Spain who were in the capital took part in it, The singularity and the importance of such an event, interesting many millions of men, drew all Madrid to the palace, and the rooms adjoining that in which the council assembled were filled to suffocation.  All the foreign ministers besieged the door.  Every one sought to be the first to know the choice of the King who had just died, in order to be the first to inform his court.  Blecourt, our ambassador, was there with the others, without knowing more than they; and Count d’Harrach, ambassador from the Emperor, who counted upon the will in favour of the Archduke, was there also, with a triumphant look, just opposite the door, and close by it.

At last the door opened, and immediately closed again.  The Duc d’Abrantes, a man of much wit and humour, but not to be trifled with, came out.  He wished to have the pleasure of announcing upon whom the successorship had fallen, and was surrounded as soon as he appeared.  Keeping silence, and turning his eyes on all sides, he fixed them for a moment on Blecourt, then looked in another direction, as if seeking some one else.  Blecourt interpreted this action as a bad omen.  The Duc d’Abrantes feigning at last to discover the Count d’Harrach, assumed a gratified look, flew to him, embraced him, and said aloud in Spanish, “Sir, it is with much pleasure;” then pausing, as though to embrace him better, he added:  “Yes, sir, it is with an extreme joy that for all my life,” here the embraces were redoubled as an excuse for a second pause, after which he went on—­“and with the greatest contentment that I part from you, and take leave of the very august House of Austria.”  So saying he clove the crowd, and every one ran after him to know the name of the real heir.

The astonishment and indignation of Count d’Harrach disabled him from speaking, but showed themselves upon his face in all their extent.  He remained motionless some moments, and then went away in the greatest confusion at the manner in which he had been duped.

Blecourt, on the other hand, ran home without asking other information, and at once despatched to the King a courier, who fell ill at Bayonne, and was replaced by one named by Harcourt, then at Bayonne getting ready for the occupation of Guipuscoa.  The news arrived at Court (Fontainebleau) in the month of November.  The King was going out shooting that day; but, upon learning what had taken place, at once countermanded the sport, announced the death of the King of Spain, and at three o’clock held a council of the ministers in the apartments of Madame de Maintenon.  This council lasted until past seven o’clock in the evening.  Monseigneur, who had been out wolf-hunting, returned in time to attend it.  On the next morning, Wednesday, another council was held, and in the evening a third, in the apartments of Madame de Maintenon.  However accustomed persons were at the Court to the favour Madame de Maintenon enjoyed there, they were extremely surprised to see two councils assembled in her rooms for the greatest and most important deliberation that had taken place during this long reign, or indeed during many others.