At a ball, at the Duchesse de Villeroi’s, all the Princes of the Blood appeared.  Monseigneur, who from childhood had had a fancy for Mademoiselle de Blois, his legitimised sister, loved her far more definitely since her marriage with M. le Prince de Conti.  Monseigneur is lacking in tact.  At this ball he thought he could parade his sentiments, which were visibly unpleasant, both to the young husband and to the Princess herself.  He danced, nevertheless, for some minutes with her; but, suddenly, she feigned to be seized with a sharp pain in the spleen, and was conducted to a sofa.  The young Comte de Vermandois came and sat there near her.  They were both exhibiting signs of gaiety; their chatter amused them, and they were seen to laugh with great freedom.  Although Monsieur le Dauphin was assuredly not in their thoughts, he thought they were making merry at his expense.  He came and sat at the right of the Princess and said to her: 

“Your brother is very ill-bred!”

“Do you think so?” the Princess answered immediately.  “My brother is the most amiable boy in the world.  He is laughing at my talking to myself.  He assures me that my pain is in my knee instead of being in the spleen, and that is what we were amusing ourselves at, quite innocently.”

“Your brother thinks himself my equal,” added the Prince; “in which he certainly makes a mistake.  All his diamonds prove nothing; I shall have, when I like, those of the crown.”

“So much the worse, monsieur,” replied the Comte de Vermandois, quickly.  “Those diamonds should never change hands,—­at least, for a very long time.”

These words degenerating into an actual provocation, Monseigneur dared to say to his young brother that, were it not for his affection for the Princess, he would make him feel that he was——­

“My elder brother,” resumed the Comte de Vermandois, “and nothing more, I assure you.”

Before the ball was over, they met in an alcove and gave each other a rendezvous not far from Marly.  Both of them were punctual; but Monsieur le Dauphin had given his orders, so that they were followed in order to be separated.

The King was informed of this adventure; he immediately gave expression to his extreme dissatisfaction, and said: 

“What! is there hatred and discord already amongst my children?”

I spoke next to elucidate the facts, for I had learnt everything, and I represented M. de Vermandois as unjustly provoked by his brother.  His Majesty replied that Monsieur le Dauphin was the second personage in the Empire, and that all his brothers owed him respect up to a certain point.

“It was out of deference and respect that the Count accepted the challenge,” said I to the King; “and here the offending party made the double attack.”

“What a misfortune!” resumed the King.  “I thought them as united amongst themselves as they are in my heart.  Vermandois is quick, and as explosive as saltpetre; but he has the best nature in the world.  I will reconcile them; they will obey me.”