But Anne could not forget that she was forced to part with her confidential minister, and continued to be ruled by his counsels.  She had secret nocturnal meetings in the palace with both Harley and Mrs. Masham, to the chagrin of the ministers.  The court became the scene of intrigues and cabals.  Not only was Harley dismissed, but also Henry St. John, afterwards the famous Lord Bolingbroke, the intimate friend and patron of Pope.  He was secretary of war, and was a man of great ability, of more genius even than Harley.  He was an infidel in his religious opinions, and profligate in his private life.  Like Harley, he was born of Puritan parents, and, like him, repudiated his early principles.  He was the most eloquent orator in the House of Commons, which he entered in 1700 as a Whig.  At that time he was much admired by Marlborough, who used his influence to secure his entrance into the cabinet.  His most remarkable qualities were political sagacity, and penetration into the motives and dispositions of men.  He gradually went over to the Tories, and his alliance with Harley was strengthened by personal friendship as well as political sympathies.  He was the most interesting man of his age in society,—­witty, bright, and courtly.  In conversational powers he was surpassed only by Swift.

Meanwhile the breach between the Queen and the Duchess gradually widened.  And as the former grew cold in her treatment of her old friend, she at the same time annoyed her ministers by the appointment of Tory bishops to the vacant sees.  She went so far as to encroach on the prerogatives of the general of her armies, by making military appointments without his consent.  This interference Marlborough properly resented.  But his influence was now on the wane, as the nation wearied of a war which, as it seemed to the Tories, he needlessly prolonged.  Moreover, the Duke of Somerset, piqued by the refusal of the general to give a regiment to his son, withdrew his support from the Government.  The Duke of Shrewsbury and other discontented noblemen left the Whig party.  The unwise prosecution of Dr. Sacheverell for a seditious libel united the whole Tory party in a fierce opposition to the Government, which was becoming every day more unpopular.  Harley was indefatigable in intrigues.  “He fasted with religious zealots and feasted with convivial friends.”  He promised everything to everybody, but kept his own counsels.

In such a state of affairs, with the growing alienation of the Queen, it became necessary for the proud Duchess to resign her offices; but before doing this she made one final effort to regain what she had lost.  She besought the Queen for a private interview, which was refused.  Again importuned, her Majesty sullenly granted the interview, but refused to explain anything, and even abruptly left the room, and was so rude that the Duchess burst into a flood of tears which she could not restrain,—­not tears of grief, but tears of wrath and shame.