332 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

to put people off by words, then by promises, of which he was
monstrously prodigal, but which he only kept when made to
people who had good firm claws. In this manner he broke so
many engagements that the most positive became counted as
nothing; and he promised moreover to so many different
people, what could only be given to one, that he thus opened
out a copious source of discredit to himself and caused much
discontent. Nothing deceived or injured him more than the
opinion he had formed, that he could deceive all the world. He
was no longer believed, even when he spoke with the best
faith, and his facility much diminished the value of everything
he did. To conclude, the obscure, and for the most part black-
guard company, which he ordinarily frequented in his debauches,
and which he did not scruple publicly to call his Roues,
drove away all decent people, and did him infinite harm.

His constant mistrust of everything and everybody was dis-
gusting, above all when he was at the head of affairs. The
fault sprang from his timidity, which made him fear his most
certain enemies, and treat them with more distinction than his
friends; from his natural easiness, from a false imitation of
Henry IV., in whom this quality was by no means the finest;
and from that unfortunate opinion which he held, that probity
was a sham. He was, nevertheless, persuaded of my-probity;
and would often reproach me with it as a fault and prejudice
of education which had cramped my mind and obscured my
understanding, and he said as much of Madame de Saint
Simon, because he believed her virtuous. I had given him so
many proofs of my attachment that he could not very well sus-
pect me; and yet, this is what happened two or three years
after the establishment of the Regency. I give it as one of the j

most striking of the touches that paint his portrait. \

It was autumn. M. d'Orl^ans had dismissed the councils for ,

a fortnight. I profited by this to go and spend the time at La
Ferte. I had just passed an hour alone with the Due, and had
taken my leave of him and gone home, where in order to be in
repose I had closed my door to every body. In about an hour
at most, I was told that Biron, with a message from M. le Due