It was now a little after ten.  We remained a good half-hour in our places, talking a little with each other, but on the whole rather silent.  At the end some grew fidgety and anxious, rose and went to the windows.  M. le Duc d’Orleans restrained them as well as he could; but at length Desgranges entered to say that the Chief-President had already arrived, in his coach, and that the Parliament was near.  So soon as he had retired, the Council rose by groups, and could no longer be kept seated.  M. le Duc d’Orleans himself at last rose, and all he could do was to prohibit everybody from leaving the room under any pretext, and this prohibition he repeated two or three times.

Scarcely had we risen when M. le Duc came to me, rejoiced at the success that had hitherto been had, and much relieved by the absence of the bastards.  Soon after I quitted him the Duc d’Orleans came to me, overpowered with the same sentiment.  I said what I thought of the consternation of every one; and painted the expression of M. d’Effiat, at which he was not surprised.  He was more so about Besons.  I asked if he was not afraid the bastards would come to the Bed of justice; but he was certain they would not.  I was resolved, however, to prepare his mind against that contingency.

I walked about, slowly and incessantly without fixing myself on any one, in order that nothing should escape me, principally attending to the doors.  I took advantage of the opportunity to say a word here and a word there, to pass continually near those who were suspected, to skim and interrupt all conversations.  D’Antin was often joined by the Duc de Noailles, who had resumed his habit of the morning, and continually followed me with his eyes.  He had an air of consternation, was agitated and embarrassed in countenance—­he commonly so free and easy!  D’Antin took me aside to see whether he could not, considering his position, be excused from attending the Bed of Justice.  He received permission from the Regent on certain conditions.

I went then to break in upon the colloquy of D’Effiat and his friends, and taking them by surprise, caused D’Effiat to say that he had just heard strange resolutions, that he did not know who had advised them, that he prayed that M. d’Orleans would find them advantageous.  I replied, agreeing with him.  The Marechal de Villeroy sighed, muttered, and shook his wig, Villars spoke more at length, and blamed sharply what had been done.  I assented to everything, being there not to persuade but to watch.

Nevertheless we grew weary of the slowness of the Parliament, and often sent out for news.  Several of the Council tried to leave the room, perhaps to blab, but the Regent would allow no one but La Vrilliere to go out, and seeing that the desire to leave increased, stood at the door himself.  I suggested to him that Madame d’Orleans would be in a great state of uneasiness, and suggested that he should write to her; but he could not be persuaded to do it, though he promised.