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the King； and liberty to Broussel！〃 but being seen more than he was heard； his drawn sword did more harm than his proclaiming liberty to Broussel did good。 The people took to their arms and had an encounter with the Marshal； upon which I threw myself into the crowd； and expecting that both sides would have some regard to my robes and dignity； the Marshal ordered the Light…horse to fire no more； and the citizens with whom he was engaged held their hands； but others of them continued firing and throwing stones； by one of which I was knocked down； and had no sooner got up than a citizen was going to knock me down with a musket。 Though I did not know his name； yet I had the presence of mind to cry out； 〃Forbear； wretch； if thy father did but see thee〃 He thereupon concluded I knew his father very well； though I had never seen him； and I believe that made him the more curious to survey me； when； taking particular notice of my robes； he asked me if I was the Coadjutor。 Upon which I was presently made known to the whole body； followed by the multitude which way soever I went； and met with a body of ruffians all in arms； whom； with abundance of flattery； caresses； entreaties； and menaces； I prevailed on to lay down their weapons； and it was this which saved the city； for had they continued in arms till night； the city had certainly been plundered。
I went accompanied by 30；000 or 40；000 men without arms； and met the Marechal de La Meilleraye； who I thought would have stifled me with embraces； and who said these very words： 〃I am foolhardy and brutal； I had like to have ruined the State； and you have saved it； come； let us go to the Queen and talk to her like true； honest Frenchmen； and let us set down the day of the month； that when the King comes of age our testimony may be the means of hanging up those pests of the State； those infamous flatterers； who pretended to the Queen that this affair was but a trifle。〃 To the Queen he presently hurried me； and said to her； 〃Here is a man that has not only saved my life； but your Guards and the whole Court。〃
The Queen gave an odd smile which I did not very well like； but I would not seem to take any notice of it； and to stop Meilleraye in his encomium upon me； I assumed the discourse myself； and said； 〃Madame； we are not come upon my account； but to tell you that the city of Paris； disarmed and submissive； throws herself at your Majesty's feet。〃
〃Not so submissive as guilty；〃 replied the Queen； with a face full of fire； 〃if the people were so raging as I was made to believe； how came they to be so soon subdued？〃
The Marshal fell into a passion； and said； with an oath； 〃Madame； an honest man cannot flatter you when things are come to such an extremity。 If you do not set Broussel at liberty this very day； there will not be left one stone upon another in Paris by tomorrow morning。〃
I was going to support what the Marshal had said； but the Queen stopped my mouth by telling me； with an air of banter； 〃Go to rest； sir； you have done a mighty piece of work。〃
When I returned home； I found an incredible number of people expecting me； who forced me to get upon the top of my coach to give them an account of what success I had had at Court。 I told them that the Queen had declared her satisfaction in their submission； and that she told me it was the only method they could have taken for the deliverance of the prisoners。 I added other persuasives to pacify the commonalty； and they dispersed the sooner because it was supper…time； for you must know that the people of Paris； even those that are the busiest in all such commotions； do not care to lose their meals。
I began to perceive that I had engaged my reputation too far in giving the people any grounds to hope for the liberation of Broussel； though I had particularly avoided giving them my word of honour； and I apprehended that the Court would lay hold of this occasion to destroy me effectually in the opinion of the people by making them believe that I acted in concert with the Court only； to amuse and deceive them。
While I was making these and the like reflections； Montresor came and told me that I was quite mistaken if I thought to be a great gainer by the late expedition； that the Queen was not pleased with my proceedings； and that the Court was persuaded that I did what lay in my power to promote the insurrection。 I confess I gave no credit to what Montresor said； for though I saw they made a jest of me in the Queen's Cabinet； I hoped that their malice did not go so far as to diminish the merit of the service I had rendered； and never imagined that they could be capable of turning it into a crime。 Laigues； too； came from Court and told me that I was publicly laughed at； and charged with having fomented the insurrection instead of appeasing it； that I had been ridiculed two whole hours and exposed to the smart raillery of Beautru； to the buffoonery of Nogent； to the pleasantries of La Riviere； to the false compassion of the Cardinal； and to the loud laughter of the Queen。
You may guess that I was not a little moved at this； but I rather felt a slight annoyance than any transport of passion。 All sorts of notions came into my mind； and all as suddenly passed away。 I sacrificed with little or no scruple all the sweetest and brightest images which the memory of past conspiracies presented in crowds to my mind as soon as the ill…treatment I now publicly met with gave me reason to think that I might with honour engage myself in new ones。 The obligations I had to her Majesty made me reject all these thoughts； though I must confess I was brought up in them from my infancy； and Laigues and Montresor could have never shaken my resolution either by insinuating motives or making reproaches； if Argenteuil； a gentleman firmly attached to my interest； had not come into my room that moment with a frightened countenance and said：
〃You are undone； the Marechal de La Meilleraye has charged me to tell you that he verily thinks the devil is in the courtiers； who has put it into their heads that you have done all in your power to stir up the sedition。 The Marechal de La Meilleraye has laboured earnestly to inform the Queen and Cardinal of the truth of the whole matter； but both have ridiculed him for his attempt。 The Marshal said he could not excuse the injury they did you； but could not sufficiently admire the contempt they always had for the tumult； of which they foretold the consequence as if they had the gift of prophecy； always affirming that it would vanish in a night； as it really has； for he hardly met a soul in the streets。〃
He added that fires so quickly extinguished as this were not likely to break out again； that he conjured me to provide for my own safety； that the King's authority would shine out the next day with all the lustre imaginable； that the Court seemed resolved not to let slip this fatal conjuncture； and that I was to be made the first public example。
Argenteuil said： 〃Villeroy did not tell me so much； because he durst not； but he so squeezed my hand 'en passant' that I am apt to think he knows a great deal more； and I must tell you that they have very good reason for their apprehensions； because there is not