Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 15 | Page 4

wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE
REGENCY
BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON
VOLUME 15.
CHAPTER CXIII
Attempted Reconciliation between Dubois and Villeroy.--Violent
Scene.-- Trap Laid for the Marechal.--Its Success.--His Arrest.
CHAPTER CXIV
I Am Sent for by Cardinal Dubois.--Flight of Frejus.--He Is Sought and
Found.--Behaviour of Villeroy in His Exile at Lyons.--His Rage and
Reproaches against Frejus.--Rise of the Latter in the King's
Confidence.
CHAPTER CXV
I Retire from Public Life.--Illness and Death of Dubois. --Account of
His Riches.--His Wife.--His Character.--Anecdotes.--Madame de
Conflans.-- Relief of the Regent and the King.

CHAPTER CXVI
Death of Lauzun.--His Extraordinary Adventures.--His Success at
Court.-- Appointment to the Artillery.--Counter--worked by
Louvois.--Lauzun and Madame de Montespan.--Scene with the
King.--Mademoiselle and Madame de Monaco.
CHAPTER CXVII
Lauzun's Magnificence.--Louvois Conspires against Him.--He Is
Imprisoned.--His Adventures at Pignerol.--On What Terms He Is
Released.-- His Life Afterwards.--Return to Court.
CHAPTER CXVIII
Lauzun Regrets His Former Favour.--Means Taken to Recover
It.--Failure.-- Anecdotes.--Biting Sayings.--My Intimacy with
Lauzun.--His Illness, Death, and Character.
CHAPTER CXIX
Ill-Health of the Regent.--My Fears.--He Desires a Sudden Death.--
Apoplectic Fit.--Death.--His Successor as Prime Minister.--The Duc de
Chartres.--End of the Memoirs.
CHAPTER CXIII
Few events of importance had taken place during my absence in Spain.
Shortly after my return, however, a circumstance occurred which may
fairly claim description from me. Let me, therefore, at once relate it.
Cardinal Dubois, every day more and more firmly established in the
favour of M. le Duc d'Orleans, pined for nothing less than to be
declared prime minister. He was already virtually in that position, but
was not publicly or officially recognised as being so. He wished,
therefore, to be declared.

One great obstacle in his path was the Marechal de Villeroy, with
whom he was on very bad terms, and whom he was afraid of
transforming into an open and declared enemy, owing to the influence
the Marechal exerted over others. Tormented with agitating thoughts,
every day that delayed his nomination seemed to him a year. Dubois
became doubly ill-tempered and capricious, more and more
inaccessible, and accordingly the most pressing and most important
business was utterly neglected. At last he resolved to make a last effort
at reconciliation with the Marechal, but mistrusting his own powers,
decided upon asking Cardinal Bissy to be the mediator between them.
Bissy with great willingness undertook the peaceful commission; spoke
to Villeroy, who appeared quite ready to make friends with Dubois, and
even consented to go and see him. As chance would have it, he went,
accompanied by Bissy, on Tuesday morning. I at the same time went,
as was my custom, to Versailles to speak to M. le Duc d'Orleans upon
some subject, I forget now what.
It was the day on which the foreign ministers had their audience of
Cardinal Dubois, and when Bissy and Villeroy arrived, they found
these ministers waiting in the chamber adjoining the Cardinal's cabinet.
The established usage is that they have their audience according to the
order in which they arrive, so as to avoid all disputes among them as to
rank and precedence. Thus Bissy and Villeroy found Dubois closeted
with the Russian minister. It was proposed to inform the Cardinal at
once, of a this, so rare as a visit from the Marechal de Villeroy; but the
Marechal would not permit it, and sat down upon a sofa with Bissy to
wait like the rest.
The audience being over, Dubois came from his cabinet, conducting the
Russian minister, and immediately saw his sofa so well ornamented. He
saw nothing but that in fact; on the instant he ran there, paid a thousand
compliments to the Marechal for anticipating him, when he was only
waiting for permission to call upon him, and begged him and Bissy to
step into the cabinet. While they were going there, Dubois made his
excuses to the ambassadors for attending to Villeroy before them,
saying that his functions and his assiduity as governor of the King did

not permit him to be long absent from the presence of his Majesty; and
with this compliment he quitted them and returned into his cabinet.
At first nothing passed but reciprocal compliments and observations
from Cardinal Bissy, appropriate to the subject. Then followed
protestations from Dubois and replies from the Marechal. Thus far, the
sea was very smooth. But absorbed in his song, the Marechal began to
forget its tune; then to plume himself upon his frankness and upon his
plain speaking; then by degrees, growing hot in his honours, he gave
utterance to divers naked truths, closely akin to insults.
Dubois, much astonished, pretended not to feel the force of these
observations, but as they increased every moment, Bissy tried to call
back the Marechal, explain things to