No sooner was the courier gone who carried this news to her, than the rumour of her return was whispered all over the Court, and became publicly confirmed a few days afterwards.  The movement that it produced at Court was inconceivable.  Only the friends of Madame des Ursins were able to remain in a tolerably tranquil state.  Everybody opened his eyes and comprehended that the return of such an important personage was a fact that could not be insignificant.  People prepared themselves for a sort of rising sun that was going to change and renew many things in nature.  On every side were seen people who had scarcely ever uttered her name, and who now boasted of their intimacy with her and of her friendship for them.  Other people were seen, who, although openly allied with her enemies, had the baseness to affect transports of joy at her forthcoming return, and to flatter those whom they thought likely to favour them with her.

She reached Paris on Sunday, the 4th of January, 1705.  The Duc d’Albe met her several miles out of the city, escorted her to his house, and gave a fete in her honour there.  Several persons of distinction went out to meet her.  Madame des Ursins had reason to be surprised at an entry so triumphant:  she would not, however, stay with the Duc and Duchesse d’Albe, but took up her quarters with the Comtesse d’Egmont, niece of the Archbishop of Aix; the said Archbishop having been instrumental in obtaining her recall.  The King was at Marly.  I was there with Madame de Saint-Simon.  During the remainder of the stay at Marly everybody flocked to the house of Madame des Ursins, anxious to pay her their court.  However flattered she may have been by this concourse, she had matters to occupy her, pleaded want of repose, and shut her door to three people out of four who called upon her.  Curiosity, perhaps fashion, drew this great crowd to her.  The ministers were startled by it.  Torcy had orders from the King to go, and see her:  he did so; and from that moment Madame des Ursins changed her tone.  Until then her manner had been modest, supplicating, nearly timid.  She now saw and heard so much that from defendant, which she had intended to be, she thought herself in a condition to become accuser; and to demand justice of those who, abusing the confidence of the King, had drawn upon her such a long and cruel punishment, and made her a show for the two kingdoms.  All that happened to her surpassed her hopes.  Several times when with me she has expressed her astonishment; and with me has laughed at many people, often of much consideration, whom she scarcely knew, or who had been strongly opposed to her, and who basely crouched at her feet.