the memoirs of louis xiv-12-第16部分

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ambassador；　to　examine　his　papers；　and　to　place　them　under　guard。　　He
showed　that　the　protection　afforded　by　the　law　of　nations　did　not　extend
to　conspiracies；　that　ambassadors　rendered　themselves　unworthy　of　that
protection　when　they　took　part　in　them；　still　more　when　they　excited
people　against　the　state　where　they　dwelt。　　He　cited　several　examples　of
ambassadors　arrested　for　less。　　He　explained　the　orders　he　had　given　so
as　to　inform　all　the　foreign　ministers　in　Paris　of　what　had　occurred；　and
had　ordered　Dubois　to　render　an　account　to　the　council　of　what　he　had
done　at　the　ambassador's；　and　offered　to　read　the　letters　from　Cellamare
to　Cardinal　Alberoni；　found　among　the　papers　brought　from　Poitiers。

The　Abbe　Dubois　stammered　out　a　short　and　ill…arranged　recital　of　what　he
had　done　at　the　ambassador's　house；　and　dwelt　upon　the　importance　of　the
discovery　and　upon　that　of　the　conspiracy　as　far　as　already　known。　　The
two　letters　he　read　left　me　no　doubt　that　Cellamare　was　at　the　head　of
this　affair；　and　that　Alberoni　had　entered　into　it　as　far　as　he。　　We　were
much　scandalised　with　the　expressions　in　these　letters　against　M。　le　Duc
d'Orleans；　who　was　in　no　way　spared。

This　prince　spoke　again；　to　say　he　did　not　suspect　the　King　or　Queen　of
Spain　to　be　mixed　up　in　this　affair；　but　that　he　attributed　it　all　to　the
passion　of　Alberoni；　and　that　of　his　ambassador　to　please　him；　and　that
he　would　ask　for　justice　from　their　Catholic　Majesties。　　He　showed　the
importance　of　neglecting　no　means　in　order　to　clear　up　an　affair　so
capital　to　the　repose　and　tranquillity　of　the　kingdom；　and　finished　by
saying；　that　until　he　knew　more　he　would　name　nobody　who　was　mixed　up　in
the　matter。　　All　this　speech　was　much　applauded；　and　I　believe　there　were
some　among　the　company　who　felt　greatly　relieved　when　they　heard　the
Regent　say　he　would　name　nobody　nor　would　he　allow　suspicions　to　be
circulated　until　all　was　unravelled。

Nevertheless　the　next　day；　Saturday；　the　loth　of　December；　more　than　one
arrest　was　made。　　Others　took　place　a　few　days　afterwards。

On　Tuesday；　the　13th　of　December；　all　the　foreign　ministers　went　to　the
Palais　Royal；　according　to　custom；　not　one　made　any　complaint　of　what　had
happened。　　A　copy　of　the　two　letters　read　at　the　council　was　given　to
them。　　In　the　afternoon；　Cellamare　was　placed　in　a　coach　with　a　captain
of　cavalry　and　a　captain　of　dragoons；　chosen　to　conduct　him：　to　Blois；
until　Saint…Aignan；　our　ambassador　in　Spain；　should　arrive　in　France。

The　position　of　our　ambassador；　Saint…Aignan；　at　Madrid；　was；　as　may　be
imagined；　by　no　means　agreeable。　　The　two　courts　were　just　upon　the　point
of　an　open　rupture；　thanks　to　the　hatred　Alberoni　had　made　it　a　principle
to　keep　up　in　Spain　against　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　by　crying　down　his
actions；　his　government；　his　personal　conduct；　his　most　innocent　acts；
and　by　rendering　suspicious　even　his　favourable　proceedings　with　regard
to　Spain。　　Alberoni　for　a　long　time　had　ceased　to　keep　on　even　decent
terms　with　Saint…Aignan；　scandalising　thus　even　the　most　unfavourably
disposed　towards　France。　　Saint…Aignan　only　maintained　his　position　by
the　sagacity　of　his　conduct；　and　he　was　delighted　when　he　received　orders
to　return　to　France。　　He　asked　for　his　parting　audience；　and　meanwhile
bade　adieu　to　all　his　friends　and　to　all　the　Court。　　Alberoni；　who　every
moment　expected　decisive　news　from　Cellamare　respecting　the　conspiracy；
wished　to　remain　master　of　our　ambassador；　so　as；　in　case　of　accident；
to　have　a　useful　hostage　in　his　hands　as　security　for　his　own　ambassador。
He　put　off　therefore　this　parting　audience　under　various　pretexts。　　At
last；　Saint…Aignan；　pressed　by　his　reiterated　orders　（orders　all　the　more
positive　because　suspicion　had　already　begun　to　foresee　a　disturbance
ever　alarming）；　spoke　firmly　to　the　Cardinal；　and　declared　that　if　this
audience　were　not　at　once　accorded　to　him；　he　would　do　without　it！
Therefore　the　Cardinal；　in　anger；　replied　with　a　menace；　that　he　knew
well　enough　how　to　hinder；　him；　from　acting　thus。

Saint…Aignan　wisely　contained　himself；　but　seeing　to　what　sort　of　a　man
he　was　exposed；　and　judging　rightly　why　he　was　detained　at　Madrid；　took
his　measures　so　secretly　and　so　well；　that　he　set　out　the　same　night；
with　his　most　necessary　equipage；　gained　ground　and　arrived　at　the　foot
of　the　Pyrenees　without　being　overtaken　and　arrested；　two　occurrences
which　he　expected　at　every　moment；　knowing　that　Alberoni　was　a　man　who
would　stick　at　nothing。

Saint…Aignan；　already　so　far　advanced；　did　not　deem　it　advisable　to
expose　himself　any　longer；　bothered　as　he　would　be　among　the　mountains　by
his　carriages。　　He　and　the　Duchess；　his　wife；　followed　by　a　waiting…woman
and　three　valets；　with　a　very　trusty　guide；　mounted　upon　mules　and　rode
straight　for　Saint…Jean…Pied…de…Port　without　stopping　a　moment　more　on
the　road　than　was　necessary。　　He　sent　on　his　equipages　to　Pampeluna　at　a
gentle　pace；　and　placed　in　his　carriage　an　intelligent　valet　de　chambre
and　a　waiting…woman；　with　orders　to　pass　themselves　off　as　the　ambassador
and　ambassadress　of　France；　and　in　case　they　were　arrested　to　cry　out　a
good　deal。　　The　arrest　did　not　fail　to　happen。　　The　people　despatched　by
Alberoni　soon　came　up　with　the　carriage。　　The　pretended　ambassador　and
ambassadress　played　their　parts　very　well；　and　they　who　had　arrested　them
did　not　doubt　for　a　moment　they　had　made　a　fine　capture；　sending　news　of
it　to　Madrid；　and　keeping　the　prisoners　in　Pampeluna；　to　which　the　party
returned。

This　device　saved　M。　and　Madame　de　Saint…Aignan；　and　gave　them　means　to
reach　Saint…Jean…Pied…de…Port；　as　soon　as　they　arrived　there　they　sent
for　assistance　and　carriages　to　Bayonne；　which　they　gained　in　safety；　and
reposed　after　their　fatigue。　　The　Duc　de　Saint…Aignan　sent　word　of　all
this　to　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　by　a　courier；　and；　at　this　arrival　in
Bayonne；　despatched　a　message　to　the　Governor　of　Pampeluna；　begging　him
to　send　on　his　equipages。　　Alberoni's　people　were　very　much　ashamed　of
having　been　duped；　but　Alberoni　when　he　heard　of　it　flew　into　a　furious
rage；　and　cruelly　punished　the　mistake。　　The　equipages　were　sent　on　to
Bayonne。




CHAPTER　XCVI

To　return　now　to　what　took　place　at　Paris。

On　Sunday；　the　25th　of　December；　Christmas　Day；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　sent
for　me　to　come　and　see　him　at　the　Palais　Royal；　about　four　o'clock　in　the
afternoon。　　I　went　accordingly；　and　after　despatching　some　business　with
him；　other　people　being　present；　I　followed　him　into　his　little　winter
cabinet　at　the　end　of　the　little　gallery；　M。　le　Duc　being　present。

After　a　moment　of　silence；　the　Regent　told　me　to　see　if　no　one　was
outside　in　the　gallery；　and　if　the　door　at　the　end　was　closed。　　I　went
out；　found　the　door　shut；　and　no　one　near。

This　being　ascertained；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　said　that　we　should　not　be
surprised　to　learn　that　M。　and　Madame　du　Maine　had　been　mixed　up　all
along　with　this　affair　of　the　Spanish　Ambassador　Cellamare；　that　he　had
written　proofs　of　this；　and　that　the　project　was　exactly　that　which　I
have　already　described。　　He　added；　that　he　had　strictly　forbidden　the
Keeper　of　the　Seals；　the　Abbe　Dubois；　and　Le　Blanc；　who　alone　knew　of
this　project；　to　give　the　slightest　sign　of　their　knowledge；　recommended
to　me　the　same　secrecy；　and　the　same　precaution；　and　finished　by　saying
that　he　wished；　above　all　things；　to　consult　M。　le　Duc　and　me　upon　the
course　he　ought　to　adopt。

M。　le　Duc　at　once　went　to　the　point　and　said　M。　and　Madame　du　Maine　must
at　once　be　arrested　and　put　where　they　could　cause　no　apprehension。　　I
supported　this　opinion；　and　showed　the　perilous　annoyances　that　might
arise　if　this　step　were　not　instantly　taken；　as　much　for　the　purpose　of
striking　terror　into　the　conspirators；　as　for　disconcerting　their
schemes。　　I　added　that　there　was　not　a　moment　to　lose；　and　that　it　was
better　to　incur　uncertain　danger　than　to　wait　for　that　which　was　certain。

Our　advice　was　accepted　by　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　after　some　little　debate。
But　now　the　question　arose；　where　are　the　prisoners　to　be　put？　　The
Bastille　and　Vincennes　both　seemed　to　me　too　near　to　Paris。　　Several
places　were　named　without　one　appearing　to　suit。　　At　lasts　M。　le　Duc
d'Orleans　mentioned　Dourlens。　　I　stopped　him　short　at　the　name；　and
recommended　it　warmly。　　I　knew　the　governor；　Charost；　and　his　son　to　be
men　of　probity；　faithful；　virtuous；　and　much　attached　to　the　state。　　Upon
this　it　was　agreed　to　send　M。　du　Maine　to　Dourlens。

Then　we　had　to　fix　upon　a　place　for　his　wife；　and　this　was　more
difficult；　there　were　her　sex；　her　fiery　temper；　her　courage；　her
daring；all　to　be　considered；　whereas；　her　husband；　we　knew；　so
dangerous　as　a　hidden　enemy；　was　contemptible　without　his　mask；　and　would
fall　into　the　lowest　state　of　dejection　in　prison；　trembling　all　over
with　fear　of　the　scaffold；　and　attempting　nothing；　his　wife；　on　the
contrary；　being　capable　of　attempting　anything：

Various　places　discussed；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans　smiled；　and　proposed　the
chateau　of　Dijon！　　Now；　the　joke　of　this　suggestion　was；　that　Dijon
belonged　to　M。　le　Duc；　and　that　he　was　nephew　of　Madame　du　Maine；　whom
the　Regent　proposed　to　lock　up　there！　　M。　le　Duc　smiled　also；　and　said　it
was　a　little　too　bad　to　make　him　the　gaoler　of　his　aunt！　　But　all　things
considered；　it　was　found　that　a　better　choice　than　Dijon　could　not　be
made；　so　M。　le　Duc　gave　way。　　I　fancy　he　had　held　out　more　for　form's
sake　than　for　any　other　reason。　　These　points　settled；　we　separated；　to
meet　another　time；　in　order　to　make　the　final　arrangements　for　the
arrest。

We　met　accordingly；　the　Monday　and　Tuesday　following；　and　deliberated
with　the　same　secrecy　as　before。　　On　Wednesday　we　assembled　again　to　put
the　final　touch　to　our　work。　　Our　conference　was　long；　and　the　result　of
it　was；　that　M。　and　Madame　du　Maine　were　to　be　arrested　on　the　morrow；
all　the　necessary　arrangements　were　made；　and；　as　we　thought；　with　the
utmost　secrecy。　　Nevertheless；　the　orders　given　to　the　regiment　of　the
guards；　and　to　the　musketeers　somehow　or　other　transpired　during　the
evening；　and　gave　people　reason　to　believe　that　something　considerable
was　in　c