M. le Duc de Chartres (the Regent’s son), very awkward, but a libertine, was at Paris with an opera dancer he kept.  He received the courier which brought him the news of the apoplexy, and on the road (to Versailles), another with the news of death.  Upon descending from his coach, he found no crowd, but simply the Duc de Noailles, and De Guiche, who very ‘apertement’ offered him their services, and all they could do for him.  He received them as though they were begging-messengers whom he was in a hurry to get rid of, bolted upstairs to his mother, to whom he said he had just met two men who wished to bamboozle him, but that he had not been such a fool as to let them.  This remarkable evidence of intelligence, judgment, and policy, promised at once all that this prince has since performed.  It was with much trouble he was made to comprehend that he had acted with gross stupidity; he continued, nevertheless, to act as before.

He was not less of a cub in the interview I shortly afterwards had with him.  Feeling it my duty to pay a visit of condolence to Madame la Duchesse d’Orleans, although I had not been on terms of intimacy with her for a long while, I sent a message to her to learn whether my presence would be agreeable.  I was told that Madame la Duchesse d’Orleans would be very glad to see me.  I accordingly immediately went to her.

I found her in bed, with a few ladies and her chief officers around, and M. le Duc de Chartres making decorum do double duty for grief.  As soon as I approached her she spoke to me of the grievous misfortune—­not a word of our private differences.  I had stipulated thus.  M. le Duc de Chartres went away to his own rooms.  Our dragging conversation I put an end to as soon as possible.

From Madame la Duchesse d’Orleans I went to M. le Duc de Chartres.  He occupied the room his father had used before being Regent.  They told me he was engaged.  I went again three times during the same morning.  At the last his valet de chambre was ashamed, and apprised him of my visit, in despite of me.  He came across the threshold of the door of his cabinet, where he had been occupied with some very common people; they were just the sort of people suited to him.

I saw a man before me stupefied and dumfounded, not afflicted, but so embarrassed that he knew not where he was.  I paid him the strongest, the clearest, the most energetic of compliments, in a loud voice.  He took me, apparently, for some repetition of the Ducs de Guiche and de Noailles, and did not do me the honour to reply one word.

I waited some moments, and seeing that nothing would come out of the mouth of this image, I made my reverence and withdrew, he advancing not one step to conduct me, as he ought to have done, all along his apartment, but reburying himself in his cabinet.  It is true that in retiring I cast my eyes upon the company, right and left, who appeared to me much surprised.  I went home very weary of dancing attendance at the chateau.