the memoirs of louis xiv-15-第3部分

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necessary　and　so　important；　saying　that　he　had；　perhaps；　to　reproach
himself　for；solely　out　of　complaisance　to　him；　not　having　coerced
before。

The　Marechal；　arising　and　stroking　his　wig；　replied　that　he　knew　the
respect　he　owed；　him；　and　knew　also　quite　as　well　the　respect　he　owed　to
the　King；　and　to　his　place；　charged　as　he　was　with　the　person　of　his
Majesty；　and　being　responsible　for　it。　　But　he　said　he　would　not　suffer
his　Royal　Highness　to　speak　to　the　King　in　private　（because　he　ought　to
know　everything　said　to　his　Majesty）；　still　less　would　he　suffer　him　to
lead　the　King　into　a　cabinet；　out　of　his　sight；　for　'twas　his　（the
Marechal's）　duty　never　to　lose　sight　of　his　charge；　and　in　everything　to
answer　for　it。

Upon　this；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　looked　fixedly　at　the　Marechal　and　said；
in　the　tone　of　a　master；　that　he　mistook　himself　and　forgot　himself；　that
he　ought　to　remember　to　whom　he　was　speaking；　and　take　care　what　words　he
used；　that　the　respect　he　（the　Regent）　owed　to　the　presence　of　the　King；
hindered　him　from　replying　as　he　ought　to　reply；　and　from　continuing　this
conversation。　　Therefore　he　made　a　profound　reverence　to　the　King；　and
went　away。

The　Marechal；　thoroughly　angry；　conducted　him　some　steps；　mumbling　and
gesticulating；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　pretending　to　neither　see　nor　hear
him；　the　King　astonished；　and　M。　de　Frejus　laughing　in　his　sleeve。　　The
bait　so　well　swallowed；no　one　doubted　that　the　Marechal；　audacious　as
he　was；　but　nevertheless　a　servile　and　timid　courtier；　would　feel　all　the
difference　between　braving；　bearding；　and　insulting　Cardinal　Dubois
（odious　to　everybody；　and　always　smelling　of　the　vile　egg　from　which　he
had　been　hatched）　and　wrestling　with　the　Regent　in　the　presence　of　the
King；　claiming　to　annihilate　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans'　rights　and　authority；
by　appealing　to　his　own　pretended　rights　and　authority　as　governor　of　the
King。　　People　were　not　mistaken；　less　than　two　hours　after　what　had
occurred；　it　was　known　that　the　Marechal；　bragging　of　what　he　had　just
done；　had　added　that　he　should　consider　himself　very　unhappy　if　M。　le　Duc
d'Orleans　thought　he　had　been　wanting　in　respect　to　him；　when　his　only
idea　was　to　fulfil　his　precious　duty；　and　that　he　would　go　the　next　day
to　have　an　explanation　with　his　Royal　Highness；　which　he　doubted　not
would　be　satisfactory　to　him。

At　every　hazard；　all　necessary　measures　had　been　taken　as　soon　as　the　day
was　fixed　on　which　the　snare　was　to　be　laid　for　the　Marechal。　　Nothing
remained　but　to　give　form　to　them　directly　it　was　known　that　on　the
morrow　the　Marechal　would　come　and　throw　himself　into　the　lion's　mouth。

Beyond　the　bed…room　of　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　was　a　large　and　fine　cabinet；
with　four　big　windows　looking　upon　the　garden；　and　on　the　same　floor；　two
paces　distant；　two　other　windows；　and　two　at　the　side　in　front　of　the
chimney；　and　all　these　windows　opened　like　doors。　　This　cabinet　occupied
the　corner　where　the　courtiers　awaited；　and　behind　was　an　adjoining
cabinet；　where　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　worked　and　received　distinguished
persons　or　favourites　who　wished　to　talk　with　him。

The　word　was　given。　　Artagnan；　captain　of　the　grey　musketeers；　was　in　the
room　（knowing　what　was　going　to　happen）；　with　many　trusty　officers　of　his
company　whom　he　had　sent　for；　and　former　musketeers　to　be　made　use　of　at
a　pinch；　and　who　clearly　saw　by　these　preparations　that　something
important　was　in　the　wind；　but　without　divining　what。　　There　were　also
some　light　horse　posted　outside　these　windows　in　the　same　ignorance；　and
many　principal　officers　and　others　in　the　Regent's　bed…room；　and　in　the
grand　cabinet。

All　things　being　well　arranged；　the　Marechal　de　Villeroy　arrived　about
mid…day；　with　his　accustomed　hubbub；　but　alone；　his　chair　and　porters
remaining　outside；　beyond　the　Salle　des　Gardes。　　He　enters　like　a
comedian；　stops；　looks　round；　advances　some　steps。　　Under　pretext　of
civility；　he　is　environed；　surrounded。　　He　asks　in　an　authoritative　tone；
what　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　is　doing：　the　reply　is；　he　is　in　his　private
room　within。

The　Marechal　elevates　his　tone；　says　that　nevertheless　he　must　see　the
Regent；　that　he　is　going　to　enter；　when　lo！　La　Fare；　captain　of　M。　le　Duc
d'Orleans'　guards；　presents　himself　before　him；　arrests　him；　and　demands
his　sword。　　The　Marechal　becomes　furious；　all　present　are　in　commotion。
At　this　instant　Le　Blanc　presents　himself。　　His　sedan　chair；　that　had
been　hidden；　is　planted　before　the　Marechal。　　He　cries　aloud；　he　is
shaking　on　his　lower　limbs；　but　he　is　thrust　into　the　chair；　which　is
closed　upon　him　and　carried　away　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye　through　one
of　the　side　windows　into　the　garden；　La　Fare　and　Artagnan　each　on　one
side　of　the　chair；　the　light　horse　and　musketeers　behind；　judging　only　by
the　result　what　was　in　the　wind。　　The　march　is　hastened；　the　party
descend　the　steps　of　the　orangery　by　the　side　of　the　thicket；　the　grand
gate　is　found　open　and　a　coach　and　six　before　it。　　The　chair　is　put　down；
the　Marechal　storms　as　he　will；　he　is　cast　into　the　coach；　Artagnan
mounts　by　his　side；　an　officer　of　the　musketeers　is　in　front；　and　one　of
the　gentlemen　in　ordinary　of　the　King　by　the　side　of　the　officer；　twenty
musketeers；　with　mounted　officers；　surround　the　vehicle；　and　away　they
go。

This　side　of　the　garden　is　beneath　the　window　of　the　Queen's　apartments
（when　occupied　by　the　Infanta）。　　This　scene　under　the　blazing　noon…day
sun　was　seen　by　no　one；　and　although　the　large　number　of　persons　in　M。　le
Duc　d'Orleans'　rooms　soon　dispersed；　it　is　astonishing　that　an　affair　of
this　kind　remained　unknown　more　than　ten　hours　in　the　chateau　of
Versailles。　　The　servants　of　the　Marechal　de　Villeroy　（to　whom　nobody　had
dared　to　say　a　word）　still　waited　with　their　master's　chair　near　the
Salle　des　Gardes。　　They　were；　told；　after　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　had　seen
the　King；　that　the　Marechal　had　gone　to　Villeroy；　and　that　they　could
carry　to　him　what　was　necessary。

I　received　at　Meudon　the　message　arranged。　　I　was　sitting　down　to　table；
and　it　was　only　towards　the　supper　that　people　came　from　Versailles　to
tell　us　all　the　news；　which　was　making　much　sensation　there；　but　a
sensation　very　measured　on　account　of　the　surprise　and　fear　paused　by　the
manner　in　which　the　arrest　had　been　executed。

It　was　no　agreeable　task；　that　which　had　to　be　performed　soon　after　by
the　Regent；　I　mean　when　he　carried　the　news　of　the　arrest　to　the　King。
He　entered　into　his　Majesty's　cabinet；　which　he　cleared　of　all　the
company　it　contained；　except　those　people　whose　post　gave　them　aright　to
enter；　but　of　them　there　were　not　many　present。　　At　the　first　word；　the
King　reddened；　his　eyes　moistened；　he　hid　his　face　against　the　back　of　an
armchair；　without　saying　a　word；　would　neither　go　out　nor　play。　　He　ate
but　a　few　mouthfuls　at　supper；　wept；　and　did　not　sleep　ail　night。　　The
morning　and　the　dinner　of　the　next　day；　the　14th；　passed　off　but　little
better。




CHAPTER　CXIV

That　same　14th；　as　I　rose　from　dinner　at　Meudon；　with　much　company；　the
valet　de　chambre　who　served　me　said　that　a　courier　from　Cardinal　Dubois
had　a　letter　for　me；　which　he　had　not　thought　good　to　bring　me　before　all
my　guests。　　I　opened　the　letter。　　The　Cardinal　conjured　me　to　go
instantly　and　see　him　at　Versailles；　bringing　with　me　a　trusty　servant；
ready　to　be　despatched　to　La　Trappe；　as　soon　as　I　had　spoken　with　him；
and　not　to　rack　my　brains　to　divine　what　this　might　mean；　because　it
would　be　impossible　to　divine　it；　and　that　he　was　waiting　with　the　utmost
impatience　to　tell　it　to　me。　　I　at　once　ordered　my　coach；　which　I　thought
a　long　time　in　coming　from　the　stables。　　They　are　a　considerable　distance
from　the　new　chateau　I　occupied。

This　courier　to　be　taken　to　the　Cardinal；　in　order　to　be　despatched　to　La
Trappe；　turned　my　head。　　I　could　not　imagine　what　had　happened　to　occupy
the　Cardinal　so　thoroughly　so　soon　after　the　arrest　of　Villeroy。　　The
constitution；　or　some　important　and　unknown　fugitive　discovered　at　La
Trappe；　and　a　thousand　other　thoughts；　agitated　me　until　I　arrived　at
Versailles。

Upon　reaching　the　chateau；　I　saw　Dubois　at　a　window　awaiting　me；　and
making　many　signs　to　me；　and　upon　reaching　the　staircase；　I　found　him
there　at　the　bottom；　as　I　was　about　to　mount。　　His　first　word　was　to　ask
me　if　I　had　brought　with　me　a　man　who　could　post　to　La　Trappe。　　I　showed
him　my　valet　de　chambre；　who　knew　the　road　well；　having　travelled　over　it
with　me　very　often；　and　who　was　well　known　to　the　Cardinal；　who；　when
simple　Abbe　Dubois；　used　very　frequently　to　chat　with　him　while　waiting
for　me。

The　Cardinal　explained　to　me；　as　we　ascended　the　stairs；　the　cause　of　his
message。　　Immediately　after　the　departure　of　the　Marechal　de　Villeroy；
M。　le　Frejus；　the　King's　instructor；　had　been　missed。　　He　had
disappeared。　　He　had　not　slept　at　Versailles。　　No　one　knew　what　had
become　of　him！　　The　grief　of　the　King　had　so　much　increased　upon
receiving　this　fresh　blowboth　his　familiar　friends　taken　from　him　at
oncethat　no　one　knew　what　to　do　with　him。　　He　was　in　the　most　violent
despair；　wept　bitterly；　and　could　not　be　pacified。　　The　Cardinal
concluded　by　saying　that　no　stone　must　be　left　unturned　in　order　to　find
M。　de　Frejus。　　That　unless　he　had　gone　to　Villeroy；　it　was　probable　he
had　hid　himself　in　La　Trappe；　and　that　we　must　send　and　see。　　With　this
he　led　me　to　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans。　　He　was　alone；　much　troubled；　walking
up　and　down　his　chamber；　and　he　said　to　me　that　he　knew　not　what　would
become　of　the　King；　or　what　to　do　with　him；　that　he　was　crying　for　M。　de
Frejus；　andwould　listen　to　nothing；　and　the　Regent　began　himself　to　cry
out　against　this　strange　flight。

After　some　further　consideration；　Dubois　pressed　me　to　go　and　write　to　La
Trappe。　　All　was　in　disorder　where　we　were；　everybody　spoke　at　once　in
the　cabinet；　it　was　impossible；　in　the　midst　of　all　this　noise；　to　write
upon　the　bureau；　as　I　often　did　when　I　was　alone　with　the　King。　　My
apartment　was　in　the　new　wing；　and　perhaps　shut　up；　for　I　was　not
expected　that　day。　　I　went　therefore；　instead；　into　the　chamber　of　Peze；
close　at　hand；　and　wrote　my　letter　there。　　The　letter　finished；　and　I
ab