At this moment the Marechal de Villeroy, full of his own thoughts, muttered between his teeth, “But will the Parliament come?” This was gently taken up.  M. le Duc d’Orleans replied that he did not doubt it; and immediately afterwards, that it would be as well to know when they set out.  The Keeper of the Seals said he should be informed.  M. le Duc d’Orleans replied that the door-keepers must be told.  Thereupon up jumps M. de Troyes.

I was seized with such a sudden fear lest he should go and chatter at the door with some one that I jumped up also, and got the start of him.  As I returned, D’Antin, who had turned round to lay wait for me, begged me for mercy’s sake to tell him what all this meant.  I sped on saying that I knew nothing.  “Tell that to others!  Ho, ho!” replied he.  When he had resumed his seat, M. le Duc d’Orleans said something, I don’t know what, M. de Troyes still standing, I also.  In passing La Vrilliere, I asked him to go to the door every time anything was wanted, for fear of the babbling of M. de Troyes; adding, that distant as I was from the door, going there looked too peculiar.  La Vrilliere did as I begged him all the rest of the sitting.

As I was returning to my place, D’Antin, still in ambush, begged me in the name of heaven, his hands joined, to tell him something.  I kept firm, however, saying, “You will see.”  The Duc de Guiche pressed me as resolutely, even saying, it was evident I was in the plot.  I remained deaf.

These little movements over, M. le Duc d’Orleans, rising a little in his seat, said to the company, in a tone more firm, and more like that of a master than before, that there was another matter now to attend to, much more important than the one just heard.  This prelude increased the general astonishment, and rendered everybody motionless.  After a moment of silence the Regent said, that the peers had had for some time good grounds of complaint against certain persons, who by unaccustomed favour, had been allowed to assume rank and dignity to which their birth did not entitle them; that it was time this irregularity should be stopped short, and that with this view, an instrument had been drawn up, which the Keeper of the Seals would read to them.

A profound silence followed this discourse, so unexpected, and which began to explain the absence of the bastards.  Upon many visages a sombre hue was painted.  As for me I had enough to do to compose my, own visage, upon which all eyes successively passed; I had put upon it an extra coat of gravity and of modesty; I steered my eyes with care, and only looked horizontally at most, not an inch higher.  As soon as the Regent opened his mouth on this business, M. le Duc cast upon me a triumphant look which almost routed my seriousness, and which warned me to increase it, and no longer expose myself to meet his glance.  Contained in this manner, attentive in devouring the aspect of all, alive to everything and to myself, motionless,