322 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMOK

CHAPTEE XXXII

Character and position of the Due d'OrMans—"His Manners, Talents, and
Virtues—His "Weakness—Anecdote illustrative thereof—"The De*bon-
naire"—Adventure of the Grand Prieur in England—Education of the
Due d'Orleans—Characterof Dubois—His pernicious Influence—TheDuc's
Emptiness—His deceit—His love of painting—The Fairies at his birth—
The Due's Timidity—An Instance of his Mistrustfulness.

THE reign of Louis XIV. was approaching its conclusion, so
that there is now nothing more to relate but what passed during
the last month of his life, and scarcely so much. These .events,
indeed, so curious and so important, are so mixed up with those
that immediately followed the King's death, that they cannot
be separated from them. It will be interesting and is necessary
to describe the projects, the thoughts, the difficulties, the
different resolutions, which occupied the brain of the prince,
who, despite the efforts of Madame de Maintenon and M. du
Maiae, was of necessity about to be called to the head of affairs
during the minority of the young King. This is the place,
therefore, to explain all these things, after which we will resume
the narrative of the last month of the King's life, and go on to
the events which followed his death.

But, as I have seen, before entering upon this thorny path,
it will be as well to make known, if possible, the chief person-
age of the story, the impediments interior and exterior in his
path, and all that personally belonged to him.

ML le Due d'Orl^ans was, at the most, of mediocre stature,
full-bodied without being fat; his manner and his deportment
were easy and very noble; his face was broad and very agree-