68 MEMOIES OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMOST.

He was delighted, and gave himself up to the most agreeable
hopes. But it was no longer time : he had sought to drown, his
sorrow at wearing out his life unoccupied in wine and other
pleasures, for which his age and his already enfeebled body
were no longer suited. His health gave way. He felt it soon,
The tardy return to favour which he had enjoyed made him
regret life more. He perished slowly, regretting to have been
brought to death's door by disgrace, and the impossibility of
being restored by the unexpected opening of a brilliant career.

The Prince, against the custom of those of his rank, had been
•very well educated. He was full of instruction. The disorders
of his life had clouded his knowledge but not extinguished it,
and he often read to brush up his learning. He chose M. de la
Tour to prepare him, and help him to die well. He was so
attached to life that all his courage was required. For three
months crowds of visitors filled his palace, and the people even
collected in the place before it. The churches echoed with
prayers for his life. The members of his family often went to
pay for masses for him,, and found that others had already done
so. All questions were about his health. People stopped each
other in the street to inquire; passers-by were called to by
shopmen, anxious to know whether the Prince de Conti was to
live or to die. Amidst all this, Monseigneur never visited him;
and, to the indignation of all Paris, passed along the quay near
the Louvre going to the Opera, whilst the sacraments were be-
ing carried to the Prince on the other side. He was compelled
by public opinion to make a short visit after this. The Prince
died at last in his arm-chair, surrounded by a few worthy
people. Regrets were universal; but perhaps he gained by his
disgrace. His heart was firmer than his head. He might
bave been timid at the head of an army or in the Council of
the King if he had entered it. The King was much relieved
by his death; Madame de Maintenon also; M. le Due much
more; for M. du Maine it was a deliverance, and for M. de Ven-
d6me a consolation. Monseigneur learned it at Meudon as he
was going out to hunt, and showed no feeling of any kind.

The death of M. le Prince de Conti seemed to the Due