After a passing glance upon this crowd I entered the Council chamber.  I found scattered there the majority of those who composed the Council with serious and troubled looks, which increased my seriousness.  Scarcely anybody spoke; and each, standing or seated here and there, kept himself in his place.  The better to examine all, I joined nobody.  A moment after M. le Duc d’Orleans entered with a gay, easy, untroubled air, and looked smilingly upon the company.  I considered this of good augury.  Immediately afterwards I asked him his news.  He replied aloud that he was tolerably well; then approaching my ear, added that, except when aroused to give his orders, he had slept very well, and that he was determined to hold firm.  This infinitely pleased me, for it seemed to me by his manner that he was in earnest, and I briefly exhorted him to remain so.

Came, afterwards, M. le Duc, who pretty soon approached me, and asked if I augured well from the Regent, and if he would remain firm.  M. le Duc had an air of exceeding gaiety, which was perceptible to those behind the scenes.  The Duc de Noailles devoured everything with his eyes, which sparkled with anger because he had not been initiated into the secret of this great day.

In due time M. du Maine appeared in his mantle, entering by the King’s little door.  Never before had he made so many or such profound reverences as he did now—­though he was not usually very stingy of them—­ then standing alone, resting upon his stick near the Council table, he looked around at everybody.  Then and there, being in front of him, with the table between us, I made him the most smiling bow I had ever given him, and did it with extreme volupty.  He repaid me in the same coin, and continued to fix his eyes upon everybody in turn; his face agitated, and nearly always speaking to himself.

A few minutes after M. le Duc came to me, begging me to exhort M. le Duc d’Orleans to firmness:  then the Keeper of the Seals came forth for the same purpose.  M. le Duc d’Orleans himself approached me to say something a moment afterwards, and he had no sooner quitted my side than M. le Duc, impatient and troubled, came to know in what frame of mind was the Regent.  I told him good in a monosyllable, and sent him away.

I know not if these movements, upon which all eyes were fixed, began to frighten the Duc du Maine, but no sooner had M. le Duc joined the Regent, after quitting me, than the Duc du Maine went to speak to the Marechal de Villeroy and to D’Effiat, both seated at the end of the room towards the King’s little door, their backs to the wall.  They did not rise for the Duc du Maine, who remained standing opposite, and quite near them, all three holding long discourses, like people who deliberate with embarrassment and surprise, as it appeared to me by the faces of the two I saw, and which I tried not to lose sight of.