364 MEMOIKS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

that after having thus satisfied the call of honour, he did not
think he could refuse to obey orders so express from the King
and the Regent, or abandon the former in order to bring about
the return of the Marshal de Villeroy, which was the object
of their reciprocal engagement, and which he was certain he
could not effect by absence, however prolonged. But amidst
these very sober excuses could be seen the joy which peeped
forth from him, in spite of himself, at being freed from so in-
convenient a superior, at having to do with a new governor
whom he could easily manage, at being able when he chose
to guide himself in al] liberty towards the grand object he had
always desired, which was to attach himself to the King with-
out reserve, and to make out of this attachment, obtained by
all sorts of means, the means of a greatness, which he did not
yet dare to figure to himself, but which time and opportunity
would teach him how to avail himself of in the best manner,
marching to it meanwhile in perfect security.

The Marshal was allowed to refresh himself, and exhale his
anger five or six days at Villeroy; and as he was not dan-
gerous away from the King, he was sent to Lyons, with liberty
to exercise his functions of governor of the town and province,
measures being taken to keep a watch upon him, and Des «*

Libois being left with him to diminish his authority by this f

manifestation of precaution and surveillance, which took from \

him all appearance of credit. He would receive no honours f

•on arriving there. A large quantity of his first fire was ex- 1

tinguished; this wide separation from Paris and the Court, |

where not even the slightest movement had taken place, every- \

body being stupefied and in terror at an arrest of this impor- ^

tance; took from him all remaining hope, curbed his impetu-
osity, and finally induced him to conduct himself with sagacity
in order to avoid worse treatment.

Such was the catastrophe of a man, so incapable of all the
posts he had occupied, who displayed chimeras and audacity
in the place of prudence and sagacity, who everywhere ap-
peared a trifler and a comedian, and whose universal and pro-
found ignorance (except of the meanest arts of the courtier)