In the middle of his grandeur and good luck he met with an adventure that must have strangely disconcerted him.

I have before explained how Madame des Ursins and the deceased Queen had kept the King of Spain screened from all eyes, inaccessible to all his Court, a very palace-hermit.  Alberoni, as I have said, followed their example.  He kept the King even more closely imprisoned than before, and allowed no one, except a few indispensable attendants, to approach him.  These attendants were a small number of valets and doctors, two gentlemen of the chamber, one or two ladies, and the majordomo-major of the King.  This last post was filled by the Duc d’Escalone, always called Marquis de Villena, in every way one of the greatest noblemen in Spain, and most respected and revered of all, and justly so, for his virtue, his appointment, and his services.

Now the King’s doctors are entirely under the authority of the majordomo-major.  He ought to be present at all their consultations; the King should take no remedy that he is not told of, or that he does not approve, or that he does not see taken; an account of all the medicines should be rendered to him.  Just at this time the King was ill.  Villena wished to discharge the duties attached to his post of majordomo-major.  Alberoni caused it to be insinuated to him, that the King wished to be at liberty, and that he would be better liked if he kept at home; or had the discretion and civility not to enter the royal chamber, but to ask at the door for news.  This was language the Marquis would not understand.

At the end of the grand cabinet of the mirrors was placed a bed, in which the King was laid, in front of the door; and as the room is vast and long, it is a good distance from the door (which leads to the interior) to the place where the bed was.  Alberoni again caused the Marquis to be informed that his attentions were troublesome, but the Marquis did not fail to enter as before.  At last, in concert with the Queen, the Cardinal resolved to refuse him admission.  The Marquis, presenting himself one afternoon, a valet partly opened the door and said, with much confusion, that he was forbidden to let him enter.

“Insolent fellow,” replied the Marquis, “stand aside,” and he pushed the door against the valet and entered.  In front of him was the Queen, seated at the King’s pillow; the Cardinal standing by her side, and the privileged few, and not all of them, far away from the bed.  The Marquis, who, though full of pride, was but weak upon his legs, leisurely advanced, supported upon his little stick.  The Queen and the Cardinal saw him and looked at each other.  The King was too ill to notice anything, and his curtains were closed except at the side where the Queen was.  Seeing the Marquis approach, the Cardinal made signs, with impatience, to one of the valets to tell him to go away, and immediately after, observing that the Marquis, without replying, still advanced, he went to him, explained to him that the King wished to be alone, and begged him to leave.