On the whole, the Prince was the less hated of the
two, yet there were scruples on being in direct opposition to the
King. The Cardinal de Retz was trying to stir the Duke of Orleans to
take what was really his proper place as the young King's uncle, and
at the head of the Parliament, to mediate between the parties, stop
the civil war, convoke the States-General, and redress grievances.
But to move Monsieur was a mere impossibility; he liked to hear of
his own power, but whenever anything was to be done that alarmed him,
he always was bled, or took physic, so as to have an excuse for not
interfering.
And now the royal army was approaching Orleans, and Monsieur could
not brook that the city, his own appanage, should be taken from him.
Yet not only was he unwilling to risk himself, but the Coadjutor and
he were alike of opinion that he ought not to leave Paris and the
Parliament. So he had made up his mind to send is daughter, who was
only too much charmed to be going anywhere or doing anything
exciting, especially if it could be made to turn to the advantage of
the Prince of Conde, whom she still dreamt of marrying.
I found her in a state of great importance and delight, exclaiming:
'My dear Gildippe, I could not do without you! We shall be in your
element. His Royal Highness and M. le Cardinal de Retz have both
been breaking my head with instructions, but I remember none of them!
I trust to my native wit on the occasion.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409