The King returned to Versailles on Saturday, the 10th of January.  Madame des Ursins arrived there the same day.  I went immediately to see her, not having been able to do so before, because I could not quit Marly.  My mother had seen a great deal of Madame des Ursins at Paris.  I had always been on good terms with her, and had received on all occasions proofs of her friendship.  She received me very well, spoke with much freedom, and said she promised herself the pleasure of seeing me again, and of talking with me more at her ease.  On, the morrow, Sunday, she dined at home alone, dressed herself in grand style, and went to the King, with whom she remained alone two hours and a half conversing in his cabinet.  From there she went to the Duchesse de Bourgogne, with whom she also conversed a long time alone.  In the evening, the King said, while in Madame de Maintenon’s apartments, that there were still many things upon which he had not yet spoken to Madame des Ursins.  The next day she saw Madame de Maintenon in private for a long time, and much at her ease.  She had an interview soon after with the King and Madame de Maintenon, which was also very long.

A month after this a special courier arrived from the King and Queen of Spain, to thank the King (Louis XIV.) for his conduct towards the Princesse des Ursins.  From that moment it was announced that she would remain at Court until the month of April, in order to attend to her affairs and her health.  It was already to have made a grand step to be mistress enough to announce thus her stay.  Nobody in truth doubted of her return to Spain, but the word was not yet said.  She avoided all explanations, and it may be believed did not have many indiscreet questions put to her upon the subject.

So many and such long audiences with the King, followed by so much serenity, had a great effect upon the world, and the crowd that flocked to see Madame des Ursins was greater than ever; but under various pretences she shut herself up and would see only a few intimate friends, foremost among which were Madame de Saint-Simon and myself.  Whilst triumphant beyond all her hopes in Paris, she was at work in Spain, and with equal success.  Rivas, who had drawn up the will of the late King Charles II., was disgraced, and never afterwards rose to favour.  The Duc de Grammont, our ambassador at Madrid, was so overwhelmed with annoyance, that he asked for his recall.  Amelot, whom Madame des Ursins favoured, was appointed in his place, and many who had been disgraced were reinstated in office; everything was ordered according to her wishes.