We followed them two by two according to seniority, and went straight forward to the door.  The Parliament began to move directly afterwards.  Place was made for us to the steps.  The crowd, the people, the display contrasted our conversation and our joy.  I was sorry for it.

I immediately gained my coach, which I found near, and which took me skilfully out of the court, so that I met with no check, and in a quarter of an hour after leaving the sitting, I was at home.

I had need of a little rest, for pleasure even is fatigue, and happiness, pure and untroubled as it may be, wearies the spirit.  I entered my house, then, at about two o’clock in the afternoon, intending to repose myself, and in order to do so in security, I closed my door to everybody.

Alas!  I had not been many minutes at home when I was called away to perform one of the most painful and annoying commissions it was ever my ill fortune to be charged with.

CHAPTER XCIV.

A little while before leaving the Cabinet of the Council for the Bed of Justice, M. le Duc d’Orleans had begged me to go to the Palais Royal with the Keeper of the Seals immediately after the ceremony had ended.  As I saw that nothing had been undertaken, I thought myself free of this conference, and was glad to avoid a new proof that I had been in a secret which had excited envy.  I went, therefore, straight home, arriving between two and three.  I found at the foot of the steps the Duc d’Humieres, Louville, and all my family, even my mother, whom curiosity had drawn from her chamber, which she had not left since the commencement of the winter.  We remained below in my apartment, where, while changing my coat and my shirt, I replied to their eager questions; when, lo!  M. de Biron, who had forced my door which I had closed against everybody, in order to obtain a little repose, was announced.

Biron put his head in at my door, and begged to be allowed to say a word to me.  I passed, half-dressed, into my chamber with him.  He said that M. le Duc d’Orleans had expected me at the Palais Royal immediately after the Bed of justice, and was surprised I had not appeared.  He added that there was no great harm done; and that the Regent wished to see me now, in order that I might execute a commission for him.  I asked Biron what it was?  He replied that it was to go to Saint-Clerc to announce what had taken place to Madame la Duchesse d’Orleans!

This was a thunder-bolt for me.  I disputed with Biron, who exhorted me to lose no time, but to go at once to the Palais Royal, where I was expected with impatience.  I returned into my cabinet with him, so changed in aspect that Madame de Saint-Simon was alarmed.  I explained what was the matter, and after Biron had chatted a moment, and again pressed me to set out at once, he went away to eat his dinner.  Ours was served.  I waited a little time in order to recover myself, determined not to vex M. le Duc d’Orleans by dawdling, took some soup and an egg, and went off to the Palais Royal.