282 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

friend of Madame des TJrsins, putting aside her conduct to-
wards him and making no comparison between my attachment
for him and my friendship for her, I could not forget the marks
of consideration she had always given me, particularly in her
last triumphant journey (as I have already explained), and that
it would be hard if I could not see her. We capitulated
then, and M. le Due and Madame la Duchesse d/Orleans
permitted me to see her twice—once immediately; once when
she left—giving my word that I would not see her three times,
and that Madame de Saint-Simon should not see her at all;
which latter clause we agreed to very unwillingly, but there
was no remedy. As I wished at least to profit by my chance,
I sent word to Madame des Ursins, explaining the fetters that
bound me, and saying that as I wished to see her at all events-
at my ease since I should see her so little, I would let pass the
first few days and her first journey to Court, before asking her
for an audience. My message was very well received; she had
known for many years the terms on which I was with M^
d'Orleans; she was not surprised with these fetters, and was-
grateful to me for what I had obtained. Some days after she*
had been to ^ Versailles, I went to her at two o'clock in the day.
She at once closed the door to all comers, and I was tete-a-tete
with her until ten o'clock at night.

It may be imagined what a number of things were passed in
review during this long discourse. Our eight hours of conver-
sation appeared to me like eight moments. She related to me
her catastrophe, without mixing up the King or the King of
Spain, of whom she spoke well; but, without violently attack-
ing the Queen, she predicted what since has occurred. We sepa-
rated at supper time, with a thousand reciprocal protestations
and regret that Madame de Saint-Simon could not see her. She
promised to inform me of her departure early enough to allow
us to pass another day together.

Her journey to Versailles did not pass off very pleasantly.
She dined with the Duchesse de Luders, and then visited
Madame de Maintenon; waited with her for the Kong, but
when he came did not stop long, withdrawing to Madame