait very like.
+
+The King gave the Czar two magnificent pieces of Gobelins tapestry.  He
+wished to give him also a beautiful sword, ornamented with diamonds, but
+he excused himself from accepting it.  The Czar, on his side, distributed
+60,000 livres to the King's domestics, who had waited upon him; gave to
+D'Antin, Marechal d'Estrees, and Marechal Tesse, his portrait, adorned
+with diamonds, and five gold and eleven silver medals, representing the
+principal actions of his life.  He made a friendly present to Verton,
+whom he begged the Regent to send to him as charge d'affaires of the
+King, which the Regent promised.
+
+On Wednesday, the 16th of June, he attended on horseback a review of the
+two regiments of the guards; gendarmes, light horse, and mousquetaires.
+There was only M. le Duc d'Orleans with him; the Czar scarcely looked at
+these troops, and they perceived it.  He partook of a dinner-supper at
+Saint Ouen, at the Duc de Tresmes, where he said that the excessive heat
+and dust, together with the crowd on horseback and on foot, had made him
+quit the review sooner than he wished.  The meal was magnificent; the
+Czar learnt that the Marquise de Bethune, who was looking on, was the
+daughter of the Duc de Tresriles; he begged her to sit at table; she was
+the only lady who did so, among a crowd of noblemen.  Several other
+ladies came to look on, and to these he was very civil when he knew who
+they were.
+
+On Thursday, the 17th, he went for the second time to the Observatoire,
+and there supped with the Marechal de Villars.
+
+On Friday, the 18th of June, the Regent went early to the Hotel de
+Lesdiguieres, to say adieu to the Czar, remaining some time with him,
+with Prince Kourakin present.  After this visit the Czar went to say
+goodbye to the King at the Tuileries.  It had been agreed that there
+should be no more ceremonies between them.  It was impossible to display
+more intelligence, grace, and tenderness towards the King than the Czar
+displayed on all these occasions; and again on the morrow, when the King
+came to the Hotel de Lesdiguieres to wish him a pleasant journey, no
+ceremony being observed.
+
+On Sunday, the 20th of June, the Czar departed, and slept at Ivry, bound
+straight for Spa, where he was expected by the Czarina.  He would be
+accompanied by nobody, not even on leaving Paris.  The luxury he remarked
+much surprised him; he was moved in speaking upon the King and upon
+France, saying, he saw with sorrow that this luxury would soon ruin the
+country.  He departed, charmed by the manner in which he had been
+received, by all he had seen, by the liberty that had been left to him,
+and extremely desirous to closely unite himself with the King; but the
+interests of the Abbe Dubois, and of England, were obstacles which have
+been much deplored since.
+
+The Czar had an extreme desire to unite himself to France.  Nothing would
+have been more advantageous to our commerce, to our importance in the
+north, in Germany, in all Europe.  The Czar kept England in restraint as
+to her commerce, and King George in fear for his German states.  He kept
+Holland respectful, and the Emperor measured.  It cannot be denied that
+he made a grand figure in Europe and in Asia, or that France would have
+infinitely profited by close union with him.  He did not like the
+Emperor; he wished to sever us from England, and it was England which
+rendered us deaf to his invitations, unbecomingly so, though they lasted
+after his departure.  Often I vainly pressed the Regent upon this
+subject, and gave him reasons of which he felt all the force, and to
+which he could not reply.  He was bewitched by Dubois, who panted to
+become Cardinal, and who built all his hopes of success upon England.
+The English saw his ambition, and took advantage of it for their own
+interests.  Dubois' aim was to make use of the intimacy between the King
+of England and the Emperor, in order that the latter might be induced by
+the former to obtain a Cardinalship from the Pope, over whom he had great
+power.  It will be seen, in due time, what success has attended the
+intrigues of the scheming and unscrupulous Abbe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVII
+
+Courson, Intendant, or rather King of Languedoc, exercised his authority
+there so tyrannically that the people suffered the most cruel oppressions
+at his hands.  He had been Intendant of Rouen, and was so hated that more
+than once he thought himself in danger of having his brains beaten out
+with stones.  He became at last so odious that he was removed; but the
+credit of his father saved him, and he was sent as Intendant to Bordeaux.
+He was internally and externally a very animal, extremely brutal,
+extremely insolent, his hands by no means clean, as was also the case
+with those of his secretaries, who did all his work for him, he being
+very idle and quite unfit for his post.
+
+Amongst other tyrannic acts he levied very violent and heavy taxes in
+Perigueux, of his own good will and pleasure, without any edict or decree
+of the Council; and seeing that people were not eager to satisfy his
+demands, augmented them, multiplied the expenses, and at last threw into
+dungeons some sheriffs and other rich citizens.  He became so tyrannical
+that they sent a deputation to Paris to complain of him.  But the
+deputies went in vain the round of all the members of the council of the
+regency, after having for two months kicked their heels in the ante-
+chamber of the Duc de Noailles, the minister who ought to have attended
+to their representations.
+
+The Comte de Toulouse, who was a very just man, and who had listened to
+them, was annoyed that they could obtain no hearing of the Duc de,
+Noailles, and spoke to me on the subject.  I was as indignant as he.
+I spoke to M. le Duc d'Orleans, who only knew the matter superficially.
+I showed him the necessity of thoroughly examining into complaints of
+this nature; the injustice of allowing these deputies to wear out hope,
+patience, and life, in the streets of Paris, without giving some
+audience; the cruelty of suffering honest citizens to languish in
+dungeons, without knowing why or by what authority they were there.  He
+agreed with me, and promised to speak to the Duc de Noailles.  At the
+first finance council after this, I apprised the Comte de Toulouse, and
+we both asked the Duc de Noailles when he meant to bring forward the
+affair of these Perigueux people.
+
+He was utterly unprepared for this question, and wished to put us off.  I
+said to him that for a long time some of these people had been in prison,
+and others had wandered the streets of Paris; that this was shameful, and
+could not be longer endured.  The Comte de Toulouse spoke very firmly, in
+the same sense.  M. le Duc d'Orleans arrived and took his place.
+
+As the Duc de Noailles opened his bag, I said very loudly to M. le Duc
+d'Orleans that M. le Comte de Toulouse and I had just asked M. de
+Noailles when he would bring forward the Perigueux affair; that these
+people, innocent or guilty, begged only to be heard and tried; and that
+it appeared to me the council was in honour bound to keep them in misery
+no longer.  On finishing, I looked at the Comte de Toulouse, who also
+said something short but rather strong.  M. le Duc d'Orleans replied that
+we could not have done better.  The Duc de Noailles began muttering
+something about the press of business; that he had not time, and so
+forth.  I interrupted him by saying that he must find time, and that he
+ought to have found it long before; that nothing was so important as to
+keep people from ruin, or to extricate others from dungeons they were
+remaining in without knowing why.  M. le Duc d'Orleans said a word to the
+same effect, and ordered the Duc de Noailles to get himself ready to
+bring forward the case in a week.
+
+From excuse to excuse, three weeks passed over.  At last I said openly to
+M. le Duc d'Orleans that he was being laughed at, and that justice was
+being trodden under foot.  At the next council it appeared that M. le Duc
+d'Orleans had already told the Duc de Noailles he would wait no longer.
+M. le Comte de Toulouse and I continued to ask him if at last he would
+bring forward the Perigueux affair.  We doubted not that it would in the
+end be brought forward, but artifice was not yet at an end.
+
+It was on a Tuesday afternoon, when M. le Duc d'Orleans often abridged
+the council to go to the opera.  Knowing this, the Duc de Noailles kept
+all the council occupied with different matters.  I was between him and
+the Comte de Toulouse.  At the end of each matter I said to him, "And the
+Perigueux affair?"--"Directly," he replied, and at once commenced
+something else.  At last I perceived his project, and whispered so to the
+Comte de Toulouse, who had already suspected it, and resolved not to be
+its dupe.  When the Duc de Noailles had exhausted his bag, it was five
+o'clock.  After putting back his papers he closed his bag, and said to M.
+le Duc d'Orleans that there was still the Perigueux affair which he had
+ordered him to bring forward, but that it would be long and detailed;
+that he doubtless wished to go to the opera; that it could be attended to
+next week; and at once, without waiting for a reply, he rises, pushes
+back his stool, and turns to go away.  I took him by the arm.
+
+"Gently," said I.  "You must learn his highness's pleasure.  Monsieur,"
+said I to M. le Duc d'Orleans, still firmly holding the sleeve of the Duc
+de Noailles, "do you care much to-day for the opera?"
+
+"No, no," replied he; "let us turn to the Perigueux affair."
+
+"But without strangling it," replied I.
+
+"Yes," said M. le Duc d'Orleans: then looking at M. le Duc, who smiled;
+"you don't care to go there?"
+
+"No, Monsieur, let us see this business," replied M. le Duc.
+
+"Oh, sit down again then, Monsieur," said I to the Duc de Noailles in a
+very firm tone, pulling him sharply; "take your rest, and re-open your
+bag."
+
+Without saying a word he drew forward his stool with a great noise, and
+threw himself upon it as though he would smash it.  Rage beamed from his
+eyes.  The Comte de Toulouse smiled; he had said his word, too, upon the
+opera, and all the company looked at us; nearly every one smiling, but
+astounded also.
+
+The Duc de Noailles displayed his papers, and began reading them.  As
+various documents were referred to, I turned them over, and now and then
+took him up and corrected him.  He did not dare to show anger in his
+replies, yet he was foaming.  He passed an eulogy upon Basville (father
+of the Intendant), talked of the consideration he merited; excused
+Courson, and babbled thereupon as much as he could to extenuate
+everything, and lose sight of the principal points at issue.  Seeing that
+he did not finish, and that he wished to tire us, and to manage the
+affair in his own way, I interrupted him, saying that the father and the
+son were two people; that the case in point respected the son alone, and
+that he had to determine whether an Intendant was authorised or not, by
+his office, to tax people at will; to raise imposts in the towns and
+country places of his department, without edicts ordering them, without
+even a decree of council, solely by his own particular ordonnances, and
+to keep people in prison four or five months, without form or shadow of
+trial, because they refused to pay these heavy taxes, rendered still more
+heavy by expenses.  Then, turning round so as to look hard at him, "It is
+upon that, Monsieur," added I, "that we must decide, since your report is
+over, and not amuse ourselves with a panegyric upon M. de Basville, who
+is not mixed up in the case."
+
+The Duc de Noailles, all the more beside himself because he saw the
+Regent smile, and M. le Duc, who looked at me do the same, but more
+openly, began to speak, or rather to stammer.  He did not dare, however,
+to decide against the release of the prisoners.
+
+"And the expenses, and the ordonnance respecting these taxes, what do you
+do with them?"
+
+"By setting the prisoners at liberty," he said, "the ordonnance falls to
+the ground."
+
+I did not wish to push things further just then.  The liberation of the
+prisoners, and the quashing of the ordonnance, were determined on: some
+voices were for the reimbursement of the charges at the expense of the
+Intendant, and for preventing him to do the like again.
+
+When it was my turn to speak, I expressed the same opinions, but I added
+that it was not enough to recompense people so unjustly ill-treated; that
+I thought a sum of money, such as it should please the council to
+name, ought to be adjudged to them; and that as to an Intendant who
+abused the authority of his office so much as to usurp that of the King
+and impose taxes, such as pleased him by his own ordinances, and who
+threw people into dungeons as he thought fit by his private authority,
+pillaging thus a province, I was of opinion that his Royal Highness
+should be asked to make such an example of him that all the other
+Intendants might profit by it.
+
+The majority of those who had spoken before me made signs that I was
+right, but did not speak again.  Others were against me.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans promised the liberation of the prisoners, broke Courson's!,
+ordonnance, and all which had followed it; said that as for the rest, he
+would take care these people should be well recompensed, and Courson well
+blamed; that he merited worse, and, but for his father, would have
+received it.  As we were about to rise, I said it would be as well to
+draw up the decree at once, and M. le Duc d'Orleans approved.  Noailles
+pounced, like a bird of prey, upon paper and ink, and commenced writing.
+I bent down and read as he wrote.  He stopped and boggled at the
+annulling of the ordonnance, and the prohibition against issuing one
+again without authorisation by edict or decree of council.  I dictated
+the clause to him; he looked at the company as though questioning all
+eyes.
+
+"Yes," said I, "it was passed like that--you have only to ask again."
+M. le Duc d Orleans said, "Yes."  Noailles wrote.  I took the paper, and
+read what he had written.  He received it back in fury, cast it among the
+papers pell-mell into his bag, then shoved his stool almost to the other
+end of the room, and went out, bristling like a wild boar, without
+looking at or saluting anybody--we all laughing.  M. le Duc and several
+others came to me, and with M. le Comte de Toulouse, were much diverted.
+M. de Noailles had, in fact, so little command over himself, that, in
+turning to go out, he struck the table, swearing, and saying he could
+endure it no longer.
+
+I learnt afterwards, by frequenters of the Hotel de Noailles, who told it
+to my friends, that when he reached home he went to bed: and would not
+see a soul; that fever seized him, that the next day he was of a
+frightful temper, and, that he had been heard to say he could no longer
+endure the annoyances I caused him.  It may be imagined whether or not
+this softened me.  The Duc de Noailles had, in fact, behaved towards me
+with such infamous treachery, and such unmasked impudence, that I took
+pleasure at all times and at all places in making him feel, and others
+see, the sovereign disdain I entertained for him.  I did not allow my
+private feelings to sway my judgment when public interests were at stake,
+for when I thought the Duc de Noailles right, and this often occurred,
+I supported him; but when I knew him to be wrong, or when I caught him
+neglecting his duties, conniving at injustice, shirking inquiry, or
+evading the truth, I in no way spared him.  The incident just related is
+an illustration of the treatment he often received at my hands.  Fret,
+fume, stamp, storm, as he might, I cared nothing for him.  His anger to
+me was as indifferent as his friendship.  I despised both equally.
+Occasionally he would imagine, after there had been no storm between us
+for some time, that I had become reconciled to him, and would make
+advances to me.  But the stern and terrible manner in which I met them,
+--or rather refused to meet them, taking no more notice of his politeness
+and his compliments, than as if they made no appeal whatever to my eyes
+or ears,--soon convinced him of the permanent nature of our quarrel, and
+drove him to the most violent rage and despair.
+
+The history of the affair was, apparently, revealed by somebody to the
+deputies of Perigueux (for this very evening it was talked of in Paris),
+who came and offered me many thanks.  Noailles was so afraid of me, that
+he did not keep their business unsettled more than two days.
+
+A few months afterwards Courson was recalled, amid the bonfires of his
+province.  This did not improve him, or hinder him from obtaining
+afterwards one of the two places of councillor at the Royal Council of
+Finance, for he was already Councillor of State at the time of this
+affair of Perigueux.
+
+An amusement, suited to the King's age, caused a serious quarrel.  A sort
+of tent had been erected for him on the terrace of the Tuileries, before
+his apartments, and on the same level.  The diversions of kings always
+have to do with distinction.  He invented some medals to give to the
+courtiers of his own age, whom he wished to distinguish, and those
+medals, which were intended to be worn, conferred the right of entering
+this tent without being invited; thus was created the Order of the
+Pavilion.  The Marechal de Villeroy gave orders to Lefevre to have the
+medals made.  He obeyed, and brought them to the Marechal, who presented
+them to the King.  Lefevre was silversmith to the King's household, and
+as such under the orders of the first gentleman of the chamber.  The Duc
+de Mortemart, who had previously had some tiff with the Marechal de
+Villeroy, declared that it devolved upon him to order these medals and
+present them to the King.  He flew into a passion because everything had
+been done without his knowledge; and complained to the Duc d'Orleans.
+It was a trifle not worth discussing, and in which the three other
+gentlemen of the chamber took no part.  Thus the Duc de Mortemart,
+opposed alone to the Marechal de Villeroy, stood no chance.  M. le Duc
+d'Orleans, with his usual love for mezzo termine, said that Lefevre had
+not made these medals, or brought them to the Marechal as silversmith,
+but as having received through the Marechal the King's order, and that
+nothing more must be said.  The Duc de Mortemart was indignant, and did
+not spare the Marechal.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARK:
+
+Scarcely any history has been written at first hand
+
+
+
+
+End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Memoirs of Louis XIV. and The Regency,
+v11, by the Duc de Saint-Simon
+
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