secret.  The former had openly leagued himself with the enemies of Madame des Ursins, and acted with the utmost imprudence.  He had been privately arrested just before the arrival of Flotte.  When this latter was arrested, papers were found upon him which brought everything to light.  The views of M. d’Orleans and of those who supported him were clearly shown.  The King would not listen to anything in favour of his nephew.

The whole Court cried out against M. d’Orleans; never was such an uproar heard.  He was accused of plotting to overthrow the King of Spain, he, a Prince of the blood, and so closely allied to the two crowns!  Monseigneur, usually so plunged in apathy, roused himself to fury against M. d’Orleans, and insisted upon nothing less than a criminal prosecution.  He insisted so strongly upon this, that the King at last consented that it should take place, and gave orders to the chancellor to examine the forms requisite in such a case.  While the chancellor was about this work, I went to see him one day, and represented to him so strongly, that M. d’Orleans’ misdemeanour did not concern us at all, and could only be judged before a Spanish tribunal, that the idea of a criminal trial was altogether abandoned almost immediately after.  M. d’Orleans was allowed to remain in peace.

Madame des Ursins and Madame de Maintenon had so far triumphed, however, that M. d’Orleans found himself plunged in the deepest disgrace.  He was universally shunned.  Whenever he appeared, people flew away, so that they might not be seen in communication with him.  His solitude was so great, that for a whole month only one friend entered his house.  In the midst of this desertion, he had no resource but debauchery, and the society of his mistress, Madame d’Argenton.  The disorder and scandal of his life had for a long time offended the King, the Court, and the public.  They now unhappily confirmed everybody in the bad opinion they had formed of him.  That the long disgrace he suffered continued to confirm him in his bad habits, and that it explains to some extent his after-conduct, there can be no doubt.  But I must leave him now, and return to other matters.

CHAPTER XLIX

But, meanwhile, a great change had taken place at Court.  Chamillart had committed the mistake of allowing the advancement of D’Harcourt to the head of an army.  The poor man did not see the danger; and when warned of it, thought his cleverness would preserve him.  Reports of his fall had already begun to circulate, and D’Antin had been spoken of in his place.  I warned his daughter Dreux, the only one of the family to whom it was possible to speak with profit.  The mother, with little wit and knowledge of the Court, full of apparent confidence and sham cunning, received all advice ill.  The, brothers were imbecile, the son was a child and a simpleton, the two other daughters too light-headed.