Produced by David Widger
Few events of importance had taken place during my absence in Spain.Shortly after my return, however, a circumstance occurred which mayfairly claim description from me. Let me, therefore, at once relate it.
Cardinal Dubois, every day more and more firmly established in the favourof M. le Duc d'Orleans, pined for nothing less than to be declared primeminister. He was already virtually in that position, but was notpublicly or officially recognised as being so. He wished, therefore, tobe declared.
One great obstacle in his path was the Marechal de Villeroy, with whom hewas on very bad terms, and whom he was afraid of transforming into anopen and declared enemy, owing to the influence the Marechal exerted overothers. Tormented with agitating thoughts, every day that delayed hisnomination seemed to him a year. Dubois became doubly ill-tempered andcapricious, more and more inaccessible, and accordingly the most pressingand most important business was utterly neglected. At last he resolvedto make a last effort at reconciliation with the Marechal, butmistrusting his own powers, decided upon asking Cardinal Bissy to be themediator between them.
Bissy with great willingness undertook the peaceful commission; spoke toVilleroy, who appeared quite ready to make friends with Dubois, and evenconsented to go and see him. As chance would have it, he went,accompanied by Bissy, on Tuesday morning. I at the same time went, aswas my custom, to Versailles to speak to M. le Duc d'Orleans upon somesubject, I forget now what.
It was the day on which the foreign ministers had their audience ofCardinal Dubois, and when Bissy and Villeroy arrived, they found theseministers waiting in the chamber adjoining the Cardinal's cabinet.
The established usage is that they have their audience according to theorder in which they arrive, so as to avoid all disputes among them as torank and precedence. Thus Bissy and Villeroy found Dubois closeted withthe Russian minister. It was proposed to inform the Cardinal at once, ofa this, so rare as a visit from the Marechal de Villeroy; but theMarechal would not permit it, and sat down upon a sofa with Bissy to waitlike the rest.
The audience being over, Dubois came from his cabinet, conducting theRussian minister, and immediately saw his sofa so well ornamented. Hesaw nothing but that in fact; on the instant he ran there, paid athousand compliments to the Marechal for anticipating him, when he wasonly waiting for permission to call upon him, and begged him and Bissy tostep into the cabinet. While they were going there, Dubois made hisexcuses to the ambassadors for attending to Villeroy before them, sayingthat his functions and his assiduity as governor of the King did notpermit him to be long absent from the presence of his Majesty; and withthis compliment he quitted them and returned into his cabinet.
At first nothing passed but reciprocal compliments and observations fromCardinal Bissy, appropriate to the subject. Then followed protestationsfrom Dubois and replies from the Marechal. Thus far, the sea was verysmooth. But absorbed in his song, the Marechal began to forget its tune;then to plume himself upon his frankness and upon his plain speaking;then by degrees, growing hot in his honours, he gave utterance to diversnaked truths, closely akin to insults.
Dubois, much aston