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exclaimed that he would leap out； and pulled against me。 At this
absurdity I called to the coachman to stop； the Duke with difficulty
recovered himself； and persisted that he would have thrown himself out。
The chambermaid was ordered to mount； and mount she did； all covered with
mud； which daubed us； and she nearly crushed M。 de Metz and me in this
carriage fit only for four。
M。 de Coislin could not bear that at parting anybody should give him the
〃last touch；〃 a piece of sport； rarely cared for except in early youth；
and out of which arises a chase by the person touched； in order to catch
him by whom he has been touched。 One evening； when the Court was at
Nancy； and just as everybody was going to bed； M。 de Longueville spoke a
few words in private to two of his torch…bearers； and then touching the
Duc de Coislin； said he had given him the last touch； and scampered away；
the Duke hotly pursuing him。 Once a little in advance； M。 de Longueville
hid himself in a doorway； allowed M。 de Coislin to pass on； and then went
quietly home to bed。 Meanwhile the Duke； lighted by the torch…bearers；
searched for M。 de Longueville all over the town； but meeting with no
success； was obliged to give up the chase； and went home all in a sweat。
He was obliged of course to laugh a good deal at this joke； but he
evidently did not like it over much。
With all his politeness； which was in no way put on； M。 de Coislin could；
when he pleased； show a great deal of firmness； and a resolution to
maintain his proper dignity worthy of much praise。 At Nancy； on this
same occasion； the Duc de Crequi； not finding apartments provided for him
to his taste on arriving in town； went； in his brutal manner； and seized
upon those allotted to the Duc de Coislin。 The Duke； arriving a moment
after； found his servants turned into the street； and soon learned who
had sent them there。 M。 de Crequi had precedence of him in rank； he said
not a word； therefore； but went to the apartments provided for the
Marechal de Crequi （brother of the other）； served him exactly as he
himself had just been served； and took up his quarters there。 The
Marechal de Crequi arrived in his turn； learned what had occurred； and
immediately seized upon the apartments of Cavoye； in order to teach him
how to provide quarters in future so as to avoid all disputes。
On another occasion； M。 de Coislin went to the Sorbonne to listen to a
thesis sustained by the second son of M。 de Bouillon。 When persons of
distinction gave these discourses； it was customary for the Princes of
the blood； and for many of the Court； to go and hear them。 M。 de Coislin
was at that time almost last in order of precedence among the Dukes。
When he took his seat； therefore； knowing that a number of them would
probably arrive； he left several rows of vacant places in front of him；
and sat himself down。 Immediately afterwards； Novion； Chief President of
the Parliament； arrived； and seated himself in front of M。 de Coislin。
Astonished at this act of madness； M。 de Coislin said not a word； but
took an arm…chair； and； while Novion turned his head to speak to Cardinal
de Bouillon； placed that arm…chair in front of the Chief President in
such a manner that he was as it were imprisoned； and unable to stir。
M。 de Coislin then sat down。 This was done so rapidly； that nobody saw
it until it was finished。 When once it was observed； a great stir arose。
Cardinal de Bouillon tried to intervene。 M。 de Coislin replied； that
since the Chief President had forgotten his position he must be taught
it； and would not budge。 The other presidents were in a fright； and
Novion； enraged by the offence put on him； knew not what to do。 It was
in vain that Cardinal de Bouillon on one side； and his brother on the
other； tried to persuade M。 de Coislin to give way。 He would not listen
to them。 They sent a message to him to say that somebody wanted to see
him at the door on most important business。 But this had no effect。
〃There is no business so important；〃 replied M。 de Coislin； 〃as that of
teaching M。 le Premier President what he owes me； and nothing will make
me go from this place unless M。 le President； whom you see behind me；
goes away first。〃
At last M。 le Prince was sent for； and he with much persuasion
endeavoured to induce M。 de Coislin to release the Chief President from
his prison。 But for some time M。 de Coislin would listen as little to M。
le Prince as he had listened to the others； and threatened to keep Novion
thus shut up during all the thesis。 At length； he consented to set the
Chief President free； but only on condition that he left the building
immediately； that M。 le Prince should guarantee this； and that no
〃juggling tricks 〃 （that was the term he made use of）； should be played
off to defeat the agreement。 M。 le Prince at once gave his word that
everything should be as he required； and M。 de Coislin then rose； moved
away his arm…chair； and said to the Chief President； 〃Go away； sir！ go
away； sir！ 〃Novion did on the instant go away； in the utmost confusion；
and jumped into his coach。 M。 de Coislin thereupon took back his chair
to its former position and composed himself to listen again。
On every side M。 de Coislin was praised for the firmness he had shown。
The Princes of the blood called upon him the same evening； and
complimented him for the course he had adopted； and so many other
visitors came during the evening that his house was quite full until a
late hour。 On the morrow the King also praised him for his conduct； and
severely blamed the Chief President。 Nay more； he commanded the latter
to go to M。 de Coislin； at his house； and beg pardon of him。 It is easy
to comprehend the shame and despair of Novion at being ordered to take so
humiliating a step； especially after what had already happened to him。
He prevailed upon M。 le Coislin； through the mediation of friends； to
spare him this pain； and M。 de Coislin had the generosity to do so。 He
agreed therefore that when Novion called upon him he would pretend to be
out； and this was done。 The King； when he heard of it； praised very
highly the forbearance of the Duke。
He was not an old man when he died； but was eaten up with the gout； which
he sometimes had in his eyes； in his nose； and in his tongue。 When in
this state； his room was filled with the best company。 He was very
generally liked； was truth itself in his dealings and his words； and was
one of my friends； as he had been the friend of my father before me。
The President de Novion； above alluded to； was a man given up to
iniquity； whom money and obscure mistresses alone influenced。 Lawyers
complained of his caprices； and pleaders of his injustice。 At last； he
went so far as to change decisions of the court when they were given him
to sign； which was not found out for some time； but which led to his
disgrace。 He was replaced by Harlay in 1689； and lived in ignominy for
four years more。
About this time died Petit； a great physician； who had wit； knowledge；
experience； and probity； and yet lived to the last without being ever
brought to admit the circulation of the blood。
A rather strange nove