THE DTJCHESSE DE EOTJRGOGNE.

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•support; for the Due de Berry was already well-liked. The
Due de Bourgogne, on the contrary, since the affair of Flanders,
had fallen into disgrace with his father, Monseigneur ; and his
•scruples, his preciseness, his retired life, devoted to literal com-
pliance with the rules of devotion, contrasted unfavourably with
the free life of his younger brother.

The present and the future—whatever was important in life
—were therefore at stake with Madame la Duchesse de Bour-
gogne; and yet her great duty to herself was perpetually in
danger of being stifled by the fictitious and petty duties of
>daily life. It was necessary to stimulate her. She felt these
things in general; and that it was necessary that her sister-in-
law should be a Princesse, neither able nor willing to give her
umbrage, and over whom she should be mistress. But in spite
of her wit and sense, she was not capable of feeling in a suffi-
ciently lively manner of herself all the importance of these
things, amidst the effervescence of her youth, the occupation of
her successive duties, the private and general favour she seemed
to enjoy, the greatness of a rank in expectation of a throne, the
round of amusements which dissipated her mind and her days:
gentle, light, easy—perhaps too easy. I felt, however, that from
the effect of these considerations upon her I should derive the
greatest assistance, on account of the influence she could exert
upon the King, and still more on Madame de Maintenon, both
of whom loved her exceedingly; and I felt all that the Duchesse
d'Orleans would have neither the grace nor the fire necessary
to stick it in deep enough—on account of her great interest in
the matter.

I influenced the Duchesse de Villeroy and Madame de L^vi,
who could work on the Duchesse, and also Madame d'O.; ob-
tained the indirect assistance of M. du Maine—and by represent-
ing to the Dues de Chevreuse, and de Beauvilliers, that if M.
de Berry married Mademoiselle de Bourbon, hatred would arise
between him. and his brother, and great danger to the state,
enlisted them also on my side. I knew that the Due de Berry
was a fort that could only be carried by mine and assault.
Working still further, I obtained the concurrence of the