I brought with me, besides the order respecting the letters of state, an order to the parliament to proceed to judgment at once.  It was laid before the judges very early on Saturday, the 11th of August, the last day of the parliament.  From four o’clock in the morning we had an infinite number of visitors, wanting to accompany us to the palace.  The parliament had been much irritated against these letters of state, after having suspended all other business for us.  The withdrawal of these letters was now announced.  We gained our cause, with penalties and expenses, amid acclamations which resounded through the court, and which followed us into the streets.  We could scarcely enter our street, so full was it with the crowd, or our house, which was equally crowded.  Our kitchen chimney soon after took fire, and it was only a marvel that it was extinguished, without damage, after having strongly warned us, and turned our joy into bitterness.  There was only the master of the house who was unmoved.  We dined, however, with a grand company; and after stopping one or two days more to thank our friends, we went to see the sea at Dieppe, and then to Cani, to a beautiful house belonging to our host at Rouen.

As for Madame d’Aumont, she was furious at the ill-success of her affair.  It was she who had obtained the letters of state from the steward of her son-in-law.  Her son-in-law had promised me that they should not be used, and wrote at once to say he had had no hand in their production.  M. de Brissac, who had been afraid to look me in the face ever since he had taken part in this matter, and with whom I had openly broken, was now so much ashamed that he avoided me everywhere.

CHAPTER XXXVII

It was just at the commencement of the year 1706, that I received a piece of news which almost took away my breath by its suddenness, and by the surprise it caused me.  I was on very intimate terms with Gualterio, the nuncio of the Pope.  Just about this time we were without an ambassador at Rome.  The nuncio spoke to me about this post; but at my age—­I was but thirty—­and knowing the unwillingness of the King to employ young men in public affairs, I paid no attention to his words.  Eight days afterwards he entered my chamber-one Tuesday, about an hour after mid-day-his arms open, joy painted upon his face, and embracing me, told me to shut my door, and even that of my antechamber, so that he should not be seen.  I was to go to Rome as ambassador.  I made him repeat this twice over:  it seemed so impossible.  If one of the portraits in my chamber had spoken to me, I could not have been more surprised.  Gualterio begged me to keep the matter secret, saying, that the appointment would be officially announced to me ere long.