In due time M. du Maine appeared in his mantle, entering by the King’s little door.  Never before had he made so many or such profound reverences as he did now—­though he was not usually very stingy of them—­ then standing alone, resting upon his stick near the Council table, he looked around at everybody.  Then and there, being in front of him, with the table between us, I made him the most smiling bow I had ever given him, and did it with extreme volupty.  He repaid me in the same coin, and continued to fix his eyes upon everybody in turn; his face agitated, and nearly always speaking to himself.

A few minutes after M. le Duc came to me, begging me to exhort M. le Duc d’Orleans to firmness:  then the Keeper of the Seals came forth for the same purpose.  M. le Duc d’Orleans himself approached me to say something a moment afterwards, and he had no sooner quitted my side than M. le Duc, impatient and troubled, came to know in what frame of mind was the Regent.  I told him good in a monosyllable, and sent him away.

I know not if these movements, upon which all eyes were fixed, began to frighten the Duc du Maine, but no sooner had M. le Duc joined the Regent, after quitting me, than the Duc du Maine went to speak to the Marechal de Villeroy and to D’Effiat, both seated at the end of the room towards the King’s little door, their backs to the wall.  They did not rise for the Duc du Maine, who remained standing opposite, and quite near them, all three holding long discourses, like people who deliberate with embarrassment and surprise, as it appeared to me by the faces of the two I saw, and which I tried not to lose sight of.

During this time M. le Duc d’Orleans and M. le Duc spoke to each other near the window and the ordinary entrance door; the Keeper of the Seals, who was near, joined them.  At this moment M. le Duc turned round a little, which gave me the opportunity to make signs to him of the other conference, which he immediately saw.  I was alone, near the Council table, very attentive to everything, and the others scattered about began to become more so.  A little while after the Duc du Maine placed himself where he had been previously:  the two he quitted remained as before.  M. du Maine was thus again in front of me, the table between us:  I observed that he had a bewildered look, and that he spoke to himself more than ever.

The Comte de Toulouse arrived as the Regent had just quitted the two persons with whom he had been talking.  The Comte de Toulouse was in his mantle, and saluted the company with a grave and meditative manner, neither accosting nor accosted:  M. le Duc d’Orleans found himself in front of him and turned towards me, although at some distance, as though to testify his trouble.  I bent my head a little while looking fixedly at him, as though to say, “Well, what then?”

A short time afterwards the Comte de Toulouse had a conversation with his brother, both speaking with agitation and without appearing to agree very well.  Then the Count approached M. le Duc d’Orleans, who was talking again to M. le Duc, and they spoke at some length to each other.  As their faces were towards the wall, nothing but their backs could be seen, no emotion and scarcely a gesture was visible.