184: MEMOIES OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

seigneur—insisting especially on his goodness. They pitied
the King for the loss of so good a son. The keener began
already to be uneasy about the health of the King; and admired
themselves for preserving so much judgment amidst so much
trouble, which could be perceived by the frequency of their
repetitions. Others, really afflicted—the discomfited Cabal—
wept bitterly, and kept themselves under with an effort as easy
to notice as sobs. The most strong-minded or the wisest, with
eyes iixed on the ground, in corners, meditated on the con-
sequences of such an event—and especially on their own in-
terests. Few words passed in conversation—here and there an
exclamation wrung from grief was answered by some neigh-
bouring grief—a word every quarter of an hour—sombre and
haggard eyes—movements quite involuntary of the hands—
immobility of all other parts of the body. Those who already
looked upon the event as favourable in vain exaggerated their
gravity so as to make it resemble chagrin and severity; the
veil over their faces was transparent and hid not a single
feature. They remained as motionless as those who grieved
most, fearing opinion, curiosity, their own satisfaction, their
every movement; but their eyes made up for their immobility.
Indeed they could not refrain from repeatedly changing their
attitude like people ill at ease, sitting or standing, from
avoiding each other too carefully, even from allowing their eyes
to meet—nor repress a manifest air of liberty—nor conceal their
increased liveliness—nor put out a sort of brilliancy which dis-
tinguished them in spite of themselves.

The two Princes, and the two Princesses who sat by their
sides, were more exposed to view than any other. The Due de
Bourgogne wept with tenderness, sincerity, and gentleness, the
tears of nature, of religion, and patience. M. le Due de Berry
also sincerely shed abundance of tears, but bloody tears, so to
speak, so great appeared their bitterness; and he uttered not
only sobs, but cries, nay, even yells. He was silent sometimes,
but from suffocation, and then would burst out again with such
a noise, such a trumpet sound of despair, that the majority
present burst out also at these dolorous repetitions, either im-