the memoirs of louis xiv-12-第10部分

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It　was　read　at　once。

I　had；　during　the　discourse　of　his　Royal　Highness；　thrown　all　my
attention　into　an　examination　of　the　impression　it　made　upon　the
assembly。　　The　astonishment　it　caused　was　general；　it　was　such；　that　to
judge　of　those　addressed；　it　seemed　that　they　understood　nothing；　and
they　did　not　recover　themselves　during　all　the　reading。　　I　inwardly
rejoiced　at　success　so　pleasingly　demonstrated　and　did　not　receive　too
well　the　Duc　de　Guiche；　who　testified　to　me　his　disapprobation。　　Villeroy
confounded；　Villars　raging；　Effiat　rolling　his　eyes；　Estrees　beside
himself　with　surprise；　were　the　most　marked。　　Tallard；　with　his　head
stretched　forward；　sucked　in；　so　to　speak；　all　the　Regent's　words　as　they
were　proffered；　and　those　of　the　declaration；　as　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals
read　them。　　Noailles；　inwardly　distracted；　could　not　hide　his
distraction；　Huxelles；　entirely　occupied　in　smoothing　himself；　forgot　to
frown。　　I　divided　my　attention　between　the　declaration　and　these　persons。

The　document　read；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　praised　it　in　two　words；　and
called　upon　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals　to　give　his　opinion。　　He　did　so
briefly；　in　favour　of　the　Comte　de　Toulouse。　　M。　le　Duc　the　same；　M。　le
Prince　de　Conti　the　same。　　After　him；　I　testified　to　his　Royal　Highness
my　joy　at　seeing　him　conciliate　the　justice　and　the　safety　of　the　peers
with　the　unheard…of　favour　he　had　just　rendered　to　the　virtue　of　M。　le
Comte　de　Toulouse；　who　merited　it　by　his　moderation；　his　truthfulness；
his　attachment　to　the　State；　thus　the　more　he　had　recognised　the
injustice　of　his　elevation　to　the　rank　to　which　he　was　raised；　the　more
he　had　rendered　himself　worthy　of　it；　and　the　more　it　was　advantageous　to
the　peers　to　yield　to　merit；　（when　this　exception　was　confined　solely　to
his　person；　with　formal　and　legal　precautions；　so　abundantly　supplied　by
the　declaration）　and　voluntarily　contribute　thus　to　an　elevation　without
example；　（so　much　the　more　flattering　because　its　only　foundation　was
virtue）；　so　as　to　incite　that　virtue　more　and　more　to　the　service　and
utility　of　the　state；　that　I　declared　therefore　with　joy　for　the
declaration；　and　did　not　fear　to　add　the　very　humble　thanks　of　the　peers；
since　I　had　the　honour　to　be　the　oldest　present。

As　I　closed　my　mouth　I　cast　my　eyes　in　front　of　some；　and　plainly　saw
that　my　applause　did　not　please；　and；　perhaps；　my　thanks　still　less。　　The
others　gave　their　opinion　with　heavy　heart；　as　it　were；　to　so　terrible　a
blow；　some　few　muttered　I　know　not　what　between　their　teeth；　but　the
thunderbolt　upon　the　Duc　du　Maine's　cabal　was　more　and　more　felt；　and　as
reflection　succeeded　to　the　first　feeling　of　surprise；　so　a　bitter　and
sharp　grief　manifested　itself　upon　their　faces　in　so　marked　a　manner；
that　it　was　easy　to　see　it　had　become　high　time　to　strike。

All　opinions　having　been　expressed；　M。　le　Duc　cast　a　brilliant　leer　at
me；　and　prepared　to　speak；　but　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals；　who；　from　his
side　of　the　table　did　not　see　this　movement；　wishing　also　to　say
something；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　intimated　to　him　that　M。　le　Duc　had　the
start　of　him。　　Raising　himself　majestically　from　his　seat；　the　Regent
then　said：　〃Gentlemen；　M。　le　Duc　has　a　proposition　to　make　to　you。　　I
have　found　it　just　and　reasonable；　I　doubt　not；　you　will　find　it　so　too。〃
Then　turning　towards　M。　le　Duc；　he　added；　〃　Monsieur；　will　you　explain
it？〃

The　movement　these　few　words　made　among　the　company　is　inexpressible。
'Twas　as　though　I　saw　before　me　people　deprived　of　all　power；　and
surprised　by　a　new　assembly　rising　up　from　the　midst　of　them　in　an　asylum
they　had　breathlessly　reached。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　M。　le　Duc；　addressing　himself　to　the　Regent；　as　usual；
〃since　you　have　rendered　justice　to　the　Dukes；　I　think　I　am　justified　in
asking　for　it　myself。　　The　deceased　King　gave　the　education　of　his
Majesty　to　M。　le　Duc　du　Maine。　　I　was　a　minor　then；　and　according　to　the
idea　of　the　deceased　King；　M。　du　Maine　was　prince　of　the　blood；　capable
of　succeeding　to　the　crown。　　Now　I　am　of　age；　and　not　only　M。　du　Maine　is
no　longer　prince　of　the　blood；　but　he　is　reduced　to　the　rank　of　his
peerage。　　M。　le　Marechal　de　Villeroy　is　now　his　senior；　and　precedes　him
everywhere；　M。　le　Marechal　can　therefore　no　longer　remain　governor　of　the
King；　under　the　superintendence　of　M。　du　Maine。　　I　ask　you；　then；　for　M。
du　Maine's　post；　that　I　think　my　age；　my　rank；　my　attachment　to　the　King
and　the　State；　qualify　me　for。　　I　hope；〃　he　added；　turning　towards　his
left；　〃that　I　shall　profit　by　the　lessons　of　M。　le　Marechal　de　Villeroy；
acquit　myself　of　my　duties　with　distinction；　and　merit　his　friendship。〃

At　this　discourse　the　Marechal　de　Villeroy　almost　slipped　off　his　chair。
As　soon；　at　least；　as　he　heard　the　Words；　〃Superintendence　of　the　King's
education；〃　he　rested　his　forehead　upon　his　stick；　and　remained　several
moments　in　that　posture。　　He　appeared　even　to　understand　nothing　of　the
rest　of　the　speech。　　Villars　and　D'Effiat　bent　their　backs　like　people
who　had　received　the　last　blow。　　I　could　see　nobody　on　my　own　side　except
the　Duc　de　Guiche；　who　approved　through　all　his　prodigious　astonishment。
Estrees　became　master　of　himself　the　first；　shook　himself；　brightened　up；
and　looked　at　the　company　like　a　man　who　returns　from　the　other　world。

As　soon　as　M。　le　Duc　had　finished；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　reviewed　all　the
company　with　his　eyes；　and　then　said；　that　the　request　of　M。　le　Duc　was
just；　that　he　did　not　think　it　could　be　refused；　that　M。　le　Marechal　de
Villeroy　could　not　be　allowed　to　remain　under　a　person　whom　he　preceded
in　rank；　that　the　superintendence　of　the　King's　education　could　not　be
more　worthily　filled　than　by　M。　le　Duc；　and　that　he　was　persuaded　all
would　be　of　one　voice　in　this　matter。　　Immediately　afterwards；　he　asked
M。　le　Prince　de　Conti　to　give　his　opinion；　who　did　so　in　two　words；　then
he　asked　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals；　whose　reply　was　equally　brief；　then　he
asked　me。

I　simply　said；　looking　at　M。　le　Duc；　that　I　was　for　the　change　with　all
my　heart。　　The　rest；　M。　de　la　Force　excepted　（who　said　a　single　word）；
voted　without　speaking；　simply　bowing；　the　Marshals　and　D'Effiat　scarcely
moved　their　eyes；　and　those　of　Villars　glistened　with　fury。

The　opinions　taken；　the　Regent　turning　towards　M。　le　Duc；　said；
〃Monsieur；　I　think　you　would　like　to　read　what　you　intend　to　say　to　the
King　at　the　Bed　of　Justice。〃

Therefore　M。　le　Duc　read　it　as　it　has　been　printed。　　Some　moments　of　sad
and　profound　silence　succeeded　this　reading；　during　which　the　Marechal　de
Villeroy；　pale　and　agitated；　muttered　to　himself。　　At　last；　like　a　man
who　has　made　up　his　mind；　he　turned　with　bended　head；　expiring　eyes；　and
feeble　voice；　towards　the　Regent；　and　said；　〃I　will　simply　say　these　two
words；　here　are　all　the　dispositions　of　the　late　king　overturned；　I
cannot　see　it　without　grief。　　M。　du　Maine　is　very　unfortunate。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　the　Regent；　in　a　loud　and　animated　tone；　〃M。　du　Maine
is　my　brother…in…law；　but　I　prefer　an　open　enemy　to　a　hidden　one。〃

At　this　great　declaration　several　lowered　their　heads。　　The　Marechal　de
Villeroy　nearly　swooned；　sighs　began　to　make　themselves　heard　near　me；　as
though　by　stealth；　everybody　felt　by　this　that　the　scabbard　was　thrown
away。

The　Keeper　of　the　Seals；　to　make　a　diversion；　proposed　to　read　the　speech
he　had　prepared　to　serve　as　preface　to　the　decree　to　be　read　at　the　Bed
of　justice；　abrogating　the　Parliament　decrees；　as　he　was　finishing　it；
some　one　entered　to　say　he　was　asked　for　at　the　door。

He　went　out；　returning　immediately　afterwards；　not　to　his　place；　but　to
M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　whom　he　took　into　a　window；　meditative　silence
reigning　around。　　The　Regent　having　returned　back　to　his　place；　said　to
the　company；　he　had　received　information　that　the　Chief…President　of　the
Parliament；　notwithstanding　the　reply　previously　made；　had　proposed　that
the　Parliament　should　not　go　to　the　Tuileries；　asking；　〃What　it　was　to　do
in　a　place　where　it　would　not　be　free？〃　that　he　had　proposed　to　send　a
message　to　the　King；　stating　that　〃his　Parliament　would　hear　his　wishes
in　their　ordinary　place　of　meeting；　whenever　it　should　please　him　to　come
or　to　send。〃　　The　Regent　added　that　these　propositions　had　made
considerable　sensation；　and　that　the　Parliament　were　at　that　moment
debating　upon　them。　　The　Council　appeared　much　astounded　at　this　news；
but　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　said；　in　a　very　composed　manner；　that　he　did　not
expect　a　refusal；　he　ordered　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals；　nevertheless；　to
propose　such　measures　as　it　would　be　best　to　take；　supposing　the　motion
of　the　Chief…President　should　be　carried。

The　Keeper　of　the　Seals　declared　that　he　could　not　believe　the　Parliament
would　be　guilty　of　this　disobedience；　contrary　to　all　law　and　usage。
He　showed　at　some　length　that　nothing　was　so　pernicious　as　to　expose　the
King's　authority　to　a　formal　opposition；　and　decided　in　favour　of　the
immediate　interdiction　of　the　Parliament　if　it　fell　into　this　fault。
M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　added　that　there　was　no　other　course　open；　and　took
the　opinion　of　M。　le　Duc；　which　was　strongly　in　his　favour。　　M。　le　Prince
de　Conti　the　same；　mine　also；　that　of　M。　de　la　Force　and　of　M。　de　Guiche
still　more　so。　　The　Marechal　de　Villeroy；　in　a　broken　voice；　seeking　big
words；　which　would　not　come　in　time　to　him；　deplored　this　extremity；　and
did　all　he　could　to　avoid　giving　a　precise　opinion。　　Forced　at　last　by
the　Regent　to　explain　himself；　he　did　not　dare　to　oppose；　but　added　that
he　assented　with　regret；　and　wished　to　explain　the　grievous　results　of
the　proposed　measure。　　But　the　Regent；　interrupting　him；　said　he　need　not
take　the　trouble：　everything　had　been　foreseen；　that　it　would　be　much
more　grievous　to　be　disobeyed　by　the　Parliament　than　to　force　it　into
obedience；　and　immediately　after　asked　the　Duc　de　Noailles　his　opinion；
who　replied　that　it　would　be　very　sad　to　act　thus；　but　that　he　was　for
it。　　Villars　wished　to　paraphrase；　but　contained　himself；　and　said　he
hoped　the　Parliament　would　obey。　　Pressed　by　the　Regent；　he　proposed　to
wait　for　fresh　news　before　deciding；　but；　pressed　more　closely；　he
declared　for　the　interdiction；　with　an