Chapter XCVIII

Mode of Life of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Illness.--Her Degrading Amours.--Her Danger Increases.--The Sacraments Refused.--The Cure Is Supported by the Cardinal de Noailles.--Curious Scene.--The Duchess Refuses to Give Way.--She Recovers, and Is Delivered.--Ambition of Rion. --He Marries the Duchess.--She Determines to Go to Meudon.--Rion Sent to the Army.--Quarrels of Father and Daughter.--Supper on the Terrace of Meudon.--The Duchess Again Ill.--Moves to La Muette.--Great Danger.-- Receives the Sacrament.--Garus and Chirac.--Rival Doctors.--Increased Illness.--Death of the Duchess.--Sentiments on the Occasion.--Funeral Ceremonies.--Madame de Saint-Simon Fails Ill.--Her Recovery.--We Move to Meudon.--Character of the Duchesse de Berry.

CHAPTER XCIX

The Mississippi Scheme.--Law Offers Me Shares.--Compensation for Blaye.-- The Rue Quincampoix.--Excitement of the Public.--Increased Popularity of the Scheme.--Conniving of Law.--Plot against His Life--Disagreement with Argenson.--Their Quarrel.--Avarice of the Prince de Conti.--His Audacity.--Anger of the Regent.--Comparison with the Period of Louis XIV.--A Ballet Proposed.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--The Young King Is to Dance.--Young Law Proposed.--Excitement.--The Young King's Disgust.-- Extravagant Presents of the Duc d'Orleans.

CHAPTER C

System of Law in Danger.--Prodigality of the Duc d'Orleans.--Admissions of Law.--Fall of His Notes.--Violent Measures Taken to Support Them.-- Their Failure.--Increased Extravagance of the Regent.--Reduction of the Fervour.--Proposed Colonies.--Forced Emigration.--Decree on the Indian Company.--Scheming of Argenson. Attitude of the Parliament.--Their Remonstrance.--Dismissal of Law.--His Coolness--Extraordinary Decree of Council of State.--Prohibition of jewellery.--New Schemes.

CHAPTER CI

The New Edict.--The Commercial Company.--New Edict.--Rush on the Bank.-- People Stifled in the Crowd.--Excitement against Law.--Money of the Bank.--Exile of the Parliament to Pontoise.--New Operation.--The Place Vendome.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--Marseilles.--Flight of Law.-- Character of Him and His Wife.--Observations on His Schemes.--Decrees of the Finance.

CHAPTER CII

Council on the Finances.--Departure of Law--A Strange Dialogue.--M. le Duc and the Regent.--Crimes Imputed to Law during His Absence.--Schemes Proposed.--End, of the Council.

CHAPTER CIII

Character of Alberoni.--His Grand Projects.--Plots against Him.--The Queen's Nurse.--The Scheme against the Cardinal.--His Fall.--Theft of a Will.--Reception in Italy.--His Adventures There.

CHAPTER CIV

Meetings of the Council.--A Kitten.--The Archbishopric of Cambrai.-- Scandalous Conduct of Dubois.--The Consecration.--I Persuade the Regent Not to Go.--He Promises Not.--Breaks His Word.--Madame de Parabere.--The Ceremony.--Story of the Comte de Horn.

VOLUME 14

CHAPTER CV

Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.--Schemes of Dubois.-- Marriage of Brissac.--His Death.--Birth of the Young Pretender.-- Cardinalate of Dubois.--Illness of the King.--His Convalescence.-- A Wonderful Lesson.--Prudence of the Regent.--Insinuations against Him.

CHAPTER CVI

Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d'Orleans-- --How It Was Communicated to Me.--I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.--It Is Granted to Me.--Jealousy of Dubois.--His Petty Interference.-- Announcement of the Marriages.

CHAPTER CVII

Interview with Dubois.--His Singular Instructions to Ale.--His Insidious Object.--Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.--My Departure for Spain.--Journey by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.--Reception in Spain.--Arrival at Madrid.

CHAPTER CVIII

Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.--Preliminaries of the Marriages.-- Grimaldo.--How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.--I Ask for an Audience.--Splendid Illuminations.--A Ball.--I Am Forced to Dance.

CHAPTER CIX

Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.--I Carry the News to the King.--Set out for Lerma.--Stay at the Escurial.--Take the Small--pox.-- Convalescence.

CHAPTER CX

Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.--Their Night.--Morning.-- Toilette.--Character of Philippe V.--And of His Queen.--How She Governed Him.

CHAPTER CXI

The King's Taste for Hunting.--Preparations for a Battue.--Dull Work.-- My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.--Treachery of Dubois.--Friendship of Grimaldo.--My Success.

CHAPTER CXII

Marriage of the Prince of the Asturias.--An Ignorant Cardinal.--I Am Made Grandee of Spain.--The Vidame de Chartres Named Chevalier of the Golden Fleece.--His Reception--My Adieux.--A Belching Princess.-- Return to France.

VOLUME 15.

CHAPTER CXIII

Attempted Reconciliation between Dubois and Villeroy.--Violent Scene.-- Trap Laid for the Marechal.--Its Success.--His Arrest.

CHAPTER CXIV

I Am Sent for by Cardinal Dubois.--Flight of Frejus.--He Is Sought and Found.--Behaviour of Villeroy in His Exile at Lyons.--His Rage and Reproaches against Frejus.--Rise of the Latter in the King's Confidence.

CHAPTER CXV

I Retire from Public Life.--Illness and Death of Dubois.--Account of His Riches.--His Wife.--His Character.--Anecdotes.--Madame de Conflans.-- Relief of the Regent and the King.

CHAPTER CXVI

Death of Lauzun.--His Extraordinary Adventures.--His Success at Court.-- Appointment to the Artillery.--Counter--worked by Louvois.--Lauzun and Madame de Montespan.--Scene with the King.--Mademoiselle and Madame de Monaco.

CHAPTER CXVII

Lauzun's Magnificence.--Louvois Conspires against Him.--He Is Imprisoned.--His Adventures at Pignerol.--On What Terms He Is Released.-- His Life Afterwards.--Return to Court.

CHAPTER CXVIII

Lauzun Regrets His Former Favour.--Means Taken to Recover It.--Failure.-- Anecdotes.--Biting Sayings.--My Intimacy with Lauzun.--His Illness, Death, and Character.

CHAPTER CXIX

Ill-Health of the Regent.--My Fears.--He Desires a Sudden Death.-- Apoplectic Fit.--Death.--His Successor as Prime Minister.--The Duc de Chartres.--End of the Memoirs.