GKIEF OF THE DUC.

117

On the next day, Friday, the 3rd of January, I saw M.
d'Orleans as he preceded the King to mass, and in my im-
patience I approached him, and speaking in a low tone, asked
liim if he had seen " that woman." I did not dare to mention
names just then. He replied "yes," but in so lackadaisical a
tone that I feared he had seen her to effect, and I asked him if
lie had spoken to her. Upon receiving another " yes," like the
other, my emotion redoubled. "But have you told her all?' I
said. " Yes," he replied, " I have told her all." " And are you
content T said I. " Nobody could be more so," he replied; " I
•was nearly an hour with her, she was very much surprised
and ravished."

I saw M. d'Orleans under better circumstances at another
period of the day, and then I learnt from him that since
meeting me he had spoken to the King also, and told him all.
ff Ah, Monsieur," cried I, with transport, " how I love you I" and
advancing warmly towards him, I added, " How glad I am to
see you at last delivered; how did you bring this to pass?"
"I mistrusted myself so much," replied he, "and was so
violently agitated after speaking to Madame de Maintenon,
that I feared to run the risk of pausing all the morning; so,
immediately after mass I spoke to the King, and"—here, over-
come by his grief, his voice faltered, and he burst into sighs,
into tears, and into sobs. I retired into a corner. A moment
after Besons entered: the spectacle and the profound silence
astonished him. He lowered his eyes, and advanced but little.
At last we gently approached each other. I told him that M.
d'Orleans had conquered himself, and had spoken to the King.
The Mardchal was so bewildered with surprise and joy that he
remained for some moments speechless and motionless: then
running towards M. d'Orleans, he thanked him, felicitated him,
and wept for very joy. M. d'Orl&ns was cruelly agitated, now
maintaining a ferocious silence, and now bursting into a torrent
of sighs, sobs, and tears. He said at last that Madame de
Maintenon had been extremely surprised with the resolution
he had taken, and at the same time delighted. She assured
liim that it would put him on better terms than ever with the