CHAPTER XCVI

The Regent Sends for Me.—­Guilt of the Duc de Maine.—­Proposed Arrest.—­ Discussion on the Prison to Be Chosen.—­The Arrest.—­His Dejection.—­ Arrest of the Duchess.—­Her Rage.—­Taken to Dijon.—­Other Arrests.—­ Conduct of the Comte de Toulouse.—­The Faux Sauniers.—­Imprisonment of the Duc and Duchesse du Maine.—­Their Sham Disagreement.—­Their Liberation.—­Their Reconciliation.

Volume13.

CHAPTER XCVII

Anecdote of Madame de Charlus.—­The ’Phillippaques’.—­La Grange.—­ Pere Tellier.—­The Jesuits.—­Anecdote——­Tellier’s Banishment.—­Death of Madame de Maintenon.—­Her Life at Saint-Cyr.

CHAPTER XCVIII

Mode of Life of the Duchesse de Berry.—­Her Illness.—­Her Degrading Amours.—­Her Danger Increases.—­The Sacraments Refused.—­The Cure Is Supported by the Cardinal de Noailles.—­Curious Scene.—­The Duchess Refuses to Give Way.—­She Recovers, and Is Delivered.—­Ambition of Rion.  —­He Marries the Duchess.—­She Determines to Go to Meudon.—­Rion Sent to the Army.—­Quarrels of Father and Daughter.—­Supper on the Terrace of Meudon.—­The Duchess Again Ill.—­Moves to La Muette.—­Great Danger.—­ Receives the Sacrament.—­Garus and Chirac.—­Rival Doctors.—­Increased Illness.—­Death of the Duchess.—­Sentiments on the Occasion.—­Funeral Ceremonies.—­Madame de Saint-Simon Fails Ill.—­Her Recovery.—­We Move to Meudon.—­Character of the Duchesse de Berry.

CHAPTER XCIX

The Mississippi Scheme.—­Law Offers Me Shares.—­Compensation for Blaye.—­ The Rue Quincampoix.—­Excitement of the Public.—­Increased Popularity of the Scheme.—­Conniving of Law.—­Plot against His Life—­Disagreement with Argenson.—­Their Quarrel.—­Avarice of the Prince de Conti.—­His Audacity.—­Anger of the Regent.—­Comparison with the Period of Louis XIV.—­A Ballet Proposed.—­The Marechal de Villeroy.—­The Young King Is to Dance.—­Young Law Proposed.—­Excitement.—­The Young King’s Disgust.—­ Extravagant Presents of the Duc d’Orleans.

CHAPTER C

System of Law in Danger.—­Prodigality of the Duc d’Orleans.—­Admissions of Law.—­Fall of His Notes.—­Violent Measures Taken to Support Them.—­ Their Failure.—­Increased Extravagance of the Regent.—­Reduction of the Fervour.—­Proposed Colonies.—­Forced Emigration.—­Decree on the Indian Company.—­Scheming of Argenson.  Attitude of the Parliament.—­Their Remonstrance.—­Dismissal of Law.—­His Coolness—­Extraordinary Decree of Council of State.—­Prohibition of jewellery.—­New Schemes.

CHAPTER CI

The New Edict.—­The Commercial Company.—­New Edict.—­Rush on the Bank.—­ People Stifled in the Crowd.—­Excitement against Law.—­Money of the Bank.—­Exile of the Parliament to Pontoise.—­New Operation.—­The Place Vendome.—­The Marechal de Villeroy.—­Marseilles.—­Flight of Law.—­ Character of Him and His Wife.—­Observations on His Schemes.—­Decrees of the Finance.