CHAPTER CII

Council on the Finances.—­Departure of Law—­A Strange Dialogue.—­M. le Duc and the Regent.—­Crimes Imputed to Law during His Absence.—­Schemes Proposed.—­End, of the Council.

CHAPTER CIII

Character of Alberoni.—­His Grand Projects.—­Plots against Him.—­The
Queen’s Nurse.—­The Scheme against the Cardinal.—­His Fall.—­Theft of a
Will.—­Reception in Italy.—­His Adventures There.

CHAPTER CIV

Meetings of the Council.—­A Kitten.—­The Archbishopric of Cambrai.—­
Scandalous Conduct of Dubois.—­The Consecration.—­I Persuade the Regent
Not to Go.—­He Promises Not.—­Breaks His Word.—­Madame de Parabere.—­The
Ceremony.—­Story of the Comte de Horn.

Volume14

CHAPTER CV

Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.—­Schemes of Dubois.—­
Marriage of Brissac.—­His Death.—­Birth of the Young Pretender.—­
Cardinalate of Dubois.—­Illness of the King.—­His Convalescence.—­
A Wonderful Lesson.—­Prudence of the Regent.—­Insinuations against Him.

CHAPTER CVI

Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d’Orleans_
—­How It Was Communicated to Me.—­I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.—­It Is
Granted to Me.—­Jealousy of Dubois.—­His Petty Interference.—­
Announcement of the Marriages.

CHAPTER CVII

Interview with Dubois.—­His Singular Instructions to Ale.—­His Insidious Object.—­Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.—­My Departure for Spain.—­Journey by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.—­Reception in Spain.—­Arrival at Madrid.

CHAPTER CVIII

Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.—­Preliminaries of the Marriages.—­ Grimaldo.—­How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.—­I Ask for an Audience.—­Splendid Illuminations.—­A Ball.—­I Am Forced to Dance.

CHAPTER CIX

Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.—­I Carry the News to the
King.—­Set out for Lerma.—­Stay at the Escurial.—­Take the Small—­pox.—­
Convalescence.

CHAPTER CX

Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.—­Their Night.—­Morning.—­
Toilette.—­Character of Philippe V.—­And of His Queen.—­How She Governed
Him.

CHAPTER CXI

The King’s Taste for Hunting.—­Preparations for a Battue.—­Dull Work.—­
My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.—­Treachery of Dubois.—­Friendship of
Grimaldo.—­My Success.

CHAPTER CXII