The Abbe Dubois arranged a little code of signals, such as crossing the legs, shaking a handkerchief, or other simple gestures, to be given the first thing in the morning to the officers of the body-guards chosen to be in attendance in the room where the Bed of Justice was to be held.  They were to fix their eyes upon the Regent, and when he made any of the above signals, immediately to act upon it according to their written instructions.  The Abbe Dubois also drew out a sort of programme for M. le Duc d’Orleans, of the different orders he was to give during the night, fixing the hour for each, so that they might not arrive a minute too soon or a minute too late, and secrecy thus be maintained to the very latest moment.

Towards eight o’clock in the evening I went to they Palais Royal.  I was horror-struck to find M. le Duc d’Orleans in bed with fever, as he said; I felt his pulse.  Fever, he had, sure enough; perhaps from excitement caused by the business in hand.  I said to him it was only fatigue of body and mind, of which he would be quit in twenty-four hours; he, on his side, protested that whatever it might be, he would hold the Bed of justice on the morrow.  M. le Duc, who had just entered, was at his pillow; the chamber lighted by a single wax candle.  We sat down, M. le Duc and I, and passed in review the orders given and to give, not without much apprehension on account of this fever, come so strangely out of season to the healthiest man in the world, and who had never had it before.

I exhorted the Regent to take as much repose as he could, so that he might be fully able to execute the great work of the morrow, the safety of the Regency itself being at stake.  After this I felt his pulse again, not without fear.  I assured him, however, his illness would be nothing; without, it is true, being too sure of it myself.  I took my leave about ten o’clock, and went out of the room with Millain.  When I found myself alone with him in the cabinet, through which we passed, I embraced him with an extreme pleasure.  We had entered by the backstairs; we descended by the same, so as not to be observed.  It was dark, so that on both occasions we were obliged to grope our way.  Upon arriving at the bottom I could not refrain from again embracing Millain, so great was my pleasure, and we separated each to his home.

The arrangements respecting the troops and for summoning the Parliament, etc., were all carried out to the letter during the night and early morning.  At the hours agreed upon M. le Duc d’Orleans gave the various orders.  About four o’clock in the morning the Duc du Maine, as colonel-general of the Swiss guards, was aroused.  He had not been in bed above an hour, having just returned from a fete given at the arsenal by Madame du Maine.  He was doubtless much astonished, but contained himself, hid his fear, and sent at once to instruct his companies of Swiss guards of the orders they were to execute.  I don’t think he slept very well after this, uncertain as he must have been what was going to happen.  But I never knew what he or Madame du Maine did after being thus rudely disturbed.